Thursday, January 30, 2020

BikeWalkLee: A region with lots of rides and riders

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, January 30, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

If you like to bike, Southwest Florida is right for you. Great weather (especially if you like it hot), flat terrain and a growing list of bike facilities all make this area a great place to ride.

You see plenty of cyclists taking advantage of these advantages this time of year, with cooler temperatures drawing more people out of the house and onto their bikes. (It can also be a great way to run your errands without getting tied up traffic, if you’re willing to plan ahead a little.)

But what a lot of cyclists may not know is that Southwest Florida is also a great place to ride with other cyclists. No matter what your skill level or location, there’s a good chance you can find a group ride to join.

Why ride with a group? To push yourself outside your usual routine, either in where you ride, at what pace or for what distance. There’s also strength in numbers, both in safety (easier to be seen in a group and people who can help if you break down) and in speed (if you’re willing to learn how to ride in a pace line, you’ll find you can go farther and fastest as a group than you ever will alone).

Courtesy Photo

But the real draw for most is riding with other cyclists… the social interaction, the camaraderie, the food and drink (did we mention how many rides include a stop for dining and/or drinking?). It’s an easy way to find a group of like-minded people and a ready-made social calendar – good for your body and mind alike.

Rather than just talking about it, you should take a look for yourself. The following club websites will give you a great sense of what each offers – even down to recommendations as to who should join which ride based on pace and distance. (This list is by no means complete, and don’t forget to check if you live where there’s a neighborhood bike group you could join.)

  • Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org): The most rides and riders in Lee County, and literally something for everyone (except on Friday). The ride list is extensive, each with maps, cue lists and downloadable details.
  • SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL): The Critical Mass headquarters, with rides in downtown Fort Myers, downtown Cape Coral, Sanibel and Northeast Lee. Definitely entry-level riding, easy on both speed and distance and big on camaraderie.
  • Sanibel Bicycle Club (sbcsite.altervista.org): Great for Sanibel-Captiva cyclists, but more seasonal and fewer rides.
  • Naples Velo Bicycle Club (naplesvelo.com): Rides every day of the week and, like the Caloosa Riders, lots of work to support more biking, more education and more safety (as well as more fun).
  • Peace River Riders Bicycle Club (peaceriverridersbicycleclub.com): Not as many organized events, but a lot of opportunities and outreach for Charlotte cyclists.
  • Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org): The home for trail riders, with two maintained trail areas – Caloosahatchee Regional Park in Alva and Pepper Ranch Preserve in Immokalee.

This area also offers the option of a range of rides – everything from the slow roll of Critical Mass to the fast pace of the Caloosa Riders, from an easy eight-miler to a ride covering 100 miles or more in a day.

The Critical Mass ride list is both online and included in this article, a great starting point for riders interested in trying out an organized ride. When you’re ready for more, check on the clubs listed above nearest you to see where you fit on their ride calendar; the descriptions are usually very honest and explicit, because the clubs want you to fit in and come back – not be discouraged when you can’t keep up.

Critical Mass Riders (courtesy photo)

Another entry point for organized rides can be the “something for everyone” events, with a variety of distances and paces all starting and ending in the same site – and, thus, usually tied to food and drink as well. They are also usually SAG supported – SAG for “support and gear,” meaning a vehicle that will ride the course for the entire ride (usually with a cutoff time) offering help to cyclists with mechanical or fatigue issues. This is another major plus for the newbie rider, to know that help will be on the way if something goes wrong.

Aside from the just-completed Tour de Cape, some other upcoming multi-mileage rides are:

  • Saturday, Feb. 8: Ride for Tiny Town, 10-, 30- and 60-mile rides, around Arcadia to benefit Desoto Cares; helmets required (www.ridefortinytown.com).
  • Sunday, Feb 23: 10th annual Tour de Marco, 15- and 30-mile rides, to benefit Marco YMCA (www.marcoymca.org).
  • Sunday, March 8: 22nd annual Royal Palm Challenge. The Caloosa Riders offer a fun-filled day – and rides for everyone, at 15, 40 and 62 miles. Starts and ends downtown at the Southwest Florida Community Foundation Collaboratory, so make a day of it! Online at www.caloosariders.org.

Not everyone is up for group rides all the time, but it’s a great chance to try something different and an even better chance to meet some fellow cyclists. Give one a try!

Ready to ride or run?


