Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Cape Coral Bike-Ped's leader Carolyn Conant finalist for 2016 Trailblazer of the Year award

At the end of every year, News-Press announces the finalists for its People of the Year awards, which honor "those who have made tremendous community impacts and changes lives along the way." There are eight award categories, including Person of the Year and Trailblazer of the Year.  Over the past six weeks, News-Press has featured profiles of the finalists for all the 2016 People of the Year awards. Today the paper focused on the three finalists for the Trailblazer of the Year award, including Carolyn Conant, the leader of  the Cape Coral Bike-Ped group. The award winners will be announced on Feb. 21st. See the original December BWL blog post about all the finalists.
 
News-Press, Jan. 31, 2017, by Frank Bumb:  Carolyn Conant puts the trails in trail blazer

Photo: Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com
 Sometimes the term “trailblazer” is a term of art, meant to convey the image of a bold person showing their comrades the path forward through a figurative wilderness or laying track for others to follow in their footsteps.

Carolyn Conant, is literally making the paths for others to follow. Ideally through walking and cycling. Carolyn Conant leads Cape Coral Bike-Ped volunteer organization.

Dedicated to increase the amount of walking and cycling opportunities in the 10th largest city on Florida and one of the country's fastest growing areas, the group has turned Cape Coral into a cycling destination.

Her efforts are why she, along with Barbara Manzo of Lee County's 20/20 Conservation Committee and Karthryn Kelly of the Heights Foundation were nominated for The News-Press' Trailblazer of the Year. They will be honored Feb. 21 during the News-Press People of the Year Awards at FGCU.

Conant, 67, and her group has already made significant progress.

In 2015, the city was recognized as a bicycle-friendly city for the first time. In October, the city’s public works division secured a nearly $1.8 million Florida Department of Transportation grant for preliminary engineering and design of a 7-mile long, 12-feet wide trail. The trail will run along Kismet Parkway from Del Prado to Burnt Store Road.

Grant paves way for new Cape Coral bike-ped trail


Cape Coral Spokeswoman Connie Barron praised Cape Coral Bike-Ped’s partnership to help secure the grant.

“The partnership we’ve had with Cape Coral Bike-Ped has been extraordinary,” Barron said.

But Conant, a Cape Coral resident for almost 23 years, and Cape Coral Bike-Ped are not done yet.

“We’ve got three main goals for 2017,” Conant said. “We’ve got our Complete Streets Bike-Ped Master Plan, promoting bicycle tourism and our education and safety initiatives.”

The master plan represents a report of community concerns over cycling and pedestrian concerns for areas in their neighborhoods and how the city can expand those opportunities from the 90 miles of paths it has already.

Conant emphasized over and over that the master plan and the group’s other works are not meant just for cyclists but for runners, joggers, walkers, parents with their kids in strollers and more.

“I’m actually not much of a cyclist myself,” Conant said.

But Conant wants to keep Cape Coral thriving, adding miles of accessible bike paths to provide options for some car-averse millennials and others, will keep Cape Coral along that path.

That goes hand-in-hand with promoting Cape Coral as a bicycle tourism destination. Which, if the paths are constructed right, will highlight the city’s burgeoning entertainment and dining options.

“We want to get the word out that this is a good community to come to, ride your bike from one spot, and see what the Cape has to offer while you’re doing it,” Conant said.

The third goal, education and safety initiatives, is all the more pressing because of recent report from Smart Growth America released Jan. 10 that had Lee County as the most dangerous areas for pedestrians and cyclists in Florida and the country. But while that report looks back, Conant hopes increasing education about safety will get Lee County out of that cellar.

"We've got a real opportunity this year."

CAROLYN CONANT
  • Her role: Leads the volunteer Cape Coral Bike-Ped group
  • Three goals for 2017: Complete Streets Bike-Ped Master Plan, promote bike tourism and improve safety awareness.

Monday, January 30, 2017

January 30: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events


Upcoming events

Running/walking:

Cycling:
  • Friday, Feb. 3: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow ride through Fort Myers starting at 7:15 p.m. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the open field next to Publix at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. (twitter.com/swflcm or http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Saturday, Feb. 4: Weekly Saturday Morning 12-14 mph ride. A ride that will help adults make the transition from casual riding to road biking. 13 miles total. Rolling at 8:30 in the morning. Please arrive early to air up and prep. Meet at Shops at Surfside, 2354 Surfside Blvd, Cape Coral. (https://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/237288450/)
  • Friday, Feb. 10: NE-Lee Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7:30 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended. (http://www.meetup.com/Bik ing-SWFL/events/)
  • Saturday, Feb. 11: Weekly Saturday Morning 12-14 mph ride. A ride that will help adults make the transition from casual riding to road biking. 13 miles total. Rolling at 8:30 in the morning. Please arrive early to air up and prep. Meet at Shops at Surfside, 2354 Surfside Blvd, Cape Coral. (https://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Saturday, Feb. 11: Sanibel Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7:15 p.m. at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended. (http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Saturday, Feb. 17: Roll Estero Critical Mass ride. Meet up 7:00 p.m., roll at 7:30 p.m. Grab your bike and helmet and come join the new ride for the 3rd Friday of every month. This will be a shorter seven to eight mile ride around the quiet neighborhoods of Estero and San Carlos Park. Invite your friends and relatives. We'll be ridiing in the dark so don't forget your front and rear lights. Meeting location: parking lot of Our Lady of Light Catholic Church at 19680 Cypress View Dr, Estero, FL 33967. (https://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Saturday, Feb. 18: Weekly Saturday Morning 12-14 mph ride. A ride that will help adults make the transition from casual riding to road biking. 13 miles total. Rolling at 8:30 in the morning. Please arrive early to air up and prep. Meet at Shops at Surfside, 2354 Surfside Blvd, Cape Coral. (https://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Friday, Feb. 24: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. This is an 11 mile ride that rolls as a group at a very relaxed speed of 8-10 mph with a 10 minute break half way through at the Cape Coral Yatch Club. As with all night rides, bike lights (white on front and red on back) are required and helmets are strongly encouraged, required if under 16 years old. 7:00 p.m., Farmer's market parking lot, 4706 SE 11th Place, Cape Coral. (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Ongoing: Join the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club on one of their many weekly rides for members and potential members, with an array of paces and routes to choose from. Check them out online at www.caloosariders.org.
  • For more Lee County cycling and tri events, visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL). 
  •  
Triathlons:

Friday, January 27, 2017

Billy Hattaway honored as 2016 Complete Streets Champion of the Year

On Jan. 27th, representatives from BikeWalkLee (Darla Letourneau and Margaret Banyan) traveled to Orlando to present Billy Hattaway with BikeWalkLee's 2016 Complete Streets Champion of the Year award.  BikeWalkLee, along with the larger transportation world in SWFL, owes a great debt of gratitude to Billy for his tireless leadership and assistance in support of complete streets.
Darla Letourneau and Dr. Margaret Banyan present BWL award to Billy Hattaway at Orlando City Hall
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Issued Jan. 27, 2017
Contact: Darla Letourneau, (239) 850-3219, dletourneau@bikewalklee.org

BikeWalkLee, a local community coalition advocating for complete streets in Lee County Florida, has selected Billy Hattaway, Florida Dept. of Transportation's (FDOT) District 1 Secretary (2011-2016) as the 2016 Complete Streets Champion of the Year for his visionary and passionate statewide and local leadership in support of complete streets and pedestrian and bicycle safety. 

Billy Hattaway
“Today we honor Billy Hattaway as an outstanding champion of complete streets and pedestrian and bicycle safety throughout Florida, and specifically in Lee County, over the past decade," said BikeWalkLee’s Darla Letourneau.   

"Hattaway also initiated transformative change in FDOT’s design and operation of roads, shifting the focus from a car-centric culture to meeting the needs of all roadway users in a context-sensitive way. His six-year tenure as District 1 Secretary, along with his statewide leadership of FDOT's bike/ped safety campaign and its Complete Streets Implementation Plan, and his commitment to a balanced multi-modal transportation throughout his career, leaves a lasting legacy for the current and future generations of Floridians, county and city officials, local agencies, advocates, as well as the department itself," said Letourneau.

Southwest Florida has benefited from having a nationally renowned leader of Secretary Hattaway's commitment and caliber assisting its communities over the past six years as they strive to implement complete streets and a more balanced multi-modal transportation system that is safe for all users.  Hattaway’s willingness to assist in any way he was asked, both publicly and behind the scenes, has made a difference to the citizens of Lee County today and well into the future when some of these new transportation approaches will come to fruition.

BikeWalkLee is grateful for its long-term partnership with Secretary Hattaway on many bike/ped safety and complete streets initiatives over the past nine years, first as a consultant on the Lee Metropolitan Planning Organization's first ever countywide bike/ped master plan, and then during his six-year tenure at FDOT.  Since BikeWalkLee's inception in 2009, he has supported our advocacy efforts and included us as full partners with a seat at the table.  His hands-on participation in local complete streets efforts, bike/ped safety campaign and events in Lee County,  the Tice Community walking audit project,  the Lee MPO TIGER grant, promotion and support for modern roundabouts, among many other activities, was instrumental in creating momentum for trying innovative approaches in jurisdictions throughout SWFL.

He has exposed local leaders to innovative treatments such as roundabouts and road diets, context-sensitive complete streets, traditional neighborhood development, and the integration of land use and transportation planning.  He also helped local officials, staff and community leaders navigate the paradigm shift that is occurring in the transportation world.

 Secretary Hattaway inspired and motivated many agencies, individuals, and organizations throughout Southwest Florida and statewide to become champions of complete streets and livable communities, resulting in an expanded local bench of champions that can carry the torch forward, another of his lasting legacies.

Secretary Hattaway left FDOT at the end of November 2016 to become the Director of Transportation for the city of Orlando.  While his FDOT leadership will be greatly missed, we are confident that the Complete Streets Implementation Plan for FDOT he launched in 2014 will meet its completion date of February 2018,  integrating a complete streets approach into the fiber of FDOT's policies, guidances, and way of doing business, thus institutionalizing the many changes he undertook during his tenure.

"BikeWalkLee is deeply grateful to Secretary Hattaway for his many contributions to the complete streets movement across the country, throughout Florida, and especially in Southwest Florida,” said Letourneau.  “The city of Orlando is lucky to have Billy as its Transportation Director, and we are confident that his contributions to the complete streets movement will continue in his new post."  
# # #

BikeWalkLee is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County—streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Other information, statistics and background is available online at www.BikeWalkLee.org. Also see our blog at http://bikewalklee.blogspot.com, and look for us on Facebook & Twitter.



Wednesday, January 25, 2017

News-Press Editorial: Safety for pedestrians must be priority

 In response to the Dangerous by Design 2016 report ranking the Lee County metro area as the most dangerous area in the country for pedestrians, News-Press published an editorial today outlining some of the changes needed to make safety for pedestrians a priority in our area.  Kudos to the News-Press for this editorial and for their long-standing commitment to reporting on and spurring the community to act to improve pedestrian/bicyclist safety throughout Lee County.

News-Press Editorial, Jan. 26, 2017
The News-Press Editorial Board , mailbag@news-press.com


The recent news that Lee County ranks as the most dangerous of the 104 largest metro areas in the country for pedestrians probably wasn’t a surprise, but it certainly is sobering and should provide another wake-up call for officials and law enforcement to be vigilant about safety.

