This week's BWL column focuses on safety and providing some factual information to correct some comments made in recent letters to the editor. As the closing statement says: "Headed rhetoric and faux face-offs serve little purpose but to distract. Better that all road users, whatever the locomotion, work together to demand safe and complete facilities for ALL users. That will give us the road system we need...and deserve." Thanks to BWL's Ken Gooderham for penning this important piece.
Comment from Steve Clark, the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Community Specialist:
"Excellent column! One of the best I've ever read on sharing the road and dispelling myths."
BikeWalkLee Column:
News-Press "Go Coastal" section: Jan. 8, 2015
Why can't we all just get along?
There's been a bit of bike-car skirmish in the letters to the editor of late, a war of words which has included a few assertions that need to be corrected. (The bike/ped outbursts at least provided some brief relief from the usual political finger-pointing, for which we should be grateful.)
The letters appear to be inspired by recent coverage of bike/ped safety concerns, how some cyclists planned to protect themselves with cameras, and how some motorists took umbrage at that idea, either in fact or in print. We won't rehash all the rhetoric here, but we would like to offer some factual information (to correct some comments made in the letters) along with a few thoughts of our own.
CLAIM: Cyclists should ride facing traffic to increase their safety.
FACT: Not only is that contrary to state law if you're riding on the roadway or an adjacent bike lane or shoulder, it's just plain wrong. Bicycles are considered vehicles, albeit slower moving than the motorized variety — and cyclists will be safer acting like a vehicle operator when around other vehicles in almost every instance. Why? Because motorists look for other vehicles first, following the flow of traffic to interact safely with other road users (which includes cyclists). So if you're riding in the roadway in the same direction as motorized traffic, said traffic will have a better chance of seeing you when they're pulling on to or off of the road, and overall in the flow of vehicles.
If you're riding on the sidewalk or separated path, cyclists are then considered pedestrians — and are not legally proscribed from going against the flow. However, safety again means acting like traffic even when you're not actually part of it — again, so you can be seen at those intersections and other points of interaction with motor vehicles.
Watch a driver when he/she pulls up to a stop sign to enter moving traffic. Where are they looking? At the traffic coming at them — not in the other direction. If you're coming in the same direction as that traffic, the stopped driver has a better chance to see you. Coming from their blind side? You better hope they look both ways before they proceed.
CLAIM: Cars/trucks and bikes/pedestrians simply can't co-exist on the same roadway.
FACT: They can (and do), but everyone needs to play by the same rules and roadway design makes a huge difference to improve safety.
If all the roadway users agree on some basic rules — when to stop, when to signal, which direction to proceed, what part of the road to use, etc. — it is possible for everyone to get to their respective destinations safely. Problems arise when any one of these users starts bending the rules, gets distracted from the task at hand, acts in an erratic fashion or otherwise veers from the familiar (and safe) path.
Design comes into play as a way to ensure every road user has a place to be on any given road, and that the places where they might interact are laid out in a way that makes everyone's path and position clearer. This is not a "one size fits all" method of road design, but a way to ensure that the quantity and variety of road users that can reasonably be expected on a given roadway can be accommodated… the premise of "complete streets." That means the "complete street" design of, say, U.S. 41 south of Fort Myers and State Road 31 north of the Caloosahatchee would look very different — but both should be able to accommodate the typical and expected array of road users in a safe and sane manner.
CLAIM: This current kerfuffle comes down to a "turf war" between motorists and cyclists/pedestrians.
FACT: There can be no "war," because there is no "turf." The roads are public, open to all — and all the road users should demand whatever it takes to ensure safe passage for all. It's not like anyone is JUST a motorist, JUST a cyclist or JUST a pedestrian; usually, we're all three at any given point in the day or week. But we are all members of the public, and that means any public thoroughfare is ours for the using… as long as we play by the rules and respect all the users, keeping in mind the vulnerability of those not inside the protective cocoon of a motor vehicle.
There will always be motorists who drive aggressively, react erratically, even who make rash statements about other road users in the heat of the moment. There will be cyclists who take too many risks and bend (or break) the rules. There will always be pedestrians who don't pay attention or act in a way that can put them in danger.
