Monday, February 27, 2017

February 27: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events


Upcoming events

Running/walking:

Cycling:
  • Friday, March 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, March 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, March 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/)
  • Sunday, March 12: 19th annual Royal Palm Classic, with 15-, 40- and 62-mile rides starting from Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr, Suite 27-28. (caloosariders.org
  • Friday, March 17: Roll Estero, 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Light Catholic Church at 19680 Cypress View Drive, Estero. Lights required, helmets recommended. (http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Sunday, March 19: Cycling for Fallen Heroes, 10-, 28-, 42- and 62-mile rides starting from Trek Bicycle Store of Estero (caloosariders.org).
  • Saturday, March 25: Pedal and Play in Paradise, 15-, 30- and 62-mile rides plus a mystery tour. Laishley Park, Punta Gorda (pedalandplayinparadise.com)
  • 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:
  • Sunday, April 2: Lake Avalon Reverse Triathlon, Duathlon & 5K, Naples (eliteevents.org)
  • Check trifind.com to find more regional and state tris.

Monday, February 20, 2017

February 20: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events


Upcoming events

Running/walking:
  • Saturday, Feb. 25: Swamp Stomp 5K, to benefit the Caloosa Human Society. 7:30 a.m., Grandeur Oaks Town Center, LaBelle (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Saturday, Feb. 25: 4th annual TALC Fun Run 5K, by the Teachers Association of Lee County. Hyatt Place at the Forum (3dracinginc.com)
  • Sunday, Feb. 26: Naples Coconut Run 5K.7:30 a.m. at Lowdermilk Park, Naples (gcrunner.org
  • Saturday, March 4: 5K Run for Special Populations, Special Population Center, 410 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
  • Sunday, March 5: Hooters Half Marathon, 7 a.m., Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Saturday, March 11: 2017 Shrimp Run 5K, Doc Ford’s on Fort Myers Beach (3dracinginc.com)
  • Thursday, March 16: St. Patrick’s Day 5K Fun Run, Fit & Fuel, 819 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples (gcrunner.org)
  • Saturday, March 18: Super Pelican Pride 5K, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
  • Saturday, March 25: Scope for Hope 5K Run/Walk, Hammond Stadium at the CenturyLink Sports Complex (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Saturday, March 25: Running with the Sharks 5K, Oasis High School, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
  • Saturday, March 25: 10K Run for the Music, Artis Naples (gcrunner.org)
  • For more running events visit gcrunner.org/calendar.html; ftmyerstrackclub.com/race-calendar; and 3dracinginc.com/.

Cycling:
  • 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/)
  • Saturday, Feb 25: 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. (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Friday, March 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, March 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, March 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/)
  • Sunday, March 12: 19th annual Royal Palm Classic, with 15-, 40- and 62-mile rides starting from Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr, Suite 27-28. (caloosariders.org
  • Friday, March 17: Roll Estero, 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Light Catholic Church at 19680 Cypress View Drive, Estero. Lights required, helmets recommended. (http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Sunday, March 19: Cycling for Fallen Heroes, 10-, 28-, 42- and 62-mile rides starting from Trek Bicycle Store of Estero (caloosariders.org).
  • Saturday, March 25: Pedal and Play in Paradise, 15-, 30- and 62-mile rides plus a mystery tour. Laishley Park, Punta Gorda (pedalandplayinparadise.com)
  • 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:
  • Sunday, April 2: Lake Avalon Reverse Triathlon, Duathlon & 5K, Naples (eliteevents.org)
  • Check trifind.com to find more regional and state tris.

Friday, February 17, 2017

Cape Coral selected as 'Bicycle friendly community of the year' by Florida Bicycle Association



The Florida Bicycle Association has selected Cape Coral as Bicycle Friendly Community of the Year. 


"Your efforts and achievements for bicyclists is shaping our vision for Florida to be a state where bicycling is safe, respected and encouraged as a means of transportation and recreation" wrote Becky Afonso, Executive Director of the Association in a letter to Cape Coral Bike-Ped.

"Your hard work and dedication to bicycling is to be commended and celebrated", she wrote. The award will be presented later this spring, probably in March (Florida Bike Month) or May (National Bike Month).

BikeWalkLee would like to congratulate Carolyn Conant and the entire group of volunteers of CCBP with this award. It is yet another encouraging sign of the continuing developments to improve conditions in Cape Coral and the entire area for bicycling and walking, as a mode of transportation as well as for recreation and tourism.

