September 30: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

• Wednesday, Oct. 3: GCR Corporate Run, non-timed 5K, Gordon River Greenway, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 5: Busey Bank Run for Prevention 5K, Centennial Park, Fort Myers (3dracinginc.com)
• Sunday, Oct. 6: Rocktoberfest 5K/10K, North Collier Regional Park, Naples (eliteevents.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Fort Myers Cops and Joggers 5K, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 19: Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, downtown Naples to the Sanibel Causeway and back for 6-person relay teams (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: FISH 10K, Sanibel (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Eighth annual LCEC Goblin Gallop 5K, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Halloween Monster 5K, Fleischmann Park, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Friday, Nov. 1: Sunset & Suds 5K 2019, Naples (active.com)
• Saturday, Nov. 2: St. Andrew Catholic School Run for the Stars 5K, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Olde Naples 10K, 7:30 a.m. (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Run 4 Your Lungs 5K Run/Walk, Lakes Regional Park, Fort Myers (runsignup.com)
• Monday, Nov. 11: Midpoint Madness 5K run/walk, Midpoint Bridge, Fort Myers, 7 p.m. (ftmyerstrackclub.com) 
• Saturday, Nov. 16: CCPS 5K, competitive run, fun run and walk, Barron Collier High School, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 16: Sprint for Students 5K run/walk, FGCU campus (runsignup.com)
• Sunday, Nov. 24: Fall Classic Half Marathon, Naples (runeliteevents.com) 
• Thursday, Nov. 28: 40th annual Turkey Trot 5K. 1-mile fun run and tot trot, Cape Coral Hospital (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Thursday, Nov. 28: GCR Thanksgiving 5K, plus 1K kids run, downtown Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Thursday, Nov. 28: Thanksgiving Day 5K, Hertz Arena, Estero (runeliteeevents.com)
• Thursday, Nov. 28: FGCU Ninth-Annual Gobbler 5K and 1K fun run, Alico Arena, Estero (runsignup.com) 
• Saturday, Dec. 7: 41st annual City of Palms River Run 10K and 2-mile fun run/walk, Centennial Park, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Sunday, Dec. 8: Florida West Coast Half Marathon & 5K, Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota (westcoasthalf.com)
• Saturday, Dec. 14: QBE Shootout 5K, Tiburon Golf Club, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Dec. 14: Naples Christmas Glow Run 5K, Sugden Regional Park, Naples (runeliteevents.com)
• Sunday, Dec. 15: Naples Distance Classic 5K/10K/Half Marathon, Eagle Lakes Community Park, Naples (naplesdistanceclassic.com)
• Sunday, Dec. 15: Jingle Bell 5K, Babcock Ranch (active.com)
• Saturday, Dec. 21: Marco 5 Mile Hill Run, Marco Island (gcrunner.org)
• For more running events visit gcrunner.org/calendar.html; ftmyerstrackclub.com/race-calendar; eliteevents.org and 3dracinginc.com

Cycling:

• Monday, Sep. 30: Monday Minions Ride. This is a weekly ride that rolls in the 13-15 mph range. Total distance around 15 miles. After the ride most go over to Square 1 restaurant for the $5 burger and fries deal. If you are looking to get into cycling beyond the casual roll, this is an ideal ride for you. 6 p.m., Fort Myers Cyclery, 3630 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) 
• Tuesday, Oct. 1: Taco Tuesday Ride. Every Tuesday night, We Ride For Tacos! After a 21 mile ride on Treeline/Old Airport/Daniels/6 Mile Cypress roads and paths, we'll finish at Tijuana Flats for Taco Tuesday. B RIDERS: 16 to 18 mph for the basic group. A RIDERS: The faster group rides at 20mph plus. We finish well after dark, so Front And Rear Lights are Required. 6:30 p.m., Trek Bicycle Store of Fort Myers, 8291 Dani Drive, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Friday, Oct. 4: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow ride through Fort Myers gathering at 7:15 p.m. and starting at 8 p.m. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the open field next to Publix at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Oct. 6: Wakey, Wakey! Weekly Sunday Morning Ride. This is a weekly ride for riders of most skill levels and most types of bicycles (hybrids, fitness, and road). The ride is sanctioned by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, thus helmets are required, no ear buds, and no aero bar use while in the group. 7.30 a.m., location varies, visit (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) for details.
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Sanibel Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7 p.m. at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Friday, Oct. 18: NE-Lee Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Oct. 20: 10th annual Tour de Northport, distances of 15, 35 and 65 miles (caloosariders.org)
• Friday, Oct. 25: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at 7:30 p.m., start at 8 p.m. at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly ride through the Cape. Lights required, helmets recommended. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Saturday Slow Roll. 8 a.m. meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Ongoing: Join the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club on one of their many weekly rides for members and potential members, with an array of paces and routes to choose from. Check them out online at www.caloosariders.org.
• For more Lee County cycling and tri events, visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

Triathlons:

• Sunday, Nov. 17: Longboat Key Sprint/Olympic Triathlon and Duathlon and 5K (imathlete.com)
  
• Check trifind.com to find regional and state tris.

