BikeWalkLee: The ins and outs of infrastructure

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, August 12, 2021
by Ken Gooderham

A bike path and sidewalk. Image: Modacity

“Infrastructure” has been a popular word of late, as has disputes over what exactly constitutes infrastructure.

However, I hope there is no dispute that cycling and run/walk facilities constitute “infrastructure,” and that they are worthy of planning and investment on par with the many other traditional definitions of the term.

In fact, there are studies that indicate bike/walk infrastructure benefits adjacent properties by boosting value, as well as (of course) that healthy bike/ped facilities lead to healthier citizens. But what’s not always noted is that planning ahead for bike/ped infrastructure saves money, when compared to retrofitting those same facilities by or on existing roaways.

As anyone who runs or rides can attest, there is a variety of bike/ped infrastructure in our region, ranging from the sublime to the (nearly) ridiculous. But it’s important to know the differences between the various types, as it can help explain what they are designed (and not designed) to achieve:

Sidewalks: The most basic and most variable option… some can be wide enough for walker and riders, others verge on claustrophobic for more than a single person. Bicyclists should not ride here if there are other options, and always have to yield to pedestrians. Golf carts should not use these either, but good luck trying to keep them off.

Paved shoulder: The next step up, with enough room (hopefully) for a cyclist to ride with traffic without being in traffic. Often marked for direction (think Summerlin Road and Daniels Parkway), and often created from older, narrower roadways that are re-striped from two narrow driving lanes to a wider driving lane and a bike shoulder (prevalent in Cape Coral). Often a good place to find road debris that will tear up tires, as well as the occasional breakdown or abandoned vehicle.

Bike lane: A further step in the right direction, this may range from just a wider shoulder all the way to an adjacent bike/walk space beside (and slightly away from) the roadway. May allow two-way traffic (depend on the width and whether there’s one on each side of the road (such as Daniels). Watch out at intersections, though, since many drivers pull through the bike lane to see oncoming traffic before they turn… much the way the treat crosswalks as a option rather than a dictum.

Bike path: Truly separated pathways dedicated to bikers and runners/walkers, with motor vehicles only in play where the paths cross roadways. Can be used by others, but designed mainly as a way for bicycles to travel in relative calm (and with a minimum of interruption when possible).

Shared-use path: Much like a bike path, except there may be more users (and congestion) to deal with. Think of the path system on Sanibel, replete with stops, lanes and lots and lots of people, particularly in season. Handy for the casual biker and walkers, frustrating for the more talented, faster riders (who then take to the roadways).

Linear park: A unique amalgam of paths, play areas, and more… Think the John Yarbrough Linear Trail along the Ten Mile Canal (with a new trailhead under construction) or the new Able Canal park in the works in Lehigh. More of a destination venue for a variety of uses, while also a thoroughfare for riders going from Point A to Point Be.

Bike box: A newer arrival, appreciated by road riders at busy intersection (such as the Daniels-Treeline intersection, where one was installed). Gives experienced cyclists a place to make their turn in the midst of the motoring mire, but can be confusing to the novice rider.

Will we see any more investment in bike/ped infrastructure coming from the pending infrastructure bill now working through Congress? We can hope so, but (as with many such efforts) infrastructure planning at the local level drives the projects as this is a bottom-up rather than top-down approach. Washington may direct what types of infrastructure is funded generally, and may allocate funding levels for various types (highways, rail, mass transit, bike/ped, etc.) but what gets built is decided much closer to home.

The fact that the state and the county have expanded bike/ped infrastructure in recent spending cycles and projects is a positive sign, even if a little coercion was involved to get them there. The fact that the state and our region still ranks very poorly on bike/ped safety, however, shows there’s still a lot work to do..

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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, October (date TBD), North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
• Fort Myers City of Palms Half Marathon & 5K, date TBD, FGCU.
• Naples Distance Classic Half Marathon, 18K & 5K, date TBD, 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, 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.
  

If racing is not your thing but you’d like to support their return nonetheless, consider volunteering to help out at the few in-person offerings ahead. With Covid concerns still confining some of the usual volunteers, a few new helping hand would certainly be welcomed.

TRIATHLONS:

• Fort Desoto Triathlon, Aug. 14, Fort Desoto (St. Petersburg), sprint and Olympic
• 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.