TAMPA, Fla. — On any given day, you're likely to see people walking, jogging or cycling along the Tampa Riverwalk. It's a popular attraction for visitors and residents alike. But there could be a day in the city's future that the trail becomes bike-free.

What You Need To Know

  • Tampa Mayor Jane Castor confirmed that she ultimately would like to move bikes off the Riverwalk

  • Currently, there is a 5 mph speed limit for bikes and signs to remind cyclists to yield to those on foot

  • Castor said the city would first have to add more bike lanes to the surrounding streets before making the Riverwalk bike-free

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor didn’t set a specific time, but did tell Spectrum Bay News 9 that she ultimately would like to move bikes off the Riverwalk. 

“We want to encourage more bicycles and fewer cars throughout the city, but we also need cyclists on Riverwalk to slow down and respect everyone else enjoying the pathway,” Castor said in a statement. 

Darryl Hepburn rides his bike on the Riverwalk anywhere from three to five times a week. Hepburn said he loves the views along the Hillsborough River, but at times the path can be chaotic.

“It is like the Wild Wild West because you’ve got people going every which way,” he said. “But I think if we made some rules, I think people would respect those rules and I think bikers and pedestrians can co-exist.”

There’s already a 5 mph speed limit and signs along the path to remind people on bikes to yield to those on foot. Alex Henry, the city’s interim chief transportation planner and team leader of Vision Zero, said there have been similar concerns raised about other walking and biking areas, like the Pinellas Trail.

Henry said the city is working on building up its bike network and said taking bikes off of the Riverwalk could give cyclists more direct routes that avoid having to weave around pedestrians. 

“With the five mile-per-hour speed limit, that’s a pretty leisurely pace for most cyclists,” Henry said. “If you’re really trying to get through downtown using the Riverwalk, from a transportation standpoint we’re really trying to provide some better, more comfortable options to better accommodate those different trip types and those different users.”

A few blocks up from the Riverwalk, Eli Parker-Cruz spends his days selling and fixing bikes. A self-described bike enthusiast, Parker-Cruz said he understands both sides of the issue. 

“Mostly everyone I’ve seen is pretty respectful,” he said. “Even if you’re cruising down at a pretty considerable speed, you’re not looking to run anyone over. I don’t see too much of it actually, but I do hear that occasionally people can be a little rowdier than is welcomed.”

Parker-Cruz said he fears if bikes are not allowed on the Riverwalk, more cyclists sharing the road with cars could be dangerous. 

“The streets are not friendly,” he said. “That’s why bikers are there and that’s ultimately the issue. This is just putting a band-aid on a hole in a barrel.”

A few pedestrians on the Riverwalk Saturday morning said they would be in favor of taking bikes off the path. Hepburn said he would support the idea of creating a designated bike lane along the Riverwalk, but would be disappointed if he could no longer ride his bike.

“The Riverwalk attracts bikers,” he said. “I think it’s therapeutic. I think it wouldn’t be a good thing if they did take it away. To be able to ride a bike downtown, this is where you can do it at.”

Mayor Castor said before the city makes any moves to take bikes off the Riverwalk, they would first have to add more bike lanes along the surrounding streets. There is no specific timeline set for those upgrades yet. Henry also said that the city is also looking at adding protected bike lanes, which would have a physical separator between cyclists and cars.