BikeWalkLee: Cycling with confidence

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, September 26, 2019
by Ken Gooderham


What makes someone good at riding a bicycle? Confidence, and communication.

Not what you were expecting? Then you need to read “How I learned to cycle like a Dutchman,” published recently in The New Yorker magazine. Writer Dan Kois, on a three-month assignment in Delft, decides he and his family will ride like the local do – everywhere, all the time.

The results are enlightening, in more ways than you’d think.

The pedaling proclivity of the Dutch is well known… it’s what you’d expect from a country where there are more bicycles (22 million) than residents (18 million). It’s a practice that carries from birth (child seats galore) almost to the grave (e-bikes for those too pooped to pedal outsell adult standard bikes there).

And the abundance of bike infrastructure – bike lanes abound and roundabouts are often designed so that cyclists will not have to stop to traverse them – is also expected. The surprise? It wasn’t always that way.

The eighteen million residents of Holland own, in total, more than twenty-two million bicycles.
Image: The New Yorker

In the postwar Netherlands, car usage boomed and bike usage plummeted – from 1950 to 1970 the percentage of trips done by bike dropped from 80% to 20%.

As car use spiked, so did road deaths – especially among children. That sparked outrage, followed by protests, followed by action. Road projects (which usually involved razing old historic neighborhoods) were stopped, cycling activists were elected to office and a culture that valued bicycling was reborn.

As more people biked, more drivers became cycling sensitive – because they also rode, a lot. This changes the driving culture in dramatic ways (as chronicled by Kois):

“Most days, (the driver pass you on the bike lane) would be biking next to you, unprotected from cars except by custom, respect, and the forethought that comes from being able to think like a cyclist. In the Netherlands, drivers don’t turn right without checking their blind spots. They don’t park in bike lanes, not even just for a minute, to drop something off. And no Dutch cyclist ever half-waves at a driver for making a required stop—they assume that drivers will see them and obey the law.”

The Dutch also used the law to promote safety. After studies showed that a cyclist hit by a car traveling at a speed greater than 30 kph (that’s 18.64 mph) was unlikely to survive, the speed limit for motor vehicles in every living area of the country was maxed at 30 kph. That’s one reason why even though no one wears bike helmets there, the cyclist fatality rate is six times less than in the U.S.

The revelation Kois and his family came away from this experience with, however, may not be one you’d expect: Confidence and communication are key to safe cycling.

Confidence comes both from knowing that motor vehicle operators are not out to get you, and from knowing that your cycling skills are strong enough to carry you through any circumstance. That’s equally important whether you’re navigating a busy roundabout or getting in the flow of some serious cycling traffic.

Kois recounts the chaos he and his family – showing the shaky cycling skills you’d expect from a suburban U.S. clan – created among the skilled and swift Dutch riders (who clearly expected that if you were on a bike you’d know how to handle it without wobble or weave).

Communication? A Dutch cycling expert put it this way:

“If you are not able to anticipate what other people will do, you will have lots of small accidents, or near accidents,” he said. “You must be communicating with your eyes to the other riders in the street. Your decisions must be based on what is best for the flow of traffic, not what is best for your trip in particular.

‘“Think of it this way. Car drivers behave like a bunch of geese. They have the same distance from each other and fly at the same speed, and move almost in military formation.’ He put down his tea and made a series of regimented gestures with his hands. Then he moved them around together, in an elegant dance. ‘Cyclists move like a swarm of sparrows. There are thousands of them moving in chaos, but there are no collisions. They turn a little bit; they change their speed. You must do the same.’”

The lessons that Kois learned can be a guidepost for your cycling as well – even if the roads of Southwest Florida never reflect the skills and safety of the Netherlands. Working to build your confidence and communications over time will make you a stronger and safer rider, and playing by the rules of the road when you’re sharing the road can inspire drivers to treat you with the confidence you deserve. (This, however, does not eliminate the need to practice defensive cycling on the roadway or path.)

And if a car-crazy Netherlands can learn to embrace the bike… well, maybe, we can too.

Ready to ride or run? 

Run? Fort Myers runners can lace up for the Busey Bank 5K on Oct. 5 or the Cops & Joggers 5K on Oct. 12 (both in downtown Fort Myers). Upcoming Collier events include the non-timed 5K Corporate Run on Oct. 3 and the Rocktoberfest 5K/10K on Oct. 6. Details at 3dracinginc.com, ftmyerstrackclub.com, gcrunner.org and runeliteevents.com, respectively.