Run?  Saturday brings two 5Ks – Strides for Education at Florida SouthWestern in Fort Myers and Running Water at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral. Sunday, come downtown for the Publix Run to the Arts 5K (tied to ArtFest in Fort Myers). Feb. 8 has the Rotary’s Run for the Rose Garden 5K in Cape Coral, followed on Sunday by the Edison Junior Races in downtown Fort Myers. Yes, that means the big Edison 5K is the following weekend on Feb. 15… so plan accordingly. Details at ftmyerstrackclub.com, 3dracinginc.com and runtothearts.com.

Ride?  Critical Mass has these regularly scheduled rides on tap:
  • Friday, Jan. 31: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape. 
  • Friday, Feb. 7: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers.
  • Saturday, Feb. 8: Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel.
  • Saturday, Feb. 15: 2020 Edison Festival of Light Parade Ride. A cyclist awareness ride, so they’re going for lots of riders and not a lot of speed. Gathers after 4 p.m. at the Edison restaurant to ride over to the Fort Myers high for the parade. 
Lights required for night rides, helmets recommended for all, details and start times at meetup.com.


For more mileage look to the Ride for Tiny Town on Saturday, Feb. 8 – 10-, 30- and 60-mile rides, around Arcadia to benefit Desoto Cares; helmets required (www.ridefortinytown.com).

If you’re looking for a good ride and some cycling camaraderie, look no further than the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club. Check out their ride calendar and you see a ride for almost every day of the week (never on a Friday, but even more on weekends), all mapped and planned for your enjoyment. The Riders even tell you how fast (or not) you’ll need to be to keep up… click on the ride of your choice for all the details and even a map. All at caloosariders.org.

Both?  If you’re planning your tri schedule, here’s what is on tap in the next few months:

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. 


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Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Vision Zero

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, January 29, 2020
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

It’s no secret that I’m critical of both our local and state elected leadership regarding commitment toward implementing Complete Streets and other measures to improve access and safety for non-motorists.

Lee County’s history of having one of the worst overall traffic safety records year after year doesn’t seem to present a problem for our top decision-makers. Fortunately, organizations and individuals on the frontline are engaged in ongoing efforts to affect positive change. One such undertaking just getting started here is part of a worldwide initiative called Vision Zero, as in zero traffic fatalities.

Keeping in mind that pedestrians and people on bikes make up 1 in 4 traffic fatalities each year in Lee County (that’s almost double the national average rate), any effort that reduces overall numbers would undoubtedly decrease bike/pedestrian deaths as well. But while having no loss of life from traffic crashes — whether motorist, bicyclists or pedestrian — should always be the goal, even the most optimistic among us must realize it’s not possible. Or is it?

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.
A major European city is doing just that. Smart Cities Dive (www.smartcitiesdive.com) reports that Oslo, Norway, had no pedestrian or cyclist deaths in 2019 and the sole traffic-related fatality was a motorist who ran his car into a fence. Oslo leaders developed plans in 2015 and began implementing them two years later. Among the actions undertaken are encouraging car-free trips, making infrastructure safety improvements, removing over 1,000 parking spaces, adding miles of bike lanes and sidewalks, expanding their bike-share program, investing more resources to significantly improve public transit, and making some downtown areas car-free zones. The benefits of these changes go beyond safety: the reduction on motor vehicles means less congestion for delivery and transit vehicles and fewer cars also equates to less emissions, something that results in better air quality for its residents and is important to a city and country that’s taking committed to taking significant steps to deal with climate change.

Per www.visionzeronetwork.org, Vision Zero is an effort begun in Sweden in the 1990s and is based on “the ethical belief that everyone has the right to move safely in their communities, and that system designers and policy makers share the responsibility to ensure safe systems for travel.” That means having safe public right of way for pedestrians, transit users, people on bikes and other human-powered devices, and drivers should be expected and provided by those having the power to make that a reality.

Locally, the University of South Florida’s Center for Urban Transportation Research has received a grant from National Safety Council to help communities focus on effective and appropriate messaging when it comes to how traffic crashes are reported.

All too often the most vulnerable road users who are victims of crashes are inappropriately blamed, either in law enforcement reports or in media stories. In some cases it’s inadvertent due to the use of certain phrases and terms such as “the pedestrian was hit by the car” versus “by the driver of the car” and “the pedestrian darted into the road,” implying fault before investigation is completed. I’ve read a number of crash reports that include clearly biased narratives against the non-motorist with statements like “for some reason the pedestrians didn’t see the vehicle” but didn’t include a similar statement like “for some reason the driver didn’t see the pedestrian.” Or “the victim (pedestrian) was in a portion of the roadway not intended for pedestrians.” Statements like these merely reinforce the misperception that public right of way are meant only for motor vehicles.

