Friday, March 31, 2017

Annual 31-story stair-climb fundraiser good exercise for all


Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 3/29/17 
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Dan Moser
If you want to get the most out of your exercise time, consider incorporating gravity into the mix. Running or walking up the span of the Edison Bridge between downtown and North Fort Myers, using stationary stair-climbing exercise equipment or climbing stairs are the best ways to do that.

The extra resistance means more energy is required to cover the same distance as when running or walking on flat surfaces. Additional muscles will be used, including those in your body’s core.

An event to maximize your fitness level is this year’s Fight for Air Stair Climb Challenge.

On Saturday, April 29, the local chapter of the American Lung Association hosts the annual event at the Oasis Towers, near downtown Fort Myers. Participants will climb 31 flights of stairs then enjoy post-climb activities poolside, overlooking the Caloosahatchee River and downtown. Proceeds from the fundraising event benefit lung disease research and Florida’s asthma camp for kids.

Don’t be scared off by the misperception that climbing 31 stories is too difficult and beyond the average person’s ability. Consider this: the fastest climber completes the climb in just over two minutes; folks who are relatively fit average anywhere between four eat and 12 minutes; and even those dealing with asthma and other conditions ot that rob one’s lungs of air are able to complete the 31-story climb. Anyone who’s run or walked a 5K and other similar distances will be able to finish in significantly less time than it would take to complete that distance — but with similar health benefits. How fast you go is up to you. Climbers are sent off individually with a gap between each but there’s plenty of room to be passed if you want to go slow or to pass others.

Along with training on bridges, other stairways and stair-stepper machines, anyone who registers as a participant can use the Oasis Towers stairs each Saturday morning until event day. For those who would like to test the waters before committing to raising $100, the Saturday invitation is open one time before one must needing register and pledge to raise the money. Simply show up and climb. For more information, see ClimbFortMyers.org.


Advocacy update

In this legislative session bills have been filed in the house (HB1375) and senate (SB1374) that would eliminate specialty license plates, which provide money to nonprofits around the state. The bills call for eliminating the plates; instead, a small decal would be added on a standard license plate. Among the 128 or so specialty tags is the Share the Road tag, which benefits Florida Bicycle Association and Bike Florida, two nonprofit organizations that use the revenue to educate and build awareness for bike/ ped causes, and represent a significant income source for both.

The revenue generated by specialty tags provides funds to the state well above the cost of administering the program. If adopted, besides the loss of revenue to nonprofits and the state, there would be costs to the state of replacing every specialty tag with a standard plate. If you subscribe to a specialty tag and this concerns you, see myfloridaspecialtyplate.com to look at the data and proposed bills. As well, contact your elected officials. ¦


- 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. 

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

BikeWalkLee: Suggestions on sharing the path

BWL Column
The News-Press, 3/30/2017

by Ken Gooderham

We’ve addressed the issues of sharing the road. What about sharing the path… or lane or shoulder or sidewalk?

That’s one of the issues right there: Each one of those travelways may require a different approach during the interaction of cyclist and pedestrian, because each has a different set of rules surrounding use. A shared-use path, by its very name, states its mission – a shared space for cyclists and pedestrians – while a sidewalk also makes its purposes clear – a place to walk first, with other uses falling in behind that.

Then you have a bike lane, which may or may not be for pedestrians depending on the adjacent facilities, and a shoulder, which really is a place for cars to pull out of the traffic lane but is also used for cycling, walking and who knows what else.

Taking these differences in stride, let’s look at how cyclists and pedestrians can work to share their common space – whatever it is called.


Cyclists:
  • Warn walkers (and other cyclists) when you’re passing them, and give them enough room (three feet works for cars, why not bikes as well?).
  • Pedestrians always have the right of way… no exceptions.
  • Stay in your lane… which may depend on which kind of path you’re on. If you’re on a shoulder, ride with traffic. If you’re on a shared-use path, stay to the right as though you were a vehicle. If you’re on a sidewalk… well, go with the flow, but be prepared to be invisible to many drivers.
  • If you need to take a break, don’t just stop… move out of the way so others can get by.
  • Be realistic in your expectations depending on where you ride. If you absolutely must have a hard, fast ride to make your day worthwhile, don’t expect to find that on a shared-use-path. Slower traffic means a slower pace for all… and if that’s not to your liking, then get out on the road and leave the path to the more patient.

Pedestrians:
  • Pay attention to your surroundings. Just because you have the right of way doesn’t mean you’re always going to get it – and, as the most vulnerable users, you have the most to lose.
  • Keep your pets on a short lease… both for their protection and for everyone else.
  • Keep your kids on a short lease, too (maybe not literally, but figuratively). Keep an eye on them, make sure they know how to share the path and avoid dangerous situations.
  • Walk facing traffic, particularly on shoulders… but it’s usually a good plan wherever you are.
  • Make room for your fellow path users. Don’t walk three abreast so you can chat if the path is barely wide enough already. Sharing the path is literal, so act accordingly. (This counts for cyclists as well… ride side by side only when there’s enough room to do so safely.)

Everyone:
  • Be visible, day or night. Bright colors and bright lights are a bright idea.
  • Be predictable. Act like you’re supposed to, because that is what other users are expecting.
  • Be prepared for the unexpected from everyone… vehicles, bikes, even fellow pedestrians.
  • Be careful. You can get away with doing something stupid only so many times before the odds stack against you.
  • Be courteous. There’s plenty of room for everyone, and being pleasant helps make the experience pleasant for all.