Ride? Critical Mass has these regularly scheduled rides on tap:

• Friday, Sept. 27: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at 7:30 p.m., start at 8 p.m. at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street.
• Saturday, Sept. 28: Saturday Slow Roll 8 a.m. meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.
• Friday, Oct. 4: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow ride through Fort Myers gathering at 7:15 p.m. and starting at 8 p.m. Meet in the open field next to Publix at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers.

Lights required for night rides, helmets recommended for all, details at meetup.com.

Both? The lone local-ish event is the Longboat Key Triathlon/Duathlon, with both Olympic and sprint distances on Nov. 17; details at trifind.com or trisignup.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.

# # #

Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, 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. 


 

Fort Myers Beach bike project makes riding safer

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, September 25, 2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Four fitness stations mysteriously popped up along McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers recently. (photo: Dan Moser)

A number of projects and initiatives are underway to make Lee County more accessible for pedestrians and cyclists.

The complete reworking of Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach is coming along, although those who must traverse it on a regular basis are likely thinking it’s happening much too slowly.

I recently had an opportunity to ride my bike from the Park & Ride lot on Little Carlos Island just across the bridge to Bowditch Park south through the just completed Estero Boulevard segment from Lovers Lane down to Strandview Avenue.

It was a pleasant ride throughout, thanks to bike lanes on the town’s well-established section north of Times Square and on the newest segment south of Red Coconut/Lovers Lane.

Sharrows painted on the roadway reminding drivers that bikes would be using any part of the travel lane where there is no room for bike lanes from the foot of the bridge to Red Coconut/Lovers Lane made riding there comfortable as well. In that segment the side paths are nine feet wide so those on bikes who don’t want to ride in the road can opt for that option, although I found road riding to be safe and stress-free.

Dan Moser is a long-time bicycle/pedestrian
advocate and traffic safety professional
who cycles, runs and walks regularly for
transportation, recreation and  fitness.
Contact him at bikepedmoser@gmail.com
and 239-334-6417.

I was especially impressed with the transition design between side path and bike lane where that occurs at Red Coconut/Lovers Lane: a parallel curb ramp allows southbound cyclists to seamlessly get off the side path when the bike lane begins or jump onto the side path where the bike lane ends for those traveling north. One problem, however, persists: some side path bike riders do not understand that they must warn pedestrians and others on bikes when passing, operate at slow speed and must behave in a way that doesn’t put others at risk. As well, e-bikes are not allowed to travel under electric power on side paths but some do, and at inappropriately fast speeds.

As for any kind of bike, except for children or those who aren’t physically capable of operating on the road, the combination of sharrows and a middle turn lane that allows motorists to easily pass makes road riding in the segment with no bike lanes safe and more efficient than the sidepath.

What seemed to be a double-super-secret project that appeared earlier this year but to no announcements or even a mention on the city’s website (at least until after an exhaustive search that finally resulted in finding one city staffer who knew about this project’s background), the “Steel Challenge Course,” a multi-station outdoor fitness course, has popped-up along McGregor Boulevard between the Alliance for the Arts and a mile north of Fort Myers Country Club.

Unlike those in Cape Coral along North Del Prado Boulevard and others found in a few of our parks, this one has only four stations along this two-mile stretch of McGregor (three of the four are on either end), meaning it has far fewer stations and they are located much farther apart than what would seem to be more appropriate.

Besides the city’s failure to let its residents and visitors know it even exists, I’m thinking the tax money used for a project like this, especially in this particular part of town, makes little sense (it’s not like it’s an underserved area in any way other than for cyclists who would rather use the road than sidewalk). Why not instead have used the funds to install public bike repair and air pump stations where they’d be most utilized, or for fixing sidewalks that are in disrepair and building them where they are sorely needed? Oh, well, at least it was well-intentioned.

Although not infrastructure projects but rather vital planning tools, bicycle/pedestrian plans (or plan updates) for a number of our municipalities were either recently completed or are in the works. Along with the existing overall Lee County Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan and Lee County Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (also soon to be updated) these local government plans combine to create a complete overview of the needs, feasibility, and costs for creating a much needed improved environment for non-motorists. Also, our current third edition bike map that was created in 2014 is long overdue for updating to a fourth edition, so I’m hoping that will be coming soon. Check-in with Lee MPO (www.leempo.com) for details.

To learn about this topic and more, visit bikewalklee.blogspot.com and www.streetsaliveswfl.org.¦



For Lee County cycling and tri events visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL). The Florida Bicycle Association (floridabicycle.org) is your source for statewide happenings. BikeWalkLee’s blog site has all the information you’ll need to stay abreast of advocacy efforts in Southwest Florida as well as statewide and nationally.

