On
this, a day of gifts, may we suggest one more? This year, give your
loved ones (and yourself) the gift of safety — of enjoying a ride walk
and getting home alive and intact.
We're not suggesting anyone
sets off intending to be harmed or hurt when they go for a walk or a
ride. But there are behaviors that can put you at peril — sometimes your
own, sometimes by others — which you can compensate for and which will
make you considerably less likely to be hurt when you're just trying to
be healthy.
Remember, being safe doesn't have to be complicated;
in fact, keeping it simple and making some of these suggestions part of
your regular routine can keep you safer without a second thought.
Bicyclists:
•Wear a helmet, wear a helmet, wear a helmet. There's simply nothing else you can do that will do more to protect you than this. Why? Bones heal, brains don't.
•Act like a vehicle. Meaning
ride with traffic when on the road (and even when not), because that's
what drivers are looking for. Obey the traffic rules, particularly when
there are other vehicles around. Be consistent and predictable in
traffic, so they know what to expect of you.
•See and be seen. Wear
bright colors that help you stand out from the scenery. Put lights
front and back if you're out early or late — or just to be a little more
obvious to others. Signal your intentions when possible. And ride
defensively … when you're the smallest thing on the road, watch out for
what those bigger, heavier and faster than you are doing.
·•Use your advantages
— but don't make them disadvantages. On a bike, you can turn quicker
and stop faster than a motor vehicle, which allows you to avoid problems
by being nimble and quick. But remember those vehicles around you may
not be so agile, so gauge your moves according so you don't get caught
by someone else's mistake.
Walkers & runners:
•Pay attention. Distracted
walking is a serious problem, and when you're too engrossed in a phone
call or unable to hear what's going on around you because your earphones
block all noise, you could walk or run right in to a bad situation.
•Anticipate problems. While
bikers and other vehicles should give you the right-of-way, don't count
on it — but do walk or run as if you are the most vulnerable thing on
the road… because you are. And if you're having to use the road because
there's no sidewalk, do so facing traffic so you can see what's coming
at you and be able to react before things go from bad to worse. This
suggestion — which is also the law in Florida — does not apply to
cyclists, who should always bike with the flow of traffic.
•Share the road or path –
or get out of the way if necessary. If you have to walk on a bike lane,
there's room for both you and the bikes – but you may not be able to
walk side by side all the time. On a multi-use path? Be cognizant (and
accommodating) of all the other traffic and you'll all have a good time.
And if you're walking your dog, keep them on a short leash around other
walkers, runners and bicyclists – so your dog understands to stay near
and the other path users understand you have things under control.
•Be visible.
As with bicyclists, bright colors and lights when it's early or late
make other road users more aware of your presence — always a good thing.
Drivers:
•Make driving the most important thing you do. Get
off the phone, don't send a text, stop doing your make-up and save
breakfast for the table . When you're driving your vehicle, make that
the only activity you're engaged in.
•Obey the rules
— and make sure you know them, too. There are plenty of laws about how
you have to interact with cyclists and pedestrians — and they exist for a
reason. Know them and follow them.
•Be the better person. Don't
drive like you have to get there first, drive so everyone can get there
safely. Yield, even if you don't have to. Stop, if someone else
doesn't. Slow down, when conditions are uncertain or crowded. Move over,
and give other users their space. And, most of all, leave the rage and
revenge back in the garage.
•Remember you're the biggest thing on the road. Your
2 tons (or more) of steel can do much more damage to other users such
as walkers or cyclists. Your mass makes it tougher to stop. Your bulk
makes it harder to turn. And your speed simply multiplies all these
assets (or, more correctly, liabilities). So don't drive like you own
the road (you don't) – drive like you share the road (you do).
The
gift of safety isn't found under a tree, wrapped in pretty paper or
tied up in a nice bow. But for you and your loved ones — and all the
other road or path users anywhere you roam — it can be the most
important gift of all.
BikeWalkLee
is a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for
complete streets in Lee County — streets that are designed, built,
operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users:
pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and
abilities. Information, statistics and background online at
www.BikeWalkLee.org.
Upcoming events
Running/walking:
•Jan. 10: Seahawk Sprint for Music 5K (3dracinginc.com), Jim Jeffers Park in Cape Coral. Registration 7 a.m., race 8 a.m.
•Jan. 11:
12th annual River, Roots & Ruts Trail Run, Caloosahatchee Regional
Park, Alva. Half marathon and relay 8 a.m., 5K fun run 8:15 a.m.
(www.rrrtrail.com)
•Jan. 17: Tour
De Cape 5K Run/walk, is designed for advanced and novice runners. Check
in begins at 6:30 a.m. Race time is 8 a.m. Starts at Cape Harbour in
Cape Coral. (tourdecape.net)
•Jan. 24: Cypress Sprint for Music 5K, Lakes Regional Park in Fort Myers. Registration 7:30 a.m., race 8:30 a.m. (3dracinginc.com).
•Jan. 31:
Calusa BUG Chase, to help Lee County students Bring Up Grades. 5K run
through the grounds of the Calusa Nature Center, 3450 Ortiz Ave. Fort
Myers. Registration 6:30 a.m., race 7:30 a.m.
(www.fortmyerstrackclub.com)
•Feb. 8: Publix
Run to the Arts 5K, at ArtFest Fort Myers. Run or walk, race or fun.
Registration 7 a.m., race starts 8:15 a.m. at Edwards Drive in front of
Harborside (RunToTheArts.com)
•Feb. 21: Swamp
Stomp 5K, Grandeur Oaks Town Center located on State Road 80 just north
of Cowboy Way. Benefits the Caloosa Humane Society. Registration 6:30
a.m., race 7:30 a.m. (www.fortmyerstrackclub.com)
•Feb. 21: Edison Festival of Light 5K, downtown Fort Myers. Race at 5:45 p.m. (www.fortmyerstrackclub.com)
•March 1: Hooters
Half Marathon. 7 a.m. start, course starts/ends at Hooters (Edison
Mall), winds through McGregor neighborhoods to downtown then south on
U.S. 41. (www.fortmyerstrackclub.com)
Cycling & other events:
•Jan. 18: Tour
De Cape. Routes from 15, 30, 60, and 100 mile courses in the west and
north sections of Cape Coral. The event provides a continental
breakfast, lunch, on route rest stations with snacks and beverages, SAG
vehicles, Police support, and route maps. All rides start from Cape
Harbour in Cape Coral. (http://tourdecape.net)
•March 22:
17th annual Royal Palm Classic. Starts/ends at Fort Myers Brewing
Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr, Suite 27-28, Fort Myers. Race starts
at 8 a.m., 62-, 30- and 15-mile distances. Registration opens in
January. (www.royalpalmclassic.org or www.caloosariders.org)
•March 28: Pedal and Play Punta Gorda. Details to come.
Triathlons:
•Jan. 10-11: HITS Triathlon Series, Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Open, sprint Olympic half and full. (www.HitsTriathlonSeries.com)
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.
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