Right now, our bike/walk facilities are probably at the maximum capacity sometimes, as more people and nice weather lures more folks out to bike, run or walk. There’s plenty of room for everyone, as long as we all work to get along.


A million reasons to move

Tomorrow marks the end of this year Million Mile Movement, Healthy Lee’s challenge to county residents to track their actions and hit a million miles in three months.

If you joined in and added your exercise to the total, good for you. If not… well, if you were moving but just not counting, OK; if you weren’t moving, not OK.

Either way, you don’t need a challenge to make your movement count. If you picked up the pace to help the county make its goal, don’t let the end of the challenge be the end of your movement. Commit to be fit and keep your exercise habit alive into April and beyond.

And if you didn’t accept this challenge, it’s never too late to set new goals for yourself anyway. Start walking, running or biking… or find another activity (or more than one) that motivates you to move.

Then, next year you can add your daily actions to help Healthy Lee hit the million mile mark again.


Ready to ride or run?

Run? A slight gap in the race schedule this weekend, but the 5Ks resume April 8 with a dog-friendly Fast and Furriest at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers, followed by an Eggs and Ears 5K in Lakes Park, Fort Myers, and a Wellfit Girls To(tu) Peru 5K and yoga event in North Collier Regional Park on April 15. Details at 3dracinginc.com or gcrunner.org.

Ride? Critical Mass ride tomorrow night (Cape Coral), April 7 (Fort Myers) and April 8 (Sanibel). All are at night to bring your lights (and helmet); details at http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/. For something longer head south to the 10th annual Everglades Ride on April 2, with a variety of distances and surfaces (evergladesrogg.org).

Both? Try a different kind of tri on Sunday, April 2, with the Lake Avalon Reverse Triathlon, Duathlon & 5K, Naples (eliteevents.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.

Monday, March 27, 2017

April 19th webinar with Billy Hattaway re: Dangerous by Design: A challenge for change

With Lee County being ranked the most dangerous metro area in the country for pedestrians, his April 19th webinar (free) should be of interest to local staff and advocates.  Sign up now! Thanks to 1000 Friends of Florida for its series of Complete Streets-related webinars.

Dangerous by Design: A challenge for change

April 19, 2017 from noon to 1:30 p.m. ET
Register Now!
Those of us in state, county and city government or the private sector, whether we are in engineering, planning, land development, regulation, education, law enforcement or any other capacity need to work collaboratively to solve the problems highlighted by the report “Dangerous by Design.” Eight of the top 10 regions in the country are in the State of Florida. On top of our challenges concerning pedestrian and bicycle safety, fatalities from traffic crashes have gone up 23% in the last two years, from 2,494 to 3,057 fatalities from 2014-2016. This problem needs statewide attention to be solved. Please join Billy Hattaway and 1000 Friends to discuss the challenge and what can be done about it.

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

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

Cycling:

  • Friday, March 31: 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/)
  • Sunday, April 2: 10th annual Everglades Ride. McLeod Park, Everglades City. 15- and 62-mile on-road rides plus a 27-mile off-pavement ride (evergladesrogg.org).
  • Friday, April 7: 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, April 8: 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/
  • Friday, April 14: 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/)
  • Friday, April 21: 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/)
  • Friday, April 28: 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, April 29: 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/)
  • Wednesday, May 17: Ride of Silence, Centennial Park, downtown Fort Myers (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:
  • Sunday, April 2: Lake Avalon Reverse Triathlon, Duathlon & 5K, Naples (eliteevents.org)
  • Saturday, May 13: Cape Coral Sprint Triathlon, Yacht Club Community Park (capecoral.net)
  • Check trifind.com to find more regional and state tris.

Monday, March 20, 2017

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

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

Cycling:

  • Saturday, March 25: Pedal and Play in Paradise, 15-, 30- and 62-mile rides plus a mystery tour. Laishley Park, Punta Gorda (pedalandplayinparadise.com)
  • Saturday, March 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. (http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
  • Friday, March 31: 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/)
  • Sunday, April 2: 10th annual Everglades Ride. McLeod Park, Everglades City. 15- and 62-mile on-road rides plus a 27-mile off-pavement ride (evergladesrogg.org).
  • Friday, April 7: 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, April 8: 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/
  • Friday, April 14: 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/)
  • Friday, April 21: 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/)
  • Friday, April 28: 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, April 29: 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/)
  • Wednesday, May 17: Ride of Silence, Centennial Park, downtown Fort Myers (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:
  • Sunday, April 2: Lake Avalon Reverse Triathlon, Duathlon & 5K, Naples (eliteevents.org)
  • Saturday, May 13: Cape Coral Sprint Triathlon, Yacht Club Community Park (capecoral.net)
  • Check trifind.com to find more regional and state tris.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Homestead Road Groundbreaking Ceremony March 30

The Lee County Department of Transportation (LC DOT) and their contractor, Stevens and Layton, Inc., will begin construction at the end of March to widen Homestead Road to four lanes.

A Groundbreaking Ceremony will be held on Thursday, March 30, 10:00 a.m. at 55 Homestead Road South.