Another recent example of problematic reporting that can have major implications as to how the general public perceives the environment for those who cycle here is a U.S. News and World Report story in early January on the topic of best places to live. Whenever there are best places there are those on the other end of the list. According to the article’s author, Cape Coral (a League of American Bicyclists’ Bike Friendly Community since 2015) ranks as the most dangerous place in the U.S. for folks riding bikes, at least when using the fatality rate for those commuting by bike. Between 2014 and 2017 there were four fatalities in Cape Coral involving people on bikes but when using the formula the author cited that equates to 1,333 cyclist deaths for every 100,000 commuters who use bikes to get to work.

While that may be technically accurate (although I’m not sure of that because League of American Bicyclists’ rate for Cape Coral is almost half that), the fact that there are less than 100 Cape Coral residents who use that mode of transportation to travel to work (per www.carinsurance.org) means using such a statistic makes the environment appear infinitely worse than the reality of four (too many) deaths in four years.

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.






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Monday, January 27, 2020

January 27: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:
  • Saturday, Feb. 1: Strides for Education 5K Run/Walk. The 5K course includes a shaded tour of Florida SouthWestern State College’s beautiful campus. Serious runners will appreciate the race bibs with chips ensuring an accurate race time. This race will be put on by the Fort Myers Track Club. You can also run for the fun of it, stroll with family and friends, or bring your kids out to the kids’ dash. Florida Southwestern State College (www.flcpsstrides5k.com/ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Saturday, Feb. 1: Running Water 5K. Join us Saturday February 1 at Jaycee Park for fun and fitness, while saving lives across the globe! Race entry fees will save lives for generations to come in Africa. Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (www.active.com/3dracinginc.com)
  • Sunday, Feb. 2: Publix Run to the Arts 5K, downtown Fort Myers (runsignup.com or runtothearts.com)
  • Saturday, Feb. 8: Rotary’s Run for the Rose Garden 5K Cape Coral (3dracinginc..com).
  • Sunday, Feb. 9: Edison Junior Races, a number of length based on age, all in downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Saturday, Feb. 15: Edison 5K run/walk, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Sunday, Feb. 16: Paradise Coast Half Marathon/5K, North Collier Regional Park (runeliteevents.com) 
  • Saturday, Feb. 22: Run the Lakes for Cypress Lake Middle 5K, Lakes Park, Fort Myers (runsignup.com).
  • Saturday, Feb. 29: City of Palms Half Marathon/5K, Florida Gulf Coast University (runeliteevents.com)
  • Saturday, Feb. 29: Naples Golden Eagle 5K, downtown Naples (gcrunner.org).
  • Sunday, March 1: Lazy Flamingo Half-Marathon & Two-Person Relay, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Saturday, March 7: Scope for Hope 5K run, 2-mile walk and fun run. Century Link Sports Complex, Fort Myers (21stcenturycare.org)
  • Saturday, March 7: Baker Park 5K, Naples (gcrunner.org).
  • For more running events visit gcrunner.org/calendar.html; ftmyerstrackclub.com/race-calendar; eliteevents.org and 3dracinginc.com

Cycling:
  • Monday, Jan. 27: 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, Jan. 28: 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, Jan. 31: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape. Lights required, helmets recommended.  Meetup at 7.00 p.m., roll at 7.30 p.m. Details at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Sunday, Feb. 2: 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, Feb. 7: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the Publix side lot at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Saturday, Feb. 8: Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended. Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Saturday, Feb. 8: Ride for Tiny Town, 10-, 30- and 60-mile rides, around Arcadia to benefit Desoto Cares; helmets required (www.ridefortinytown.com).
  • Sunday, Feb 23: 10th annual Tour de Marco, 15- and 30-mile rides, to benefit Marco YMCA (www.marcoymca.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, March 28: Escape from Fort Desoto Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon, plus Aqua Bike (thunderboltmultisport.com)
  • Sunday, April 26: St. Anthony’s Triathlon, sprint and Olympic distances, St. Petersburg (satriathlon.com)
  • Saturday, May 30: Sarasota Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon, Siesta Key (trisarasota.com).
  • Sunday, June 7: Naples Fitness Challenge reverse triathlon, Naples (thefitnesschallengetriathlon.com)
  • Saturday, June 13: Heartland Triathlon, sprint and Olympic triathlon, duathlon and Aqua Bike, Sebring (runsignup.com)
  • Check trifind.com and active.com to find more regional and state tris.





