Clearwater celebrates the day set aside to promote national trail awareness.
By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published June 4, 2004
CLEARWATER - He mounts his Giant OCR 1 road bike every day and peddles 5 miles through quiet neighborhoods near his Clearwater home.
Then he turns toward Palmetto Street, eases onto the Pinellas Trail and starts his sweaty 18 mph commute to the Energy Conservatory Bike Shop, his family-owned business 3 miles away in downtown Dunedin, to begin his day.
Bob Nohren has done this for a long time. He started biking to work in the 1970s, during the energy crisis, when the nation first realized there may not be an endless supply of gas.
"I said, well, I'd try to be energy conscious, coming out of the '60s and long-haired," Nohren, 57, said. "I (asked myself) what can I do with the environment and family in mind?"
He is one of many daily commuters who bike to work using the trail Monday through Friday. He and many others do it for several reasons: It's good for your health, car emissions are bad for the environment and gas prices have skyrocketed to more than $2 a gallon.
The more than 40-mile Pinellas Trail is used by an estimated 1-million people a year.
With that in mind, Clearwater is joining the nation Saturday to celebrate National Trails Day with activities meant to draw more attention to that trail, its cousin, the East-West Trail and the many shorter trails within the county park system.
The day was set aside 12 years ago by the American Hiking Society to promote national trail awareness.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the city is closing part of East Avenue and inviting the public to participate in free fingerprinting for children, bicycle games, Clearwater Police Department Bicycle Patrol demonstrations, bicycle safety information, displays, free soft drinks and prizes.
Across town at the Toys "R" Us on U.S. 19 in Clearwater, a bicycle rodeo will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. It will feature more fingerprinting, free bike tuneups and a fun obstacle course youngsters can traverse to improve their riding skills.
The city hopes they use those skills on the trails, which they view as more than just fun.
"Trails bring a lot of benefits to the community," said Clearwater's bicycle and pedestrian coordinator Felicia Leonard, who also commutes by bike to work sometimes. "Tourism benefits. Economic development benefits. And it (offers) mobility transportation alternatives. They can use the trails to get to shopping and work."
Since prices at the pump have jumped, Nohren said, he has noticed more people are buying racks and packs designed to hold everything from groceries to business files.
WHERE: From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday on East Avenue between Pierce and Franklin streets in downtown Clearwater; a bike rodeo takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Toys "R" Us at 26286 U.S. 19 N, Clearwater.
ACTIVITIES: Children's obstacle course, fingerprinting, bicycle games, displays and more. Demonstrations of the Segway human transporter at the morning event.