September 23: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

• 
  Wednesday, Oct. 3: GCR Corporate Run, non-timed 5K, Gordon River Greenway, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 5: Busey Bank Run for Prevention 5K, Centennial Park, Fort Myers (3dracinginc.com)
• Sunday, Oct. 6: Rocktoberfest 5K/10K, North Collier Regional Park, Naples (eliteevents.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Fort Myers Cops and Joggers 5K, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 19: Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, downtown Naples to the Sanibel Causeway and back for 6-person relay teams (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: FISH 10K, Sanibel (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Eighth annual LCEC Goblin Gallop 5K, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Halloween Monster 5K, Fleischmann Park, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 2: St. Andrew Catholic School Run for the Stars 5K, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Olde Naples 10K, 7:30 a.m. (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Run 4 Your Lungs 5K Run/Walk, Lakes Regional Park, Fort Myers (runsignup.com)
• Monday, Nov. 11: Midpoint Madness 5K run/walk, Midpoint Bridge, Fort Myers, 7 p.m. (ftmyerstrackclub.com) 
• Saturday, Nov. 16: CCPS 5K, competitive run, fun run and walk, Barron Collier High School, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 16: Sprint for Students 5K run/walk, FGCU campus (runsignup.com)
• Sunday, Nov. 26: Fall Classic Half Marathon, Naples (runeliteevents.com)
• For more running events visit gcrunner.org/calendar.html; ftmyerstrackclub.com/race-calendar; eliteevents.org and 3dracinginc.com

Cycling:

• Monday, Sep. 23: Monday Minions Ride. This is a weekly ride that rolls in the 13-15 mph range. Total distance around 15 miles. After the ride most go over to Square 1 restaurant for the $5 burger and fries deal. If you are looking to get into cycling beyond the casual roll, this is an ideal ride for you. 6 p.m., Fort Myers Cyclery, 3630 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) 
• Tuesday, Sep. 24: Taco Tuesday Ride. Every Tuesday night, We Ride For Tacos! After a 21 mile ride on Treeline/Old Airport/Daniels/6 Mile Cypress roads and paths, we'll finish at Tijuana Flats for Taco Tuesday. B RIDERS: 16 to 18 mph for the basic group. A RIDERS: The faster group rides at 20mph plus. We finish well after dark, so Front And Rear Lights are Required. 6:30 p.m., Trek Bicycle Store of Fort Myers, 8291 Dani Drive, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• 
  Friday, Sept. 27: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at 7:30 p.m., start at 8 p.m. at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly ride through the Cape. Lights required, helmets recommended.(meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Saturday, Sept. 28: Saturday Slow Roll. 8 a.m. meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Sep. 22: Wakey, Wakey! Weekly Sunday Morning Ride. This is a weekly ride for riders of most skill levels and most types of bicycles (hybrids, fitness, and road). The ride is sanctioned by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, thus helmets are required, no ear buds, and no aero bar use while in the group. 7.30 a.m., location varies, visit (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) for details. 
• Friday, Oct. 4: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow ride through Fort Myers gathering at 7:15 p.m. and starting at 8 p.m. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the open field next to Publix at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Oct. 20: 10th annual Tour de Northport, distances of 15, 35 and 65 miles (caloosariders.org)
• Ongoing: Join the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club on one of their many weekly rides for members and potential members, with an array of paces and routes to choose from. Check them out online at www.caloosariders.org.
• For more Lee County cycling and tri events, visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

Triathlons:

• Sunday, Nov. 17: Longboat Key Sprint/Olympic Triathlon and Duathlon and 5K (imathlete.com)
  
• Check trifind.com to find regional and state tris.

September 16: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

• Friday, Sept. 20: Downtown Dash 1-mile run/walk. This is Southwest Florida’s only timed mile run/walk event for all ages. This run/walk is the first of its kind, offering participants the option to test themselves in a mile run or simply enjoy jogging or walking a mile in beautiful downtown Fort Myers. 6 p.m., Lee county regional Library, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Wednesday, Oct. 3: GCR Corporate Run, non-timed 5K, Gordon River Greenway, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 5: Busey Bank Run for Prevention 5K, Centennial Park, Fort Myers (3dracinginc.com)
• Sunday, Oct. 6: Rocktoberfest 5K/10K, North Collier Regional Park, Naples (eliteevents.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Fort Myers Cops and Joggers 5K, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 19: Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, downtown Naples to the Sanibel Causeway and back for 6-person relay teams (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: FISH 10K, Sanibel (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Eighth annual LCEC Goblin Gallop 5K, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Halloween Monster 5K, Fleischmann Park, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 2: St. Andrew Catholic School Run for the Stars 5K, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Olde Naples 10K, 7:30 a.m. (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Run 4 Your Lungs 5K Run/Walk, Lakes Regional Park, Fort Myers (runsignup.com)
• Monday, Nov. 11: Midpoint Madness 5K run/walk, Midpoint Bridge, Fort Myers, 7 p.m. (ftmyerstrackclub.com) 
• Saturday, Nov. 16: CCPS 5K, competitive run, fun run and walk, Barron Collier High School, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 16: Sprint for Students 5K run/walk, FGCU campus (runsignup.com)
• Sunday, Nov. 26: Fall Classic Half Marathon, Naples (runeliteevents.com)
• For more running events visit gcrunner.org/calendar.html; ftmyerstrackclub.com/race-calendar; eliteevents.org and 3dracinginc.com