Homestead road will be expanded to a four-lane divided highway starting north of Alabama Road and ending around the curve just south of Sunrise Boulevard near the Moose Lodge, according to consultant Kris Cella of consulting firm Cella, Molnar & Associates.

Four-foot on-road bicycle lanes are included in the widening. A six-foot sidewalk will be constructed on both sides of the roadway.

image: homesteadroadwidening.com

The total Homestead Road project budget is $14.4 million, with $12.8 million coming from Lee County and $1.6 million coming from utility provider FGUA for utility construction.

According to Vince Miller of Lee County DOT, construction should be completed in 2019.

The Homestead road project will take approximately two and a half years (30 months) of construction time, according to Miller.



http://lehighacresgazette.info/news/homestead-road-widening-project-to-begin-march-20-and-last-30-months/

http://homesteadroadwidening.com/

BikeWalkLee, tax collector to host cycling seminars



Save the date: March 21 (Fort Myers) and March 23 (Cape Coral) 

 

The Lee County Tax Collector Office, in partnership with BikeWalkLee, will host a pair of cycling safety and information seminars this week.

Dan Moser, of BikeWalkLee (bikewalklee.blogspot.org), will be available to answer questions and provide information on bike maps and safety, as well as talk on the basics of safe bike riding routes, sharing the road and the importance of always having the proper visible safety equipment.

The sessions are from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 21 at the Fort Myers branch of the tax collector office, 2480 Thompson St., and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 23 at the Cape Coral branch, 1039 SE 9th Ave.

Moser, long-time bicycle/pedestrian advocate and traffic safety professional, will conduct the events at the entrance of each of the locations.

“Most bicycling accidents involving kids can be avoided by following simple road rules and having visible safety equipment,” says Cape Coral Police Department  PAO Phil Mullen, who recently partnered with LCTC and FDOT at Christa McAuliffe Charter Elementary School in Cape Coral for a bicycle safety presentation to third, fourth and fifth graders.

Visit the Tax Collector locations, or SafeKids.org for tips to avoid bicycle related injury or death.

Friday, March 17, 2017

BikeWalkLee comments to Estero Village Council on Estero Parkway Improvement Implementation Plan

Discussions about the design of long-awaited improvements to Estero Parkway (in the Village of Estero), are now underway, and it's time for YOU to get engaged in the conversation! Below is BikeWalkLee's letter to the Council about our concerns, along with our report of the discussion at the Village Council's March 15th workshop.

Report from 3/15 Estero Village Council Workshop:
Estero Parkway Improvement Implementation Plan

PowerPoint Presentation
At the Wednesday March 15 Village of Estero Council Workshop, there was an overview presentation of the Estero Parkway Improvement Implementation Plan by Tetra Tech, a consultant to the Village. (See Agenda Packet PowerPoint Presentation).  The presentation lists three improvements that needed to be made on Estero Parkway:  "road needs to be resurfaced; sidewalk needs to be completed, and beautification (landscaping, signage, and lighting)".  The proposed Plan is to have 2 phases and two separate tracks with Phase 1 (roadway) being designed first, then Phase 2 (beautification) being designed next, and construction on phased timeframes.

After reviewing the Agenda Packet for the workshop, BikeWalkLee sent a letter to the Council in advance of the meeting to alert them to its concerns with the proposed Plan. (See BWL letter.)  BikeWalkLee representatives also spoke during public comment at the workshop about these concerns. BWL urged Council to integrate all components (roadway and beautification) of the project into one design.  A street must be treated as an integrated whole in order to be designed as a complete street.  Council was urged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to re-imagine a street (the entire public right-of-way) that runs through the heart of the Village so that it reflects the community's image and vision for the future.

During the Council discussion on the presentation, there were different opinions from Council members, spanning from (paraphrasing):"I am not sure why we are having this conversation as we already agreed that Estero Pkwy would be a model project" to: "we should only use the negotiated County monies from the Interlocal agreement to finish the sidewalks." During public comment, in addition to BWL representatives, there were about 10 speakers who made a varying array of comments.  Some residents expressed their desire not to have cyclists on the road and didn't want bike lanes. Other residents were most concerned about the need for lighting to make it safer for road users. Several commenters talked about the importance of safety and their support for traffic calming measures.
Another suggestion was that the goals of safety and beautification needs to be integrated, and that the entire roadway (i.e. all public right-of-way space) needed to be designed for the road users, not the homeowners.  She suggested that a good example would be Oaks Blvd. in Naples (which focuses on road users) rather than Coconut Rd. by the Brooks in Estero ( which focuses on homeowners).   Don Eslick (ECCL chairperson) argued that Estero Parkway should be a model complete street---communities throughout Lee County, the Lee MPO, and FDOT have championed complete streets over the past 8 years.  He said that the Council shouldn't be debating whether this should be a complete street--we (Estero) should be leaders and we should be designing our roadways looking towards the future. He urged the Council to follow the recommendations in BikeWalkLee's letter.

Link to Report
 An FGCU student who participated in the Infrastructure Inventory Report done by an FGCU team headed by Dr. Margaret Banyan (BWL founding member) at the Council's request, also commented.  She suggested that the FGCU study and its recommendations be incorporated into this effort.  She also spoke about the need for safe commuting for FGCU students to Walmart and other shopping.

