BikeWalkLee: With school out, make sure caution is in

This week's BWL column reminds drivers and cyclists that school is out for the summer and they need to be watching for kids playing, walking or biking on or near the roadways and bike paths.
 
News-Press "Go Coastal" BikeWalkLee Column, June 9, 2016

School’s out! For most students, those are words worth celebrating.

But, for drivers and cyclists, they should ring a more cautionary note – because it means more kids riding and playing on our roadways and bike paths.

That not only means more people out and about, but more people who may not have the full scope of skills necessary to interact with other traffic will be on the roads. So if the kids aren’t always paying attention, the adults need to.

For drivers, that means watching out for kids playing or riding near the roadway, and being prepared if they get too near to traffic. It’s always important to follow ALL the rules of the road – such as stopping for school buses (as last week’s tragedy underscored), being aware of bike and pedestrian traffic (particularly at intersections) and adjusting your driving when weather conditions change (such as allowing more time to stop on a wet road). So, slow down and anticipate – and hope nothing will happen.

For cyclists, it can mean being similarly watchful on bike paths and roadways, wary for the unexpected or unconventional and ready to react to avoid a collision. Biking defensively is always a good plan, whatever traffic you’re traversing.

Also look out for kids on the Sanibel path

Parents, this is a good time to remind your children about being smart and safe this summer. You want them to go out and play (gets them out of the house, which is usually a good thing) – so tell them how to do it right:

• Teach them the rules of the road. Bike with traffic, walk against it. Unless their skills are sharp, tell them to stay away from sharing the road. On shared-use paths, yield to pedestrians and be consistent around other cyclists

• Helmets on – it’s the law. If your child (under age 16) has a helmet, they have to wear it while biking, according to state law. If they don’t have a helmet, you need to buy them one – today.

• Pay attention. It’s always fun to be a clueless kid, but not being aware of your surroundings can be dangerous on a whole bunch of levels. You don’t want to raise a fearful kid, just a watchful one.

• Kids, there’s nothing better than the fun and freedom a bike can bring. Just remember the three Bs: Be visible, be predictable and be careful.

Enjoy your summer – those school bells (if they still have those) will be ringing again way too soon.

 By Ken Gooderham, BikeWalkLee

-- 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: On Saturday, you can support Oasis High School football in Cape Coral at its inaugural 5K (3dracing.com). The following Saturday, there’s the Summer Sizzler 5K at Cape’s Jaycee Park (3dracing.com) or the Sugden Stride 5K in Naples (eliteevents.org).

Ride: Critical Mass rides dominate the calendar again: Friday it’s Northeast Lee (gathers at 7:15 p.m. for an 8 p.m. roll out at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd.);  on Saturday the site is Sanibel (gathers at 7:15 p.m. for a 7:45 p.m. roll out at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way). Both are night rides, so lights are required and helmets recommended.

Both: Your next local tri is Saturday, June 25, with the TRISK Tri Siesta Key, sprint and Olympic tri plus duathlon (multirace.us). July brings tris in Naples and Englewood – and if you’re planning to do one in September (such as the local Galloway Captiva Tri), now’s the time to sign up before all the slots are gone and start training.

#BeSeenLee

#BeSeenLee: To keep people safe at night while biking, we’re working to provide free bike lights to those unable to afford them (but who have to ride at night). BikeWalkLee partners (including Pawnbroker Marketing and Billy's Bikes) will be coordinating events during this campaign. Be sure to watch the BikeWalklee Facebook and Twitter pages for more #BeSeenLee event announcements and details.