Cycling:

• Monday, Sep. 16: Monday Minions Ride. This is a weekly ride that rolls in the 13-15 mph range. Total distance around 15 miles. After the ride most go over to Square 1 restaurant for the $5 burger and fries deal. If you are looking to get into cycling beyond the casual roll, this is an ideal ride for you. 6 p.m., Fort Myers Cyclery, 3630 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) 
• Tuesday, Sep. 17: Taco Tuesday Ride. Every Tuesday night, We Ride For Tacos! After a 21 mile ride on Treeline/Old Airport/Daniels/6 Mile Cypress roads and paths, we'll finish at Tijuana Flats for Taco Tuesday. B RIDERS: 16 to 18 mph for the basic group. A RIDERS: The faster group rides at 20mph plus. We finish well after dark, so Front And Rear Lights are Required. 6:30 p.m., Trek Bicycle Store of Fort Myers, 8291 Dani Drive, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• 
  Friday, Sept. 20: NE-Lee Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended.  (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Sep. 22: Wakey, Wakey! Weekly Sunday Morning Ride. This is a weekly ride for riders of most skill levels and most types of bicycles (hybrids, fitness, and road). The ride is sanctioned by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, thus helmets are required, no ear buds, and no aero bar use while in the group. 7.30 a.m., location varies, visit (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) for details. 
• Friday, Sept. 27: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at 7:30 p.m., start at 8 p.m. at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly ride through the Cape. Lights required, helmets recommended.(meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Saturday, Sept. 28: Saturday Slow Roll. 8 a.m. meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Friday, Oct. 4: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow ride through Fort Myers gathering at 7:15 p.m. and starting at 8 p.m. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the open field next to Publix at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Oct. 20: 10th annual Tour de Northport, distances of 15, 35 and 65 miles (caloosariders.org)
• Ongoing: Join the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club on one of their many weekly rides for members and potential members, with an array of paces and routes to choose from. Check them out online at www.caloosariders.org.
• For more Lee County cycling and tri events, visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

Triathlons:

• 
  Saturday, Sept. 21: The Original Siesta Key Tri, sprint (runsignup.com)
• Sunday, Nov. 17: Longboat Key Sprint/Olympic Triathlon and Duathlon and 5K (imathlete.com)
• Check trifind.com to find regional and state tris.

BikeWalkLee: Races are here, even if cooler weather isn’t

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, September 12, 2019
by Ken Gooderham


Are you ready to run? Well, the races are ready for you.

The calendar says September even while the thermometer says it’s still summer. Nevertheless, the fall racing season kicks off this weekend with three event that seemingly cater to your level of run readiness:

• If you’ve been putting in the miles all summer (for which I doff my sweat-soaked cap to you), there’s the Venice half marathon (with a 5K as well, if you’re not quite ready for 13.1 miles of steamy fun).
• Haven’t laced up the running shoes in a while? Consider the Average Joe 5K in Naples, where the pitch is: “Welcome to ‘The World’s Easiest 5K’ where the person who finishes in the middle is the winner!”
• Somewhere between the two you’ll find the Tunnel to Towers 5K run/walk at Lakes Park, organized to honor FDNY firefighter Steven Siller (a victim of 9/11) as well as first responders and the military overall.

After this launch, you’ll find almost every weekend through Thanksgiving hosting a running event of some ilk, from the typical 5Ks to the next-step 10Ks, then to a half-marathon and finally reaching an 80-mile relay from downtown Naples to the Sanibel Causeway and back. And that’s just this year!

So what do you need to do if you want to join the race? The first question may be what have you been doing already?

If you’re a regular runner used to the still-sultry temps, pick a distance you feel comfortable doing (or have the time to train for) and go. You’ve likely gotten the acclimatization thing down cold (or warm), and you know what you need to do to stay hydrated and happy for an early-morning race (which most of these will be until we shave a few more degrees off the thermometer).

Not used to the heat or distance, but still used to running? Pick a short and simple event and watch the weather for a break in the humidity (we got a little taste of that with Dorian’s passage to the east, short-lived as it was). And if the going gets too tough, stop going (or at least walk it off). How well you are able to handle the heat may determine how long you will be able to run in it… and living to run another day is smarter than making yourself sick (or worse).

