BikeWalkLee: Hot enough for you?

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, August 26, 2021
by Ken Gooderham 

Don’t get me wrong, I love Florida… even the dazed-and-confused version of it we have today.

Love the outdoors, love the beach and waterways, love the flora and fauna you can find nowhere else.

Even love the snowbirds and tourists… well, “love” may a bit too enthusiastic, perhaps “tolerate through clenched teeth” is closer to the mark.

I even love the summers… until right about now.

When we hit Month 4 of hot and humid with no end in near sight, I’m ready for a reprieve, a respite, a day when the temperature actually gets below 75° for more than a minute.

By this time, the need to hit the road (or path) early to avoid the heat of the day has worn thin, as has the need to stay perpetually attached to a water bottle to keep dehydration at bay.

Having more space on the bike paths or running trails is a summertime plus, to be sure. And you can always beat the heat by taking your exercising efforts to the pool (just watch for thunderstorms) or the gym.

But the heat and humidity still wears you (or at least me) down, and you can barely wait for the eventual break in the summer sizzle sometime in October.

Of course, I’ll take the hot days and humid nights over a tropical storm any day… and since we’re heading into the heart of hurricane season for Southwest Florida, I hope we can keep the storms at bay and away for the next two-plus months (assuming climate change doesn’t extend the storm season even further than it has already).

Speed kills

For those of a certain age, the phrase “speed kills” may have many connotations. But today, we’re talking about the (literal) impact of increased speed limits on pedestrian injuries and deaths.

A 2011 study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, looking back at prior similar studies with update data, concluded:

Results show that the average risk of severe injury for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle reaches 10% at an impact speed of 16 mph, 25% at 23 mph, 50% at 31 mph, 75% at 39 mph, and 90% at 46 mph. The average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 10% at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph, and 90% at 58 mph. Risks vary significantly by age. For example, the average risk of severe injury or death for a 70‐year‐old pedestrian struck by a car travelling at 25 mph is similar to the risk for a 30‐year‐old pedestrian struck at 35 mph. 

Why is that important? Because we regularly have drivers complain that lower speed limits are frustrating… I guess because it takes them two seconds longer to get down your average block. However, if that average block is also used by pedestrians and cyclists, a higher speed limit can bring a higher likelihood of injury or death.

That’s not factoring in how much over the speed limit most drivers typically drive… so if a 20 mph limit really means, say 25 mph, raising that even just 5 mph can double the likelihood of injury or death to pedestrians or cyclists. (That’s also not looking at vehicle design and its impact on injury, a topic for another day.)

So when you hear a clamor from motorists to raise speed limits even a moderate amount, remember that decision has consequences for people who walk or ride amidst those faster-moving vehicles. And if you ride or walk on those roadways, remember that the patience you show behind the wheel can be paid back when you’re a more vulnerable user of that thoroughfare.

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EVENTS 

Summertime has shut down most local running and biking events, with Labor Day (maybe) the next opportunity for an organized event.

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 9, 7:45 p.m., downtown Fort Myers
• 10K Race for F.I.S.H., Saturday, Oct. 23, Sanibel Island. In-person and virtual.
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, 7:30 a.m. Lowdermilk Park, Naples and virtual.
• 2021 GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 25, 7:30 a.m. Cambier Park, Naples and virtual.
  

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• Venice Half Marathon & 5K, Saturday, Oct. 9, 6:30 a.m., Maxine Barritt Park, Venice.
• Naples Rocktoberfest 10K & 5K, Saturday, Oct. 16, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
  
• Naples Distance Classic Half Marathon, 18K & 5K, Saturday, Nov. 13, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
• Thanksgiving Day 5K (two races), Thursday, Oct. 25, Hertz Arena in Estero and The Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples. 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. respectively.
  

OTHER RUNS

• Run 3 for Joey D 5K, Saturday, Sept. 18, North Collier Regional Park (active.com).
• Average Joe 5K Run (where the person who finishes in the middle wins, along with overall and age group winners), Saturday, Oct. 9, North Collier Regional Park (active.com).
• LRC Hams & Gams 5K Turkey Trot, Saturday Nov. 13, Hendry Complex, LaBelle (active.com)
  
• Publix Run to the Arts 5K run/walk, Nov. 20, downtown Fort Myers runsignup.com or runtothearts.com
  

OTHER RIDES

The Caloosa Riders are offering member rides, but some are open to non-members (and it wouldn’t hurt you to join the club); check their ride calendar (caloosariders.org) for a description of the distance and speed, and to see if the ride is open to all.

SW Florida Critical Mass is offering their usual slate of family-friendly rides. Check out their line-up online (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times (and to make sure the ride is still rolling).

• SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers. 
• Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
• NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
• Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
• Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.
  

TRIATHLONS

• Fort Desoto Triathlon, Sept. 11, Fort Desoto (St. Petersburg), sprint and Olympic
• St. Anthony’s Triathlon (St. Petersburg) rescheduled to Oct. 1-3, 2021
• City Island Triathlon, Oct. 10, Sarasota
  

 
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.

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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 bikewalklee.blogspot.com.