If you have ever been in the Gulf Coast area surrounding Treasure Island, Clearwater or St Petersburg you will have seen signs highlighting the Pinellas Trail
The Pinellas Trail was originally thought of in the 1980s by a man, whose son was killed while riding his bike, in association with the Pinellas County Metropolitan Planning Organizations Bicycle Advisory Committee. This committee working with the Pedestrian Safety Committee wanted a safe place to enjoy bicycle riding walking or jogging.
Together they achieved their plans when the first five-mile section of the Pinellas Trail opened in 1990. This connected Taylor Park in Largo to Seminole Park in Seminole. The Trail became really popular with far more people using it than had been expected so much so that plans were put into motion to connect the County, from north to south, with a continuous Trail.
The Trail is only open during daylight hours and has quite a few rules that must be adhered to:
Alcoholic is prohibited
Pedestrians and handicapped have the right of way, wheelchairs should use the pedestrian lanes and electric handicap wheelchairs are always permitted.
Cyclists are required to obey all traffic controls and signals.
Cyclists are not permitted to wear headphones at any time and at under age 16 they must wear a helmet. I think the headphones is a particularly good rule as I do worry about the amount of people in the UK that are wearing these and are seemingly oblivious to the traffic around them.
Electric bicycles are not allowed on the Pinellas Trail.
Cyclists and skaters should obey the posted speed limits. No racing, race training or pace lines. Skaters should use the bicycle lanes, and both skaters and cyclists should give an audible warning when passing.
Motorized vehicles (except electric handicap wheelchairs, maintenance, law enforcement and emergency vehicles) are not allowed on the Trail. Neither are horses.
Pets must be kept on a max. 6 foot lead and kept under control.
The construction of ten overpasses and three underpasses allow Trail-goers to travel above or underneath traffic at the busiest intersections, you can look up at some intersections and see these trails.
It is estimated that about 70, 000 people use the Trail which is now 37 miles long each month, this is not only visitors that use the Trail but also residents to get to work or to shops. The Trail is like a corridor which links some of Pinellas County’s most picturesque parks, scenic coastal areas and residential neighborhoods. While traveling along the Trail you will see ancient live oaks with Spanish moss, quiet waterways and tidal streams with all varieties of land and water birds. There are also refreshment stops along the way.
In the past we have only observed the trail but I think next time we go to the Gulf Coast we may travel along the Trail ourselves.