We have seen the statistics for years that Lee County ranked as one of the worst areas for cyclists and pedestrians, and for distracted driving, in the state. This report, released earlier this month, called "Dangerous by Design" and from the National Complete Streets Coalition, put a national perspective to our major issue. In the past nine years, 164 pedestrians have been killed in a region of about 700,000 people, including 17 in 2016. In 2016, there was a 10 percent increase in road fatalities, with 108 traffic deaths overall – the most since 2006 when 121 were killed. The deaths continued a trend from 2015 when there was an 18 percent jump in road fatalities. There were 3,213 statewide road fatalities in 2016, a continuous five-year rise from 2,430 deaths in 2012. In Lee, the 108 deaths were 44 more than in 2012.

The patterns over the past two years are alarming when you consider there were consistent decreases in fatality rates for close to 20 years, with just over one fatality per one million vehicle miles traveled in 2014.

Fatalities increase when the population grows, an improving economy means more people on the roads and drivers are negligent and distracted.

Officials must do more to change the statistics in favor of safety. Law enforcement officials must increase patrols to crack down on speeding and distracted driving. It is time to look at the ineffectiveness of the state's no texting while driving state law and upgrade the law from a secondary offense to a primary one. Only then, do we have a fighting chance to decrease road fatalities if stricter distracted driving laws are written and enforced. Florida needs to join the 46 other states that have texting while driving as a primary offense.

The national coalition, which includes Smart Growth America and AARP, used data from 2005 to 2014, and there have been improvements to safety for cyclists and pedestrians in our area. A $10 million federal grant in Lee Metropolitan Planning Organization's Complete Streets project has been completed with 13 additional miles of walking and biking infrastructure throughout the county. Cape Coral was recently awarded $6 million in state funds to build shared use paths and sidewalks on Kismet Parkway. This follows an awarding winning, 90-mile, bike-pedestrian route built throughout the city.

We compliment the Florida Highway Patrol for announcing this week the renewal of the Arrive Alive campaign, which it started 46 years ago, focusing not only on writing tickets, but also educating motorists and targeting intersections where fatal crashes occur more frequently and putting infrastructure in place to make those roads more safe. FHP plans to target U.S. 41, State Road 82 and I-75.

But this also is a call to government officials to make sure all new road designs and expansion of existing roadways use the complete or smart streets concept. All major roads should include a design for wide bike paths with a buffer from traffic and pedestrian sidewalks.

BikeWalkLee, an organization focused on bringing awareness and solutions to the importance of safe roads for everyone, recently completed a walking audit of the safeness of roads in Lee County. The organization partnered with Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida and FGCU, working with a grant from the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation through the Southwest Florida Community Foundation.

The report, released last week, focused on the communities of Tice and Dunbar with audit participants walking the areas. They engaged with community members during their walks and assessed the areas.

The 59 participants who completed the research, discovered:
  • The significant need for street lighting throughout Tice and Dunbar.
  • The need to improve, or install accessible features required by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
  • The need for bike lanes.
  • Improved maintenance of sidewalks and crosswalks.
  • Widespread street flooding – especially in Tice - encroaching into sidewalks and crosswalks.
     This audit should help local government officials determine where best to invest infrastructure money to help make necessary neighborhood improvements.
Ranking as the deadliest area in the country for anything is cause for alarm, and we hope local officials will take this latest report on the county’s deplorable safety record seriously and immediately begin assessing its infrastructure, addressing the continuing need for safe and smart streets and educating those who use the road – motorists, cyclists and pedestrians – on the importance of following the law.

Those who live and visit here will feel much better and safer if by 2019 when the next coalition report on safety is expected to be released, we are far away from being the most dangerous in America for pedestrians.

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

FHP renews Arrive Alive campaign amid rising fatalities

In light of Lee County's recent ranking as the most dangerous area in the country for pedestrians, it's great to see the Florida Highway Patrol, the Lee County School District, and Stay Alive...Just Drive, Inc., along with other community partners, launch a campaign yesterday to address distracted driving.  Human behavior is one of the causes of our high roadway fatality rates--in general, and specifically for pedestrians and cyclists.  As the FHP official said, "Lead by example," ...encourage parents to talk to children and employers to talk with workers about problems associated with the use of cell phones and other devices while driving."

News-Press, by Michael Braun, Jan. 23, 2017

The carnage on Florida's roads has gotten so bad, the Florida Highway Patrol has revived a program it started 46 years ago.

Florida Highway Patrol officers and representatives from a number of Lee and Collier county police agencies, schools and hospitals announced the renewal of the Arrive Alive campaign on Monday.
(Photo: Michael Braun/The News-Press)

"In 2015, our serious injury crashes increased by 3 percent and our fatality crashes jumped by 17.7 percent," said FHP, Major John F. Baumann, commander of SWFL's Troop F.

Lee County roads recorded more than a 10 percent rise in fatalities in 2016 with 108 traffic deaths reported, the highest number since 2006 when 121 were killed.

FHP will focus on more than just writing tickets. Besides enforcement it will educate, as well as using data to pinpoint roads and intersections where fatal crashes happen, Baumann said. The state will make possible fixes to make the roads safer.

The main roads being targeted in Lee County are U.S. 41, State Road 82 and I-75, said Lt. Greg Bueno, a spokesman for the FHP.

"We will put our focus on these areas," he said.

Florida had been experiencing consistent decreases in highway fatality rates for close to 20 years, with a low of 1.24 fatalities per million vehicle miles traveled in 2014.

Population growth, lower gas prices and more cars on the road were cited for the increase, along with distracted driving.

Jay Anderson, a local safe driver authority, was among representatives from a handful of Lee and Collier county agencies who helped launch the renewal of the Florida Highway Patrol's Arrive Alive campaign. A double-digit rise in statewide fatal cashes was cited for the renewal effort.
 
