Fernandina Beach Is Bike-Friendly!

Thursday afternoon, under a cloudy sky with light rain, Mr. Tim Bustos, the Executive Director of the Florida Bicycle Association formally presented the League of American Bicyclists' Bronze-level Award to the City of Fernandina Beach.  Mayor Sarah Pelican accepted the award on behalf of the City, and then bicyclists in attendance departed on a 12 mile community bicycle ride.

This award recognizes the City of Fernandina Beach as a "Bicycle Friendly Community".  Placards depicting the recognition will be placed at key locations around town.  You can read more about the award and the League of American Bicyclists at  www.bikeleague.org , and read more about the Florida Bicycle Association at www.floridabicycle.org  .

Below, Sallie McDonald and Len Kreger, key members of the Team that prepared the Bicycle Friendly application, pose with a Bicycle Friendly placard at Main Beach. Other Team members were Kelly Gibson, John Mandrake and David Bishop.

Shown below is part of the crowd at the ceremony.  In front, from right to left are; Tim Bustos, Executive Director of the FBA; Charles Corbett, Commissioner; Sarah Pelican, Mayor; Arlene Filcoff, Commissioner; Sallie McDonald; Joe Gerrity, City Manager; and Mike Pikula.

Free Bike Valet For Jazz Festival

We will be offering free, safe and secure bike parking for the 3 days of Jazz Fest this weekend. We will be located next Burrito Gallery on Adams. We will open 30 mins before opening and close 1 hour after closing each day.

As usual we need you. If you can provide even an hour of your time, it is a huge help. Email: HERE and let us know what times you can help out. There may even be some free beer for those who do.


Jazz Fest Line Up:

FRIDAY

5 p.m. Yellow Dog Jazz Band, Swingin’ Stage

5 p.m. Just Jazz Quartet, Breezin’ Stage

5 p.m. John Ricci Quartet, Groovin’ Stage

7 p.m. Doug Carn, Swingin’ Stage

7 p.m. Gary Starling, Breezin’ Stage

7 p.m. Von Barlow’s Jazz Journey, Groovin’ Stage

9 p.m. Jazz Jam Session, Breezin’ Stage

9 p.m. Elisha Parris, Groovin’ Stage

9:15 p.m. Najee, Swingin’ Stage

SATURDAY

1 p.m. Youth Talent Showcase, Groovin’ Stage

2 p.m. Piano Competition winner, Swingin’ Stage

2:30 p.m. Marcus Printup and the UNF Jazz Ensemble I, Breezin’ Stage

2:45 p.m. Youth Talent Showcase Finals, Groovin’ Stage

3 p.m. AMP Trio, Swingin’ Stage

4:30 p.m. St. Johns River City Big Band, Breezin’ Stage

4:30 p.m. Ya’Gozo, Groovin’ Stage

5 p.m. Rick Braun, Kirk Whalum and Norman Brown, Swingin’ Stage

6:30 p.m. The Katz Downstairs, Breezin’ Stage

6:30 p.m. Euge Groove, Groovin’ Stage

7 p.m. Rachel Ferrell with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Swingin’ Stage

8:30 p.m. Tropic of Cancer, Breezin’ Stage

8:30 p.m. Yellowjackets, Groovin’ Stage

9:30 p.m. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Swingin’ Stage

SUNDAY

2 p.m. Akia Uwanda, Breezin’ Stage

2 p.m. Linda Cole & the Joshua Bowlus Quartet, Groovin’ Stage

2:30 p.m. Firecracker Jazz Band, Swingin’ Stage

4 p.m. JB Scott’s Swingin’ Allstars, Breezin’ Stage

4 p.m. Freddy Cole, Groovin’ Stage

4:30 p.m. Gregory Porter, Swingin’ Stage

6 p.m. Noel Freidline, Breezin’ Stage

6 p.m. Poncho Sanchez, Groovin’ Stage

6:30 p.m. Gerald Albright, Swingin’ Stage

8:30 p.m. Trombone Shorty, Swingin’ Stage

Bike Month Continues - Ride of Silence & Bike Day

We continue our Bike Month celebrations and remembrances.

Wednesday May 15th:

On May 15, 2013 at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

Ride leaves Lakeshore Bicycles at 7:00 PM. 