In response to questions from Council members, BWL's Letourneau spoke about the direction FDOT is headed, as reflected in its Complete Streets Implementation Plan, and urged the Council to incorporate these policies (road diets, roundabouts, buffered bike lanes; and changes in design speed standards, and mid-block crossings approach, etc.) into the plan for this project now.  It is not necessary to wait until FDOT formal guidance (e.g., update of the Greenbook) is issued for local governments.  Many communities throughout Florida are moving forward now, and Estero should join these forward-looking communities.  She also urged them to take advantage of the pioneering work done by Bonita Springs in developing model scopes of work and a nationally competitive process for selecting a consultant team on their three recent complete streets-related projects.

 Safety was the focus of comments by Doug Saxton (BWL's Estero rep). With Lee County being ranked the most dangerous area in the country for pedestrians in the 2016 Dangerous by Design national report, if we want to improve safety, the roads have to be designed for the safety of all users regardless of age, ability and mode of transportation. Connectivity to the rest of the countywide bike/ped network is also important.

This was a workshop so no decisions were made by Council.  It is unclear whether the Council will give direction to staff on this project at its next regular Council meeting.  If the Village proceeds according to the consultant outline presented, there should be opportunities for public input in some form during the March-June 2017 window.  BikeWalkLee will keep you posted as dates and opportunities for public input become available.
In the meantime, should you have any questions, feel free to contact Doug Saxton  (BWL's Estero rep) at dpsaxton100@gmail.com.
Report by Doug Saxton and Darla Letourneau


March 14, 2017

Dear Mayor Batos and Council Members:

BikeWalkLee, a volunteer countywide coalition advocating for complete streets since 2009, strongly supports Estero's vision for the Village as a walkable/bikeable community where people want to live, work, and play.  We also support your plan to redesign Estero Parkway as a signature project that would serve as a model street for the Village.  Prior to your March 15th Council workshop to review the Estero Parkway Improvement Implementation Plan (Agenda item 10(b)) to be presented by Tetra Tech, we wanted to share with you our observations about the Conceptual Design as laid out in the agenda package.

When the Village Council took responsibility from the County for Estero Parkway and successfully negotiated a $2.2 million payment from Lee County to cover some of the costs, it created a unique opportunity to make this 1.7 mile roadway a model complete street project.  Estero Parkway is a critically important street, as it runs through the heart of the Village.  It is not very often that a municipality has an opportunity to remake its image through a street project.   We urge you not to lose this unique opportunity to define your community.  If this project is to serve as the model for future roadway improvements in Estero, it is important that this project be intentional, forward-looking, and sustainable.

Based on the PowerPoint presentation in the briefing package, we are concerned that the approach outlined will not yield the desired outcome.  This plan appears to be developing on two separate tracks with different timeframes that deal with the roadway and beautification. This approach is not consistent with best practices that would treat the street as an integrated whole. 

To create a "complete street" all these components are part of the whole and must be designed together.  For example, roadway medians and landscaping designs are tools for traffic calming, not just  aesthetics.  In order for landscaping to enhance the safety of the roadway for all users, the choice of type of vegetation and its location need to be safety-driven.  To determine the best mix of tools for traffic calming, all the tools--hardscape, streetscape, and landscape--must be considered together throughout the design process.  Further, in order to ensure that the project stays integrated to completion, having a consultant team with proven expertise for all components of the plan is important.  Once an integrated design has been completed, the Village can efficiently phase the construction of the project in many different ways.

Streets play an enormous role in determining a place's quality of life.  While people may not know the term "complete street", they know the characteristics of their favorite streets-- streets with tree canopy and attractive landscaping; safe, comfortable and shady places to walk and bike buffered from traffic; moderate traffic speeds, safe ways to cross the street, and inviting places to be for all kinds of uses.  The holistic and integrated planning of a roadway (the entire right-of-way public space) is context sensitive and reflects balance among the needs of the various users. 

The collaboration now underway between the Estero and Bonita Councils on a potential trail project connecting the two municipalities could be further enhanced by collaborating on the demonstration projects now underway in both places. This would make biking and walking safe and accessible in both communities. In addition, it would further enhance the attractiveness of south Lee County businesses. Finally, it would reinforce the Council's vision of the Village as a place where people want to live, work, and play. A collaborative approach enhances the chances for both communities to receive national recognition and compete for grants.

At Wednesday's Council workshop, we urge you to direct staff and the consultant team to:
  • Revise the Conceptual Design to integrate all components of this project into one design; 
  • Develop an RFP process to seek out nationally recognized expert firms/consultant teams; and 
  •  Embrace a robust public involvement process.
Your stated desire is for this Estero Parkway project to serve as the model for future roadway projects in the Village.   If the front-end  process for creating the vision and design for Estero Parkway engages and educates the community and gains its suppor , it will make implementation easier and more efficient for future roadway projects in the Village.

Thank you for considering our views.  We look forward to working with you to make Estero Parkway a model complete street.

