BikeWalkLee: Riding by the rules

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, December 17, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

Between the pandemic and the arrival of snowbirds, there probably are a lot of new cyclists taking to the roads and paths right now. If you are one of those, there are some rules you should know to keep you (and everyone else) safe.

• Helmets: Legally required for cyclists under age 16, but a good idea for everyone.
• Riding on the sidewalk: Allowed, but you have to abide by the rules for pedestrians AND yield the right of way to actual pedestrians while on the sidewalk (and everywhere else, of course).
• Riding in the roadway: Allowed. Bicycles are considered vehicles, giving them all the rights (like being on the road) and responsibilities (like abiding by all vehicular regulations when on the road) of motorized vehicles.
• Lighting your bike: Required between sunset and sunrise, with white lights in front and red in back. A good idea in general, especially if you will be riding in traffic (to make you more visible to drivers).
• Riding with headphones: Not allowed by state law, sorry.
• Obeying STOP signs and traffic signals: Yes to both. Some cyclists view STOP signs as suggestions and traffic signals as commands… but you do so at your own risk.
• Biking under the influence: Against the law. Also, no open containers… but you can’t be required to submit to a breath test (because a license isn’t required to operate a bike).
• Signaling a turn or stop: Hand signals required, but not continuously (since you need those hands to steer).
• Position on the roadway: In general, ride “as close as practicable” to the right, but there are a lot of exceptions. Worth reading up on those if you plan to ride on the road. Also, ride WITH traffic, whether on the roadway or an adjacent bike lane (assuming there’s one on both sides of the road).
• Where can I ride my electric bike? It’s complicated. The law says you can ride e-bikes anywhere regular bikes are allowed, but it also says only vehicles propelled by human power are allowed on a sidewalk or bike path. Bikes with electric helper motors are considered bicycles, but those with a gas motor are not… and whether you need a license may be tied to the brake horsepower of the motor. Local rules can override state regulations, so it also means you should check those out as well (particularly if you’re looking at an electric scooter rather than a bike).

If you want to find out more about state specifics, start at flbikelaw.org, the legal website of the Florida Bicycle Association. While you’re there, consider joining FBA as well… they do a lot of good work on behalf of cyclists statewide.

 

EVENTS

Here’s what is scheduled for organized running and biking events locally… but confirm with the organizers and be flexible in case conditions change and large-group activities are limited. Of course, wear a mask and act appropriate to your age, condition and medical concerns..

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• Lazy Flamingo Half Marathon & 2-Person Relay, Sept. 17-Dec. 20 (virtual)
• Kiwanis Fort Myers Metro-McGregor BUG Chase Virtual 5K, Dec. 24-Jan. 23 (virtual)
  
• Strides for Education 5K, Feb. 6, 2021 (in-person and virtual)
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• Naples Daily News Half Marathon, Saturday, Jan. 17 (in-person & virtual) 

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• Sarasota West Coast Half Marathon and 5K, Sunday, Dec. 20
• Venice Half Marathon and 5K, Saturday, Feb. 13, 2021
• City of Palms Half Marathon and 5K, Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021
• Paradise Coast Half Marathon and 5K, Saturday, March 27, 2021
  

OTHER RUNS

• Publix Run to the Arts 5K run/walk – in person on Feb. 7, 2021, or virtual Jan. 30-Feb. 7 runsignup.com or runtothearts.com
  

CYCLING

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, although the NE Lee ride seems to be lacking a leader and thus is not on the calendar. The options are below, and you can check out their line-up online (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times.

• 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 Tuesday 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.

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.

 

 

BikeWalkLee: Infrastructure investment in our future

BikeWalkLee column, the News-Press, 11/23/2016
by Ken Gooderham

Photo: The News-Press

Let’s talk infrastructure, a popular phrase these days on both sides of the aisle. Both presidential candidates spoke of sinking billions into infrastructure, a political panacea for workers, businesses and the economy alike.

However, turning a litany of campaign promises into actual funded infrastructure projects can take a torturous trail to achieve. Suppose, for a moment, such political promises do become legislative reality and a significant sum is allocated to build and rebuild the bones that run our country and economy.

What would (or could) that mean for Southwest Florida?

Let’s take a slightly contrarian view and say we really don’t need more roads. We may need to enhance their capacity and maintain the ones we have while bringing them up to current design standards – which would be good for bikers and walkers if it helps complete some of our streets.

