Litter, litter, everywhere

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 12/05/2018
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Litter welcomes visitors to Fort Myers Country Club.

Living where my wife, Maria, and I do, not far from downtown Fort Myers, means we routinely walk, run, bike and drive in and around the area where we see litter permeating much of the landscape and waterways.

In days long gone by I’d stoop to pick up the occasional piece of litter I’d happen upon while running along McGregor Boulevard. But now, aside from the fact that stooping isn’t quite as easy, there’s just too much litter to deal with so I usually limit my McGregor pickups to a block or so from my street as I finish my run with a walk.

That, in itself, is concerning, but the amount of litter there pales in comparison to the amount nearer Cleveland Avenue. One example: at a certain distance from McGregor our street changes personality as it turns into a litter-strewn mess that also has its share of dog waste left on the grass and sometimes even the sidewalk. A small apartment building’s property very near Cleveland Avenue is always laden with trash and debris that spills out onto the sidewalk and street, giving anyone the impression that folks here just don’t care.

Litter from fast food packaging can be found everywhere.

Other than places like Sanibel and Captiva islands, it seems cigarette butts, fast-food packaging, soda and beer containers, and other trash littering roadsides and waterways is the rule rather than exception. From what I can tell, having a litter-free environment where the general public has access requires two major factors: 1.) the propensity of those who reside and visit there not to litter and 2.) adequate property management — including of the public rights of way — being in place so any litter that does show up is quickly removed. The first factor is obviously the most important, but not allowing trash to become an expected part of the landscape is vital as well.

Other than the obvious solutions of reducing waste and always discarding it in appropriate places, I wish there was another answer because the problem is only getting worse, despite ongoing efforts by organizations like Keep Lee County Beautiful (KLCB, www.klcb.org).

Perhaps one thing that might help is for the fast food industry to join the board of KLCB, an industry that’s noticeably absent from having any presence there. I recall a news article a while back that quoted the owner of a locally based fast food restaurant saying something to the effect that he knew they “made it” when he began seeing wrappers from his products among the roadside litter. Really?

We can all be part of the solution by taking personal responsibility in terms of reducing our waste and always disposing of it appropriately. We can also get involved with efforts and events KLCB undertakes. Just like the injury prevention world I’m so familiar with it’s very frustrating that it’s so hard to convince people to do what everyone knows is proper and expected. You can learn more about this and other issues that affect our community and environment at bikewalklee.blogspot.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 334-6417. 

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.

Healthy Harvest Community Farms an unusual venue

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 8/15/18
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

A group of women called the Weekend Worriers Team carried the thin blue line police flag in honor of fallen Officer Adam Jobbers- Miller. DAN MOSER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

When I arrived at a run/walk on a recent Saturday to promote and encourage safe behavior when cycling, running and walking I quickly realized this was not a typical 5K. First off, the venue was at an unusual place: a compact community farm that sits on the edge of a golf course that’s no longer being used for that sport but that continues to be maintained by ownership. The next difference was that the run/walk was part of a summer-long series of activities offered by a nonprofit community farm, not your usual sponsors of such things.
  
I first learned about Healthy Harvest Community Farms (healthyharvestfarms.org) and its Summer of Fit Festival Series at a Healthy Lee (healthylee.com) meeting in July when Joe Pearson and Virginia Lesko from the organization told the group about its efforts that go far beyond the Summer of Fit activities. It’s no surprise that most of what they do revolves around growing and distributing healthy food products (mostly at no cost to recipients) but the physical activity element and their community focus were what interested me enough to venture out very early that Saturday morning to their eastern Lehigh Acres location. It was well worth the 4 a.m. wake-up alarm.

As expected, being a mid-summer run/walk that was taking place quite a distance away from most population centers, the number of participants was modest. But all who made it there were enthusiastic. Among those who took part were a group of women running in honor of fallen Officer Adam Jobbers-Miller (the day’s event proceeds went to his fund), local high school cross country runners, and a mom with a gaggle of young kids in tow. The atmosphere was different than most 5Ks in that it was very laidback with a decidedly non-competitive feel. There were no traffic cones, police presence, mile markers, or even a formal finish line other than Joe barking out times as participants crossed the imaginary line. Nonetheless, it looked like everyone had fun and got in their miles, whether running, walking or a combination of both.

The group of women called themselves the Weekend Worriers Team and carried the thin blue line police flag the length of the run. They told me they’re training to take part in November’s New York City Marathon and running to raise money for the Carolyn Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund (findacure.org). A fundraiser for the Weekend Worriers will be held at Millennial Brewery (millennialbrewing.com) in September so keep an eye out for it.

What’s most impressive to me about this ongoing event, the nonprofit organization, and the location is the unbelievable potential each represent. Although the “farm” is quite compact and resembles more of a large community garden. The fact that it’s on a portion of a now-closed golf course means there may be room to expand exponentially. The course itself is what really stirred my interest because it reminded me of what’s going on in Cape Coral with two big differences: the grounds remain maintained and the ownership sounds to be much more cooperative than the Cape property owners have been.

