As 2019 gets underway, we at Bike/Walk Tampa Bay (BWTB) wish to take a moment to express our gratitude for our Advisory Board members. In the past few years since our coalition was formed, we’ve tackled a lot of challenges together, explored a lot of ways to address these challenges, and we’ve seen a lot of change in our collective communities. A big part of the success of BWTB on our board members; we couldn’t do it without these community leaders whose collective vision steer us forward.
2018 was a busy year. We wish to give special thanks two Advisory Board members who completed their board service last year––thank you to Jeff Johnson, AARP and Carrie Waite, St. Petersburg Bicycle Co-op for their tremendous efforts to help make Tampa Bay streets safer for those who walk and bicycle.
“I was honored to be able to serve on the Bike/Walk Tampa Bay board. AARP knows that a livable community has to have safe mobility options that enable residents to stay connected, and that includes cycling and walking,” said Jeff as he reflected on his BWTB Advisory Board service. “It was exciting to be a part of the board as Bike/Walk Tampa Bay launched and see the commitment and enthusiasm of my fellow board members for making Tampa Bay a better place for people to bike and walk. I particularly appreciated the chance to be, not only a voice for the significant population of Tampa Bay residents who are 50+, but also a voice for pedestrians in this group. There are a lot of people in this community who are passionate about cycling, but not many people are passionate about walking across the street. That’s an important perspective for a group like this, and I hope it’s one that AARP continues to bring to the table.”
Carrie had this to say about her time serving BWTB: “It’s been an honor to serve on the board of Bike/Walk Tampa Bay. I’m continually inspired by this community, my colleagues and new-found friends who dedicate so much of their time and work so tirelessly to make Tampa Bay a safer place for people to bike and walk. I’m so appreciative for their help in my obtaining League Certified Instructor (LCI) status and look forward to the next summit.”
The BWTB team wishes Carrie and Jeff the very best! We’re also looking forward to sharing the next leg of the journey with those Advisory Board members who continue to serve our critical mission. 2019, here we come!
Current Advisory Board members:
Jane Castor, Chair
Kent McWaters, Vice Chair
Lauren Brooks
Brian Kelly
Ben Montgomery
Randy Myhre
Steele Olmstead
Rob Zimprich
Board members serve three-year terms, with a maximum of two terms. For more information about our Advisory Board, please visit here.
Left to right: Broward Elementary School students finished their walking parade to school with prize bags donated by St. Joseph’s Children’s Health & Safety Center; Some students arrive on foot and some arrive on bike at Summerfield Crossings Elementary; Pride Elementary School students walking and biking through a beautiful sunrise were rewarded with some neon sunglasses, donated by AdventHealth Tampa.