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Support is needed for four Southwest Florida outdoor projects

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 2/15/2017 
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Dan Moser
The new federal administration’s priorities are a problem for those involved in vulnerable road-user safety, increased access for non-motorists and Complete Streets. Even before this troubling transition took place, four important Southwest Florida projects were put at-risk because of local actions.

River of Grass Greenway

The River of Grass Greenway (evergladesrogg.org) is a proposed non-motorized transportation and recreation corridor across the Everglades connecting eastern Collier County and southwestern Miami-Dade. It’s already had some significant funding for studies and planning as well as for construction of some segments on either end. ROGG is part of the SUNTrail, a network that ultimately links Lee County and all of Florida’s southwest coast to the southeast coast.

Projected River of Grass Greenway trail along U.S. 41  (Image: evergladesrogg.org)
While there are plenty of supporters there are also detractors, including, improbably, some in the environmental advocacy community. There is also concern among Native Americans, whose land it will pass through.

When one considers the types of businesses and uses existing along that section of U.S. 41 (airboat rides and souvenir shops) ROGG represents much less impact and has more significance.

At this time the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization is considering a resolution to rescind its support of the project. All three of the MPO’s advisory committees - citizen, technical and bike/ped - have recommended against the resolution. The Miami-Dade MPO also remains behind continuing to study and plan ROGG. Collier’s elected officials who serve on the MPO need to take their advisory committees’ advice and reject this shortsighted resolution.

South Cape greenspace

A less ambitious undertaking but just as important in its own way is the fate of the former Cape Coral Golf Club property in South Cape. At 178 acres, it’s by far the largest greenspace in the city’s most established part of town. It’s privately owned and is currently slated to become a national homebuilder’s latest residential project unless the city steps in and purchases the property. An organization called Save Our Recreation (saveourrecreation.us) has been established to advocate for keeping this green gem a place the public can use for generations to come.

Able Canal Trail

In Lehigh Acres, a part of Lee County that’s notoriously underserved in terms of bike/ped accommodation, a 5.5-mile shared-use pathway is proposed to run along the north side of Able Canal. Besides serving as a recreation opportunity, it would provide a critical connection between nearby residential areas and parks. Among amenities being considered are way-finding signage, information kiosks, boardwalks and pedestrian bridges, making it a park in itself.

But, alas, a few NIMBY’s (not-in-my-backyard folks) have made their opposition known. See swflroads.com/ablecanalpathway.

Old Fort Myers

Finally, the city of Fort Myers has yet another opportunity to enhance its bike/ped environment in a long established part of town by utilizing public property to build a trail along the Winkler Canal. The trail would link Cleveland Avenue and points east to McGregor Boulevard and its neighborhoods. But significant opposition from those who live along the canal has become apparent, so Plan B may be a better option. Utilizing the southern and eastern edges of the Fort Myers Country Club to serve the same east-west connection and could also provide a proper north-south link between neighborhoods on either side of the golf course. Some of those opposed to the Winkler Canal trail have expressed interest in working with the city and advocates on alternatives, including Plan-B.

The east and south sides of the Fort Myers Country Club golf course could
provide space for a multi-use path.
(Photo Dan Moser/Florida Weekly)

See BikeWalkLee’s blog for lots more on these projects. ¦

- 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.

Group rides prove there’s strength (and fun) in numbers

BikeWalkLee column, the News-Press, 2/15/2017
by Ken Gooderham


Group rides offer different distances, allowing
riders of varying capabilities the opportunity
to participate
. (Photo: news-press file photo)
What can you expect at your first group ride?

Well, to be surrounded by lots of people who like to bike. If you discover that’s not the case, you may have joined the wrong event.

Seriously, a sizeable group going for a ride together is one of the attractions of group rides. There’s strength in numbers, of course, but also camaraderie, a chance to explore some new roadways and perhaps make new friends (or reconnect with old ones).

That said, there are also some things you should be prepared for if this is your first outing.

  • Be early: Assuming you’re hauling your bike via motor vehicle to the ride start, allow time to park, unload and make your final preparations. Don’t roll in at the last minute and expect a smooth transition from car to bike.
  • Know your start time: These aren’t timed events, but different lengths of rides usually go off at different times – to accommodate the expected travel times and also to spread out the bevy of bicyclists taking off at the same time.
When on a group ride, remember you’re on the roadway and need to act more like traffic…
signaling, obeying red lights, at least acknowledging stop signs, etc. 