But if we want to guide this infrastructural investment in a way that create not just jobs, but value as well, we need to focus on our most significant industry (tourism) in such ways as to make this a more attractive area to visit, live and work.

Three assets ripe for improvement come to mind:

• Natural infrastructure: Investment that can enhance or protect our still-considerable natural resources. We’re talking beaches and bays here, but also waters safe to fish and swim in and preservation lands open for recreation. Targeting projects that could keep our natural assets safe (or at least not let then deteriorate any further) would support a lot of jobs and future economic health.
• Bike/ped infrastructure: Not only does this give people who play and stay here another recreational amenity (hey, you can only spend so many days at the beach!), but it enhances mobility and safety by making it easier to get around our area in something other than a motor vehicle. (That matters for a number of workers as well as those who ride or walk for fun.) These are also “fast to build and quick to contribute” kinds of projects – and ones where our existing backlog could offer a fast return on a funding investment.
• Mass transit: This area is getting closer and closer to the point where it needs to find other ways to move people and things both to here and around here. If you’re not quite ready for high-speed passenger rail, then how about building capacity to bring in goods and materials by plain old rail – and getting some of those big long-haul trucks off the road? And I bet if you could offer them a way to get into light rail or buses to get to and from work, a lot of those people stuck on the interstate every rush hour might be happy to leave the driving to you.

Could this happen? Yes, with the right investment and imagination behind it. Will it happen? Who knows?

But simply building more roads won’t help our tourism economy. Building more value through innovative investment will.

 

Cape project wins more funding

Speaking of infrastructure investment, the Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT) just announced $44.4 million in funding under the Shared Use Nonmotorized (SUN) Trail program for 45 projects around the state, which will add or improve miles of shared-use trails around Florida.

Of particular local interest is the $1.78 million allocated for Cape Coral’s Kismet Parkway multi-use path – which brings the funding total up to $3.6 million for the project’s first phase, from Burnt Store Road to Nelson Road. This project will eventually go to Del Prado Blvd., and is part of the statewide Coast to Coast SUN Bike Trail.

Congratulations once more to the Cape Coral public-private team that is turning the Cape from a bike-barren burgh to a very bike-friendly city.

 

Biking, walking to happier holidays

While we always encourage people to enjoy the plentiful opportunities to bike, walk and run in Southwest Florida, holidays such as Thanksgiving are an especially excellent time to hit the trails and paths.

Why?

• To create family-friendly moments. Biking and, in particular, walking is something almost all of your family and visitors can do… so you can do it together.
• To give everyone a little space. Getting on each others nerves? Get out and go for a walk or ride… it breaks up the routine and break downs some of the bad family habits we all can fall prey to.
• To burn off some calories. Even the most prudent among us can partake a little too festively this time of year. Moving around is still the best remedy to too much food… so get moving!

Enjoy your holidays – and any walks or rides you can fit in.

Ready to ride or run?

Run: Hopefully, you got up early this morning to enjoy one of the numerous Turkey Trots around our area. If not, plan to be part of the 38th annual City of Palm River Run, a 10K (and 2-mile fun run) on Saturday, Dec. 3, in downtown Fort Myers (ftmyersttrackclub.com). Collier County Public Schools are also holding a 5K run/1-mile wellness walk that day at Barron Collier High School (gcrunner.org).

Ride: Need to shake off the post-turkey (or post-Black Friday) blues? Critical Mass to the rescue, with rides Friday (Cape Coral), Saturday (downtown starter ride) and Dec. 2 (downtown classic ride). Details and RSVP at http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events. Want more? Join the 11th annual Fit & Fuel Iron Joe Turkey Ride Nov. 27 in Naples, with 62-, 30- and 20-mile options (https://raceroster.com/events/2016/9300/fit-fuel-iron-joe-turkey-ride). There’s also the Turkey Leg Century on Nov. 25, leaving from Daniels Crossing in Fort Myers at 7:30 a.m. for Sanibel, the Beach and Naples. Not for the novices. (caloosariders.org)

Both: Get ready for the Christmas with a sprint tri (or duathlon) on Dec. 18 at Sugden Regional Park, Naples (eliteevents.org).




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.

Love your brain? Wear a helmet!

BWL News-Press article, 10/13/2016
by Ken Gooderham

Love to bike? Love your brain? Then grab a helmet every time you head out for a ride.