Sincerely,

Darla Letourneau
 on behalf of BikeWalkLee

Key Links:
BWL 3/14/17 letter to Estero Village Council re: Estero Parkway Conceptual Design

Tetra Tech PowerPoint Presentation to Estero Council 3/15/17: Estero Parkway Improvement Implementation

 Estero Infrastructure Inventory, by FGCU to Estero Council, 1/20/16

Related BWL Blog Posts: 
January 31, 2016: FGCU Infrastructure Study of Estero lays foundation for creation of walkable/bikeable community

 May 10, 2016:  May 24th: Estero Public Workshop on capital improvement projects

July 13, 2015:  Estero citizens press for bike/ped facilities on Estero Parkway

Sept. 20, 2014: FDOT Embraces Complete Streets: major statewide policy changes announced by Hattaway at Lee MPO Meeting

March 20, 2014: ULI Forum, All Eyes on Estero, at FGCU last week points to ways to make Estero walkable/healthy community 

Feb. 7, 2012: Estero: Roadside revisions begin

Dec. 21, 2010: Estero planning groups' priorities include safer bike paths (News-Press article)

Other Links:

March 28, 2017: Rob Seibert (SWFL Critical Mass) letter to Estero Village Council

March 17, 2017: News-Press: Estero Parkway to be first big road project for the village

Sept. 7, 2016: News-Press: Estero, Lee County make parkway deal

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Get out and enjoy Florida Bike Month


Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 3/15/17 
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Dan Moser
We’re already halfway through March so if you haven’t been on your bike much lately it’s time to get out there and enjoy one of the best times of the year to do so. In fact, Florida Bicycle Association (floridabicycle.org) thinks the timing is so good they have been able to convince the governor’s office to designate March as Florida Bicycle Month annually for about a decade. And considering how thick Southwest Florida’s motor traffic is — and will be until at least Easter — getting around by bike is practical as well as fun.

Designating March as Florida Bike Month (we still celebrate National Bike Month) serves a number of purposes, one being the previously mentioned fact that at this time of year much of the state experiences overloaded roadways so it serves as a congestion management option. Another is because the month of May — when National Bike Month occurs — is generally so hot that it’s difficult to get any new riders out there more than once, if that. Most experienced and dedicated cyclists know how to acclimate and adjust accordingly, which goes for the rest of the summer as well, even with thunderstorms being daily threats. But, understandably, those just getting back to biking may not be too enthused about dealing with Florida’s blistering heat in May.

This ghost bike was located on the Sanibel Causeway for a
while. Photo: Dan Moser
Both Florida Bike Month and National Bike Month also focus on education and awareness. For cyclists, that means taking time to become familiar with and complying with the rules of the road and pathways as well as learning safe cycling techniques.

The American Bicycling Education Association (abea.bike) is an excellent resource for that information. Motorists, too, are reminded of what rights cyclists have, what responsibilities anyone behind the wheel has, and are encouraged to be patient with all fellow road users, whether they be other drivers or vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. Stay Alive…Just Drive! (sajd.org) is an excellent resource that isn’t just about the “usual message” for safe driving.

Along with education and awareness efforts, some of our governments are doing a better job than others in improving conditions for non-motorists, making it easier for everyone to share space.

One of them, Cape Coral, a Bike-Friendly Community as designated by League of American Bicyclists (bikeleague.org), has recently been awarded Florida Bicycle Association’s Bike-Friendly Community of the Year for 2016, and continues to get the safety message out thanks to an excellent working relationship between the city, Cape Coral Bike-Ped and local businesses. Sanibel (a Silver-Level Bike Friendly Community), is a model for pathway-focused infrastructure and has ongoing safety awareness efforts taking place, thanks to a partnership between the city, Sanibel Bike Club and the island’s bike rental businesses. Bonita Springs, Estero and Fort Myers Beach are also moving in the right direction so I’d like to recognize them for their efforts during this year’s Florida Bike Month.

Something that’s not related to bike month but is used to raise awareness year round are ghost bikes. A ghost bike is a bike painted a ghostly white — including tires, seat and handlebars — and is usually placed near where a cyclist lost his or her life in a traffic crash. Similar to the “Drive Safely” markers placed along our roadways to indicate where someone was killed in a motor vehicle crash, the intent is not to scare anyone off the road but rather to memorialize the victim and make passersby aware of the need to operate safely.

As part of Florida Bike Month’s education and awareness efforts you may want to visit Lee County Constitutional Plaza in Fort Myers (AKA Darth Vader building, which includes the Tax Office and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, among others) on Tuesday, March 21, between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. If you’re in the Cape it’s happening on Thursday, March 23, same hours, at the Tax Office there (1039 SE 9th Ave., behind Cape Coral City Hall). I’ll be there to answer questions, take your comments and will have bike maps and other information you may find helpful.

Be sure to visit BikeWalkLee’s blog (bikewalklee.blogspot.org) for advocacy news and active-living events happening around Lee County and Southwest Florida, including all of the upcoming Critical Mass rides throughout Lee County and beyond. ¦



- 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.

Suggestions on sharing the road

The News-Press, 3/16/2017
by Ken Gooderham

Treat cyclists as vehicles. Pass cyclists as you would any
other slow-moving vehicle… with caution and respect.
Yield to them in intersections. Don’t tailgate.
(Photo: news-press file photo)
What do we mean when we say: “Share the road”?

Simply, it means motor vehicles and bicycles traveling on the same roadway at the same time… not as radical a notion as you might think.

However, sharing the road also means sharing some responsibility for how you act and interact during this joined journey. (It also means having roads that make sharing possible… more on that later.)