"Lead by example," Baumann said, and encouraged parents to talk to children and employers to talk with workers about problems associated with the use of cell phones and other devices while driving.

Ken Dobson from Lee County Schools warned about careless driving. He cited a recent special one-day study showing that 334 drivers illegally passed school buses in the county.

"These are buses with red flashing lights and stop arms down," he said. "We implore drivers to be more careful."

"Ultimately, the person behind the wheel or handlebars is supposed to be in control of the safe operation of the vehicle," said Jay Anderson of the Stephen Emerson Driving School of Fort Myers and executive director of Stay Alive ... Just Drive Inc. "Safe driving is no accident."

Connect with this reporter: MichaelBraunNP (Facebook) @MichaelBraunNP (Twitter)

Statewide road fatalities

2012: 2430

2013: 2402

2014: 2494

2015: 2955

2016: 3213

Source: Florida Highway Patrol

Lee County fatalities

2016, 108

2015, 95

2014, 81

2013, 92

2012, 64

2011, 75

2010, 65

2009, 80

2008, 77

2007, 106

2006, 121

2005, 150

2004, 108

2003, 121

2002, 71

2001, 113

2000, 103

Monday, January 23, 2017

Want to improve walking and biking in Fort Myers Beach? Share your ideas online on Community Input Map



Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Underway
Ft. Myers Beach Community Input Map is first opportunity for input

Want to improve walking and biking in the Ft. Myers Beach?  This is your chance! The Ft. Myers Beach Community Input Map is the first step in a larger effort to improve walking and biking in the Town.  Ft. Myers Beach, in partnership with the Lee County MPO and Lee County, is undertaking the development of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.   This interactive map allows you to note walking or biking issues and/or make comments on improvements to the network you’d like to see, such as a particular bike route you’d like built, attention to a missing link, etc.  The results will be used to identify and prioritize projects during the planning process.

Click on this link to access the map.  Instructions are provided at the link for using the interactive map.

In addition to the online map, there will be other opportunities to provide your input in person and help shape the goals for the project. 

Please join the Town, your friends, and neighbors at an interactive, community workshop on Wednesday, February 15 at the Town Hall (2525 Estero Blvd, Ft. Myers Beach, FL) from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. We want you to share with Town staff: What does it mean to you to walk and bike in Fort Myers Beach? How can we improve bicycling and walking in Fort Myers Beach? What would encourage you to walk and bike more? And how can we better connect you to your destinations?

The workshop will include a presentation about the project, interactive exercises to collect ideas for plan recommendations, and time to talk with Town staff and project team members about your interests and ideas to improve walking and biking in Fort Myers Beach.

Please feel free to share the online map link and information about the community workshop.  We would like to gather as much input as possible.

Thank you for your contribution toward this effort.

LINKS:

Link to map.

Link to information on the Town's website about the project.



Streetsblog USA: Can America’s Most Dangerous Place to Walk Change Its Streets?


Being ranked the most dangerous metro area in the country for pedestrians (Dangerous by Design 2016 report), can negatively impact the reputation of all communities in Lee County. See Streetsblog USA Jan. 20th article below: Can America’s Most Dangerous Place to Walk Change Its Streets? Their article quotes from BWL's commentary in News-Press on Jan. 19th.
Note that the photo they used to illustrate how dangerous our streets are (pulled from Google Maps) is the intersection of Boy Scout and Summerlin--one of the many intersections in Lee County that are "dangerous by design".
Good luck, pedestrians. Streets and intersections like this make Fort Myers, Florida, the most dangerous place for walking in the U.S. Photo: Google Maps via Artie Bonney
By Angie Schmitt    Jan 20, 2017

The most dangerous metro area in America for walking is Fort Myers, Florida, according to Smart Growth America’s “Dangerous by Design” report. In the last nine years, 164 pedestrians have been killed in this region of about 700,000 people.

People like Nivea Sarabia, who was killed in 2014 at age 84, trying to cross the Hancock Bridge Parkway near her home in North Fort Myers. The 45 mph road curves sharply and lacks crosswalks, reported the Fort Myers News Press. The driver in the case was not charged, because “the woman violated his right-of-way,” the paper reported.

Residents of Fort Myers are about four times more likely to be killed while walking than residents of Minneapolis. And that risk is higher among poor, elderly, black, or Latino residents.

Fortunately, Fort Myers has a committed group of reformers who have been working to address the problem. And the area has been making some strides. The advocacy organization BikeWalkLee helped secure $10 million in federal funding to redesign streets for greater safety. But the recent Dangerous by Design report shows more must be done, the organization’s leadership wrote in a column for the local paper:
The report clearly demonstrates the urgent need for increased public and private investment in pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure to make Lee County’s transportation system safer for all users. The policies are in place, and the plans are ready to go. What is needed now by all municipalities, the county, and the state is implementation — the investment of adequate funding detailed in these plans. It cannot be business as usual — safety improvements need to be on the ground as quickly as possible.

A chronic culture of danger for area walkers and bikers threatens not only residents and visitors; it undercuts our economy; threatens our ability to attract and retain businesses, workers, and families to live and work here; undermines our tourism marketing; and underlines a growing safety gap driven by socioeconomic conditions and geographic patterns.

Investments in complete streets and bike/ped strategies not only make our streets safer for all users (including motorists), they make good economic sense. Today, more and more people want to live and work in walkable communities, yet Lee County lags far behind in offering them. We know from research that sidewalks and shared use paths increase the value of homes in those neighborhoods. Bottom line: Investing in creating and maintaining walkable communities is a win/win strategy.