(Photo: Special to The News-Press)
  • Know your limitations: Usually, group rides offer different distances, allowing riders of varying capabilities the opportunity to participate. It can be fun to test your endurance by picking a ride distance that’s a little outside your comfort zone… but if this is your first time out, don’t pick the longest distance as your place to start, unless you’re ready for a very long day.
  • Know the cutoffs: Tied to ride length, many rides will set cutoff times for either support or pickup. (It’s both to rest their weary volunteers and to tear down support stations, portalets and other infrastructure.) Know what yours is, unless you’re willing to finish the ride on your own.
  • Be prepared: Yes, most group rides offer support… but it can take time for help to get there if you’re out in the middle of nowhere (which is where a lot ride take you). Being able to deal with flats and other routine inconveniences on your own can help keep you moving, and save the support drivers for the big stuff.
  • Be polite: There usually are a lot of riders involved, so patience is a virtue (and a necessity). It’s also good form to keep an eye out for other riders, so ask the person you just passed by the side of the rode if they’re OK before pedaling on by. Also, remember you’re on the roadway and need to act more like traffic… signaling, obeying red lights, at least acknowledging stop signs, etc.
  • Know your route (a little): Most group rides provide maps and directions, so look at them. The good rides also mark the roadway, using arrows for turns and different color for different ride lengths. Still betting to have a little bit if a clue where you’re going then to get seriously lost where no one will come looking for you.
  • Have the right gear: Starting early (as most rides do)? Dress in layers so you can add or subtract as necessary. Chance of rain? Bring a water-repellent jacket. Chance of riding in the gloom? Have lights handy. Own a helmet? Bring it, as most rides won’t let you ride without one.
  • Have fun: That’s kind of the point, right?
Make sure you have the right equipment for your ride. If riding in the gloom, for example,
have lights handy.
(Photo: Special to The News-Press)
Want to practice your group riding skills, or try one out for the first time? Start with one of the best: The 19th annual Royal Palm Classic on Sunday, March 12, presented by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club. It starts and ends at Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr, Suite 27-28, Fort Myers… so adult beverages are likely on the menu. There’s a staggered start for the three ride lengths: The 62-miler starts at 8 a.m., the 40-miler starts at 9 a.m. and the 15-mile ride starts at 9:30 a.m. Info online at caloosariders.org.

Right after the Royal Palm are two more group ride options: Cycling for Fallen Heroes on Sunday, March 19, with 10-, 28-, 42- and 62-mile rides starting from the Trek Bicycle Store of Estero (caloosariders.org); and Pedal and Play in Paradise on Saturday, March 25, with, 15-, 30- and 62-mile rides plus a mystery tour based out of Laishley Park, Punta Gorda (pedalandplayinparadise.com)

A final note: The very popular (and prolific) Critical Mass rides are a different critter than the group rides discussed here. They are slower and geared for the easy rider, well guided and protected, focused on fun more than fitness… and held at night, which means lights are a must (and the more the merrier). Of course, a sense of courtesy as well as fun is always recommended, whatever the ride.

Ready to ride or run?

Run? If you’re looking for crowds and noise, this is your Saturday… the venerable Edison Festival 5K kicks off at 5:45 p.m. in downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com). If that’s not your style, you can go long (or not) at the Paradise Coast Half Marathon & 5K, on Sunday at Lely Resort, Naples (eliteevents.org). The following weekend has a trio of 5Ks: the Swamp Stomp 5K, to benefit the Caloosa Human Society. 7:30 a.m., Grandeur Oaks Town Center, LaBelle (ftmyerstrackclub.com); the fourth annual TALC Fun Run 5K, by the Teachers Association of Lee County at Hyatt Place at the Forum (3dracinginc.com); and on Sunday the Naples Coconut Run 5K.7:30 a.m. at Lowdermilk Park, Naples (gcrunner.org).

Ride? Critical Mass rides abound: Friday is the Roll Estero ride; the following Friday is the Cape Coral ride; Saturday, Feb. 25 is the starter morning ride in downtown Fort Myers; and the original downtown night ride is Friday, March 3. For the night events, bring lights (and a good attitude, of course); helmets recommended for all, and details are at http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events.




TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE

Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you’d like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.



# # #

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.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Gulf Coast Trail: Dream Trail Closer to Reality

It's exciting to see momentum building for the Southwest Coast Connector trail that's part of plans for a Florida statewide connected trail system.  
The News-Press feature article has several components, including a piece on the economic benefits of trails and a video that highlights the vision.  Thanks to Laura Ruane of News-Press for the great coverage. See links to previous BWL blogs on topic at end of this post. [Note: Photos in blog are not the ones in the News-Press article.]