  
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Monday, January 20, 2020

January 20: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

Cycling:
  • Monday, Jan. 20: 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, Jan. 21: 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, Jan. 25: Saturday Morning Slow Roll, meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction. Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Sunday, Jan. 26: 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, Jan. 31: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape. Lights required, helmets recommended.  Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Friday, Feb. 7: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the Publix side lot at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Saturday, Feb. 8: Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended. Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Saturday, Feb. 8: Ride for Tiny Town, 10-, 30- and 60-mile rides, around Arcadia to benefit Desoto Cares; helmets required (www.ridefortinytown.com).
  • Sunday, Feb 23: 10th annual Tour de Marco, 15- and 30-mile rides, to benefit Marco YMCA (www.marcoymca.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, March 28: Escape from Fort Desoto Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon, plus Aqua Bike (thunderboltmultisport.com)
  • Sunday, April 26: St. Anthony’s Triathlon, sprint and Olympic distances, St. Petersburg (satriathlon.com)
  • Saturday, May 30: Sarasota Sprint Triathlon and Duathlon, Siesta Key (trisarasota.com).
  • Sunday, June 7: Naples Fitness Challenge reverse triathlon, Naples (thefitnesschallengetriathlon.com)
  • Saturday, June 13: Heartland Triathlon, sprint and Olympic triathlon, duathlon and Aqua Bike, Sebring (runsignup.com)
  • Check trifind.com and active.com to find more regional and state tris.





  
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Thursday, January 16, 2020

BikeWalkLee: Do you know the rules of the road?

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, January 16, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

For many, riding a bike is a natural thing, something they learned as a child and have maintained as a lifelong skill. But the smart cyclist knows a lot has changed since they were kids – particularly when it comes to the rules of the road.

Think you know the laws when it comes to bicycling in Florida? Test your knowledge:
  1. What’s the minimum distance a motor vehicle must maintain when passing a cyclist?
  2. Bicycle helmets are required for which riders?
  3. If a cyclist is riding on the road, what rights do they have?
  4. If a cyclist is riding on a sidewalk, what rights do they have?
  5. Can a cyclist wear a headset or headphones while riding?
  6. Is a cyclist required to have lights on their bikes if riding between sunset and sunrise?
  7. Is a cyclist safer riding with traffic or facing it?
  8. Are cyclists bound by traffic control signals meant for vehicles (traffic lights, stop signs, etc.)?
  9. Are cyclists allowed to ride side by side on a roadway?
  10. If cyclists are riding with pedestrians (on a sidewalk or shared-use path), are they required to warn pedestrians when passing them?

ANSWERS:
  1. Three feet (but that’s still too close when travelling at speeds over 25MPH).
  2. Any cyclists under age 16 is required to wear a helmet (and it’s smart for every cyclist to do so).
  3. Cyclists have the same rights as vehicles when riding on the road, as well some special bike-only regulations.
  4. On sidewalks, cyclists have the same rights (and duties) as pedestrians – except they must yield rights of way to pedestrians and must provide an audible warning prior to passing).
  5. No, except for hearing aids.
  6. Yes, white lights front and red lights rear (this is required anywhere you’re riding other than private property without public access).
  7. Much safer riding with traffic (and it’s the law, just as is the case for motorists to drive with traffic).
  8. Yes (although many of them don’t always do so, it’s still the law).
  9. Yes, if in a single lane and not impeding other traffic.
  10. Yes (again, not always complied with but it’s required by law).
How’d you do? Not so good? You might want to consider downloading a copy of the Florida Bicycle Law Enforcement Guide from the Florida Bicycle Association (floridabicycle.org)... and maybe sign up as a member while you you’re at it.

Ride class ahead

The Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (CRBC) is hosting a Florida Bicycle Association (FBA) Ride Marshal/Ride Leader class on Saturday Jan. 25, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The class will be held at the United Way building, 7273 Concourse Drive, Fort Myers. It’s a great opportunity to take your group riding experience to the next level!