Mirror Lakes Golf Course manager David Deetscreek was quoted in an April 11 NBC-2 interview (nbc-2.com) shortly before its closing in late spring as saying the owners don’t plan on developing residential or commercial buildings on the property. “We want to change the use of the property into something the community can use,” he said. The story goes on to say that some suggested ideas management is looking into are creating a preserve, park-like setting or even a fitness area. “It’s in its infancy. We’ve just made the decision to close it. Now we are investigating the potential uses,” Mr. Deetscreek said.

Talk about potential. If the owners of Mirror Lakes Golf Course go the route of allowing its use for community purposes the possibilities are all positive. Besides there being plenty of space to expand food growing areas it could be a ready-made recreation area the size of a regional park with paved paths already in place. The rolling terrain could also become a high school cross country running mecca like no other in all of Lee County (East Lee County High School is barely a mile away). Should one or more of these conceivable outcomes come to pass the benefits would go well beyond the local Lehigh community.

In the meantime Healthy Harvest Community Farms is always in need of volunteers to work the gardens as well as other tasks required to allow this nonprofit thrive. To see for yourself what’s going on they always welcome visitors, including when they host another Summer of Fit event on Saturday, Sept. 1 Spokesperson Virginia Lesko can be reached at 738-1327 or vlesko@healthyharvestfarms.org. ¦

- 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 334-6417. 

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.

Get engaged to get better bike-walk facilities

BWL Column
The News-Press, 4/13/2017
by Ken Gooderham

How do you have a say in what bicycle and pedestrian facilities may get built in our area? Sometimes it’s as easy as just showing up – but, often, it means showing up over and over again.

Such decisions are usually part of a long-range plan and overseen (at least in an advisory capacity) by a citizens’ committee focused on bike and pedestrian issues.

To have an impact, the first step can be easy: Ask about the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan for the area where you live. If you reside in one of the area’s numerous municipalities, there’s either a plan in place or one getting under way.

To see an example of the former, check out Cape Coral’s newly minted Bike-Ped Master Plan online at www.capecoral.net under the Parks and Rec page. Just approved by the city council, the plan (along with the efforts of the Cape Coral Bike-Ped group) should be a stepping stone to move the city up from its current Bronze-level Bicycle Friendly Community designation to Silver or Gold, as well as pursuing a “Walk Friendly Community” designation.

Bonita Springs just completed its first bike-ped plan as well, and it’s posted at the city’s website, www.cityofbonitasprings.org, under News Updates.

In terms of plans just getting under way, Fort Myers Beach is in the midst of developing its first master plan, and Beach residents have a great opportunity to share their insights and ideas at a community workshop on Wednesday, April 26, beginning at 5 p.m. at the town hall, 2525 Estero Blvd.

For other municipalities, check out the various websites…and while you’re there, see if yours also has a bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee – and if there are any vacancies. If so, and if you’re inclined to get involved, consider joining one. You’ll be more engaged in your community’s bike-ped decision making process, as well as in a key position to support bike/walk amenities and facilities.

Perhaps the best website for an overview of this region’s bike-ped planning is that of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) at http://leempo.com. You’ll find the region’s master plan and bike safety plan, the various committees working on the issue, and links to what is happening in the municipalities as well as a lot of other bike-ped resources.

Of course, government committees aren’t the only way to get things done to enhance biking and walking. Often, neighborhoods and communities can band together to pursue better bike-walk infrastructure – either on their own or working with government officials, agencies and/or committees.This is how bike/ped facilities got funded in the Villas, Fiddlesticks Road, Palomino Lane, and Orange River Blvd., to name a few.

The common denomination to any of this is involvement… you can make things happen by showing up, but you often need to show up over and over to keep the momentum in place (or to keep the officials aware of public support and pointed in the right direction). That means coming to workshops, attending meetings, writing to your government officials, serving on committees, etc. – not everyone’s cup of tea, to be sure.

If you truly are allergic to meetings and serving on committees leaves you cold, there is (almost) always an opportunity to submit comments as a part of public hearings, community surveys, planning input and other areas where government work gets done. When all else fails, email the appropriate elected official to air your thoughts on pressing bike/ped issues… constituents still carry some weight.

This area has a plethora of examples where a few committed advocates made a huge difference in improving bike-walk amenities, infrastructure and awareness. From Sanibel’s first bike paths to Cape Coral’s evolution into a bike-walk friendly community, the hard work of some committed individuals made that happen.

You could do it, too. Get involved.

For details, go to:
Bonita Springs plan(pdf)
Cape Coral plan


Ready to ride or run?

Run? Celebrate Easter weekend with an Eggs and Ears 5K at Lakes Park in Fort Myers April 15… or at the Wellfit Girls To(tu) Peru 5K and yoga event at North Collier Regional Park in Naples. The following Saturday (April 22) features the Run 4Kayla 5K at Patriot Elementary, Cape Coral, and the Sunshine 5K at The Vineyards, Naples. Details at 3dracinginc.com or gcrunner.org.
Ride? Critical Mass rides tomorrow night (Northeast Lee) and April 21 (Estero). All are at night to bring your lights (and helmet); details at http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/.

Both? Sign up for the Cape Coral Sprint Tri on May 13 (capecoral.net)


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 www.BikeWalkLee.org.