It’s also time for Lee County jurisdictions to focus on equity. Our most economically disadvantaged communities are the ones suffering the disproportionate share of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, yet investments don’t match the documented dangers. For example, much work has been done over the past five years with the Tice community with thorough identification of problems and community-supported recommendations to policymakers. However, to date, only small efforts have been taken by policymakers to implement and fund the changes requested by the community and needed to make this vulnerable community safer for walkers and cyclists.

January 23: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events


Upcoming events

Running/walking:

Cycling:
  • Friday, Jan. 27: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at 7:30 p.m. at 4706 SE 11th Place for a family-friendly ride through the Cape. Lights required, helmets recommended. (http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Saturday, Jan. 28: SW Florida Critical Mass will offer a starter/sightseeing ride on Saturday; gather at 9 a.m., roll at 9:15 a.m. from 2160 McGregor Blvd. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction. (http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Saturday, Jan. 28: 9th annual Hands Across the Harbor, 13.1 mile longboard and 13.1 mile bike ride, plus a 20 or 30 mile bike ride, which incorporates the mile-long Gilchrist Bridge that spans Charlotte Harbor (www.trifind.com/re_289167/9thAnnualHandsAcrosstheHarborHalfMarathonRunRideandRoll.html)
  • Friday, Feb. 3: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow ride through Fort Myers starting at 7:15 p.m. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the open field next to Publix at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. (twitter.com/swflcm or http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Friday, Feb. 10: NE-Lee Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7:30 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended. (http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Saturday, Feb. 11: Sanibel Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7:15 p.m. at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended. (http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Ongoing: Join the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club on one of their many weekly rides for members and potential members, with an array of paces and routes to choose from. Check them out online at www.caloosariders.org.
  • For more Lee County cycling and tri events, visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Triathlons

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Time to build on investments to keep roads safe

BikeWalkLee op-ed
The News-Press, Jan. 18, 2017


For more than a decade, Lee County has consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous areas for pedestrians and cyclists both in Florida and nationwide, and Florida has ranked the most dangerous state in the country. The “Dangerous by Design” 2016 report, released by Smart Growth America on Jan. 10, takes it to the next level by ranking our community as the worst in the country, with Florida continuing as the worst state in the country.

It is important to note that this report is a look backwards (2005-2014), assessing pedestrian deaths in those years. It does not take into account recent efforts throughout Lee County to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. It does, however, provide a clear-cut justification for the many efforts to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety in Lee County over the past seven years, as complete streets policies were adopted throughout the county.

The report clearly demonstrates the urgent need for increased public and private investment in pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure to make Lee County’s transportation system safer for all users. The policies are in place, and the plans are ready to go. What is needed now by all municipalities, the county, and the state is implementation -- the investment of adequate funding detailed in these plans. It cannot be business as usual -- safety improvements need to be on the ground as quickly as possible.

A chronic culture of danger for area walkers and bikers threatens not only residents and visitors; it undercuts our economy; threatens our ability to attract and retain businesses, workers, and families to live and work here; undermines our tourism marketing; and underlines a growing safety gap driven by socioeconomic conditions and geographic patterns.

Investments in complete streets and bike/ped strategies not only make our streets safer for all users (including motorists), they make good economic sense. Today, more and more people want to live and work in walkable communities, yet Lee County lags far behind in offering them. We know from research that sidewalks and shared use paths increase the value of homes in those neighborhoods. Bottom line: Investing in creating and maintaining walkable communities is a win/win strategy.

It's also time for Lee County jurisdictions to focus on equity. Our most economically disadvantaged communities are the ones suffering the disproportionate share of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities, yet investments don't match the documented dangers. For example, much work has been done over the past five years with the Tice community with thorough identification of problems and community-supported recommendations to policymakers. However, to date, only small efforts have been taken by policymakers to implement and fund the changes requested by the community and needed to make this vulnerable community safer for walkers and cyclists.

Safety is not only driven by infrastructure and investment, but also by education and enforcement. Of particular concern is the growing epidemic of distracted driving, where technology far outstrips legal protections to keep drivers’ focus on the road. We need to change drivers’ behavior. Stronger state laws and enforcement are needed to fight distracted driving.

This report comes at an opportune moment for Lee County. The $10 million federal investment in the MPO's Complete Streets Initiative project has just been completed, with 13 miles of additional walking/ biking infrastructure connected to our existing network. In addition, Cape Coral has been awarded almost $6 million in state funds to construct shared use paths and sidewalks on Kismet Parkway; these will eventually connect with and be part of the statewide trail system.

Now is the time for local jurisdictions to build on these substantial federal and state investments in our community. Local jurisdictions need to invest in further improvements that will meet the complete streets goals these projects support -- to reduce bike/ped fatalities and injuries, increase usage of the bike/ped facilities, grow bike tourism, and increase the economic benefits to the community.

We cannot stand still. We either move forward to make our infrastructure safer for bikers and walkers, or accept higher pedestrian and cyclist death rates as more citizens move here and then suffer a subsequent economic downturn when people begin to realize their quality of life is slipping because investments have not been made to make roadways safer for everyone. Now is the time to embrace change by funding a safer future (our specific recommendations are at bikewalklee.blogspot.com).

We must all work to make our roadways safer, as drivers and pedestrians, officials and advocates. We should not tolerate being dubbed the worst in the country in any criteria – certainly not in something as essential to one’s quality of life as safety.

BikeWalkLee is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County — streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at BikeWalkLee.org

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Don’t be afraid to walk, bike, run in Lee County

BikeWalkLee column, the News-Press, 1/18/2017
by Ken Gooderham

(Photo: KINFAY MOROTI/THE NEWS-PRESS)
Last week’s report naming Lee County as the most dangerous area in the country for pedestrians is cause for concern. Not fear, certainly not a retreat from the lanes and paths, but concern.