The workshop includes:
  • Bike safety and Florida Bicycle and Pedestrian laws and cyclist rights on the road.
  • Preparation from bodies to bikes, helmet fitting, and nutrition.
  • Communication from hand signals to how to give great pre-ride tutorials, on the ride coaching and how to brand your club or organization through cycling professionalism.
  • Coaching and Mentoring skills to develop stronger, safer cyclist in your club or organization.
  • Advanced cycling skills for 17+ mph group rides like paceline etiquette and how to control speed with skill.
  • Accident and rider down tips and preparation.
  • Community and family ride leader skills (if applicable).
  • Written test for certification.
Current ride leaders will be given priority, but anyone interested in improving their skills and expanding their knowledge should attend. This class is free to CRBC members; you must, however, also be an FBA member. Individual membership is $25, and that payment can be donated or the participant may request to have their fee amount be credited toward their 2021 CRBC membership upon completion of the class.

Ready to ride or run?


Run?  Saturday offers two 5Ks – the Run to Home Base at JetBlue Park and the Tour de Cape 5K at Cape Harbour. Sunday is for the distance runners, with the Naples Daily News Half Marathon on tap. The following weekend brings two more 5Ks – the BUG Chase 5K at the Calusa Nature Center in Fort Myers and the Run for the Paw 5K in Naples. Details at ftmyerstrackclub.com, gcrunner.org and tourdecape.net.

Ride?  Critical Mass has these regularly scheduled rides on tap:
  • Friday, Jan. 17: NE-Lee Critical Mass night ride, gathers at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended.
  • Saturday, Jan. 25: Saturday Morning Slow Roll, meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.
  • Friday, Jan. 31: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape.
Lights required for night rides, helmets recommended for all, details at meetup.com.

Jan. 18-19 is the Tour de Cape weekend, with multiple-length bicycle rides, a 5K run and more, based at Cape Harbour, Cape Coral (tourdecape.net).

If you’re looking for a good ride and some cycling camaraderie, look no further than the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club. Check out their ride calendar and you see a ride for almost every day of the week (never on a Friday, but even more on weekends), all mapped and planned for your enjoyment. The Riders even tell you how fast (or not) you’ll need to be to keep up… click on the ride of your choice for all the details and even a map. All at caloosariders.org.

Both?  If you’re planning your tri schedule, here’s what is on tap in the next few months:

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. 


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Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Advent of cars, suburbs led to threatening times for pedestrians


Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, January 15, 2020
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com



Using our feet to get around is the original form of human transportation, at least on land. At some point humans used animals for transporting themselves and goods. Around 3500 B.C. the wheel came onto the scene — initially to serve as a potter’s tool — and it was used for transporting humans in chariots.

But travel by foot remained the primary mode for the masses. It wasn’t until human-powered bicycles and then motorized vehicles came about in the late 1800s that was there any significant change in how the majority of the world’s population got from place to place. Although the first use of the modern train predates bicycles by just a few years, they were few and far between and very limited as to where they could go. Even after the locomotive became commonplace, most personal transport, especially for local and short trips, was still made on foot. Once the motor vehicle proliferated in the early 1900s — because of its affordability, thanks to mass production — the world changed drastically, even in places where cars were rare or non-existent. This change became even more significant after World War II.

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.
Early in the 20th century, roads and streets that were used for centuries became unsafe for those on foot when an automobile was added to the mix. Laws that were purported to manage this new arrival and protect vulnerable users of the public right of way actually relegated the latter to second-class status in that space. For our own protection, of course. That trend continues to this day, regardless of lip service given to laws and road designs intended to allow pedestrians equitable and safe access to our public spaces. But we’re not giving up on making those two concepts reality.

Beginning in the late 1940s, car ownership exploded along with the new suburban model of community building. The growth of automobile ownership was both the reason for and result of our push away from easily accessible places and services to outlying suburban and exurban bedroom communities. One couldn’t/can’t live in those places without a car. Even, perhaps, one car for each adult in the household. When this change happened, an amazing thing occurred: requirements and infrastructure for accommodating pedestrians were nixed, both in the new suburban neighborhoods as well as existing places where walking was still commonplace and necessary.

Look around and you’ll notice gaps in sidewalks that coincide with the date the adjacent homes or businesses were constructed. On a larger scale, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, San Carlos Park and any other place that came up out of the ground after WWII are prime examples of the consequences of automobile becoming the end-all, be-all.