A better compromise? Look at the upcoming events and distances, and pick one to set for a goal. That will give you the time you need – and the drop in temperature you want – to help you have a great race.

There could just be a 10K or half marathon out there with your name on it.

ERRATA: Checking the event calendar for Critical Mass (the street party where a bike ride break outs), it appears the group shifted both the date and location for its sixth anniversary party. Now it’s planned for this Saturday (Sept. 14) beginning around 5 p.m. at Millennial Brewing Company in downtown Fort Myers. Details online at http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/.

Ready to ride or run? 

Run? As mentioned above, things really pick up on Sept. 14, with the Tunnel to Towers 5K run/walk in Lakes Park, the Average Joe 5K in North Collier Regional Park, and a half-marathon in Venice. Details at gcrunner.org, ftmyerstrackclub.com, active.com and venicehalf.com. This is followed by the Downtown Dash 1-mile run/walk on Friday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m., Lee County Regional Library, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com).

Ride? Besides the anniversary celebration Saturday at Millennial Brewing, Critical Mass has the regularly scheduled rides on tap as well:

• Saturday, Sept. 14: Sanibel Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7:30 p.m. at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel.
• Friday, Sept. 20: NE-Lee Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd.
• Friday, Sept. 27: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at 7:30 p.m., start at 8 p.m. at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street.
• Saturday, Sept. 28: Saturday Slow Roll 8 a.m. meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

Lights required for night rides, helmets recommended for all, details at meetup.com.

Both? Upcoming events include:

• Saturday, Sept. 21: The Original Siesta Key Tri, sprint (runsignup.com)
• Sunday, Nov. 17: Longboat Key Triathlon/Duathlon, Olympic and sprint distances (trifind.com)
• Willing to drive? Check trifind.com or active.com for tris around the state.

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.

# # #

Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, 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. 


 

Pedestrian, bicycle improvement projects moving along

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, September 11, 2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

A rending of the temporary improvement on Fowler Street looking south toward Hanson Street. COURTESY IMAGE

As Lee County and all of Southwest Florida continues to grow at a breakneck pace many transportation projects are taking place as well. While most road improvement projects or new road development include sidewalks or shared-use paths and sometimes even bike lanes, the fact is that what generally continues to be designed and built are facilities intended to move motor traffic as quickly and efficiently as possible with non-motorists being treated as secondary users.

This approach means pedestrians and those on bicycles continue to face dangers and difficulties when navigating our public rights of way. In fact, many of the improvement projects turn our streets and roads into full-fledged highways with design speeds increased by 10 mph or higher than the posted speed limit (usually 40 mph higher), making using them a challenging and largely unpleasant task for non-motorists.

Here are a few project updates.

¦ Fowler Street from Hanson Street to MLK/SR-82 is the last segment of the Metro corridor stretching from Alico Road in south Fort Myers to just north of the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers. It’s been left unimproved for decades and is the definition of a dysfunctional road segment. Although it’s under the jurisdiction of FDOT, the city of Fort Myers has held up any kind of improvement since the late 1980s, all at the expense of pedestrians and cyclists. There are no sidewalks or even usable shoulders, not to mention driver safety is compromised, as it’s a four-lane road with no median or left- turn lanes. FDOT and Fort Myers have finally come to a tentative agreement on at least an interim plan that provides accommodation for pedestrians (bicycle users will be accommodated on parallel Evans Avenue with the addition of an on-road, two-way cycle track; the existing sidewalk will remain on Evans). As part of the plan, Evans will turn one of its three northbound lanes into a southbound one; Fowler will have two southbound lanes and one northbound.

Dan Moser is a long-time bicycle/pedestrian
advocate and traffic safety professional
who cycles, runs and walks regularly for
transportation, recreation and  fitness.
Contact him at bikepedmoser@gmail.com
and 239-334-6417.

The fact that FDOT is willing to take this temporary approach after almost 40 years of taking no action tells me there’s really no satisfying the city of Fort Myers, so what a final plan might be remains to be seen. This segment is appropriate for a one-way pair as there are a number of perpendicular streets running between Evans and Fowler, allowing for easy access to locations on both streets. But because the city has dug in against a one-way pair (even though that’s what exists from MLK to both spans of the Edison Bridge) we’re stuck with this temporary solution which may last for another few decades.

¦ The spine of Lee County’s trail network runs adjacent to the rail line between U.S. 41 and Metro Parkway and includes John Yarbrough Park Trail (JY Trail), which currently exists from Six Mile Cypress Parkway to Colonial Boulevard. The next phase continues north to Hanson. This is indeed welcome news. But there’s really no plan to extend it as a pathway that’s not along a highway from Hanson (it’ll run along Metro/Evans from there and the path is a sidewalk not a shared-use path). Additionally, one of the key features that was supposed to be part of this extension will not come to be: there will be no direct connection between JY Trail and North Colonial Linear Trail. FTOD even redesigned the Metro overpass just north of Winkler Avenue to accommodate this planned connection.