Some share the road tips for cyclists:
  • Be visible. Don’t blend in with the background stand out with bright colors and lights (at night for sure, and even during the day).
  • Be predictable. Obey the rules of the road, signal your plans and avoid doing anything erratic or unexpected (from a driver’s point of view).
  • Be aware. No headphones or cell phones (same goes for drivers), look before you turn and no biking under the influence.
  • Be safe. No high-risk maneuvers or reckless riding… and, if you’re going to play in traffic, why not wear a helmet.
  • Be the bigger person. If you have a driver who’s not so good at sharing his or her roadway, just ride away. Don’t argue, don’t antagonize, don’t yell or gesture. You do not want to deal with two tons of steel being driven by someone with a bad attitude.
What about drivers of motor vehicles?
  • Three feet please isn’t just a catchy slogan – it’s the law.
  • Treat cyclists as vehicles. Pass cyclists as you would any other slow-moving vehicle… with caution and respect. Yield to them in intersections. Don’t tailgate.
  • Watch out when making turns in any direction… don’t cut off a cyclist by accident.
  • Look behind you when opening your car door when cyclists on the street.
  • Bike lanes are just that – for bikes (and, often, pedestrians when there are no sidewalks nearby). They’re not turning lanes, parking lanes, golf cart lanes or anything else.
Ideally, sharing works best on roads meant to be used by all… meaning driving lanes for cars, bike lanes for cyclists, sidewalks for pedestrians, and shared-use paths for both. (That’s why they’re called complete streets.) But in reality some roads have shoulders (wide or not), some roads have sidewalks only and some roads are just… roads, two lanes (or more) of asphalt designed to move motor vehicles and nothing else.

That doesn’t mean cyclists won’t (or can’t) be on these incomplete streets… in fact, state law gives them that right. But it does mean everyone needs to behave (or at least try to) in order to make sharing this kind of road work.

As local cycling facilities continue to improve, and given our often-ideal weather and flat terrain, cycling should continue to grow in popularity and purpose (particularly in this time of year, when a short errand can take less time by bike than by car). So we can hope that sharing the road similarly grows, so everyone can get to his her destination safely regardless of your mode of transportation.



It’s Bike Month!

March is Bike Month in Florida, as good a time as any to get out for a ride. Besides the usual Critical Mass rides, there will be some longer organized rides to get you in the spirit (with one already in the rear-view mirror, last weekend’s Royal Palm Classic):

  • 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).

Of course, there are always Critical Mass rides aplenty to join with other in sharing your love of cycling this month. And, if all else fails, you can always grab your helmet and go for a ride all by your lonesome.


Ready to ride or run?

Run? You can celebrate St. Patrick’s Day tonight with a 5K in Naples (gcrunner.org), and get the jump on those who will wait until Friday to celebrate (and probably in a less healthy fashion). Otherwise, the flurry of 5Ks continues with a Pelican Pride run March 18; the following weekend brings a Scope for Hope 5K, a Running with the Sharks 5K and a Run for Music 10K. Info at 3dracing.com, ftmyerstrackclub.com and gcrunner.org, respectively.

Ride? The usual Critical Mass rides: Estero on March 17 and the downtown starter ride March 25. Two longer rides are also heading this way: Cycling for Fallen Heroes in Estero on March 19, with distances of 10, 28, 42 and 62 miles (caloosariders.org); and Pedal and Play in Paradise in Punta Gorda, with 15-, 30- and 62-mile options (pedalandplayinparadise.com). Looking for something different? Ride the Glades on April 2 at the 10th annual Everglades Ride… a variety of distances and surfaces (evergladesrogg.org).


-- 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.


Injury Prevention Coalition creates Roundabout PSA

 Kudos to the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition for creating this short catchy PSA to educate our community about how roundabouts work.  Help educate the community by sharing this with your organizations and networks.

Injury Prevention Coalition message 3/15/17:

As you my know, a number of “roundabouts” are slated to be built in the region very shortly. However, the community has varying degrees of familiarity with roundabouts.  We therefore decided to create a “Roundabout PSA” not only to instruct people on their proper use, but also to help the community become more comfortable with these interchanges.
To preview the PSA please click on the following link  -   https://youtu.be/ULi3CDTchdE

Mark Tesoro, MA
Injury Prevention Analyst/Educator 
Lee Health

  

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

The Bike Ministry Program helps needy get on the road with bicycles

Ken Nies is a true hero in the BWL world, running a Bike Ministry Program providing bikes to the homeless and other needy adults in Lee County who need a bike for transportation, while teaching the homeless how to repair bikes, and asking recipients to put in 8 hours of service with a nonprofit. A true win-win-win formula.
 Thanks to News-Press reporter Craig Handel for highlighting this unsung hero in our community.  
  
 Here's how to help:
Be part of Ken's movement...donate bikes, bike parts--drop them off at City Gate Ministries in downtown Fort Myers.  Details below.  If you live (or work or play) on Sanibel, you're in luck!  Just bring your donations of bikes and bike parts to Billy's Bike Shop, 1509 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, and he'll have a special spot designated for the program and will then deliver them to Ken.  Thank you Billy and Sally Kirkland!!  If you have any questions, call Billy's Bike Shop on 239-472-3620.  If you'd like to donate money, just send check to the 
 City Gate Ministries, with address below.
 
 







Fort Myers ministry bike program promotes pride, accountability--Ministry gives bikes to needy who earn it
Photo by Andrew West/news-press.com
Mary and Ken Nies

When Ken Nies retired as a principal in Buffalo 16 years ago, the last thing he wanted to deal with was people.