The lack of requirement for developers and governments to include safe accommodations means we have between hundreds of millions to over $1 billion of projects identified (depending on which estimates are used). And that’s just in Lee County. Multiply that by all the suburban model counties and it becomes quite clear that as a society we put way too much emphasis on the automobile at the expense of the general public’s access and safety. The good news is that since we are all pedestrians sometimes, there continue to be efforts to right the wrongs. Even with local governments that build bridges without allowing pedestrians to use them as recently as the 1990s. Even with governments still allowing businesses to be constructed along Pine Island Road without providing sidewalks. And even with governments providing only a pittance of the money needed to put a dent in our backlog.

While those short-sighted policies and actions continue to take place, progress is being made, thanks to the fact that people still need to, want to and love to walk and run. Those who put all their money on the automobile must have never envisioned would be the case.

Local coalitions and organizations like BikeWalkLee, Streets Alive of SWF, LeeFuture, Stay Alive… Just Drive! and Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition, as well as many business, certain government agencies such as Lee MPO and Lee Health continue to work toward getting our primary decision-makers to fully comprehend the public’s wishes and prioritize funding and policies appropriately. As well, local efforts are backed-up by scores of regional, state, national and international efforts and actions taking place to ensure people and not machines are the highest priority.

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.






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Monday, January 13, 2020

January 13: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:
  • Saturday, Jan. 18: Run to Home Base 5K run/walk, 1 mile walk and kids dash, JetBlue Park, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com) 
  • Saturday, Jan. 18: Tour de Cape 5K, part of a weekend of activities.  The event includes a 5K, a 3 mile family bike ride, and 15-30-62-100 mile bike tours in the northwest and southwest regions of Cape Coral. Cape Harbour, Cape Coral (tourdecape.net)
  • Sunday, Jan. 19: Naples Daily News Half Marathon, Naples (gcrunner.org) 
  • Saturday, Jan. 25: BUG Chase 5K run/walk, Calusa Nature Center, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com) 
  • Saturday, Jan. 25: Run for the Paws 5K, to benefit the Collier Humane Society (gcrunner.org) 
  • Saturday, Feb. 1: Strides for Education 5K Run/Walk, Florida Southwestern Stats College (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Saturday, Feb. 1: Running Water 5K, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com)
  • Sunday, Feb. 2: Publix Run to the Arts 5K, downtown Fort Myers (runsignup.com or runtothearts.com)
  • Saturday, Feb. 8: Rotary’s Run for the Rose Garden 5K Cape Coral (3dracinginc..com).
  • Sunday, Feb. 9: Edison Junior Races, a number of length based on age, all in downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Saturday, Feb. 15: Edison 5K run/walk, downtown Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • Sunday, Feb. 16: Paradise Coast Half Marathon/5K, North Collier Regional Park (runeliteevents.com) 
  • Saturday, Feb. 22: Run the Lakes for Cypress Lake Middle 5K, Lakes Park, Fort Myers (runsignup.com).
  • Saturday, Feb. 29: City of Palms Half Marathon/5K, Florida Gulf Coast University (runeliteevents.com)
  • Saturday, Feb. 29: Naples Golden Eagle 5K, downtown Naples (gcrunner.org).
  • Sunday, March 1: Lazy Flamingo Half-Marathon & Two-Person Relay, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
  • For more running events visit gcrunner.org/calendar.html; ftmyerstrackclub.com/race-calendar; eliteevents.org and 3dracinginc.com

Cycling:
  • Monday, Jan. 13: 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, Jan. 14: 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, Jan. 17: NE-Lee Critical Mass night ride, gathers at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended. Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Jan. 18-19: Tour de Cape weekend. It's the 29th Anniversary of Tour De Cape! The event includes a 5K, a 3 mile family bike ride, and 15-30-62-100 mile bike tours in the northwest and southwest regions of Cape Coral. Based at Cape Harbour, Cape Coral (tourdecape.net)
  • Sunday, Jan. 19: 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, Jan. 25: Saturday Morning Slow Roll, meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction. Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Friday, Jan. 31: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape. Lights required, helmets recommended.  Details and start times at (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:





  
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Monday, January 6, 2020

January 6: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

Cycling:
  • Monday, Jan. 6 : 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, Jan. 7: 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, Jan. 11: 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)
  • Sunday, Jan. 12: 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, Jan. 17: NE-Lee Critical Mass night ride, gathers at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended. Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Jan. 18-19: Tour de Cape weekend, with multiple-length rides, a 5K and more, based at Cape Harbour, Cape Coral (tourdecape.net)
  • Saturday, Jan. 25: Saturday Morning Slow Roll, meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction. Details and start times at (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).
  • Friday, Jan. 31: Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape. Lights required, helmets recommended.  Details and start times at (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:





  
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Thursday, January 2, 2020

BikeWalkLee: New habits for the new year

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, January 2, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

For many, the end of the holidays means the beginning of a new year – with all the well-intentioned resolutions that can go along with that. If one of those intentions is to get more movement into your daily routine, you can face the crunch of having to adopt new habits during your already time-crunched day.

If the idea of carving out time to get to the gym or go to a class makes you panic, relax… sometimes the best exercise is the one you can do almost anytime and any place – and something you can make part of your already busy day.

The answer? Take a walk or ride your bike.

There are all sorts of studies to convince you that getting up and getting out is good for your health. (Google it and be prepared for a lot of reading.) There are sound medical, emotional and physical reasons why exercise is often considered the best medicine.

But I’d make the case that walking or biking is also a very convenient way to add some action to your day.

Sure, it would be great to schedule an hour-long walk or ride during each day. If you have the time, it’s the best way to make movement part of your daily routine – since doing an activity regularly even for a few weeks can establish a pattern of practice that will carry you forward into doing something without thinking about it.

That’s why walking and riding can be great ways to sneak up on healthier habits. Why? Because you can incorporate the movement into something you already do.

Want to walk more? Park further away from where you work and shop. Take the stairs rather than the elevator. Plan a five-minute break every hour or so to walk around the office, around the block or around your house.

Want to ride more? Look at your daily or weekly errands, and see what ones could be done on a bike rather than a car. Something that’s five minutes away by car may not be much longer by bike… and this time of year you can enjoy the fresh air and cooler temps to boot. Maybe even see if you could replace one commute or one errand each week by getting out of the car and onto the bike lane.

Not only will you start to incorporate walking and biking into your day, you’ll be getting something done at the same time. That’s makes it more likely you can continue the habit in the weeks ahead.

If time is not an issue, then walking and biking is an even more attractive alternative. Walking is probably the easier form of fitness around, since all you really need are some good shoes and the desire to start putting one foot in front of the other. Find a friend or a form of entertainment to make it a more social activity if that helps… or use the alone time to process and plan your day.

Biking takes a little more work, since you need to have a working bicycle (and a helmet if you’re smart). But it can take as little or as much time as you can offer, and is a low-impact but high-results option to get moving.

So if you need to figure out how to make fitness fit into your daily life, why not go for a walk, or a ride today?

Please put down that phone…

The new year may mean more walking or biking, but it could also mean less texting.

Starting Jan. 1, texting while driving will now earn you a ticket rather than a warning… and using any handheld device in a school or construction zone is also subject to punishment or penalty.

The texting-while-driving rules went into effect last July 1, but police could issue warnings for the first six months to get drivers used to the new regulations. The same grace period applied to the ban on using handheld devices in school or construction zones since those new rules took effect Oct. 1.

Now, those warnings turn into tickets (and fines), making a dangerous habit an expensive one as well. “No texting” doesn’t mean no phone use at all, although a bill seeking to ban any handheld use while operating a vehicle has been filed for the next legislative session. You can still text at stoplights, as well as use your phone in non-distracting ways while driving.

But the first offense will earn you a fine, with subsequent violations earning you points against your license as well as escalating fines (not to mention increased risk to you, your passengers and anyone else on the road with you).

So make your life simpler (and safer)… just don’t text and drive, period.

Ready to ride or run? 

Run? Ring in the new year with the Jan. 5 Hooters River Roots and Ruts 10-mile and 5K run at Caloosahatchee Regional Park in Alva (details at ftmyerstrackclub.com). Next weekend (Jan. 11) brings the Pine Island Kiwanis Club Calusa 5K; details at 3dracinginc.com. On Jan. 18 you can join two 5Ks – Run to Home Base at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers or the Tour de Cape 5K at Cape Harbour in Cape Coral; details at ftmyerstrackclub.com and tourdecape.net. For the more ambitious, plan on the Naples Daily News Half Marathon on Jan. 19; details at gcrunner.org.