As was mentioned in stories about the “Dangerous by Design” report, it is a look backwards (2005-2014) that does not reflect recent efforts to enhance the walking and biking infrastructure throughout our area. Similarly, it cannot reflect the lag time inherent in any transportation capital improvement, where progress is measured in years and decades rather than months and weeks.

But the report is a clarion call for continued pressure on all public officials and entities to keep working to improve our bike/ped facilities and incorporate all road users – especially the most vulnerable – in all aspects of transportation design. Whether it’s complete streets or stand-alone walking and biking facilities, it is incumbent on our governments to make our transportation system safer for ALL transportation users… but especially the ones who aren’t encased in tons of steel.

Why? Well, safety should not be optional on our roadways… not if something can be done to make things better, particularly something that’s within reach both in design and dollars.

And safety certainly should not be optional in an area that strives to attract tourists and residents. The “most dangerous” label is a black eye for us, undermining a lot of the work done (both public and private) to build bike tourism and enhance our outdoors quality of life for residents and visitors. Cities such as Sanibel and Cape Coral that have worked hard to make themselves bike havens now have to explain why they’re not as dangerous as this study avers… because, alas, perception always runs far ahead of reality in instances such as this.

That’s also a concern with current walkers and bikers: They’ll see the headlines (not the entire story) and start curtailing use of our sidewalks, bike lanes and shared-use paths. The committed users (and those ones who have no other options) will keep lacing up their shoes or jumping on their bikes, but the incidental users may be deterred by the implied danger, limiting their excursions to well-protected paths or stopping their outdoor walking or biking altogether.

In an area that’s near perfect for biking and walking, and that’s sorely in need of getting people moving more (not less), that would be a terrible outcome. It could even become self-fulfilling if fewer people are out walking, running and biking, since there really is safety in numbers – when drivers see more people out using the lanes and paths, they often become more aware of how their driving decisions can affect the well-being of those other users.

So what can you do to stay safe out there?
  • Keep walking, running or biking. Know your limits and stay with your comfort zones for walking and biking routes and routines, but don’t be afraid – just be aware.
  • Know the rules of the road… whatever “road” you’re on.  Know how to walk, run or ride with other users, be ready to take defensive action if necessary, and be consistent in your actions so other users (including drivers) know what to expect of you.
  • Recognize the real points of danger. Sidewalk and shared use paths are generally safe – except at the places where they intersect (literally) with motorized traffic. Exercise necessary caution at such intersections, and you’ll lower your risk considerably.
  • See and be seen. It cannot be said too often: Be aware of those around you (whether on foot, on a bike or in a vehicle), and do whatever you can to make yourself obvious to those other users… whether it’s bright colors or bright lights, or just avoiding erratic or risky actions.
  • Be an advocate for safety, or support those who are. Public officials and public entities respond to public pressure. That’s pushed this area to make a lot of needed and valued bike/ped improvements – but a report such as this should remind all of us we cannot sit on our laurels quite yet (if ever).

The name of the report – “Dangerous by Design” – is a dead giveaway as to the problem we face. Much of our transportation infrastructure was designed and constructed when motorized traffic was the main (if not only) focus of road builders. New roads are inherently safer by design, and older roadways often can be reconfigured to enhance bike/ped safety. But there are still a lot of thoroughfares where expensive retrofits are the only way to lower risk.

It’s not just Lee County… eight of the top ten most dangerous metro areas named in the report are in Florida. Whether that’s due to faster growth, faster traffic or a preponderance of road infrastructure built during the era of weak ped/bike designs, it’s a sign this is a statewide problem that may require a statewide solution.

One such solution would be to crack down on distracted drivers (like making texting while driving a primary offense rather than a secondary one) and looking at other ways to counter bad driving behavior (which can endanger walkers and bikers as much as a poorly designed roadway). All road users have to take responsibility to make our transportation system safer… and, hopefully, erase this dark mark on our region.


Get moving!


If you haven’t signed up for the Million Mile Movement yet, time’s a-wasting. Add your steps to your fellow walkers, bikers, runners or swimmers to help Lee County hit the million-mile mark by signing up at healthylee.com.


Ready to ride or run?


Run? 5Ks return with a vengeance starting Saturday, Jan. 21, with the Tour de Cape 5K and theWings Over Water 5K Nature Run in Lehigh Acres, followed by four races -- Calusa BUG Chase at the Calusa Nature Center, Run the Paws 5K at the Naples Airport, the Hancock Creek Elementary Snowflake Shuffle in Cape Coral and the Hands Across the Harbor 5K and half marathon in Port Charlotte – on Jan. 28.

Ride? This weekend is the 26th annual Tour de Cape, with distances for every cyclist (and plenty of support as well – details at tourdecape.net). Friday is the monthly Critical mass Roll Estero ride, while Jan. 27 brings the Cape Coral ride. Both are at night events, so bring lights (and a good attitude, of course). Jan. 28 is the morning slow roll through downtown Fort Myers. Helmets recommended for all, and details are at http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events.



# # #

Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County - streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at www.BikeWalkLee.org.

We’re number one and that’s a bad thing

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 1/18/2017 
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Dan Moser
The latest Dangerous by Design report shows an immediate need for significant improvements in our pedestrian and bicycle environment. How sad it is that the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area will be known for the next two years as the most dangerous place in the country to be a pedestrian?

This dubious distinction will stick with us well beyond the release of the next Dangerous by Design report in early 2019 and will undoubtedly affect tourism and decision making of those considering where to visit or even move to in Florida. The report is issued by Smart Growth America.

