Our mission is to establish Jacksonville as a city that is increasingly safe, accessible, and friendly to bicycle transportation.
Email: info@bikejax.org
Here is a safety video for both bus driver and cyclist produced by the Chicago Transit Authority. I think it should be mandatory viewing for all JTA bus drivers. I almost never see them signal their intent when I follow on bike. Which leaves me always guessing when and where they are pulling over for stops, turning or returning to the flow of traffic.
As for passing forget about getting the 3 feet passing distance required by state law. Most busses pass by me so close that I wonder if I should be reaching in my pocket for fare.
The portions of the video directed towards the cyclist are the standard rules of the road. But worth viewing judging from the way I see most cyclists endanger themselves and others with the way they ride through traffic.
It was the summer of '08 when bike bloggers and cycling advocates began a petition requesting Google to include a "Bike There" routing option in their maps.
Today the Google Gods ended our long wait and announced the release of the beta version of a bike there option in . The Google blog has all the info about the release.
Google say's, "More than 12,000 miles of trails are included in biking directions and outlined on the map, covering over 150 cities across the states. And more are being added."
I tested a couple of the heavily used routes just to see what the suggested routes would be. The first one I did was Downtown to Five Points in Riverside. I used Hemming Plaza as the starting point and Park & Post Streets as the destination.
Looking at the map you may be wondering, why not Riverside Avenue since it has bike lanes? The map did what Google said it would do. That is find the quietest roads with the least amount of hills. And Park St. is far less trafficked than Riverside Ave. Also the Park St. railroad viaduct is a far easier climb that the one on Riverside Ave.
The unfortunate thing is that Google Maps as of yet does not recognize the Riverwalk as a bike trail. Which is the most traveled route between Riverside and Downtown.
As this is a beta release, Google asks that you encounter a problem with bike there directions to use the "Report a problem" link at the bottom of the left hand column as pictured below.
I have already reported the missing Riverwalk and I hope that some of you will do the same.
Notice the dark green lines denoting a bike route on both Acosta and Main St. Bridges. It's really sad that a city bisected by a river keeps cyclist and pedestrians limited to to 2 of the 7 bridges (soon to be 8) that span the river.
The second route I tried was Atlantic Blvd. & Kernan Blvd. to University of North Florida.
This route didn't do near as well as it did with the downtown route. It sends you down Beach Blvd. which is a very heavily traveled 6 six lane road. It also doesn't show the Kernan Blvd. Bikeway that runs along that length of Kernan from Atlantic Blvd. and ends just short of the entrance to UNF. If you use this route please make sure to report as problem using the link provided by Google as mentioned above.
Google does however include in its database both the Jacksonville-Baldwin Rails to Trail and Black Creek Trail in Orange Park.
Overall, I think the beta of the bike directions is outstanding and will only get better more accurate with time and input of local riders.
Try some of your own and let me know how well it works for you.
Despite the temperatures continuing to be well below average for us here in North Florida. People bundled up and flocked to the opening of the second season of the Riverside Arts Market.
While we at the bike valet didn't take the beating the we took during last year's opening day. We were very happy with the steady flow of people that kept the bikes racks close to full through out the day.
The first bike showed up an hour before the opening of the market. Roxanne (pictured above) and is proudly displaying the first valet ticket of the season. You can read more about Roxanne and her car-free life in her commuter profile she did for Bike Jax a while back.
This mother and daughter traveled from their home 3 miles away. 3 miles is a very short distance on a bicycle and easily ridable for a child as long as you remember that they are a child and let them ride at their pace and not yours.
Our new sponsor Regions Bank was well represented with our new banners. We even had a couple members of the bank ride over on Regions Cruisers. You will have an opportunity to win one of these bikes soon. I'll give you more details on how that will happen shortly.
Speaking of bikes, If you didn't make it out to the market on opening day. Make sure when you do, drop in to check out these beautiful European bikes from Nest Living. They will be on display and available for purchase all season right next to the bike valet.
Bike Jax is very happy and excited to be able to provide the Free Bike Valet for a second season. We are looking forward to keeping your bike safe and secure while you enjoy everything that the Riverside Arts Market has to offer.
Tomorrow marks the opening day of the second season of the Riverside Arts Market (RAM). Bike Jax will be there to continue the much requested free bicycle valet service. Only this time we will not be alone.
We are very excited to announce that Regions Bank will be joining us as our sponsor through this season of RAM. Here is the the first look at the new banners we will be sporting this year.
We will also open this season as we closed the last and will be joined once again with Jacksonville's only mobile bicycle repair service, Alex of The Bicycle Clinic. He will be there providing simple tuneups and minor repairs. Stop by and get your bike checked out.
