BWL Column: Iona couple enjoy ups, downs of biking to work

Be inspired to try riding your bike to work by Holly Milbrandt's guest column about riding bikes to work from Iona to Sanibel with her husband.  Thanks, Holly, for sharing your story (and photos).
 
BWL column in News-Press, May 26, 2016
Guest column by Holly Milbrandt

Sanibel's path system

 

NOTE: With National Bike to Work Day just in the rear-view mirror, we offer the tale of a commuting couple who use their bikes to enjoy the trip to and from work.

A couple years ago, my husband and I relocated from Cape Coral to the Iona area of Fort Myers. After nearly 10 years of commuting back and forth to Sanibel from the Cape, across two bridges and countless stoplights, we were thrilled with our new home and the prospect of biking to work.

As somewhat avid cyclists, we had biked across the Sanibel Causeway numerous times. Although daunting at first, particularly the high “A” span, we quickly found that our bikes and our legs were up for the challenge.

Leaving home for the ride

(We would later convince ourselves that we could train to ride the famous Alps climbs of the Tour de France – Alp d'Huez, Col de Galibier, and others – by doing some "training" rides over the high span of the Sanibel Causeway. Needless to say, we were sorely - pun intended - mistaken! But that’s a story for another day…)

Of course, biking to work is a bit different than simply heading out for a pleasure ride. Not only did we need the regular ride supplies — tire irons, spare tube, CO2 cartridges – we needed to think about everything we would need for the workday. Certainly I couldn’t strut around the office in my spandex all day, not even on Sanibel!

Although I’d prefer to just jump on my bike and go, it was obvious that a backpack would definitely be required to haul my daily needs – change of clothes, lunch, and cell phone, at a minimum. We also decided that we seriously needed to upgrade our bike lights, both front and back, to be sure we could see and be seen at all times.

Properly outfitted, we have now spent the better part of two “seasons” (mainly November-May) biking to work. Some days we ride together, some days our schedules dictate that we embark on separate journeys. Some days, despite our best intentions, we have to drive. But as lovers of nature and the environment in both our personal and professional lives, we have found the rides to be greatly satisfying, for some of the same but often for different for reasons.

The best view for cyclists on the Sanibel Causeway is at the top looking down. 

(Photo: Holly Milbrandt/Special to The News-Press)

As one who has always preferred early morning exercise, the ride TO work is my thing. Getting up a few minutes earlier than normal to head out on the 40-minute ride doesn’t bother me one bit. Once on the Causeway, I take a look back over my shoulder as the sun rises over Fort Myers Beach and then continue toward the Sanibel Lighthouse flashing in front of me. I look for dolphins, note the condition of the Caloosahatchee, and say “hi” to the osprey waiting for me on the C span. Arriving at work, I am energized and ready to take on the day.

My "I am not a morning person" husband disagrees. For him, it’s the ride home FROM work where he finds the greatest pleasure. He finds nothing more satisfying than cruising down the shared-use path along Periwinkle Way, passing vehicles stacked up bumper to bumper at 5 p.m. This makes the early rising totally worth it. His rides across the Causeway are spent thinking about waves and currents, scanning for sailboats, and determining the current tide conditions. Arriving at home, he is energized and ready to enjoy the evening.

Some of our fellow Causeway denizens help make the ride worth it. 
(Photo: Holly Milbrandt/Special to The News-Press)

Sure, the ride isn’t always magical. But for the most part, biking to work brings more joy than pain. We enjoy waving to our co-workers as they pass by in their cars and are glad that they have realized that honking is not encouraged; we appreciate when drivers slow down a bit and give us a little extra room; and we are happy to be two less cars on Sanibel as we support the City of Sanibel’s “Bike or Hike” campaign. As temperatures rise and the summer rains begin, we will likely make more trips by car and fewer by bike. But as traffic begins to swell next season, you can bet we will back in our saddles again!

Sanibel's "Bike & Hike" Campaign

-- 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.

Ready to ride or run?

Run: This Memorial Day weekend, you have you choice of 5Ks: Run on the Green in Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com), Sandoval 5K in Cape Coral (2dracing.com) and a fun 5K to support Special Olympics at North Collier Regional Park (gcrunner.org).

Ride: Three Critical Mass rides ahead: Friday it’s Cape Coral (gather at 7:30 p.m. for an 8 p.m. roll-out at 4706 SE 11th Place); a starter/sightseeing ride on Saturday (gather at 9 a.m., roll at 9:15 a.m. from 2160 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers); and  Friday, June 3, it’s the original CM ride beginning at 7:15 p.m. for an 8 p.m. roll-out at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. For the night rides, lights are required and helmets recommended.

Both: Kids, hone your tri skills at a Triathlon Kids Camp with Coach Angie Ferguson. It’s offered Saturdays, June 4-25, for ages 6-13 at the Cypress Lake Pool, Fort Myers (active.com). Adults, put those skills to use at the Naples Fitness Challenge Reverse Sprint on Sunday, June 5, at the Naples Beach Club. (thefitnesschallengetriathlon.com)