Simply put, it’s the best thing you can do to help make your biking safe. Even the venerable “Consumer Reports” says so… right along with where they say when it comes to sports-related head injuries seen in emergency rooms, there are more caused by bicycling than even from football.

The magazine also cites studies that found you can cut your risk of severe injury by 58% if you wear a helmet while biking, or that 60% of those who died in 2014 from bike accidents were not wearing a helmet.

And it’s not just wearing a helmet, but wearing it properly (which is also covered in this article). That means having forward on your head, tight enough to stay in place and strapped right to stay balanced. (Most bike shops are happy to both sell you a helmet and fit it for you as well, since repeat business is improved if you can keep your customers alive and healthy.)

This being ‘Consumer Reports’, they also rate the safest choices or best buys – but money doesn’t necessarily buy you better protection. Almost any helmet will improve your safety, although you may want to check the date inside the helmet; one rule of thumb has been that a helmet more than five years old loses some of its protective capacity. (And if you can’t read the date on the label, that’s probably a good sign the helmet has a number of years and miles on it.)

You don’t have to wear a bike helmet in Florida… unless you’re under age 16, when it is required by state law. A helmet may also be required to participate in organized rides or races, where the organizers want to protect you (and themselves) from potential injuries or are required to mandate helmets as part of their sanctioning or insurance.

Otherwise, it’s your choice to wear a helmet while biking. Many people don’t, for a variety of reasons (most of them not very good ones). Helmets are lighter and better ventilated than any hat, and come in enough styles and shades to suit any taste. Don’t think they’re cool? Neither is a traumatic brain injury.

If you want to ignore the studies and statistics – and the fact that most serious cyclists and all pro riders wear them – fine. But if you love your bike and you love your brain, why wouldn’t you grab a helmet when you grab your bike?


Breakdown service for your bike

All you AAA members out there who also like to cycle, good news: The Florida branch of the auto club has expanded its roadside assistance service to include bicycle breakdowns. Just call them and a technician will pick you up and take you and your bike wherever you want to go… your car, your bike shop or your home. It’s included on all levels of AAA membership, but you do need to be accessible from a road or parking lot – so you off-roaders may be in for a walk. Find out more at aaa.com/bicycle.

If you want bike and auto or just bike-only assistance, that’s also available from Better World Club, which promotes its eco-friendly stance as well as its AAA-comparable services. They offer a lot of bike information as well as insurance, and coverage includes the U.S. and Canada (in case you’re planning a longer bike ride in the future). Details at betterworldclub.com/roadside-assistance/bicycle-roadside-assistance.


Ready to ride or run?
Run? Longer races rule this weekend, with the 10K Race 4 FISH on Sanibel Oct. 15 (ftmyerstrackclub.com) and the Rocktoberfest 10 Miler & 2x5 Mile Relay at North Collier Regional Park (eliteevents.org). If you want even more distance, on Oct. 22 there’s the Race The Roof 15K run, 5K run/walk and tot trot at the Verandah Community east of Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com), and the Gulf to Gulf 80-mile Relay that starts and ends at Cambier Park in downtown Naples, goes through Bonita Springs and Fort Myers Beach, with a turnaround at the Sanibel Causeway (gcrunner.org).

Ride? A temporary gap in the popular Critical Mass rides is being filled on Oct. 23 by the Tour for Epilepsy (15-, 30- and 62-mile rides, starts/ends at Coastline Cyclery, 10676 Colonial Blvd, Unit 50, Fort Myers -- caloosariders.org) and the Tour de North Port (15-, 35- and 65-mile rides plus 25-mile “Gravel Grinders” off-road ride) Info on both at caloosariders.org . The Critical Mass rides return Oct. 28-29, so don’t despair.

 # # # 

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.



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.

Bike facilities: The good, the bad and the ugly

BikeWalkLee column
The News-Press, July 20, 2016

Shared-use paths: a safer environment for
younger bicyclists (news-press file photo)

Our area offers an array of cycling facilities, from shared-use paths to roadside lanes. But which is best for cyclists?

“Best” is a relative term, of course. The best facility is the one you’ll use, the one that gets you where you want to go – which means cyclists don’t have a choice in most instances, since there’s usually just one way to get there. However, each has its pluses and minuses from a cyclist’s perspective.


■ Shared-use paths: These are separate from the regular roadway, open to use by both cyclists and pedestrians. (Think most of Sanibel, the Ten Mile Canal path or the Six Mile Cypress path.) A true shared-use path is supposed to be 10-12 feet wide, but in reality such paths can be far less spacious around here… so you work with what you have in front of you.