News-Press, Sunday 2/12/17:  Southwest Florida dream: 300-mile, paved bike-ped trail closer to reality
By LAURA RUANE , LRUANE@NEWS-PRESS.COM
Front page of Sunday 2/12/17 News-Press

Picture a 300-mile ribbon of pavement for walking, running, bicycling or skating that stretches from Clearwater through Naples.

It runs past scenic waterfronts, bucolic landscapes and lively downtowns.

That’s the dream for The Gulf Coast Trail, known by some as the Southwest Coast Connector.

Its proponents say the trail will be a boon for bicycle-pedestrian tourism, and in some spots also serve commuting workers and schoolchildren.

It’s a big dream Isobel Hitchcock hopes will come true.

“There was no need for me to have a driver’s license until I moved to Florida,” said Hitchcock, a transplant from Denver who owns and operates the Ancient Art Tattoo Studio in North Fort Myers.

That was nearly 25 years ago. Today, Hitchcock doesn’t think she would commute to work on the trail, but envisions long weekends or even a weeklong vacation “riding 30 or so miles a day” on her bicycle, seeing some of the region’s best beaches, wooded areas and downtowns.

Not for recreation only

Support for paved trails is growing nationwide because they’re catalysts for safer walking and bicycling, increased tourism, higher property values, business development, health and wellness and overall community well-being.

But there’s much work to be done. The Gulf Coast Trail is a network of existing paved segments with numerous gaps to fill, and routing decisions yet to be made.

The good news is that Southwest Florida counties are uniting behind the concept – and substantial new state funding has started to roll in for bike-ped trail development across the Sunshine State.

Why the push for major, named regional trail networks?

With some noteworthy exceptions – New York City’s famous 1.8-mile High Line among them – long trail networks get more bang for their buck than individual, short trails.

Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation says when a trail is 150 miles or longer, that trail becomes a national and international destination, pumping up the overnight stays and economic benefits.

The SUN Trail breakthrough

Historically, bike-ped trail-building in the Sunshine State has been sporadic, with city and county governments scraping up what they could, competing with each other for state and federal grants.

Statewide, bike-ped trails’ big breakthrough came in 2015. That’s when the Florida Legislature passed a bill establishing the SUN (Shared-Use Non-motorized) Trail program, which makes $25 million available yearly for the development of paved, multi-use trail networks for bicyclists and pedestrians.

The money comes from a portion of the fees drivers pay for new motor vehicle license tags.

The Florida Greenways and Trails Council recommends priorities for links in the system.

The Coast to Coast Trail – nearly 230 miles long and connecting St. Petersburg with Titusville – got first dibs.

The council next recommended the St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop, a 260-mile route that will link the St. Johns River, St. Augustine and Titusville.

The remaining third of SUN Trail funds is designated for helping to fill gaps in other major trails.

Gulf Coast Trail proponents hope to qualify for dollars in that third spot, and ultimately move up in priority as the Coast-to-Coast Trail is substantially completed.

But they aren’t waiting for that to occur.

Transportation planners from the seven Florida counties of Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee and Collier have joined the Gulf Coast Trail Alliance, a collective effort aimed at raising public and private dollars to fill the gaps.

These planners and other bike-ped facility experts and enthusiasts met in Venice on Jan. 23 for a trail summit organized by the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority.

Staffers from County Metropolitan Planning Organizations reviewed the status of local trails included in the route map, gaps and possible detours.

What's happening in Collier, Lee?

In Collier County, the MPO will continue to collaborate with other agencies on completing the trail, said Eric Ortman, senior planner.

"There are financial challenges. Extending the Richard King Greenway may be a next logical step in the process," Ortman said.

The Richard King Greenway connects Radio Road and Rattlesnake Hammock Road, and is used by some work commuters as well as recreational walkers and bicyclists.

Lee County's MPO is seeking the Florida Greenways and Trails Council's endorsement for a coastal loop detour from the mostly inland trail route which would lead to Fort Myers Beach and Bonita Springs.
Lee MPO's Proposed Coastal Loop Detour Trail

That would make the trip more scenic and compatible with the Gulf Coast Trail theme, said Don Scott, Lee County MPO executive director.

The detour would pass by Lovers Key State Park, with one version also skirting Estero Bay State Preserve State Park and its lakes.

Portions of the detour, though, would have limited separation from busy beachfront Estero Boulevard, which is undergoing a county-funded bike, pedestrian and transit enhancement.