But, for the most part, the vast majority of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are just trying to get from Point A to Point B in time and intact, and will extend reasonable courtesy (and carefulness) to ensure everyone can make their way in peace.
Heated rhetoric and faux face-offs serve little purpose but to distract. Better that all road users, whatever the locomotion, work together to demand safe and complete facilities for ALL users. That will give us the road system we need… and deserve.
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 BikeWalkLee.org.
Upcoming events
Running/walking:
•Saturday, Jan. 10: Seahawk Sprint for Music 5K (3dracinginc.com), Jim Jeffers Park in Cape Coral. Registration 7 a.m., race 8 a.m.
•Sunday, 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)
•Saturday, 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)
•Saturday, 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).
•Sunday, Jan. 25: The 9th annual Naples Bike (Walk & Run) Brunch for cyclists, walkers and runners at Lowdermilk Park in Naples. Rides of 62, 31, 20 and 10 miles; 5k beach run and four walks. Proceeds help support Naples Pathway Coalition. (www.naplespathways.org)
•Saturday, 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)
•Sunday, 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)
•Saturday, Feb. 21: Swamp Stomp 5K, Grandeur Oaks Town Center 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)
•Saturday, Feb. 21: Edison Festival of Light 5K, downtown Fort Myers. Race at 5:45 p.m. (www.fortmyerstrackclub.com)
•Sunday, 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 and other events:
•Sunday, 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)
•Feb. 11, 2015. "Stayin' Alive," a benefit for the cycling safety program of Naples Pathways Coalition. 5-7 p.m., Hamilton Harbor Beach Club, Naples. Cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres and raffle ticket. $100 donation per person, limited space. RSVP at www.naplespathways.org/events
•Sunday, 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)
•Saturday, March 28: Pedal and Play, Punta Gorda. 62-, 30-, 15- and 10-mile rides, plus a City Manager's History Tour. Includes breakfast and lunch, rest stops for the longer rides. Register and info online at www.facebook.com/PedalAndPlay or http://pedalandplayinparadise.com/.
Triathlons:
•Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 10-11: HITS Triathlon Series, Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Open, sprint Olympic half and full. (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.
Comment from Steve Clark, the League of American Bicyclists Bicycle Friendly Community Specialist:
"Excellent column! One of the best I've ever read on sharing the road and dispelling myths."
BikeWalkLee Column:
News-Press "Go Coastal" section: Jan. 8, 2015
Why can't we all just get along?
There's been a bit of bike-car skirmish in the letters to the editor of late, a war of words which has included a few assertions that need to be corrected. (The bike/ped outbursts at least provided some brief relief from the usual political finger-pointing, for which we should be grateful.)
The letters appear to be inspired by recent coverage of bike/ped safety concerns, how some cyclists planned to protect themselves with cameras, and how some motorists took umbrage at that idea, either in fact or in print. We won't rehash all the rhetoric here, but we would like to offer some factual information (to correct some comments made in the letters) along with a few thoughts of our own.
CLAIM: Cyclists should ride facing traffic to increase their safety.
FACT: Not only is that contrary to state law if you're riding on the roadway or an adjacent bike lane or shoulder, it's just plain wrong. Bicycles are considered vehicles, albeit slower moving than the motorized variety — and cyclists will be safer acting like a vehicle operator when around other vehicles in almost every instance. Why? Because motorists look for other vehicles first, following the flow of traffic to interact safely with other road users (which includes cyclists). So if you're riding in the roadway in the same direction as motorized traffic, said traffic will have a better chance of seeing you when they're pulling on to or off of the road, and overall in the flow of vehicles.
If you're riding on the sidewalk or separated path, cyclists are then considered pedestrians — and are not legally proscribed from going against the flow. However, safety again means acting like traffic even when you're not actually part of it — again, so you can be seen at those intersections and other points of interaction with motor vehicles.
Watch a driver when he/she pulls up to a stop sign to enter moving traffic. Where are they looking? At the traffic coming at them — not in the other direction. If you're coming in the same direction as that traffic, the stopped driver has a better chance to see you. Coming from their blind side? You better hope they look both ways before they proceed.