To be fair, the report is based on data from 2005 through 2014, so many of the gains made in terms of infrastructure improvements in the past two years are not included in the calculations that led to our dismal ranking. For example, most of the $10 million TIGER grant work (significant bike/ped projects in south Lee County) was done after 2014. And a few transportation projects that were approved since the majority of local and state jurisdictions adopted a Complete Streets policy are either just now underway or are still in the planning stages. Perhaps these improvements will equate to a better ranking by the time of the next report. But the lack of sidewalks, shared-use paths and bike lanes isn’t the only reason we have so many pedestrian and bicyclist crashes, injuries and fatalities. Another factor is human behavior.



Drivers are one of the biggest factors. Motorist inattention, aggressiveness and ineptitude are clearly much of the problem. The actions of pedestrians and cyclists are also part of the dynamic. But these human factors exist everywhere, so why are conditions worse in some places — particularly here — than anywhere else?

As the study’s title implies, the design of local transportation networks is a primary factor. In our case and those of others with similar focus on motor vehicle movement, this type of design creates expectations among drivers that we should move as quickly and as uninterrupted as possible whenever we’re behind the wheel.

The fact that so many streets are turned into highways and highway-like roads means vulnerable users must contend with that dynamic on an ongoing basis. Intersections designed for motor vehicles first and foremost with other modes being accommodated as an afterthought makes the hierarchy clear to all users and leads drivers to ignore crosswalks, common courtesy and laws intended to create a safe environment for non-motorists. This results in pedestrians and cyclists oftentimes making their own rules as a survival technique to get from point A to point B.

If the reason we’re number one were truly about human nature, in general Lee County and other communities with similar transportation network designs (i.e. most of those in the top 10 of the list, almost all being in Florida) wouldn’t consistently fare so much worse than other places around the country, neither in this ranking or in each of the previous Dangerous by Design rankings.

Among other things, human behavior is shaped by expectations, so the outcome isn’t really surprising. The findings of this report confirm what the injury prevention community, enlightened community and transportation planners, human service providers, some elected officials, and average citizens have long been advocating for: to take the problem seriously and to put pedestrian and bicycle accommodation and safety on the same level as that of the motoring public.

Spending a mere fraction of the overall transportation budget to plop down a sidewalk here and there (major outside funding sources like the TIGER grant aside) has gotten us to where we are now. What’s needed is a complete reset of our transportation network priorities and design standards. Anything less and we’ll continue to experience unnecessary and tragic loss of life, lives ruined forever by permanent injury, and significant economic losses to individuals and our community at large. If this doesn’t serve as a wake-up call to our elected officials, senior government staff, the business community and the general public, nothing will. See BikeWalkLee’s blog (bikewalklee. blogspot.org) for more on this report and what’s next. To see the complete report, visit www.smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design. ¦

- Dan Moser is a long-time bicycle/pedestrian advocate and traffic safety professional who cycles, runs and walks regularly for transportation, recreation and fitness. Contact him at bikepedmoser@gmail.com and 334-6417.

BikeWalkLee's testimony at Jan. 19th Lee Legislative Delegation Meeting

BikeWalkLee submitted its annual letter to the Lee County Legislative Delegation about our priorities for the 2017 legislative session.  Our letter requests members of the Lee delegation to champion and support legislation to make Florida roadways safer for all esp, esp. vulnerable users (including a stronger "texting while driving" law), bike tourism (including funding for the SUNTrail program). Doug Saxton will make BikeWalkLee's presentation at Thursday's meeting. [Link to BWL's Statement to Lee Legislative Delegation for 2017 Legislative Session] 


In light of last week's release of the 2016 Dangerous by Design national report (pedestrian safety) ranking the Lee County metro area as the most dangerous in the nation for pedestrians and Florida the most dangerous state, our recommendations to the delegation to enact and strengthen transportation safety laws, esp. for vulnerable road users, takes on new urgency. [Link to BWL's 1/10/17 blog on national report.]


·      

January 5, 2017

Members of Lee County Legislative Delegation:

BikeWalkLee is an award-winning volunteer community coalition with 70 supporter organizations raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County and promoting policies that enhance the safety of Florida's roadways.  The purpose of this letter is to highlight two important priorities we hope the delegation will support in the upcoming legislative session:

1) Provide enforcement tools to restrict the use of electronic devises that takes one's focus off driving (including texting while driving); and strengthen laws that make it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. 
2) Focused strategies that enhance economic development through bike tourism.

1. Strengthen driver safety laws to enhance bike/ped safety

Our top priority continues to be the need for stronger laws and enforcement tools to make Florida roadways safer for pedestrians and cyclists.  For more than  a decade, Florida has held the dubious distinction of being the most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians and cyclists.  (Locally, Lee County ranks in the top quarter of the most dangerous areas in the state.)  One of the reasons Florida has made so little progress is its lax driver safety laws.  Florida ranks as the seventh worst state for driver safety laws, as ranked by the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety.  There is clearly a relationship between high bike/ped fatality rates and lax driver safety laws.  It is critical that Florida make safety for all roadway users its top transportation priority. 
Across the country overall traffic fatalities have surged in the past two years by 7.2% in 2015 and an estimated 10.2% in the first half of 2016--the largest annual percentage increases in 50 years.  In Lee County, 2016 has already set a 10-year record of over 109 fatal traffic crashes--a 15% increase over 2015.  Likewise, Lee County's bike/ped injuries and fatalities continue at high levels, with 10 bicyclist fatalities in 2016--tying with the County's 16-year record high (in 2014).

Most experts agree that the primary cause of the surge in traffic fatalities is distracted driving, increasingly caused by the use of smartphones and internet apps.  Vulnerable road users -- pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists -- are at the greatest risk when drivers take their eyes off the road. This is a crisis that can no longer be ignored by the state of Florida.

