Is there a bike lane map of Jacksonville so that I know which roads have bike lanes or at least which roads have sidewalks and are biker-friendly. I just moved here about a month ago. We only have one car and my husband uses it to go to work so the bike is my only option to get around during the day as well as running/walking. I haven't tried the public transit system yet, but I'm really against getting a 2nd car. Any advice for a link where I can find a biker's map of Jax?
Thanks,
Hope to see you on the road!
Jessica
p.s. I'm at Southside and Gate-so far I've found a pretty good bikelane on Belfort Rd!

Jessica,

I have not found a map yet. I live close to your neighborhood, Southside and Deerwood (south of JT Butler). Most newer roads have bike lanes. If you tell me which places of business you like to visit then I can provide some more detailed information.

There are many internal roads that do not have bike lanes but are fairly low traffic. I use a bunch of them as alternate routes to my destinations and stay away from busy roads like Southside, University, Beach Blvd etc. You can send me a private message if you like.

Also, kudos to you for not wanting to be a 2 car family. It is challenging in Jacksonville but doable.

After I was talking about bike lanes on Belfort Rd., I was at the intersection, near the Belfort and 202, and this mean man in an SUV with tinted windows didn't look both ways when coming out of the parking lot where the post office was, and all of a sudden I saw this huge vehicle coming towards me- not stopping. I threw my bike in front of his car, ran to the otherside of the sidewalk, and screamed as loud as I could. He was with a cell phone in one hand a drink in another as his window somehow came down(not sure which hand he used) and told me that bicycles were not allowed on these roads and that I shouldn't be biking around here. I was appalled. I yelled back, "It's your responsibility to look both ways before leaving a parking lot, asshole!" He didn't reply. I think he realized that he was in the wrong. I know that there were cars behind him honking-and I'm not sure if it's because they saw me coming from the opposite direction and didn't want me to get hit or because they were inpatient for this man to just go. I'd like to think they were on my side because I screached so loud, even my throat was hoarse afterwards. Instead of giving up my intent to explore the neighborhood, I took my safety route which was gateway, all the way to Baymeadows Rd., back up to South side and then my husband met up there with the bike rack. Since at some point on southside, the sidewalk stops, and I'm not good enough nor daredevil enough to get onto southside blvd with those speeding cars, so I thought to be better safe than sorry. Then I realized that Old Skinner Rd. may cut into Southside, and old skinner cuts into gate which is where I live off of. Is this true. Is there a sidewalk connection between old skinner and southside?

Thanks for your help. you see to be very knowlegable!

Jessica

p.s. Do you know any good places to purchase sturdy front and back bike baskets for grocery shopping, school books, etc?

The first thing I would do is call the non emergency police number and report the crime. Give a general description of the person and the vehicle. It is ok if you don't have the tag. 

Secondly, there is a sidewalk between old Baymeadows rd and A. C. Skinner. It is on the east side of Southside. It takes a turn into deerwood park blvd. You can try to cross Southside at that intersection into A. C. Skinner which will lead you into belfort and jtb. 

Bike lanes are not always safe. We as Bikejax are pushing for segregated paths. There is one on Kernan between UNF and Atlantic. See post here: http://www.bikejax.org/2009/02/kernan-blvd-bikeway-beginning.html

The best place for front and rear bike baskets is Wald baskets. I bought mine online. My Dutch bike had a Wald 137 in the front. For something heavy duty, CETMA makes good front racks. All are available online. 

We (Matt and I) will be parking bikes at the bike valet station at the riverside arts market. www.Riversideartsmarket.com

Come by tomorrow between 10 am and 4 pm if you can an say hi.