News-Press 2/7/12
Group hopes cyclists get wish with loop connecting Ben Hill Griffin, Alico
Written by
Lindsay Downey (Special to news-press.com)
Excerpts related to biking and walking facilities:
After a yearlong postponement
because of budgeting constraints, landscaping is beginning along two Estero
thoroughfares while community leaders look to make additional enhancements to
the area’s roadways, sidewalks and bike paths.....
The projects will help bring Three
Oaks and Estero parkways in line aesthetically with other prominent streets in
the county, said Bill Williams, transportation committee member for the Estero
Council of Community Leaders. “It’s not over-the-top landscaping.
… It’s making sure (the area) doesn’t look like a wasteland,” Williams said.
The council hopes the beautification
work will be followed by projects it said could help make those roadways safer
for cyclists and pedestrians.
The group is forming a committee of
cyclists to study pathways needs and is working with the Lee County
Metropolitan Planning Organization to identify gaps in Estero’s sidewalks and
bike lanes.
It plans to push for a bike loop
that would connect Ben Hill Griffin Parkway with Alico Road and run down Three
Oaks Parkway to Corkscrew Road, council Chairman Don Eslick said. The loop also
could connect to FGCU.
“Those are big deals, but getting
them funded is always a problem today,” Eslick said of the loop projects.
Estero cyclist Matt Erickson said he
often rides from Alico to Corkscrew because the roads lead cyclists away from
congestion into more rural stretches. The area can be dangerous, though, as
only some portions of the roads have bike lanes and there are several areas
without shoulders, he said.
“If they could improve that type of
a rural route with a bike path, that would probably serve the interests of the
cyclists as well as drivers because cars don’t always like a lot of bikes on
busy roads,” Erickson said. “It makes them nervous and they wonder why they’re
there.”
Cyclists from Naples and Fort Myers
sometimes ride in Estero because it is not as heavily trafficked in some areas
with longer uninterrupted routes, Erickson said.
“Estero is probably the best area in
Southwest Florida, and I ride a lot — up in St. Pete and Sarasota,” he said.
“It’s one of the nicest areas as far as how well it’s planned for both
pedestrian and car traffic.”
To read the full article, click here.
Excerpts related to biking and walking facilities:
After a yearlong postponement
because of budgeting constraints, landscaping is beginning along two Estero
thoroughfares while community leaders look to make additional enhancements to
the area’s roadways, sidewalks and bike paths.....
The council hopes the beautification
work will be followed by projects it said could help make those roadways safer
for cyclists and pedestrians.
The group is forming a committee of
cyclists to study pathways needs and is working with the Lee County
Metropolitan Planning Organization to identify gaps in Estero’s sidewalks and
bike lanes.
It plans to push for a bike loop
that would connect Ben Hill Griffin Parkway with Alico Road and run down Three
Oaks Parkway to Corkscrew Road, council Chairman Don Eslick said. The loop also
could connect to FGCU.
“Those are big deals, but getting
them funded is always a problem today,” Eslick said of the loop projects.
Estero cyclist Matt Erickson said he
often rides from Alico to Corkscrew because the roads lead cyclists away from
congestion into more rural stretches. The area can be dangerous, though, as
only some portions of the roads have bike lanes and there are several areas
without shoulders, he said.
“If they could improve that type of
a rural route with a bike path, that would probably serve the interests of the
cyclists as well as drivers because cars don’t always like a lot of bikes on
busy roads,” Erickson said. “It makes them nervous and they wonder why they’re
there.”
Cyclists from Naples and Fort Myers
sometimes ride in Estero because it is not as heavily trafficked in some areas
with longer uninterrupted routes, Erickson said.
“Estero is probably the best area in
Southwest Florida, and I ride a lot — up in St. Pete and Sarasota,” he said.
“It’s one of the nicest areas as far as how well it’s planned for both
pedestrian and car traffic.”
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