CLAIM: Cars/trucks and bikes/pedestrians simply can't co-exist on the same roadway.
FACT: They can (and do), but everyone needs to play by the same rules and roadway design makes a huge difference to improve safety.
If all the roadway users agree on some basic rules — when to stop, when to signal, which direction to proceed, what part of the road to use, etc. — it is possible for everyone to get to their respective destinations safely. Problems arise when any one of these users starts bending the rules, gets distracted from the task at hand, acts in an erratic fashion or otherwise veers from the familiar (and safe) path.
Design comes into play as a way to ensure every road user has a place to be on any given road, and that the places where they might interact are laid out in a way that makes everyone's path and position clearer. This is not a "one size fits all" method of road design, but a way to ensure that the quantity and variety of road users that can reasonably be expected on a given roadway can be accommodated… the premise of "complete streets." That means the "complete street" design of, say, U.S. 41 south of Fort Myers and State Road 31 north of the Caloosahatchee would look very different — but both should be able to accommodate the typical and expected array of road users in a safe and sane manner.
CLAIM: This current kerfuffle comes down to a "turf war" between motorists and cyclists/pedestrians.
FACT: There can be no "war," because there is no "turf." The roads are public, open to all — and all the road users should demand whatever it takes to ensure safe passage for all. It's not like anyone is JUST a motorist, JUST a cyclist or JUST a pedestrian; usually, we're all three at any given point in the day or week. But we are all members of the public, and that means any public thoroughfare is ours for the using… as long as we play by the rules and respect all the users, keeping in mind the vulnerability of those not inside the protective cocoon of a motor vehicle.
There will always be motorists who drive aggressively, react erratically, even who make rash statements about other road users in the heat of the moment. There will be cyclists who take too many risks and bend (or break) the rules. There will always be pedestrians who don't pay attention or act in a way that can put them in danger.
But, for the most part, the vast majority of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are just trying to get from Point A to Point B in time and intact, and will extend reasonable courtesy (and carefulness) to ensure everyone can make their way in peace.
Heated rhetoric and faux face-offs serve little purpose but to distract. Better that all road users, whatever the locomotion, work together to demand safe and complete facilities for ALL users. That will give us the road system we need… and deserve.
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 BikeWalkLee.org.
Upcoming events
Running/walking:
•Saturday, Jan. 10: Seahawk Sprint for Music 5K (3dracinginc.com), Jim Jeffers Park in Cape Coral. Registration 7 a.m., race 8 a.m.
•Sunday, 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)
•Saturday, 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)
•Saturday, 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).
•Sunday, Jan. 25: The 9th annual Naples Bike (Walk & Run) Brunch for cyclists, walkers and runners at Lowdermilk Park in Naples. Rides of 62, 31, 20 and 10 miles; 5k beach run and four walks. Proceeds help support Naples Pathway Coalition. (www.naplespathways.org)
•Saturday, 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)
•Sunday, 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)
•Saturday, Feb. 21: Swamp Stomp 5K, Grandeur Oaks Town Center 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)
•Saturday, Feb. 21: Edison Festival of Light 5K, downtown Fort Myers. Race at 5:45 p.m. (www.fortmyerstrackclub.com)
•Sunday, 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 and other events:
•Sunday, 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)
•Feb. 11, 2015. "Stayin' Alive," a benefit for the cycling safety program of Naples Pathways Coalition. 5-7 p.m., Hamilton Harbor Beach Club, Naples. Cocktails, heavy hors d'oeuvres and raffle ticket. $100 donation per person, limited space. RSVP at www.naplespathways.org/events
•Sunday, 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)
•Saturday, March 28: Pedal and Play, Punta Gorda. 62-, 30-, 15- and 10-mile rides, plus a City Manager's History Tour. Includes breakfast and lunch, rest stops for the longer rides. Register and info online at www.facebook.com/PedalAndPlay or http://pedalandplayinparadise.com/.
Triathlons:
•Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 10-11: HITS Triathlon Series, Vanderbilt Beach Road, Naples. Open, sprint Olympic half and full. (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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