Here lies the grave of Willie A.,

Who died defending his right-of-way.

He was right, dead right, as he sped along,

But he's just as dead as if he were wrong.

Provided by Sanibel Bicycle Club member Nancy Lynd
The bicycle racks are full on a recent Sunday at Farmers Market. City of Sanibel photo
 Bicycle racks are full on recent Sunday Farmers Market
Aesop couldn't have said it better. It's just a little four-liner, but it carries a powerful message. With 25 miles of Shared Use Paths for cyclists and pedestrians that take all sorts of twists and turns combined with increased use of bicycles this season, messages like the one above are important.

The demographics on Sanibel are simple. Lots of people drive cars and lots of people ride bikes. Part of the people in the cars and part of the people on the bikes know all the rules. Part of the people don't. The first group has to watch out for the second group. Proving a point that one side has the right-of-way isn't worth ending up in a heap.

Stop! Look! Listen! Think! before you cross the street!

That's another one from the Sanibel Bicycle Club. Didn't we all learn that somewhere around age 3? Yes, we did, but to those who haven't been on a Shared Use Path before or for a motorist who doesn't even know there is a path nearby, sometimes even this oldest of reminders can get lost in the mix.

The city is doing a lot this season to combat traffic. A big spoke in the traffic wheel is getting people to use their bikes instead of spending their vacations being stuck on Periwinkle Way. The bicycle racks at the Farmers Market on Sunday morning are full. Many people took bikes to the recent Rotary Arts and Crafts Fair. It's working.

In a way it's robbing Peter to pay Paul. We're not looking at gridlock on the bike paths, but they are busier. We applaud the city for its traffic initiative and we applaud the Sanibel Bicycle Club for its continued effort to promote safety. The club watches over the paths by pointing out problems on them and the club delivers great messages just to keep people thinking.
Stop, Look, Listen (take out your earbuds) and Think at driveways, crosswalks and intersections!

Headphones are not allowed on the paths, but again, not everyone knows that. For all the ins-and-outs of the bike paths and to view the bike club's excellent video about riding on Sanibel, visit their website here.