But the kids and homeless sucked him back in – especially those who needed a bicycle.

In the past 10 years, Working Hands Ministry – started by Nies and wife Mary – has distributed more than 2,700 bikes to the needy in Lee County. They also provide them with meals, clothing, showers, laundry education and referrals to social agencies on particular days.

“There was a bike void for a long time,” said Dan Moser, a traffic safety and bike/pedestrian educator. “A lot of adults use the bikes for their primary transportation. The fire department used to put bikes together for Christmas. It’s a tough operation. They need a lot of space and there’s no payback. You need someone to support it and Ken’s real hands on.”

After volunteering at Lee Memorial and representing kids in court through Guardian Ad Litem, Mary and Ken started a soup kitchen, something Mary still continues. She’s helped hand out 37,000 meals.

“She’s my rock,” Nies said.

From that experience, the couple learned about the need for bicycles and how much homeless adults need them.

Ken Nies gets emotional when he talks of why this endeavor resonates for him.

“I didn’t grow up with a lot of money, but I always had something to eat,” he said. “We’ve been blessed and we’re paying it forward.

“It just happened. It’s the last thing in the world I thought I’d do in 2001. I don’t own a bike. I refuse to ride down here. But we saw so many people with backpacks walking to work.”

The operation
It’s a Wednesday morning at CityGate Ministries and half a dozen men are fixing bikes in their shop, converted from a school. They include son Jeff, Ron Ellis, Rick Krakow, Vincent Hauser and Robert McCloud, 59, who has worked with Nies since he started the program.

In one room are extra pedals, grips, shifters, chains, kick stands, handlebars and brakes around the walls, while four stands anchor the middle to mount and replace the bikes.

“I love it,” said McCloud, who has been fascinated about the two-wheelers since he took apart, then put together, his first bike when he was 6. “Watching the kids and adults leave with a smile on their faces and knowing they’re leaving with a halfway decent bike makes me feel good.”

Bikes are donated by the city police and Lee County Sheriff’s Department as well as Billy’s in Sanibel, Trek, Schwinn and private companies. They also receive donations.

Upstairs, repaired bikes are in rooms, waiting to be delivered. Recently, Franklin Park Elementary, Hope Clubhouse, Abuse Counseling and Treatment Center of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers Rescue Mission, Grace Methodist Church, Community Cooperative Incorporated, Broadway Community Church and Abundant Grace Fellowship received bikes from the ministry.

Adults who want a bike have to work for it. They must put in eight hours of service with a nonprofit organization.

Fort Myers couple turn tragedy into action

“Members come to Hope Clubhouse to better their mental health and engage in recovery through work,” said Hillary Carney, a rehabilitation specialist. Hope Clubhouse has received approximately 15 bikes from Working Hands Ministry. “We all need to work, right? It gives people incentive.

“One of my favorite stories is of a young man who needed a bike who was living in a pretty remote area in North Fort Myers. He had relied on family members for transportation. He started to come here, received a bike and now he has the confidence to come here on his own.”

Nies brings out a huge binder listing letters from various nonprofit organizations verifying who donated their time. He then takes a picture of people with their bikes, their bike is identified and they receive a registration card to show police if they’re stopped.

“I give them the bike, a lock, a chain, a headlight and tail light,” Nies said. “It’s a $250 fine without a headlight and tail light.

“When they leave, I give them a hug. I may never see them again.”

At Franklin Park Elementary, Nies said there’s the chance of starting a program of teaching youths bike repair. Approximately 30 bikes have been donated to the school. A family of four boys received bikes around the holidays. The boy in fourth grade found out as bikes were trying to be secretly put in the family car.

“He said, ‘I can’t believe you bought all of us bikes for Christmas,’" said Francine Lutman, an intervention specialist for Franklin Park. “I said, ‘I believe it came from Santa.

“But it’s Ken. He’s always Santa.”

Related BikeWalkLee blog posts:  

12/31/10:  Bicycle Ministry in Fort Myers provides bikes to SWFAS women  (Island Reporter)

4/29/10: Fort Myers ministry gives bicycles to homeless (News-Press article)



Monday, March 13, 2017

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

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

Cycling:
  • 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, March 10, 2017

Action Alert: Support the Able Canal Trail project in Lehigh Acres

If you live, work, or play in Lehigh and support the proposed 5.5 mile pathway that will connect Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park, to the Lehigh Acres Community Park and the Harnes Marsh, allowing residents and visitors to bike or walk between these popular destinations, now is the time to make your voices heard. You are asked to sign a petition in support of the proposed project that will be transmitted to FDOT. Come out to the Lehigh Spring Festival March 10-19 to sign the petition, or read about how else you can sign on in support of this project.

History
The Lehigh Acres community, a sporadically developed 94-square miles area in the eastern part of unincorporated Lee County, is an underserved area for walking and biking accommodations and parks. Starting in 2008, the Lee County Parks and Recreation Department purchased on abandoned golf course and turned it into the Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park, which opened at the end of 2013.  This Trailhead Park includes a half-mile paved multi-use trail that encircles a 3-acre replicated prairie. From the beginning, the County planned for this facility to function as a trailhead for a greenway corridor along Able Canal, with the first section of the greenway to connect Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park to Lehigh Acres Community Park and Harnes Marsh.
This plan was reflected in the County's Greenways and Trails Master Plan, which envisions a multi-purpose recreational trail system on the Able Canal right-of-way.  A portion of the County's Greenways Master Plan has now become part of the statewide SUN Trail system's planned Gulf Coast Trail. In 2013, FDOT funded a study of the proposed Able Canal Pathway, which is a 5.5-mile shared-use pathway proposed to run along the Able Canal right-of-way.  (See FDOT project description.)


