BikeWalkLee: Bike/ped facilities a good investment

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, July 30, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

Want proof that investing in bike/ped infrastructure works? Watch what happens once a bike lane or shared-use path is in place.

To misquote the well-worn movie phrase: “If you build it, they will come!”

One example: The bike path along Palomino Lane has been open less than a year, but it’s in constant use already – even in the summer!

In fact, it’s so popular that one of the communities nearby is working with the City of Fort Myers to construct its own shared-use path to connect to the Palomino pathway. This will boost usage even more, as well as move cyclists off a narrow two-lane road – the scene of a cycling fatality earlier this year.

Another example: Drive along Treeline Avenue some Saturday morning and you might see more bicycles than cars taking advantage of the bike lanes on both sides of the four-lane roadway – a favorite of the faster paceline riders – or the sidewalks along most of the roadway– preferred by more leisurely pedalers.

The coronavirus crisis has sparked a surge in cycling, but the popularity of bike/ped facilities was in place long before the pandemic arrived.

Whether a few streets long or an entire community wide, these facilities bring people out to enjoy a ride, run or walk at all hours of the day.

Why?

• Safety: Give people a safer place to ride, run or walk and they’ll use it. Getting them out of traffic and into a place designed with these activities in mind is a great attraction.
• Visibility: More people ride when they see more people riding, same with walking. It’s both a reminder that riding and walking is a viable option and the sense of safety in numbers – more people riding and walking reminds motorists to watch out for them.
• Convenience: Build a park people can drive to and they will… just not every day. But bring the park to their doorstep – literally – and watch them put it to use day in and day out.

Photo courtesy: www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com

More and more communities are realizing that bike/ped infrastructure is not just a good investment – it’s a public amenity that can attract residents and visitors simply by its presence. Just look at, say, Sanibel, where the extensive shared-use path is a boon to tourists and residents alike, both drawn by the ability to traverse the island without the constant need for a motor vehicle.

Cape Coral is following suit, identifying existing infrastructure that can be adapted for bike/ped use while working to fill in the gaps to make that infrastructure complete – and thus more useful to riders and walkers who want to get somewhere when they jump on their bikes or tie up their shoes.

More communities – existing and developing – tout their fitness amenities as a lure to buyers. It’s not too much of a stretch to imagine they could also tout their community’s access to the larger county bike/ped network as yet another draw… which makes the continuing expansion of bike/ped infrastructure a smart move for city and county officials.

The county’s track record on creating bike/ped infrastructure is getting better, although there is still some lingering resistance to such investments (and a still-growing backlog of worthy projects lacking the funding to move forward). The county’s municipalities have done much better, even though some are more facile than others at making bike/ped planning integral rather than an afterthought.

If the coronavirus spike in biking stays in place, bike/ped facilities will see more demand. That’s why some smart cities worldwide are using this opportunity to expand bike/ped options and take back more of the public spaces for non-motorized use. More open space and less pollution, more room to run, walk or ride (at an appropriate distance) and less reliance on cars in places where their transportation attributes are not put to use.

Let’s hope the urge to ride or walk sticks around even when this tiresome virus has waned, and that local governments follow the international trends and keep growing our bike/ped infrastructure.

It should be a no-brainer. Just look around and see existing bike lanes and shared-use paths teeming with bikers and walkers… and you’ll see why building it is (public and private) money well spent.

Ready to ride or run?

Nothing new on the race calendars, just virtual events and the promise of racing to return come the fall (Covid willing). Keep checking the usual websites for updates… be prepared to sign up, but also be prepared to deal with postponements if the rules on gatherings don’t change.

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. 

Public input requested for Fort Myers Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan

The City of Fort Myers and the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization are asking the public to join a virtual meeting on Monday, July 27 to discuss the Fort Myers Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.

Register for the virtual meeting here.

The goal of the meeting is to gather input from the public on the master plan.
For more information about the development of the master plan, please visit the website at www.cfmbikepedmasterplan.com.

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

Upcoming events

With the coronavirus on the rebound locally and statewide and no sure bets on what lies ahead, expect to see more scheduled races go virtual (or just go away) as Labor Day comes and goes. Check out the latest BikeWalkLee blog for more information.

When you go out to exercise, use common sense for your safety. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and avoid thunderstorms.

For the latest news on organized events, check the usual websites such as Fort Myers Track Club (ftmyerstrackclub.com), Gulf Coast Runners (gcrunner.org), Caloosa Riders (caloosariders.org), and South West Florida Critical Mass (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

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

Upcoming events

With the coronavirus on the rebound locally and statewide and no sure bets on what lies ahead, expect to see more scheduled races go virtual (or just go away) as Labor Day comes and goes. Check out the latest BikeWalkLee blog for more information.