Next to us on opening day in what is now called the Fringe of the Art Market will be Nest Living. Jacksonville's only source for authentic European bikes. Come check out the Dutch made Batavus and Italian made Abici bikes. Take a test ride and see for yourself what style over speed look and feel like.
We are still located in the same place we were last season. If you have not used the bike valet click on the map above.
If you live outside of the Urban Core and you're looking for a way to combine your modes of transport via bike and car or bus you can find all info you'll need HERE.
We also have a very limited numbers of I Bike Jax shirts left. And for the opening of Arts Market they will be $5. Get them while they last.
May is bike month here in Florida. While the rest of the nation holds off celebration of bike month until May. The reason I have been told that Florida has chosen March is that because it's too hot in may. That may very well be the case in South Florida, but here in North Florida with night time temps around freezing and daytime highs of late not much more. Bike Jax will be following the rest of the nation and withhold the celebration of bike month until May.
Our honorable Governor Charley baked to a crisp Crist has reach into his files and rolled his tried and true yearly March is bike month proclamation today.
Here is it for all your reading delight.
It appears that ol'chucky has taken the time to update this years proclamation with the addition of a couple more Whereas's. If you would like past proclamations for comparison, here is 2008 and 2009.
I want to welcome It's a Girl Thing Cycling Clothing as a new sponsor of Bike Jax.
It's a Girl Thing is Liz and Jennifer a couple of local ladies that were just "Two women, two bicycles, and nothing to wear."
They go on to to say, "that's what we thought when we checked out the market for women's cycling clothing. We women should not have to settle for mediocrity. It's a Girl Thing has done something about it!
No boring fluff. We are attitude, comfort and style. What you wear is a reflection of you. Our clothes are uniquely designed with women cyclists in mind. Our mission is to have every woman cyclist out there Feel Good, Look Great, and Ride Better."
You can find their line of jersey's, shorts and t-shirts at local bike shops or online HERE.
Bike Jax rolled out the the bell ring tone last fall and since then it has been downloaded over 2200 times.
After more emails than I care to count asking for a message tone. I am happy to say it is finally available. It's perfect for your text, IM and email alerts.
You can test it out on the lefthand side of this page. Download it HERE.
If you would like the ringtone you can get it HERE.
ZenCog is not only Jacksonville's newest bike shop, it is also the hottest going right now. Located in Riverside in the historic Mary Built Building on Stockton St at the corner of College St.
If you've been dreaming of building up you own dream bike. ZenCog is the place to visit to get your dream ride on the road. While they specialize in single-speed bikes. They are in no way limited to building bikes for the gearless set. You can read more about them HERE.
Alot of you by now have an opportunity meet Alex of mobile bicycle repair fame. His was generous enough to donate his time and skills offering free repairs and tuneups at the Bike Valet the last couple of months at the RIverside Arts Market.
I'm happy announce that he will be joining Bike Jaxat the Bike Valet again at RAM this season which opens March 6th.
If you need anything done to your bike from flat repair to a complete restoration give Alex at The Bicycle Clinic a call. Our original article about Alex can found HERE.
Ok guys, it's that one day of the year you had better be on your game. I don't care how many times your gal said, "oh, don't bother doing anything for me on Valentines." I'm going to let you guys in on a secret. It does not matter how much she espouses her distain for day. She's lying. She cares and she cares deeply. And you had better go out of your way to let her know how special she is and how lucky you are to be with her.
If you follow these easy steps you will not only make your gal very happy. You may just end having some fun yourself.
Step One:
Bring on the flowers. All woman love getting flowers. I think it's build into their DNA.
Step Two:
One word, Chocolate. Again, built into DNA.
Step Three:
Make the day all about her. Plan a day around a nice bike ride. See a movie (one of her choice.), plan a picnic if the weather allows. A ride to museum is always a good choice. Unstrap the helmet and let the blood flow to that noggin of yours and put some thought into. There are a ton of things you can do with her that will make her feel like a queen and not break the bank.
If you followed the 3 simple steps above and you let her know how special you think she is. She just may return the favor and make your evening special.
If you're tired of sitting around the house and are seeking a reason to get on your bike, hear some great bands and mingle with the masses. The it thing this weekend is Pass the Mic N' Bike II.
Following up from the largely successful October event, we're presenting Pass the Mic n' Bike 2!
New bands, New locations (one old favorite) - same awesome story.
Meet up at Memorial Park at 7:45ish and we'll be biking to one riverside house to hear the St. Augustine's PREMADONNASAURUS, then onto Warehouse 8b (Talleyrand) for a dueling set between STARING DAGGERS and CIVILIZATION and then onto a Springfield manor for DEVIL RUNS THE TRUCKSTOP (mere blocks from Shantytown).
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