The Estero Boulevard improvement project already underway will build or include existing sidewalks anywhere from 8 feet to 9 1/2 feet wide in those sections of the boulevard where constrained rights-of-way won't allow bike lanes or would permit only sharrows. The latter are those shared road markings, often with a picture of a bike, reminding motorists that cyclists have a right to use regular road lanes.

That's OK with food safety manager Linda Anders, recreational cyclist who prefers trails to roads – even those with bike lanes.

Anders likes the idea of the Gulf Coast Trail  despite the likelihood some stretches will be on or near busy roads.

“Because it will be a designated trail, people will use it more often," Anders said. "And drivers will understand there will be bicyclists on it.”

It all comes with a cost. Lee County MPO estimates that total needs, including the coastal loop alternative, will cost nearly $36.5 million.

Grant paves way for new Cape Coral bike-ped trail


Considering the cost and complexity of acquiring rights of way, designing and building bike-ped trails, will gaps remain in Lee County's share of the Gulf Coast Trail 20 years from now?

“There might be,” the MPO’s Scott said. However, he thinks progress in some areas can be made in five years or less. That might be establishing a new link from the northern end of the John Yarbrough Linear Park Trail to Hanson Street.

Still to be answered are questions such as how the Gulf Coast Trail would flow through downtown Fort Myers and cross the Caloosahatchee River into North Fort Myers.

Lee Health backs bike-ped trail promotion

These kinds of challenges were summarized at  the Venice bike-ped trail summit in January. It drew a crowd of close to 200 people – easily three times the number organizers initially expected.

The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority organized the event, with Lee County-based Lee Health public hospital system paying for deli box lunches for the crowd.

Lee Health also has pledged $2,500 seed money for a video that would acquaint people with the Gulf Coast Trail's benefits and what it might look like.

The hospital system will host a meeting of Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation at Cape Coral Hospital in May.

Lee Health supports the Gulf Coast Trail because “being able to safely move about, outside of our automobiles would be a huge benefit to our health, to our lifestyle and to our economy,” said Christin Collins, who helps the hospital system plan wellness programs for its staff and the community at large.

Cape Coral, Fort Myers area most dangerous in U.S. for pedestrians

In January, the National Complete Street’s Coalition released its “Dangerous by Design” report naming Lee County as the most dangerous place in the nation for pedestrians.

Collins called the report “a gift.” Asked to elaborate, she said:

“If we don’t know about the problem, we won’t take time to educate ourselves and work for change.”

Connect with this reporter @Alvascribe (Twitter) and LauraPatrickRuane (Facebook).

Trails attract tourists, dollars

Generally, the longer a bike-ped trail, the likelier it has significant economic impact.

One happy exception to this is New York City’s High Line, a 1.8-mile linear park and bike-ped trail built on a defunct elevated freight line.

High Line’s ground-breaking was in 2006. It opened to the public in 2009.

By 2014, here's how parks consultancy GreenPlay LLC summed-up the financial rewards:

*Four million visitors yearly;

*$900 million more in city tax revenues annually;

*$2 billion in new economic activity; and

*Soaring property values:. One block from High Line, values doubled, with the rest of downtown Manhattan increasing by 75 percent.

In Florida, one of the biggest bike-ped trail successes hinged on a single county's initiative: “Penny for Pinellas” is an additional 1 percent sales tax voters in that county approved more than 20 years ago.
Pinellas Trail

It was a major funder for the 47-mile Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail that was built along a former railroad corridor, and which gets more than one million visitors yearly.

The Legacy Trail in Sarasota County is an up-and-comer that would be part of the Gulf Coast Trail network. It’s a $40 million investment to date that’s been paid for primarily through a variety of local taxes.

 The trail stretches from the city’s historic train depot near its downtown, runs north more than 10 miles, and passes Oscar Scherer State Park, before ending at Culverhouse Nature Park.

However, a 7.5-mile extension to Payne Park in the heart of downtown Sarasota is a long-term goal that's getting tantalizingly closer.

In a recent newsletter, Friends of Legacy Trail said it’s learned the owner of the rail corridor intends to sell it to a public land trust that would then transfer the title to Sarasota County.

About 175,000 people use  the trail yearly, according to a recent study by Friends of Legacy Trail.

“That’s pretty amazing given that the trail does not yet link the two major population centers in the county: the cities of North Port and Sarasota,” said Roger Normand, who speaks for the friends group.