¦ On the southern end of JY Trail a long-overdue trailhead parking lot is in the works. Lee County purchased property west of Metro and the railroad tracks and east of Independence Circle and is currently designing the trailhead facility, which is slated to be constructed in 2020.

¦ The SUNTrail statewide trail system segment in Cape Coral is making progress. This 12-foot wide, 6.5-mile project runs from Burnt Store Road to the east along Van Buren Parkway, El Dorado Boulevard and Kismet Parkway, terminating at Del Prado Boulevard. It’s broken into two phases with design of phase 1 — from Burnt Store to Nelson Road — about complete and construction slated to begin next year. What should be interesting is how a segment east of Del Prado that’s necessary to meet up with the north-south SUNTrail corridor in North Fort Myers along 41 will be dealt with. Lee County is currently designing a realignment to directly connect Littleton Road to Kismet, but it does not appear to be including a shared-use path facility along it in the plan.

To learn about this topic and more, visit bikewalklee.blogspot.com and www.streetsaliveswfl.org.¦



For Lee County cycling and tri events visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL). The Florida Bicycle Association (floridabicycle.org) is your source for statewide happenings. BikeWalkLee’s blog site has all the information you’ll need to stay abreast of advocacy efforts in Southwest Florida as well as statewide and nationally.

September 9: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

• Saturday, Sept. 14: Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk, Lakes Park, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: Average Joe Run 5K. Welcome to "The World's Easiest 5k" where the person who finishes in the middle is the winner. The First 3 Finishers are also awarded. Our goal is to remake the 5k experience by making average special and breaking the traditional idea of what it means to be physically fit. North Collier Regional Park, Naples (active.com)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: Venice Half Marathon & 5K, Venice (venicehalf.com) 
• Friday, Sept. 20: Downtown Dash 1-mile run/walk, 6 p.m., Lee county regional Library, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Wednesday, Oct. 3: GCR Corporate Run, non-timed 5K, Gordon River Greenway, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 5: Busey Bank Run for Prevention 5K, Centennial Park, Fort Myers (3dracinginc.com)
• Sunday, Oct. 6: Rocktoberfest 5K/10K, North Collier Regional Park, Naples (eliteevents.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Fort Myers Cops and Joggers 5K, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 19: Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, downtown Naples to the Sanibel Causeway and back for 6-person relay teams (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: FISH 10K, Sanibel (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Eighth annual LCEC Goblin Gallop 5K, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Halloween Monster 5K, Fleischmann Park, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Olde Naples 10K, 7:30 a.m. (gcrunner.org)
• Monday, Nov. 11: Midpoint Madness 5K run/walk, Midpoint Bridge, Fort Myers, 7 p.m. (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• For more running events visit gcrunner.org/calendar.html; ftmyerstrackclub.com/race-calendar; eliteevents.org and 3dracinginc.com

Cycling:

• Monday, Sep. 9: Monday Minions Ride. This is a weekly ride that rolls in the 13-15 mph range. Total distance around 15 miles. After the ride most go over to Square 1 restaurant for the $5 burger and fries deal. If you are looking to get into cycling beyond the casual roll, this is an ideal ride for you. 6 p.m., Fort Myers Cyclery, 3630 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) 
• Tuesday, Sep. 10: Taco Tuesday Ride. Every Tuesday night, We Ride For Tacos! After a 21 mile ride on Treeline/Old Airport/Daniels/6 Mile Cypress roads and paths, we'll finish at Tijuana Flats for Taco Tuesday. B RIDERS: 16 to 18 mph for the basic group. A RIDERS: The faster group rides at 20mph plus. We finish well after dark, so Front And Rear Lights are Required. 6:30 p.m., Trek Bicycle Store of Fort Myers, 8291 Dani Drive, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: Critical Mass 6th annual Anniversary Beach Party: Food, fun, costume and bike contest… oh, and a ride as well. Pre-ride fun starts at 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Millennial Brewing Company, 1811 Royal Palm Ave, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: Sanibel Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7:30 p.m. at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.  (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Sep. 15: Wakey, Wakey! Weekly Sunday Morning Ride. This is a weekly ride for riders of most skill levels and most types of bicycles (hybrids, fitness, and road). The ride is sanctioned by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, thus helmets are required, no ear buds, and no aero bar use while in the group. 7.30 a.m., location varies, visit (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) for details. 
• Friday, Sept. 20: NE-Lee Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended.  (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Oct. 20: 10th annual Tour de Northport, distances of 15, 35 and 65 miles (caloosariders.org)
• Ongoing: Join the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club on one of their many weekly rides for members and potential members, with an array of paces and routes to choose from. Check them out online at www.caloosariders.org.
• For more Lee County cycling and tri events, visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

Triathlons:

• 
  Saturday, Sept. 21: The Original Siesta Key Tri, sprint (runsignup.com)
• Sunday, Nov. 17: Longboat Key Sprint/Olympic Triathlon and Duathlon and 5K (imathlete.com)
• Check trifind.com to find regional and state tris.