Info: 904-388-0612

Saturday May 18th:

Bike Day at Riverside Arts Market (RAM) kicks off with the weekly RAM ride at 9:00 AM. This is

very family and kid friendly ride.

Meet at the Bike Valet.
Info: 904.219.9193

The day is just getting started with the RAM Ride...

Take an Historic Riverside-Avondale Bike Tour with e2ride Bike Tours. The approximate 3 hour tour will depart RAM at 2pm and is free for those with their own bike and helmet ($35 for those renting bikes). Be sure to bring plenty of water and snacks for the 10 mile ride. RSVPs are required by calling 904-945-1571.

Safe Kids Northeast Florida will be celebrating Safe Kids Day with us. Bring your child’s helmet for a free inspection and correct fitting and they will receive a prize! Free helmets will be available while supplies last for children 14 and under whose own helmet may be too small, damaged or if they just don’t have one!

jax REcycle will be accepting donations of new helmets and used bicycles, parts and locks to be refurbished and given to The Sulzbacher Center for people who need them for transportation to work or school. What a great way to give back to those in need!

You may also bring used bicycle parts to ‘swap’ for upgrades through our Cycle Swap Meet hosted by jaxREcycle and local bike shops.

The Jacksonville Bicycle Coalition and the Southern Off Road Bicycle Association (SORBA) will also be with us!

And of course we will be providing free bike valet.

There is still time and space if you'd like to get you shop or group involved. Contact Krysten at Riverside Arts Market.

Pedal to the Players

Think bikes aren't taking ahold here in North Florida? Even at the highly suburban and car dependent Sawgrass, the lowly bicycle is the best and easiest way to get to and park for this weeks Players Championship.

Bike MS Cycle to the Shore is providing bike valet services. Corrina Steiger of Bike MS tells me, "We are parking thousands of bikes this weekend at Pedal to THE PLAYERS". She also says, "The number of bikes this year is really growing- it's our third year doing it and all proceeds benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society North Florida Chapter."

Bike Valet services available from 7:30 a.m. until end of play. Spectators can ride their bikes to the Couples Gate off of ATP Blvd. or to the Love III Gate located inside the Sawgrass Gates. MS Society volunteers will secure and monitor the bikes. A $5 donation per bike to the MS Society is appreciated.

The PGA Website just put out the following update for parking and suggest that the best option for arriving to The Players is by bus & bike:

May 10, 2013

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Due to record crowds, the general parking lot at THE PLAYERS Championship is now full, and traffic is being rerouted to Crosswater Community Church at Davis Park on Nocatee Parkway. All fans headed to TPC Sawgrass for today’s second round should proceed to this secondary location, where their parking passes will be honored.

Additionally, tournament officials are discontinuing parking pass sales for Saturday. Davis Park will be used as a secondary lot should the general lot at TPC Sawgrass overflow again. Fans are encouraged, as they have been all week, to carpool. As a reminder, cars with four or more passengers can park for free. Download the “Four for Free” parking voucher.

Other parking/travel options include:

• Utilize shuttles from downtown provided by the City of Jacksonville. Shuttles from the Hyatt, Omni, and Crowne Plaza will be available to hotel guests, but also open for residents to “park and ride,” providing a convenient and cost-effective way for fans to get to and from the tournament. Shuttles will operate Thursday through Sunday, leaving the hotels at 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. Shuttles will return to the hotels each day leaving TPC Sawgrass at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• Fans are encouraged to pedal to THE PLAYERS. The National MS Society will once again offer Bike Valet services from 7:30 a.m. until end of play. Spectators can ride their bikes to the Couples Gate off of ATP Blvd. or to the Love III Gate located inside the Sawgrass Gates. MS Society volunteers will secure and monitor the bikes. A $5 donation per bike to the MS Society is appreciated.
• Utilize alternative, private pay-for-parking lots near TPC Sawgrass.

If you are planning on heading over to the tournament this weekend and use or see the bike valet locations, please post some pictures. The MS social media machine seems to be lacking. After 4 days of golf, the picture above is literally the only image I've found. Tag Bike Jax on Facebook, #bikejax on twitter and instagram, +bike Jax  on Google Plus.