When you go out to exercise, use common sense for your safety. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and avoid thunderstorms.

For the latest news on organized events, check the usual websites such as Fort Myers Track Club (ftmyerstrackclub.com), Gulf Coast Runners (gcrunner.org), Caloosa Riders (caloosariders.org), and South West Florida Critical Mass (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

BikeWalkLee: A reminder of fallen riders

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, July 16, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

You may have seen them along the side of local roads… bikes painted white, sometimes adorned with flowers or a sign, fastened to a post, tree or other immovable object.

They’re called “ghost bikes", meant as a memorial and reminder that a cyclist was injured or (more often) killed there.

It’s a phenomenon that started in 2003 in St. Louis, prompted by a cyclist being struck by a vehicle. When people saw the impact the white two-wheeler had on drivers, a tradition began to post them around the city. It soon spread to other areas of the U.S. and, soon, around the globe.

The first ghost bike reportedly appeared in Lee County in 2011, marking the spot on the Sanibel Causeway where a cyclist was killed. Since then they have shown up to mark an injury or fatality, a memorial for those who died and a reminder for those who drive by the site every day.

No one claims responsibility for their appearance, not that it matters. The important message is awareness… for drivers to watch out for cyclists, for cyclists to ride defensively.

A look at the Caloosa Riders website underscores the need: The club lists 39 cyclists who have been killed by motor vehicles since 2011, including four (so far) this year. This may not be a complete list of fatalities… which is even more unnerving.

So if you’re driving or biking past one of these memorials, take a moment to remember the cyclist who died. More important take more than a moment to remember that cycling safety is the responsibility of both the driver and the cyclist.

Drivers need to watch out for cyclists, drive sensibly and recognize that bicycle are vehicles with the same right to use the road as motorists have.

Cyclists need to be smart, be visible, be predictable in their riding and be careful whenever they share the road (or, actually, anytime).

Image courtesy rvamag.com

 

When will racing resume?

With the coronavirus on the rebound locally and statewide and no sure bets on what lies ahead, expect to see more scheduled races go virtual (or just go away) as Labor Day comes and goes.

No surprise… who would want to put themselves at risk for even a mild case of Covid with so much uncertainty about the disease’s course (and even more about the timetable to see a viable vaccine arrive).

It won’t take a government order to keep events on hold (although limits on crowd size and the continued need for social distancing help). Like any other activity that easily draws too many people and brings them too close together, most sensible folks just won’t take that risk.

Nor should they. What little we hear about the long-term effects of Covid-19 so not encouraging – and that’s with very little real research on its impact thanks to its young age and very impressive infectiousness.

But to hear doctors exclaim that even mild cases of the virus have impacts on so many parts of the body should give everyone pause. It should also give everyone (not just the at-risk groups) real motivation to keep taking the common-sense preventive steps to reduce the risk of infection.

Remember: Coronavirus doesn’t care who you are or what political views you espouse. It cares about how vulnerable your health is and how diligent your efforts to control its spread end up being.

Ready to ride or run?

Nothing new on the race calendars, just virtual events and the promise of racing to return come the fall (Covid willing). Keep checking the usual websites for updates… be prepared to sign up, but also be prepared to deal with postponements if the rules on gatherings don’t change.

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. 

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

Upcoming events

Understandably with the amount of Covid-19 cases climbing as it does, there is not much on the race calendars. But with indoor exercise options limited, many people have discovered that riding a bike combines exercise, transportation and social distancing in a tidy little package. If you haven't already, check out these great tips for new (and existing) bicycle owners.

When you go out, use common sense for your safety. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and do not go out in thunderstorms. First and foremost, always be aware of motorized traffic, behind and in front of you. Use bike paths and lanes if possible. Adhere to the rules of the road. Stop where you must, signal your direction, ride on the right side. Do not try to mingle with high speed multi-lane motor vehicle traffic.

The number of Covid-19 cases in our area is still rising. It seems reasonable advice to keep protecting your own health and that of others by practicing social distance (at least 6' distance, more when you're exercising, use common sense) and using a face mask when and where appropriate. Stay healthy. Visit floridahealthcovid19.gov and cdc.gov for more information.

For the latest on organized events, check the usual websites such as Fort Myers Track Club (ftmyerstrackclub.com), Gulf Coast Runners (gcrunner.org), Caloosa Riders (caloosariders.org), and South West Florida Critical Mass (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

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

Upcoming events

There's nothing new on the race calendars for now. That doesn't stop many of us from going out for a bicycle ride, and with good reason.  If you haven't already, check out these great tips for new (and existing) bicycle owners.