 The FDOT project development and environmental study currently underway is scheduled to be completed by May 2018.  After the study is completed, the Lee MPO will consider requesting FDOT to fund the design and construction of the facility.  One factor that FDOT considers in determining whether to move forward with a state-funded project is whether it is supported by the community.  A new Lehigh group has formed --Able Canal Trail Ambassadors--which is gathering signatures on a petition in support of this project.

Project Description
The long term plan is for this 5.5 mile pathway to connect to the Gulf Coast Trail that will create a connected trail from Collier County in the south to Tampa Bay in the north that will bring bike tourism and its positive economic benefits to Lehigh, Lee County, and all of SWFL.
In addition to serving as a recreation opportunity, it will provide a critical connection between nearby residential areas and parks. Other amenities being considered are wayfinding signage, information kiosks, boardwalks and pedestrian bridges.

FDOT held a public kickoff meeting for the study on Dec. 15, 2016.  Those with concerns about the proposed pathway were the most vocal at the meeting, leaving the erroneous impression that the Lehigh community opposed the project. *
At the FDOT kickoff meeting, some residents who live close to the canal expressed fears that the proposed pathway could hurt property values and compromise safety.  These are common concerns expressed whenever trails are proposed in a community, but both concerns have been proven to be wrong by documented research on trails that have been constructed throughout the country.
Here are the facts:
1.  Crime:  Many adjacent landowners assume crime will go up if a trail is built.  In fact, those fears are unfounded.  As the Chief of Police said in one community: "..The trail has not caused any increase in the amount of crimes reported...We have found that the trail brings in so many people that it has actually led to a decrease in problems we formally encountered..."

2.  Property Values: Many adjacent landowners assume property values will go down if a trail is built.  In fact, the exact opposite is true. Homes near pathways and trails have an increased value of roughly $5,000 per home.  Paths are also smart economic bets because they attract millennials who want to live in walkable/bikeable communities.

3.  Opposition Turns to Support when Pathways Completed: Experience from communities across the country that have already put in trails demonstrates that most of the landowners who originally opposed the trail, become supporters and champions of the trail after it is completed, as they see the economic and quality of life benefits that they experience as a result of the trail.

Opportunity for Action

After the Jan. 10th article appeared in News-Press,  Lehigh residents in support of the project  organized a group called the Abel Canal Trail Ambassadors to demonstrate the community's support for the project.  As a first step in the process, the group is circulating a petition in support of the project throughout Lehigh  which will be presented to FDOT.   The kick-off to the petition drive will take place at the Lehigh Spring Festival March 10-19 at Veterans Park, 55 Homestead South, Lehigh Acres.   Look for the Kiwanis booth and a BikeWalkLee banner (see photo below) and stop by to sign the petition. 
Abel Canal Trail Ambassador at Spring Festival
  Other groups in Lehigh will be circulating the petition for signature, and if you'd like to circulate one in your neighborhood or organization, click here for the link to a petition form for you to use.
If you live, work, or play in Lehigh, and can't attend the Festival, there are several other ways to sign on.  
1. Print out the petition form, sign it and email it back to Robert Leap:  rjleap@yahoo.com

2.  Or you could write a personal email to Steve Walls (FDOT District 1, Fort Myers area Director expressing your support for the project: steve.walls@fdot.fl.us

Thanks to Robert Leap for organizing this effort.  For further information, contact him at:  rjleap@yahoo.com, or 814-279-8139.
PETITION IN SUPPORT OF ABLE CANAL TRAIL
We the undersigned support the construction of the Able Canal Pathway which will provide the residents of East Lee County and the Lehigh Acres community with a much needed recreational resource  that will connect the Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park, the Lehigh Acres Community Pool, and the 578 acres Harnes Marsh preserve which is home to snail kites, limpkin and more than 140 species of animals.  The Pathway envisioned as a multi-use scenic trail will promote a healthy lifestyle and provide a safe non – motorized corridor for pedestrians, joggers, bicyclists and fitness enthusiasts. The Pathway is part of the State of Florida Greenways and Trails System. Once it is completed and is connected to other regional trails in SW Florida and in the rest of the state, it is envisioned that bicycle tourism will grow that will lead to small business growth and economic development in Lehigh Acres.

Other ways to show support:

· Write a letter to the editor (mailbag@news-press.com)
· Write your County Commissioners (Commissioner Mann represents District 5 (where Lehigh is located): dist5@leegov.com, 239-533-2225)
· Attend the next FDOT public meeting on the project. (No date yet)
BikeWalkLee will provide information about the next public meeting as soon as it is available.

*Links to background articles:



BikeWalkLee commentary: "Tale of two different cities on safe The News-Press, 2/28/2017 by Ken Gooderham
Links to learn more about the benefits of Trails:


More resources on the benefits of trails available from the national Rails to Trails Conservancy.
Also see the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation website.

Report by Darla Letourneau