Ride?  Critical Mass has these regularly scheduled rides on tap:
  •  Friday, Jan. 3: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the Publix side lot at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd Details and start times at meetup.com.
  • Saturday, Jan. 11: Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended. Details and start times at meetup.com.
  • Friday, Jan. 17: NE-Lee Critical Mass night ride, gathers at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended. Details and start times at meetup.com.
Lights required for night rides, helmets recommended for all, details at meetup.com.

Jan. 18-19 is the Tour de Cape weekend, with multiple-length bicycle rides, a 5K run and more, based at Cape Harbour, Cape Coral (tourdecape.net).

If you’re looking for a good ride and some cycling camaraderie, look no further than the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club. Check out their ride calendar and you see a ride for almost every day of the week (never on a Friday, but even more on weekends), all mapped and planned for your enjoyment. The Riders even tell you how fast (or not) you’ll need to be to keep up… click on the ride of your choice for all the details and even a map. All at caloosariders.org.

Both?  The multiple-length HITS Endurance Sarasota Tri is Sunday, Jan. 5, offering sprint, Olympic and half Ironman distances, all running out of Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota (hitsendurance.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. 


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Wednesday, January 1, 2020

Get your walk, run bike ride on: Here’s a list of upcoming events


Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, January 1, 2020
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com



New Year’s resolution or not, now’s the time of year to take part in any of the many organized bike rides and running/ walking events in early 2020.

The 29th annual Tour de Cape is Sunday, Jan. 18. The four ride distances range from 15 miles to a 100-mile century. All are fully supported with rest stops, food and beverages and there’s always help available when needed. The Tour de Cape 5K happens the morning before, Saturday, Jan. 17. All events stage from Cape Harbor. www.tourdecape.net.

For runners and walkers, first up is the very challenging Hooters River, Roots, and Ruts 10-mile and 5K trail run Jan. 5. The venue is Caloosahatchee Regional Park, one of our area’s best, with the 10-miler using the single-track mountain bike trails on the park’s north side. www.ftmyerstrackclub.com.

The Pine Island Kiwanis Calusa 5K (3dracinginc.com) is Jan. 11. The route runs along the waterfront in Pineland, through neighborhoods, and finishes on unpaved Calusa Heritage Trail. www.3dracinginc.com.

On Jan. 18, the Run to Home Base 5K and 1-miler stages at JetBlue Park with the finish line at home plate. This is a fundraiser for military veterans’ Warrior Health and Fitness Program and the Intensive Clinical Program. www.ftmyerstrackclub.com.

The annual Naples Daily News Half Marathon takes place in and around downtown Naples on Jan. 19. It’s a good way to prepare for the Lazy Flamingo Half Marathon on March 1. www.gcrunner.org and www.ftmyerstrackclub.com.

A fundraiser for Iona-McGregor Kiwanis and its Bring Up Grades program in local Lee County elementary schools, the annual BUG Chase 5K run/walk will take participants through the Calusa Nature Center’s unpaved trails and surrounding bike paths. www.ftmyerstrackclub.com.

There are two choices on Feb. 1: The Strides for Education 5K Run/ Walk at Florida SouthWestern State College, Fort Myers campus, and Running Water 5K, staging from Jaycee Park in Cape Coral. www.ftmyerstrackclub.com and www.3dracinginc.com.

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.
For those who like to ride a bike purely for fun, monthly Critical Mass rides take place in various communities around Lee County. These are slowroll rides, mostly in the dark, so they’re more like parades with bikes lit up like Christmas trees. The first and stillthe main ride takes place in downtown Fort Myers on the first Friday of each month but there are also rides in Cape Coral, Sanibel, Fort Myers Shores and Estero. Critical Mass folks will again take part in the 2020 Edison Festival of Light Parade Ride on Feb. 15. You can find out about all the rides as well as many others, such as the weekly Monday Minions Ride, Taco Tuesday Ride and Wakey, Wakey Sunday Morning Ride at www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL.

If you’re interested in learning how to teach folks to operate bikes properly and safely there is an opportunity to become certified through Florida’s Safe Routes to School training, on Jan. 25, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the North Fort Myers Rec Center. Certification includes access to bike helmets for your organization. For more information, email Jodi Walborn at jwalbor1@jhmi.edu.

To find all running and walking events, see www.ftmyerstrackclub.com, www.3dracinginc.com, www.gcrunner.org and www.eliteevents.org. Bike- ride info can be found at www.crbc.clubexpress.com and www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL.

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.






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