When you go out, use common sense for your safety. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and do not go out in thunderstorms. First and foremost, always be aware of motorized traffic, behind and in front of you. Use bike paths and lanes if possible. Adhere to the rules of the road. Stop where you must, signal your direction, ride on the right side. And by all means, do not try to mingle with high speed multi-lane motor vehicle traffic.

The number of Covid-19 cases in our area is still rising. It seems reasonable advice to keep protecting yourself and others by practicing social distance (at least 6' distance, more when you're exercising, use common sense) and using a face mask when and where appropriate. Stay healthy. Visit floridahealthcovid19.gov and cdc.gov for more information.

For the latest on organized events, check the usual websites such as Fort Myers Track Club (ftmyerstrackclub.com), Gulf Coast Runners (gcrunner.org), Caloosa Riders (caloosariders.org), and South West Florida Critical Mass (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

BikeWalkLee: Pedaling through the pandemic

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

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic pop up in the most unusual places.

Take cycling… which many people have, discovering that riding a bike combines exercise, transportation and social distancing in a tidy little package. The fact that it also gets you out of the house and helps elevate your spirits - both things we all need during the age of Covid - is just a little extra incentive.

However, no one expected a pandemic would boost biking to the degree it has… which means bike shops are busy and bike supplies can be low.

Checking out the websites for local bike shops, most are ready and willing to sell to you or serve you – but most also include the caveat that inventories are down and parts might be more difficult to find. Reports are similar from the big-box stores, meaning it’s an industry-wide issue.

If you don’t already have a bike, then procuring one might take a little work (or flexibility). Discuss your needs and plans with your local bike shop staff and they probably can find you what you need with a little initiative or ingenuity. They can also help fit you to your new ride (recommended if you’re serious about this), hook you up with the other items you’ll need to make riding safe and enjoyable, and show you how to take care of your new mode of transportation.

If a bike doesn’t have to be new (just new to you), that opens up some options. Check online or on websites for local bike clubs to see anything is for sale, or try one of the buying apps to see what’s available. Also decide what condition you expect a bike to be in order to buy it – absolutely perfect, needs minor repairs or requires serious overhaul – and adjust your pedaling pursuits accordingly.

Many people have bikes but they may have not ridden it in quite some time… meaning a tune-up and other touches are in order. Once again, local shops are sometimes seeing longer wait times on service, driven by both demand (for repairs) and supply (for parts). This is an easier problem for many shops to fix, since working longer days and adding some skilled wrenchers (both welcome in our current economic doldrums) is easier to do than to ramp up manufacturing and assembly.

If you live in one of 31 communities in Lee or Collier counties, you also have the option of having service come to you via Florida Bike Medic. They schedule service days and accept appointments for a range of repairs… and all you have to do is bring them your bike (usually at the community center) and pay your bill. Details at floridabikemedic.com.

Of course, you always have the choice of doing your own repairs… a good option for the handy (and hearty) as long as you know your limits. It’s always wise to know how to do some simple fixes – repair flats, change tires, adjust brakes, etc. – especially if you like to ride far afield where mechanics are few and far between. But there are some repairs that warrant more skill than basic tools and a YouTube video can generate. Save those for the experts, and you’ll both be happy.

You can always buy your own parts and bring them to your favorite shop to install, a good workaround when supply lines are tight. But ask if that’s OK first before just showing up, and expect to pay a small fee on top of the usual charge for not buying things from the shop itself.

Another front where the pandemic has meant inroads for cycling is… roads. Major cities (more often in Europe than here) are seeing the rise in riding as an excuse to expand bike routes and convert some road spaces into bike lanes. That’s cutting in to center-city car congestion as well as recognizing the bike boom, so a win-win if you like cycling and cleaner air.

Will we see a similar rise in facilities locally? Doubtful, both because the car culture is too entrenched and because mass-transit alternatives are not in place to make fewer cars more likely.

We do hope local officials see the ridership rise as validation for whatever efforts in the past have resulted in improved bike facilities throughout Southwest Florida… and, perhaps, motivation to stay the course if not expand the two-wheeled options locally.

It should not take a pandemic to push more people into cycling, but if that’s the result the least we can do is keep expanding the bike lanes and paths to make it easier and safer to leave the car at home.

Ready to ride or run?

Nothing new on the race calendars, just virtual events and the promise of racing to return come the fall (Covid willing). Keep checking the usual websites for updates… be prepared to sign up, but also be prepared to deal with postponements if the rules on gatherings don’t change.

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.