Things are improving for cyclists and pedestrians in Florida, but danger abounds. The Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area was recently named the deadliest in the nation for pedestrians. However, that study didn’t include improvements over the past two years. For example, a local initiative called the Bike-Ped Master Plan for Cape Coral should help make conditions safer for pedestrians and other non-motorists. A new grant is paving the way for 7 miles of improvements primarily along Kismet Parkway in the Cape.

Go to news-press.com for more.
See News-Press video 
--------------
Links to Previous BWL Blogs on topic:

BWL Blog 10/12/16: Cape Receives $1.8 Million SUN Trail Grant to Design Multi-Use Trail in North Cape

BWL Blog 3/7/16:  BikeWalkLee supports Southwest Coastal Regional Trail 


February 13: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events


Upcoming events

Running/walking:
Photo: www.edisonfestival.org

Cycling:
  • 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. (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. (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/)
  • Saturday, Feb 25: 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. (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Sunday, March 12: 19th annual Royal Palm Classic, with 15-, 40- and 62-mile rides starting from Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr, Suite 27-28. (caloosariders.org)
  • 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, February 9, 2017

Feb. 15th Fort Myers Beach Community Workshop on Bike/Ped Master Plan

 Want to improve walking and biking in the Ft. Myers Beach?  This is your chance! 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.
 
 Ft. Myers Beach, in partnership with the Lee County MPO and Lee County, is undertaking the development of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.  In addition to the community workshop, the project team has developed an online Community Input Map. 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.
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.

LINKS:

Link to map.

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

Monday, February 6, 2017

February 6: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events


Upcoming events

Running/walking:

Cycling:
  • 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. (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. (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. (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. (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. (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:

Thursday, February 2, 2017

LeeDOT's response to Cyclists Safey Concerns on Estero Blvd. in Fort Myers Beach

Thinking of biking on Fort Myers Beach?  Read this first.

Background
In December, BWL was made aware of serious safety concerns for cyclists riding on Estero Blvd. in Fort Myers Beach during the ongoing construction project, with numerous crashes being reported.  We issued a blog post in December about our concerns: BWL blog Dec. 22, 2016: Warning to Cyclists: Don't bike on Fort Myers Beach until the Estero Blvd. Improvement project is completed.  

We have also been working with LeeDOT to address the problems identified by cyclists.  Below is the press release that LeeDOT put out Jan. 9th (just received) that urges caution in the construction zone.


We continue to hear from cyclists about how dangerous it is to bike out there, including Fort Myers Beach residents.

BikeWalkLee continues to be very concerned about cyclist safety during this construction project.  If you do choose to bike out there, please report any problems you encounter to Kaye Molnar:
239-337-1071; kmolnar@cella.cc.

Below the press release is this week's project update.  If you want to sign up to receive these weekly updates, you can sign up at http://www.refreshfmbeach.com/.  Just click on the "Contact Us" button to fill out the form, be sure to select the “Please add me…” button at the bottom of the page.

Lee County Press Release on Jan. 9, 2017 (received by BWL on Feb. 1st)

Estero Boulevard Improvements Project
Reminder to use caution in construction zone


Contact: Kaye Molnar, Project Public Information Officer
Cella Molnar and Associates, Inc.
239-337-1071

Fort Myers Beach, FL, Jan. 9, 2017 – As cooler temperatures and sunny days prompt outdoor activities such as bicycling, walking and running, many enthusiasts are heading to Fort Myers Beach. The Lee County Department of Transportation reminds bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists that construction continues on Estero Boulevard from Lani Kai Resort to Publix, and caution should be used when traveling through the construction zone.

One of the two major goals of the Estero Boulevard Improvements Project is to improve safety for bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists. The second goal is to improve the storm drainage on Estero Boulevard. During construction bicyclists should obey traffic laws and ride for the travel conditions. In some cases, bicyclists may feel safer walking through the construction zone. Pedestrians should be aware of bicyclists and motorists around them. Motorists should watch for pedestrians and bicyclists on roadsides, side streets, and boulevard crossings.

Crews monitor and sweep the work zone routinely to make bicycle and pedestrian travel as safe as possible during construction; however, Estero Boulevard is an active, ever-changing construction zone. Conditions change daily, hourly and minute-to-minute. Bicyclists and pedestrians may experience changes in roadway surfaces and elevations, steel plates and loose gravel.