Pluses:

• Separated from motor vehicles, which makes many riders and walkers feel safer (and thus more likely to use).
• Separation also means less likelihood of inadvertent use by motor vehicles (although you can still find people parking on these paths even when it takes more work to do so).

Minuses:

• Mix of users means a mix of speeds, so proficient cyclists may be frustrated and the biker/walker interactions can get dicey at times.
• By design, they are set back from roadways, so at intersections you’re less likely to be seen by drivers and more likely to have vehicles blocking your path (since they pull forward to see traffic and don’t see you).
• Maintenance can sometimes be an issue, since they are less used by motor vehicles which tend to get more attention from road repair folks.
• Can offer a mixed bag of widths, signage, etc.

■ Bike lanes: These are part of the roadway, usually marked for bike/ped use by lines and/or symbols. (Think Treeline Avenue, many parts of Cape Coral and U.S. 41.)

Pluses:

• Easier to be seen by drivers, since you’re part of the road flow (not set back in the bushes).
• Better for fast cyclists, since there’s likely to be fewer slow riders and walkers using this lane.

Minuses:

• Closer to fast-moving traffic, which takes some getting used to for new cyclists.
• Easier for vehicles to trespass in your lane, either by accident or when drivers use the lanes to turn, detour, park or just wander.
• Works best when everyone agrees on which way traffic should flow, meaning walkers facing traffic and cyclists going with traffic. When everyone is going everyway, problems ensue.
• Better chance for debris (particularly the tire-slicing kind) since it’s right next to the driving lane and way too convenient for the stuff that’s falls off (or is thrown out of) motor vehicles.
• Some “bike lanes” are hardly more than a wide shoulder… beats nothing, but sometimes not by much.

■ Sidewalks: Adjacent to the road, usually raised slightly, always too narrow for cyclists but sometimes the only choice you have that’s not on the road itself. (Think McGregor Blvd., College Parkway, etc.)

Pluses:

• For cyclists, almost none... unless you just don’t want to ride in the road itself and are willing to proceed with caution. A positive note is that, when sidewalks and bike lanes are in place together, everyone has a place to travel… cyclists in the lanes, pedestrians on the walks and motor vehicles in the driving lane itself.

Minuses:

• Where do we start… too narrow, rarely trimmed of intruding vegetation, often poorly maintained or of inconsistent quality. You’re supposed to yield to pedestrians and motorists rarely see you coming, so it’s the worst of both worlds.

A hot-weather tip
Whether riding or striding, this time of year it’s all about timing (avoid the peak heat times of day) and route (let the wind and shade work for you, or at least give you a break along the way). Best choices are early morning (before the temps seriously spike) or early evening (particularly if you can go out after the rain passes through).


Ready to ride or run?

Run? Hot weather melts the race schedule this time of year, but there’s still a few events planned: On Saturday, July 23, it’s the Eagle Lakes 5K, Eagle Lakes Community Park, Naples (eliteevents.org). On Saturday, July 30, there’s the inaugural Black Girls Run! 5K, which will start and end at the Carrie Robinson Center, 2990 Edison Avenue, Fort Myers. (3dracing.com).

Ride? Critical Mass rides rule (but you may want to confirm the times, as summertime may force changes): Friday, July 29, is the Cape Coral Critical Mass ride. Gather at 7:30 p.m. for an 8 p.m. roll-out at 4706 SE 11th Place for a family-friendly ride (lights required, helmets recommended). On Saturday, July 30, SW Florida Critical Mass will offer a starter/sightseeing ride; gather at 9 a.m., roll at 9:15 a.m. from 2160 McGregor Blvd. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction. On Friday, Aug. 5, it’s the original SW Florida Critical Mass ride, a family-friendly slow ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the open field next to Publix (beginning at 7:15 p.m. for an 8 p.m. roll-out) at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. (twitter.com/swflcm or http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)

Both? Your next local tri is Saturday, Aug. 6, for the TRISK Tri Siesta Key Olympic and Sprint Tris and Duathlon (multirace.us). On Saturday, Sept. 3, head north for the Venice Sprint Sept. 3 (swflymca.org) – or stay put and be part of the Galloway Captiva Tri Weekend Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 10-11 (space still available, but the kid’s events are almost sold out) (captivatri.org).
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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 www.BikeWalkLee.org.