Cycling support: People, places, organizations that promote bike life

By Linda B. Crider

Special to the Daily News

Among the people, places and organizations that have helped push forward the development of Palatka and Putnam County’s trail system, a few names stand out. Here is a little bit about how trails advocate Kraig McLane, bicycle shop Putnam Bicycles and the Putnam Blueways and Trails Citizens Support Organization have contributed to the local trails scene in Putnam County.

Kraig McLane

As a professional planner in Citrus County, McLane first came in contact with the rails-to-trails concept during the development of the Withlacoochee Trail.

After moving to Putnam County in 1990 and starting work with the St. Johns River Water Management District, McLane got a phone call one day from MaryAnn Koos. He had met Koos in 1985 when she was working in Tallahassee with the Department of Natural Resources. She told Kraig to look out his office window, on State Road 100 at the time, at what was going to become a new rail trail. A year later the state department began the acquisition process of property near the railroad, to develop a multi-use trail from Lake City to Palatka.

In the mid-1990s, the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce, with urging from trails advocate Herb Hiller, sponsored a trail development committee that became the vehicle for a trails master plan. County Commissioner Brad Purcell became very active with this committee, eventually making it an official committee of the Board of County Commissioners and asked the state transportation department to include a trail along the U.S. 17 corridor from Palatka to Volusia County as part of a lane widening project. This was to become part of the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop Trail.

McLane has been involved in trail efforts for 32 years in Palatka and Putnam County. He even bought a house and farm adjacent to the trail along St Rd. 100 so he could keep an eye on it and raise his two children near the trail for easy access and family rides. McLane co-chairs the county’s Waterways and Trails Committee, and pushes for support and funding to develop and maintain local trails.

“The State of Florida has made a $20,000,000 investment to Putnam County’s  $100,000 match, a pretty good leveraging of our local funds over a 30 year period,” McLane said. “What’s not to like about that?”

Still, there is work to do before the trail system is complete. Efforts are continuing to try to close the gap between County Road 309B and State Road 17 on the Lake Butler to Palatka State Trail along 100, and the completion of Putnam County’s portion of the St. Johns River-to-Sea loop from East Palatka south to the Volusia County line. The northern section from East Palatka to St. Johns County (and stretching up to I-95 just outside St. Augustine) is already completed.

When asked what he would like to see in the future for the trails, McLane said he wishes there was more proactive government and tourism agency support for a trails ecotourism initiative.

“We see trail users coming all the way from San Diego, California, to Palatka en route to St. Augustine and the completion of their cross-America trip,” McLane said. “We are the ‘hub’ for cycling in Northeast Florida, mainly because we are the only place to safely cross the St. Johns River on a bike for 40 miles in either direction.”

Putnam Bicycles

The bicycle sales company sits on the corner of St. Johns Avenue and Crill Avenue, across from the Dairy Queen.

Don Gooding owns and co-manages the shop with son, Dana Gooding. The elder Gooding moved from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in June 2008, where he had been managing Bikes USA, a national chain store. He saw an opportunity here in Palatka, where a trail system was emerging and there was no bike shop. So Gooding opened up Putnam Bicycles at 330 St. Johns Ave in October, 2008. Soon after, Gooding found that location was too small and relocated to his present location on Crill Avenue.  Gooding said his primary business falls less in sales than in repairs.

As a smaller business, Gooding said it is difficult to procure high-end, big name cycle brands. Plus, keeping them in stock would not match the economic demographics of the area. But he said he is happy to research and find bikes for people who know what they are looking for.

Gooding is a founding member of Putnam Blueways & Trails and is always willing to help with trail events in the area by supplying parts, helping riders with flat tires, and picking up what he calls “strays,” riders who need a lift back to the starting line at an event.

Gooding and his son Dana, run the shop six days a week. Both said they would like to see the trail system continue to grow, and more people begin to see bicycles not just as recreational vehicles, but also environmentally friendly transportation.

Putnam Blueways and Trails Citizens Support Organization

The Putnam Blueways and Trails Citizens Support Organization was created in 2012. Several people who shared a passion for the outdoors wanted to help support the development and operation of the trail system in Putnam County.

Member Sam Carr had already been working with the state on a designation of the Blueways paddling trails, while Kraig McLane and others were working with the Florida Department of Transportation on the state’s rails-to-trails initiatives.

The organization was founded with a $1,000 donation and gained traction with Gaye Esperson and Kevin Sharbaugh helping to give the group a 501(c)3 nonprofit status.

After ten years of events and trail support, the organization has spawned the Bartram Committee and the nonprofit Bartram Trail Society of Florida. Creative fundraising helped build a trailhead and kiosk on the Palatka/Lake Butler trail, along State Road 100 and is renovating a community building for Florahome.

The board of directors for the Putnam Blueways and Trails group is made up of, largely, the same people who founded the group. The organization is actively recruiting members.

To be notified of area events or to find out more information about the organization, go to Putnambluewaysandtrails.org.

Linda Crider is the chair of the board of directors for the Putnam Blueways and Trails Citizens Support Organization, board member for the Bartram Trail Society of Florida and a member of the Putnam County Waterways and Trails Committee.