Bike Walk Lee: Let's bike on out to spring training

 This week's BWLcolumn encourages readers to use the Tour de Parks route to bike to spring training games, as well as to the Calusa Nature Center's this Saturday, where the improved trail is opening for biking and Dan Moser is offering bicycling basics training.

BWL's News-Press Column in "Go Coastal" Section: Feb. 13, 2014

 Spring training games return to Lee County on Feb. 27, which means baseball, blue skies — and some serious traffic tie-ups as thousands descend on the county’s two stadiums to watch the often sold-out games.
Rather than being one of those stuck in your car in a long line of slow-moving traffic, why not take some of the stress out of getting to the game and ride your bike instead?

Download:View a printable copy of the Tour de Parks map

 Both JetBlue Park and the Lee County Sports Complex — hosting the Red Sox and Twins, respectively — are easily accessible by bike, even for the most inexperienced riders. The Sports Complex, in particular, is served by bike paths from all directions, making it comfortable for even the most wary cyclists. JetBlue has protected streets leading in from the north, while the most popular Daniels Parkway route is mostly served by bike paths with some bike lanes thrown in.

 Coming from the south on Treeline Avenue will mean using the roadway’s popular bike lanes — and, while you’ll share the road with motor vehicle traffic, you’ll have your own space that’s marked and (mostly) respected by drivers.

Many of these routes are part of the county’s Tour de Parks network, which ties together Lakes Park and the Calusa Nature Center, the Yarbrough Linear Park and the North Colonial Linear Trail, the full length of Six Mile Cypress Parkway from College Parkway to U.S. 41 – and the two stadiums, of course.

With its easy access from major residential and commercial areas, this network is convenient and well used – and offers enough variations and variable to allow to you ride it again and again while tailoring the trip and the time to your needs. Be sure to give it a try.

Getting back to the ballgames, however, if you live on or near the “Tour de Parks route you may discover that biking is the fastest way to get to the game. Just be sure:

• To allow plenty of time to get there… you may be moving faster than the traffic but you still have to negotiate the same intersections and issues.

• To bring sunscreen and a hat (for the hopefully sunny skies) and stay hydrated (yes, beer counts… but water is better for the riding part at least).

• To bring a lock, since you’ll need a way to secure your cycle once you get there.

• When riding on sidepaths you’ll be dealing with heavy pedestrian traffic the closer you get to the stadiums – so understand that those on foot have priority and be sure to warn them and proceed with caution when passing pedestrians.
 
BikeWalkLee is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County—streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background at BikeWalkLee.org.

Find out more at bikewalklee.org. Click on the “Maps” link from the home page to get all the maps and even turn-by-turn directions to ride to both parks.

Go Riding

Want to spice up your Saturday bike ride?
Head to Calusa Nature Center on Saturday, Feb. 22, and be among the first to ride trails that were previously open only to foot traffic (this is a test run; they’re unpaved, so not all bikes are appropriate) or take a guided, interpretive hike on the boardwalks. Entry is free for those who participate in a “rules of the road & pathways” program prior to the trail ride or boardwalk hike. However, donations to the center are encouraged.

Schedule:
• 9-10 a.m.: Bicycling Basics – Rules of the Road and Pathways & Safety Tips
• 10-11 a.m.: Guided bike ride of the Wildlands and Berm Trails
• 11 a.m.-12:15 p.m.: Guided interpretive hike of the Boardwalk Trails
• 11 a.m.-noon: Bicycling Basics – Rules of the Road and Pathways & Safety Tips (repeated for those who missed the first session)

The Calusa Nature Center and Planetarium is a private, not for profit, environmental education organization located on the northwest corner of Colonial Blvd and Ortiz Ave (3450 Ortiz Ave, Fort Myers). Its 105-acre site has a museum, three nature trails, a Planetarium, butterfly and bird aviaries, a gift shop and meeting and picnic areas. Daily educational programs allow visitors an up close and personal view of some of the resident creatures, including a skunk, a raccoon, fox, Butterfly Aviary, and an Audubon Aviary which houses permanently injured birds of prey (hawks, vultures, bald eagles, owls and more).

For more information about Calusa Nature Center please visit their website at www.calusanature.org or call (239) 275-3435; for questions or comments related to the bike ride or “rules of the road & pathway” program contact Dan Moser at dan@floridabicycle.org or (239) 334-6417.

Running/walking:
• Saturday: Edison Fest 5K, downtown Fort Myers. (edisonfestival.org/race or ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Feb. 22: Swamp Stomp 5K. (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Sunday, March 2: Hooters Half Marathon, Fort Myers. 7 a.m. (hootershalfmarathon.com)
• Saturday, March 29: Scope for Hope 5K, Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers. (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
 
Cycling & other events
• Saturday: Ride for Hope, Bonita Springs. 10- 25- and 50-mile options (hopehcs.org/ride)
• Sunday, March 16: Royal Palm Classic, organized by the Caloosa Riders. Starts at Fort Myers Brewing Company east of JetBlue Park, with 15-, 30- and 62-mile rides and a “no one left behind” guided 15-mil loop (caloosariders.org)
• Saturday, March 29: Walk, Wheel, & Wobble for Ataxia, Florida Gulf Coast University. 10-, 30- and 62-mile rides, 5K run (knowataxia.webs.com/)
• Sunday, April 13: Immokalee Ride for Literacy, 15-, 30- and 62-mile rides (caloosariders.org/)

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