Update for March! Sorry to say the March Pop-up is cancelled. Hopefully things will be back to normal in April.
Happy New Year, y’all! We are excited to be bringing back the Pop-up Bike Co-ops at Childs Park Rec Center, every Second Saturday beginning this Saturday, February 8th, through November 14, 2020.
We’ve partnered with the City of St. Petersburg Parks and Rec Departments for the locations(s), Florida Pedestrian & Bicycling Safety Resource Center in coordination with FDOT for the helmets and safety materials and were awarded a generous grant from New Belgium Brewing Company to continue this valuable community program. We’ll be back each 2nd Saturday with mechanics, helmets, locks, lights, tubes and other various spare parts to help get you back rolling again.
Thank you, St. Pete Parks, FDOT, New Belgium and all of our St. Pete Bike Co-op Members and Volunteers who support this program! Ride safe, y’all!
New! T-shirts, tanks, hats and hoodies for your holiday shopping needs! Give a memorable gift that helps support our mission at the same time! Consider this an experiment, though. The prices are a little higher than we’d like, but this site allows us to offer a wider variety of styles and colors, printed and shipped to your door! Available online only for a limited time. Order by 12/8 to receive by 12/25.
Talk about a success! Nearly as soon as we had the tent and tables set up, kids from the Child’s Park neighborhood showed up with their bikes.
At first they were curious. Who were we? What were we doing? Some of them thought their bikes were riding just fine. The discerning eyes of our experienced volunteers noticed tires that were low on air, brake cables that were loose or disconnected, wobbly tires.
Our awesome and capable volunteer mechanics got to work showing these kids the problems and how to fix them!
While waiting, we were able to give out helmets, courtesy of the Florida Pedestrian/Bicycling Safety Resource Center. We were able to give out lights and locks to many of them, thanks to funds raised through the Bike Co-op’s membership program and other fundraising events. (Donate here to help us offer more events like this!!)
Our volunteer mechanic, Chris S., shows a boy what’s going on with his bike.
This event wouldn’t have happened without collaboration. Our co-organizer, John Muhammed, with Community Training and Development, Inc. stopped by with his daughter to fix up their bikes. They learned more about their bikes and how to fix and maintain them. Brother John and I were also able to carry on the conversation about future events!
Brother John, Christy (Co-op Volunteer), Brother John’s daughter, and Chris (Co-op Volunteer)
Over the course of our 4 hours event, we (the St. Pete Bike Co-op) provided direct support to 15 youths from the Child’s Park neighborhood and 2 adults. More kids were hanging around with their friends, checking out what was going on…
Next month we’ll be doing a pop-up at James Weldon Johnson Community Library. We’ll be back at Child’s Park in April, and likely on a monthly basis after that. We’re working with Brother John to determine dates that best reflect the community’s needs.
Child’s Park and the Recreation Center located are a wonderful resource in the St. Pete community. The park is gorgeous and the Skyway Trail runs smack through the middle.
It’s also just far enough away that people that live in that neighborhood might have a hard time getting their bikes to the Co-op’s shop. So we’re taking the show to them!
Date: Saturday, February 9 Time: 11:00-3:00 Where: Child’s Park Rec Center (see below map for planned on-site location)
Since the park lies along the Skyway Trail, ride and come say hi! Or if you’re bike isn’t rideable (yet!) bring your bike by. We’ll put the tools in your hands and show you how to fix it.
If your bike’s good-to-go, but you want to make sure we can keep offering events like this around St. Pete? Please donate! (Thank you!)
The St. Petersburg Bicycle Co-op Earns Area’s First Platinum Level Bicycle Friendly Business Designation by League of American Bicyclists
Washington, DC: The League of American Bicyclists, a national bicycling and advocacy organization of nearly 20,000 members, has recognized The St. Petersburg Bicycle Co-op with a prestigious Platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) certification.
With the announcement of 82 new and renewing BFBs across the country, The St. Petersburg Bicycle Co-op joins a growing list of 1,314 local businesses, government agencies, and Fortune 500 companies leading the way to transform transportation, health, and wellness for the betterment of U.S. workers and local communities.
“Business owners and employers across the country are looking for simple, straightforward ways to build their companies, do right by their workers and customers, and contribute positively to their local communities,” says Executive Director Bill Nesper of the League of American Bicyclists. “Boosting participation in bicycling achieves all of that and more, and BFBs such as The St. Petersburg Bicycle Co-op are wonderful models of that success. We congratulate this latest class of business leaders for recognizing that one of the oldest and easiest forms of transportation still generates significant economic and societal rewards today.”
BFB requirements identify incentives, programming, and amenities proven to enable and inspire more people to ride bikes. Among those offered by The St. Petersburg Bicycle Co-op are their Open Shop DIY Repair Program, Casual Group Rides, and Community Events.
According to President, Carrie Waite, the most significant action taken by the Co-op in the past year has been major upgrades to the Open Shop Program. It also plans to do more community outreach pop-up events in the coming year.
As a result of these efforts, the St. Petersburg Bicycle Co-op aims to foster a sense of community and camaraderie and make cycling in St. Petersburg easy, fun and safe for all who ride.