September 2: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

• 
  Monday, Sept. 2: Labor Day 5K, Lowdermilk Park, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: Tunnel to Towers 5K Run/Walk, Lakes Park, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: Average Joe Run 5K, North Collier Regional Park, Naples (active.com)
• Saturday, Sept. 14: Venice Half Marathon & 5K, Venice (venicehalf.com) 
• Friday, Sept. 20: Downtown Dash 1-mile run/walk, 6 p.m., Lee county regional Library, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Wednesday, Oct. 3: GCR Corporate Run, non-timed 5K, Gordon River Greenway, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 5: Busey Bank Run for Prevention 5K, Centennial Park, Fort Myers (3dracinginc.com)
• Sunday, Oct. 6: Rocktoberfest 5K/10K, North Collier Regional Park, Naples (eliteevents.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 12: Fort Myers Cops and Joggers 5K, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 19: Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, downtown Naples to the Sanibel Causeway and back for 6-person relay teams (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: FISH 10K, Sanibel (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Eighth annual LCEC Goblin Gallop 5K, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 26: Halloween Monster 5K, Fleischmann Park, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Nov. 9: Olde Naples 10K, 7:30 a.m. (gcrunner.org)
• Monday, Nov. 11: Midpoint Madness 5K run/walk, Midpoint Bridge, Fort Myers, 7 p.m. (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• For more running events visit gcrunner.org/calendar.html; ftmyerstrackclub.com/race-calendar; eliteevents.org and 3dracinginc.com

Cycling:

• Monday, Sep. 2: Monday Minions Ride. This is a weekly ride that rolls in the 13-15 mph range. Total distance around 15 miles. After the ride most go over to Square 1 restaurant for the $5 burger and fries deal. If you are looking to get into cycling beyond the casual roll, this is an ideal ride for you. 6 p.m., Fort Myers Cyclery, 3630 Cleveland Avenue, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) 
• Tuesday, Sep. 3: Taco Tuesday Ride. Every Tuesday night, We Ride For Tacos! After a 21 mile ride on Treeline/Old Airport/Daniels/6 Mile Cypress roads and paths, we'll finish at Tijuana Flats for Taco Tuesday. B RIDERS: 16 to 18 mph for the basic group. A RIDERS: The faster group rides at 20mph plus. We finish well after dark, so Front And Rear Lights are Required. 6:30 p.m., Trek Bicycle Store of Fort Myers, 8291 Dani Drive, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) 
• 
  Friday, Sep. 6: SWFL Critical Mass (the MASSIVE monthly evening ride). Come out and enjoy a large group slow ride with SWFL Critical Mass! We'll first meet up at the Publix side lot, then ride through Artwalk in town, then through all the beautiful neighborhoods surrounding the Edison home. Halfway point for a 10 minute break and onto the next 5.5 miles. Nice easy pace of 8-10mph. Tailgate starts at 7:30 p.m, (though many arrive earlier). We roll at 8:00 p.m. Side lot next to the downtown Publix, 2160 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Sep. 8: Wakey, Wakey! Weekly Sunday Morning Ride. This is a weekly ride for riders of most skill levels and most types of bicycles (hybrids, fitness, and road). The ride is sanctioned by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, thus helmets are required, no ear buds, and no aero bar use while in the group. 7.30 a.m., location varies, visit (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL) for details. 
• Saturday, Sept. 14: Sanibel Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7:30 p.m. at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.  (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Friday, Sept. 20: NE-Lee Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended.  (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)
• Sunday, Oct. 20: 10th annual Tour de Northport, distances of 15, 35 and 65 miles (caloosariders.org)
• Ongoing: Join the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club on one of their many weekly rides for members and potential members, with an array of paces and routes to choose from. Check them out online at www.caloosariders.org.
• For more Lee County cycling and tri events, visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

Triathlons:

• 
  Monday, Sept. 2: Venice Sprint Tri, Sharky’s on the Pier, Venice (trifind.com)
• Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 7-8: Galloway Captiva Tri. Sprint on Saturday, kids’ events Sunday (www.gearedup.biz)
• Saturday, Sept. 21: The Original Siesta Key Tri, sprint (runsignup.com)
• Sunday, Nov. 17: Longboat Key Sprint/Olympic Triathlon and Duathlon and 5K (imathlete.com)
• Check trifind.com to find regional and state tris.