While the Florida Legislature finally adopted a “texting while driving” ban in 2012, it was a weak bill and only a first step in addressing this growing epidemic.  Florida is one of only 11 states that doesn't make texting while driving a primary offense.  Since the 2012 bill was enacted, the share of Americans with smart phones has increased from 55 percent to 70 percent and the number of apps available for use by drivers today has exploded, further exacerbating the problem. 

According to the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles division, in 2015 12.2 percent of all crashes in Florida involved distracted driving, which includes texting and using your cell phone.  This means that more than 39,000 injuries and 200 fatalities in Florida involved a distracted driver.

It is critically important that the Legislature take action this year to address the growing dangers presented by the use of electronic devices while driving.  At the very minimum, the Legislature must strengthen the texting law so that texting while driving is made a primary offense.  In previous legislative sessions, bills have been introduced  which made texting while driving a primary offense, doubled the fines, and provided enhanced penalties for violations when committed in a school zone or school crossing. However, in each of the past four years, the Legislature has failed to take any action to strengthen its weak anti-texting law, and took no action to address the broader causes of distracted driving. 

For the 2017 session of the Florida Legislature, State Reps. Richard Stark and Emily Slosberg have filed a bill that would make texting while driving a primary offense. We urge the Lee delegation to not only support this legislation, but to strengthen  and champion it.  Sun Sentinel's excellent Dec. 15, 2016, editorial, "Get Tougher on Texting and Driving,"(attached) makes a compelling case for legislative action.

Another important long-term component in making Florida's roadways safer for pedestrians and cyclists is the implementation of FDOT's Complete Streets Implementation Plan.  This Plan, when fully implemented by 2018, will provide additional tools for state and local agencies to change the way roads are designed so that they're safer for all users.  We urge the Legislature to continue to support FDOT's Complete Streets initiative.

Finally, in addition to the safety imperative for improving the mobility of all citizens, providing safe walking and biking facilities is a key ingredient to improving the nation's health.  For the past several years, Lee County has participated in a national campaign to make walking a priority, with a focus on the need to build communities where walking is a safe and convenient option.  Not only is this critical to fighting the obesity epidemic, it is important to the economic health of our communities. Over and over, people have shown they want to live and work in walkable communities.  As the most dangerous state in the country for people to walk and bike, Florida is starting off with a serious handicap in providing its citizens with the tools-- safe and accessible walking and biking infrastructure--that provides  the ability to stay physically active and healthy.  There is unmet demand for walkable communities. Those areas around the country that have created vibrant walkable neighborhoods are reaping the economic benefits from their investment, while Florida lags behind. 

Much is at stake for Florida's future in making our roadways and streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists.  We urge the Legislature to make walkability and bike/ped safety a higher priority and an integral part of the State's economic development strategy.

2.  Focused strategies for economic development through bike tourism
We see bike tourism as a winning economic development strategy for Florida.  This lucrative niche market is especially attractive for international travelers and a younger demographic.  With Florida's temperate winters and flat terrain, the opportunity for destination bike tourism has an enormous potential for high returns on our investment in Florida. 

BikeWalkLee has long supported the vision of a connected and integrated statewide trail system throughout Florida. We applauded the Delegation's support of the 275 mile Coast-to-Coast Trail from St. Petersburg to Cape Canaveral National Seashore (funded by the Florida Legislature in 2013-2014), and your support for the creation of a new program, called SUNTrails (Shared-Use Nonmotorized (SUN) Trail Network, to be managed by the Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) with annual funding of $25 million.

Last year we collaborated with the nine contiguous Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) from Hillsborough to Collier counties in a regional alliance in support of making the Southwest Coastal Regional Trail the next priority region of the statewide trail plan.  Although the Southwest Coast Regional Trail was not selected as the next statewide priority, Lee County was successful in its SUNTrail grant applications to undertake two projects on the Southwest Coast Connector route -- the Kismet Parkway shared use path in Cape Coral, which is receiving $5.5 million in state SUN Trail grants to design and partially construct  the project (part of the Charlotte Lee Hendry Trail); and funds for the PD & E study for the last segment of the popular John Yarborough Linear Park Trail in Fort Myers. 

Bike tourism is already gaining traction in Lee County with the 2014 completion of Cape Coral's 90-mile bicycle routes system.  This route system makes use of existing biking facilities and ties them together with a comprehensive wayfinding system of signs and maps. This project has quickly elevated Cape Coral as a tourist biking destination and has sparked greatly increased usage of the facilities by residents and tourists alike, which led to Cape Coral winning a coveted national "Bicycle-Friendly Community" designation, which in turn brings more bike tourism to the area.

Further enhancing the county's biking facilities, the Lee MPO has completed construction of 13 more miles of facilities as part of its Complete Streets Initiative Project (funded with a $10 million federal TIGER grant). A soon-to-be installed wayfinding system will connect the new facilities to the existing ones.  The newly expanded and connected shared-use path system in the area will allow a cyclist to ride continuously at least 60 miles, and sets  the stage for enhanced economic benefits from bike tourism.

We urge the Delegation to continue its support for the SUNTrail program (especially the Southwest Coast Regional Trail in our region), provide full funding, and continue to look for new opportunities for economic development through bike tourism.  Bike tourism in the United States has an annual economic impact of $47 billion.  Florida's already one of the country's top markets for tourism, and with Florida's climate and flat terrain, we can position both SWFL and the entire state to get a bigger piece of the national bike tourism pie.

Both of our priorities for this legislative session are interrelated:  For the full benefits of bike tourism to be realized, it is critical that Florida rid itself of the label as the most dangerous state in the country for cyclists and pedestrians. 

We look forward to continuing to work with you on these issues.

Sincerely,
/s/
Darla Letourneau
on behalf of BikeWalkLee

cc: County Commissioners

Attachment:  Dec. 15, 2016, Sun Sentinel editorial: “Get tougher on texting and driving"
  [Link to BWL's Statement, including attachment]