“Never underestimate the power of the bicycle. This one simple machine promotes a culture of health and wellness, drives real economic impact and provides environmentally friendly, inexpensive transportation options to the community. We live in the Sunshine City. Let’s get out on our bikes and enjoy that sunshine.” Carrie Waite
The St. Petersburg Bicycle Co-op and other businesses have access to a variety of tools and technical assistance from the League to become even more bicycle-friendly. To apply or learn more about the BFB program, visit the League online at www.bikeleague.org/business.
About the Bicycle Friendly America Program
To learn more about building a Bicycle Friendly AmericaSM, including the Bicycle Friendly CommunitySM (BFCSM), Bicycle Friendly StateSM (BFSSM), Bicycle Friendly BusinessSM (BFBSM), and Bicycle Friendly UniversitySM (BFUSM) programs, visit www.bikeleague.org/BFA.
The League of American Bicyclists has been leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone since its founding in 1880. It advances its work by actively listening to and learning from diverse stakeholders, defining standards, sharing best practices, and engaging communities in practical solution-building. Through its nearly 20,000 individual members, the League helps build a powerful, unified voice for change.
October 13-14 Dan Sullivan Memorial/WAR 1 (Dade City)
October 28 Spookier Cross (Orlando)
November 3-4 Turkey TraCX/WAR 2 (Brooksville)
November 24-25 Carney Island CX (Ocklawaha)
December 1-2 Mudcat CX/WAR 3 (Dade City)
December 9 Rodeo Cross (Fruitland Park)
December 11-16 CX Nationals (Louisville)
January 5-6 Swamp Cross (Gainesville)
January 19 East Orlando Cross Fest
January 20 FLCX State Championships (Orlando)
The Volunteer Village will take place at the historic St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club (559 Mirror Lake Drive N) from 12:00-4:00 on Sunday, October 14. This is your chance to find out how you can get more involved with the Co-op or support us from behind the scenes. Check out our wish list for a preview of ways to contribute.
While you’re there, check out the other fantastic, local organizations who might need a helping hand. Grab a taco from the food truck. And keep your eye out for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate (you’ll have to stop at each of the organizations)!
It’s been 5 beautiful years of building and refurbishing bikes, riding bikes and a whole lot of talking about bikes. We thought “Hey, we haven’t had a party in a while. Let’s party!”. So we’re putting together quite the event for you all! Because everything we do, we do it for you! Bikes, bands and beverages!
Our buddies in Permanent Makeup have helped us put together a musical lineup that’ll keep you dancing all night! They’ll be just returning from their East Coast Tour! Tour tight is real! Shell of Shell from Nashville and Tampa’s newest Clang! will be rounding out the entertainment portion. Just confirmed! DJ Re:Pete is back too! Music starts early!
We’re working on a few more details to be announced soon so mark your calendars and plan to help us celebrate!
Donations ($5 suggested) greatly appreciated for touring bands and keeping the Co-op lights on!
Be sure and ride your bike! Parking will be super limited. Whatever you do, please don’t park in the 2 lots closest to the Mirror Lake Condos. Those spaces are for condo residents only. They have signs that say Tow Away Zone, and spaces marked “Owner” and “Resident”. They are watching and they will tow you. They really, really tow. Don’t get towed! The municipal lot adjacent to the Bike Co-op and Shuffle will have some spaces available but many will be used for our event. You may park in the Sunshine Center Lot or on Mirror Lake Street parking. Did I mention they’ll tow you?
Tweed Ride 2018 is this Saturday!
January 20th, 2 – 8 PM
Tickets are available for the most delightful day of the year in St. Petersburg. You are cordially invited to attend the 7th Annual St. Pete Tweed Ride and Gala at the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club. Presented by the club and Cycle Brewing.
Proceeds from this event support the work and mission of the St. Petersburg Shuffleboard Club, the oldest and largest of its kind, established in 1924. This year, we have chosen an exciting Club renovation project to fund—updating the interior of the original Clubhouse! Buy your ticket now and help us make this space the warm and welcoming environment that it has been for nearly 100 years.
Doors open and registration begins: 2:00 PM
Tea and scones, plus croquet.
Ride starts: 4:00 PM
A leisurely bike ride through downtown St Petersburg, wearing your finest tweed or other fashionable vintage.
After party: 5:00 – 8:00 PM
Eat, drink, and dance your way through the evening. Soul Food Street Kitchen Food Truck, Cycle Brewing, and Intermezzo will be here for food and drink purchase after the ride. Woveprint.co will be creating Tweed Ride t-shirts on site.
Music by Mondo Diablo.
The event will take place rain or shine!
Club members receive a discounted rate of $25. Non-members rate is $35. Kids under 16 are free.
Not a member yet? Get an annual membership and Tweed Ride ticket bundle to receive the Club Member rate.
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
The event is all ages. Cycle Brewing beer and Intermezzo cocktails will be served by donation, therefore we will be checking IDs at registration. This is not a BYO event!
What are my transportation/parking options for getting to and from the event?
Some parking is available in the lot east of the Club, in the street parking spaces around Mirror Lake, or in approved spaces on the west side of the Club near the Bike Co-op. The west lot is shared with the Mirror Lake Condos, so park only in unmarked spaces or you risk being towed. If you can bike to the Club instead of driving, please do so.
St. Pete Bike Co-op 