Bicycle Bash Aims to Educate, Entertain

Calling all casual neighborhood biking enthusiasts, roadies and mountain bikers and urban cyclists.

Anyone interested in learning more about bicycling in the Tampa Bay area is encouraged to come to the 5th Annual Bicycle Bash.

This FREE event is set for 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 6) at Flatwoods Park, 14302 Morris Bridge Rd., Thonotosassa.

SWFBUD (South West Florida Bicycle United Dealers), an alliance of 12 Tampa Bay bicycle stores, puts on the Bash every year to promote and celebrate bicycling in Tampa Bay. Bicycling has come a long way in Tampa in the last five years and it's become a topic of interest for every day families and policy makers, too.

Organizers have prepared a wide array of fun bike activities for all. Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn will lead a bike ride around the 7-mile bike loop at Flatwoods Park at 11:15 a.m.

Admission FREE and parking is $2.

There will be plenty of giveaways for families:

• The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office will hand out FREE bicycle helmets for children.
• A FREE bike education class called BikeSmart will be held at 1 p.m..
• There will be FREE bike gear drawings at 2:30 p.m.

The Bash will include an amazing food line-up led by the and other area food trucks.

Musician Skip Mahaffey will entertain throughout the day and ABC Action News' own provide announcements.

The daughter of bicyclist Diane Vega who was killed last year in Tampa will be running the Bicycle Bash arts and crafts program for kids at the event this year.

An awards ceremony called the SWFBUDDYs will honor the contributions of people who make Tampa Bay more bicycle-friendly. The SWFBUDDY Award honorees are:

Tampa City Councilwoman Yolin Capin, for her support of shared road markings ("Sharrows") that have been placed on various streets in the city of Tampa. Councilwoman Capin also delivered a stirring speech at the Hub Grub Bicycle Ride in Seminole Heights in April.

Zachary Taylor, wellness specialist for the city of Clearwater's parks and recreation who started a bicycle sharing program.

Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon, for showing his love for bicycling during vareious media reports and doing a bicycle safety PSA.

Alicia Zicchino, Catherine Fritchman and Dan Magazu, for reaching out to the bicycle community and holding a bicycle memorial event to honor the life of bicyclist Dr. Robert Niedbalec, who was killed by a speeding motorist while cycling on Fletcher Avenue in Tampa in February.

Tampa Police Department, for applying Share the Road decals across the entire width of the rear window of its police cruisers.

St. Petersburg Councilwoman Leslie Curran, for her courage to return to bicycling after suffering a serious head injury from a bicycle crash.

Doreen Jesseph of Seminole Heights, for her generous contributions to donating many bicycle event fliers and supporting Seminole Heights bicycle club activities in Tampa.

To learn more, check out "5 Fast Reasons to Come to Bicycle Bash."