Want to get involved? Apply to serve on MPO and Lee County bike/ped advisory committees

There are FIVE openings on two committees for citizens interested in getting involved in bike/ped  issues--the MPO's Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee (BPCC) and the County's Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).  Here's your chance to make a difference in your community.

MPO's Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee 

The BPCC consists of the local and state agency personnel and citizens who are responsible for bicycle and pedestrian planning for their agencies. Based on the recommendations in the MPO's 2011 countywide Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan, the BPCC bylaws were amended to expand the membership to include citizens and broadened the mandate of the committee.  The committee is now responsible for leading the implementation of the Master Plan, and is currently overseeing the implementation of the Bicycle Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (BPSAP), the TIGER grant complete streets initiative project, and will be updating the Master Plan, among other initiatives.  The committee coordinates local agencies' bicycle/pedestrian planning activities, reviews provisions for pedestrians and cyclists in state and federal-aid surface transportation projects, and advises the MPO on the development of the bicycle and pedestrian element of its transportation plan and the programming of bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

The committee meets monthly (fourth Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m. in Fort Myers downtown library).  It reports directly to the MPO Board at each MPO monthly meeting.

There are two open seats for citizen members of the BPCC.  Interested individuals should apply directly to the MPO staff and the BPCC was make the recommendations to the MPO Board for approval. If you have questions, contact Ron Gogoi (MPO staff) or Dan Moser, a BPCC member.

Lee County's Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee 

BPAC is an 11-member committee, appointed by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, which evaluates and recommends bicycle and pedestrian facilities (bike paths, bike lanes, sidewalks, shared-use paths, etc.) to be built in Lee County.   This committee sets the priority order for the many bike/ped facilities that need to be built by the County.  There are currently three vacancies.  One vacancy is the District #3 representative (Chairman Kiker's appointment), which is basically the south end of the county.  Another vacancy is the bicycle industry representative.  The representative can be a local bike shop owner/employee, active bicyclist or bike club member.  The third vacancy is an at-large representative, so anyone can apply for that position. The committee meets every third Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. in the Lee County Public Works Building in downtown Fort Myers.  For more information, check out the BPAC webpage.  If you have questions, contact Andy Getch (LeeDOT).  If you are interested in applying, contact Kim Kirton with Public Resources. 

So, don't just talk about becoming more engaged in your community, volunteer NOW to serve on a committee that is working to make Lee County more bike/ped-friendly, with complete streets and a more balanced multi-modal transportation system.