Once construction of Estero Boulevard is complete, most of the boulevard will provide travel lanes with designated bike lanes and wide sidewalks on both sides. Bicyclists will share the travel lanes from Crescent Street to Lovers Lane due to the limited right-of-way. In the meantime, all travelers may need to change their habits during construction, and all need to stay aware and use caution. The end result of this much-needed, very challenging project will be a boulevard that provides improved stormwater drainage and treatment and an improved roadway design for motorist, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Details about the Estero Boulevard Improvement Project are available online at www.reFRESHFMBeach.com or by calling (239) 337-1071.

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Estero Boulevard Improvements:  February 1, 2017 Bulletin
Traffic shift scheduled Monday night (2/6)
North of Chapel Street to south of Lovers Lane

Beginning Monday night 2/6, crews will start shifting traffic to the outside lanes of Estero Boulevard to begin construction in the center turn lane from north of Chapel Street to south of Lovers Lane. During this work, barrier wall or construction barrels will be necessary on both sides of the center lane due to a 1 to 1 ½-foot difference in elevation between travel lanes and the work zone.

Vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to cross Estero Boulevard (from north of Chapel Street to south of Lovers Lane) at the following locations.

· Fort Myers Beach Town Hall
· Tropical Shores Way
· School Street
· Bay Road















Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Want to make your neighborhood safer? Take a walk

BikeWalkLee column, the News-Press, 2/1/2017
by Ken Gooderham


Billy Hattaway, center, is pictured with his Complete
Streets Champion award presented by BikeWalkLee
leaders Darla Letourneau, left, and Margaret Banyan.
(Photo: Special to The News-Press)
Want to make your neighborhood safer for walking and cycling – and help build a little community spirit? Consider setting up a walking audit.

What is that, you may ask? Just as it implies: It’s a group of neighbors walking around their neighborhood to document issues and instances where something makes that area unsafe to walk or ride.

That something can be poor signage or a mistimed signal, lack of street crossings or obstructions to seeing oncoming traffic. It can be something as major as no sidewalks or lanes on which to walk or ride, or something as minor as vegetation or delivery vehicles blocking the way.

The point is to look around the place you know, but with eyes (and cameras and clipboards) alert to things that reduce safety and increase hazards for non-motorized vehicles. Then, you document those problems and see what can be done about them.

Sometimes the solution is easy – asking a property owner to trim the bushes or seeing that a crossing signal is adjusted to allow sufficient time to safely traverse the roadway. Sometimes, it can take more work – such as installing a traffic or crossing signal, changing speed limits or constructing sidewalks or side paths.

But if you can document the problems, and get the community to rally behind the solution, sometimes great things can happen. A lot of local communities have successfully improved the walking and riding safety on their streets, and more such projects are underway today.

It all starts with identifying a problem… and that can be as easy as simply getting a few neighbors together to take a walk. Make sure to include ALL the neighbors you can, as it makes a difference to have very different perspectives looking at the same situation. Age and ability change what you see (and need) in walking and riding.

AARP has a very easy-to-use walk-audit toolkit that walks you through all the steps necessary for a successful audit; they also offer a guide for those who are willing to lead an audit to help with planning and organization. Both are available online at aarp.org/walk-audit.

And if you want to see a local (and ambitious) series of audits encompassing the Tice and Dunbar communities, a new report has just been issued documenting all its details.

The audits were organized by BikeWalkLee, FGCU, and Goodwill Industries, with funding from the Southwest Florida Community Foundation and the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. Eleven audits in all were conducted, and the report shares their findings and documentation.

The audits revealed a number of issues impeding safe walking and riding, of course. But they also uncovered a sense of community and engagement, with those participating in the audits engaging other members of their community (often for the first time) and happy that someone simply asked their opinion about these conditions.

You can download the full report (and the AARP toolkit) at the BikeWalkLee website (bikewalklee.org) and find out more about the audits (and a lot of other walking and riding information) at the BikeWalkLee blog (bikewalklee.blogspot.com).

Sometimes the steps to a better neighborhood in which to walk or ride start with a few people taking a few steps of their own. Look into it today.

A Complete Streets champion

Speaking of the Tice/Dunbar audits, one of the leaders who helped move the process forward was  Billy Hattaway, the Florida Dept. of Transportation district serving Southwest Florida, who  championed a number of complete streets efforts that have made a big difference to area walkers and bicyclists. Such leadership, especially on the state level, is crucial to making our roadways safer of ALL users.

That’s why BikeWalkLee recently honored Secretary Hattaway as its Complete Streets Champion for 2016, as a way to honor his many efforts and underscore how crucial leadership on these issues is to successfully implementing a more all-user-friendly approach to transportation. Hattaway has since moved on from FDOT to work for the city of Orlando as its transportation director, but the initiatives he initiated and implemented while leading FDOT's statewide efforts to implement complete streets and improve bike/ped safety should continue to mean safer streets into the future.

Ready to ride or run?

Run: Had your fill of 5Ks yet? There are more on tap, including Strides for Education this Saturday at Florida Southwestern, a Runs the Arts on Sunday in downtown Fort Myers, and races in Cape Coral and Naples the following weekend (plus the Edison Festival Junior Fun Run). Details at ftmyerstrackclub.com, runtothearts.com, gcrunner.org and 3dracing.com.

Ride: Critical Mass is back, with the original downtown Fort Myers ride Friday night, the NE Lee ride Feb. 10 and the Sanibel ride Feb. 11. All are at night events, so bring lights (and a good attitude, of course); 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.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE

Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you’d like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.



# # #

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.

Firsthand experiences are valuable

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 2/1/2017 
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Dan Moser
Organizers of Million Mile Movement, which is taking place until the end of March, have added a new element to the challenge. They’re seeking firsthand reports of the good, bad and downright dangerous aspects of our infrastructure as well as behaviors witnessed when out and about.

In fact, because this kind of information is so valuable, anyone is welcome to provide input - including photos and videos - whether or not you’re registered with MMM.

If this option is utilized as envisioned, it will prove useful in getting the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area off the top of the list of most dangerous places in the U.S. for pedestrians.

Your “field reports” of experiences will be collected, analyzed and sent to transportation and recreation decision makers with the intention to spark action, both in specific locations you’ve identified and for the bigger picture.

Beyond documenting user experiences, the hope is that a critical planning element will finally be undertaken as a result. Transportation professionals and Complete Streets advocates are well aware that one of the major shortcomings in our area’s planning process for accommodating pedestrians and bicyclists with the proper design is the almost total lack of any method of counting users on existing sidewalks, paths, trails and bike lanes. Knowing who is using a facility is crucial to making improvements when necessary.

Latent demand estimation is yet another missing aspect of our current process. Private road developers may sometimes build roads strictly on speculation but those who fund our motor vehicle transportation projects with public tax dollars would (almost) never consider investing a dollar without doing their due diligence of using well established (although sometimes flawed and outdated) methods of knowing how many vehicles can be expected. For bike/ ped accommodation planning, other than the existence of well-worn goat paths or when human tragedies make it abundantly clear there’s a need, formal latent demand data isn’t part of decision making, at least from my experience.

It’s easy to pass along your experiences and insights from navigating our roads, pathways and parks. You can go to healthylee.com to find details of the various options or simply tag @HealthyLeeCounty on FB and use the hashtag #MilllionMileMovement to record your observations and experiences.

Some input you may want to submit includes: Did you feel safe during your activity? Why or why not? Did you notice any recent improvements in infrastructure or the overall environment? What were they? What more would you recommend? Were you able to find you way with ease, especially if the area where you were is new to you? Were there particular intersections or traffic conditions that concerned you? What do you suggest to make them better/safer?

Any feedback you deem appropriate is appreciated. By the way, be sure to also report hazard you happen upon to the department responsible for addressing the problem. Finally, to provide input specific to the bike/ped master plan currently being developed by Fort Myers Beach you can find the link at fortmyersbeachfl.gov. Additional information for all of these are at bikewalklee.blogspot.org.


Area bike rides

Once again city of Cape Coral Parks and Rec staff and volunteers did a great job of pulling off this year’s Tour de Cape in challenging conditions. With sustained winds at 15-25 mph (with much higher gusts) all morning, and the threat of thunderstorms and possible tornadic activity looming, the prudent decision was made to forego the 100-mile ride and adjust the metric half-century (62-miles) to loop the 30-mile route twice instead. The 30- and 15-milers went on as normal. This decision meant no riders would be stranded many miles away in the northern part of the Cape and rest-stop volunteers wouldn’t be put in harm’s way. Based on what I heard from those returning form their respective rides, no one complained about the adjustments — they were just happy to be back after a tough ride. Extra T-shirts were given out and a discount on next year’s Tour de Cape was offered to those who had registered to ride the century as a goodwill gesture.

Next up is the annual Royal Palm Classic Ride, organized by Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org). It is Sunday, March 12. It’s being staged from Fort Myers Brewery in Gateway. Distances include 15, 40 and 62 miles. Proceeds will be donated to I WILL Mentorship Foundation (iwmf2.org), an organization that includes bike riding as part of its work with local young people. ¦

- 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.