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.

Landscaping transforms Alliance for the Arts

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, March 25, 2020
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Looking south toward Royal Palm Square Boulevard at the Alliance for the Arts.

What was always an active and aesthetically appealing corner property but lacking an important feature is finally becoming the complete package. Appropriately located along McGregor Boulevard at Alliance for the Arts, a sidewalk and landscaping project is transforming what would otherwise be common 5-feet wide ribbons of concrete into a functional and beautiful piece of outdoor art.

While this project may not be the only example of infrastructure as public art — nearby and adjacent to the Midpoint Bridge overpass is a military display built into the infrastructure that’s also quite inviting — it has special significance for me. The reason I’m so pleased to see the Alliance project is as much about the basic sidewalk as the creativity that makes it special.

From the beginning of my involvement in bike/pedestrian advocacy many decades ago, the two missing pieces of infrastructure that were most important to me were Gladiolus Drive around Lakes Park, and McGregor Boulevard. Gladiolus has had a pathway on one side between Summerlin and U.S. 41 since it was widened well over a decade ago but there remained this one last section of McGregor lacking a sidepath in front of the Alliance until very recently.

The view looking north along McGregor at the Alliance for the Arts.

I used to live on the corner of Gladiolus and what was then the southern terminus of Summerlin. My concern began as self-serving because I had just jumped headfirst into the running craze and was looking for places to run, especially from my front door. Summerlin had a pathway but there was no shade (which is still the case). The newly opened Lakes Park was a perfect place and less than a mile away but getting to the entrance was almost impossible because the only (official) access point at that time was on Gladiolus. It was then a treacherous two-lane road with no side path, or even shoulders, and a killer curve to boot. That particular situation led me into the local bike/pedestrian advocacy world. Eventually the county widened all of Gladiolus and included bike/ped accommodations. Lakes Park added what was intended to be a temporary non-motorized access along Summerlin while road construction was taking place but that has since become a very popular permanent access for pedestrians and cyclists. No such luck in getting the sidepath on McGregor at the corner of Colonial, even as roadway improvements took place more than once around Alliance for the Arts.

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 239-334-6417.

The Alliance property was previously the Schultz Farm and the area was originally known as Toad Town. The Schultz farmhouse and property was donated to Lee County in 1976 for use as a cultural center. Over the years the open space on the corner of McGregor and Royal Palm Square has been the site of many field sports, concerts, festivals, summer camps and other activities. A permanent open air stage gets regular use and the very property is home to the weekly GreenMarket. A couple of large sculptures have graced the area for some time and they are now integrated into the landscape project.



To learn about this topic and more, visit bikewalklee.blogspot.com and www.streetsaliveswfl.org.¦


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.

Lee County continues to ignore bicycle-pedestrian needs

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, November 20, 2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Courtesy Photo

Lee County has seen quite a bit of bicycle-pedestrian infrastructure added since it was a virtual wasteland for nonmotorists. A significant amount of bike lanes, sidewalks and shared-use paths are in place. That’s good news for everyone, residents and visitors alike.

However, a huge backlog of all of those features remains, with funding being the primary obstacle, according to local officials. While it’s understandable that money is the issue, the fact that spending on bicycle-pedestrian projects is miniscule in comparison to other transportation projects means we’re not putting a dent in the backlog of needs, primarily along roads that still have nothing on the ground.

When I received notice recently of the Palomino Road pathway project ribbon cutting ceremony, it reminded me of just how difficult it is to get even the most obviously needed projects done. I recall this particular one being initiated well over a decade ago (maybe closer to two decades ago), at a time when Palomino Road was transitioning from a rural road off Daniels Parkway with only a few homes on ranch- and farm-sized lots to sprawling gated communities containing hundreds of housing units and a megachurch on Palomino just for good measure.

The fact that development was allowed without any bicycle-pedestrian accommodation on the only road in and out of those gated neighborhoods and the megachurch church parking lot is a good example of the cause of the backlog.

This is not an uncommon situation, a problem the governments permitting such growth are responsible for creating. The drastic reduction in impact fees is clearly also a cause of the funding shortfall. Again, the governments that are letting the developers off the impact-fee hook are as much to blame as those doing the building without paying for adequate infrastructure to handle the growth they create and profit from.

Similar to Palomino Road, nearby Fiddlesticks Boulevard was identified as needing bicycle-pedestrian accommodations decades ago, but it wasn’t until just a few years ago that a pathway was finally approved, funded and constructed.

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 239-334-6417.

Over the years, that project was an ongoing agenda item for the committee on which I served. The reasons given for not building it made clear to me that this kind of common situation was going to haunt us, perhaps forever. Besides the gated community syndrome, there are the large bedroom communities of San Carlos Park, Lehigh Acres and Iona, as well as at-risk neighborhoods Suncoast Estates, Palmona Park, Pine Manor, Page Park, Charleston Park, Harlem Heights and others that were developed decades ago with only motor vehicle traffic accommodation being required.

We’ll be playing catch-up indefinitely in and around these kinds of communities with even newer developments that also weren’t required to adequately accommodate non-motorists.

Some of the progress that has been made in the at-risk communities can be attributed to non-traditional funding. While much of our overall transportation project funding appears to come from afar, the fact is that the majority is locally generated taxes that are sent north then reallocated back here.

But because of the strings attached, neighborhood streets are frequently ineligible to tap into them, no matter the need. Thanks to a federal human service program that infuses at-risk neighborhoods with resources to get them out of that status, some of those funds were used to construct sidewalks. The half dozen at-risk communities that benefitted each have many residents who depend on their feet, bikes and transit to get around, so it’s more than an appropriate use of the human service funds.

Because some of our local governments are loath to use local dollars for bicycle-pedestrian infrastructure, the time it takes to get projects on the ground is drastically elongated as these governments wait for state and federal transportation funds to flow in.

The city of Fort Myers is most guilty of this approach, meaning there are lots of streets in areas built-out many years ago that won’t get what should already be there until and unless the city is lucky enough to be awarded funds. At the same time, they think nothing of providing millions of dollars in tax deferments to developers in order to entice them to build within city limits. With an approach like this, many neighborhoods will never see bare minimum infrastructure.

One of the most egregious and expensive shortcomings that needs to be addressed is the lack of pedestrian access across most of our major bridges, including the Sanibel Causeway, Cape Coral Bridge, Midpoint Bridge and Caloosahatchee River Bridge. One span of the Edison Bridge is the only place that a pedestrian can legally use. Other than the Edison and Caloosahatchee River bridges, all the others are Lee County structures. The cost to add pedestrian access means we may never see it happen until new spans are built.

Image Courtesy thesfnews.com

To learn about this topic and more, visit bikewalklee.blogspot.com and www.streetsaliveswfl.org.¦



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.

Join a Ride of Silence event on May 16th

 May has arrived and time to firm up your plans to join one of the two local Ride of Silence events (Fort Myers and Sanibel) on Wed. evening May 16th to honor fallen cyclists and promote road safety.

What began in 2003 in Dallas as a spontaneous outpouring of grief for a friend and fellow rider, struck and killed by the mirror of a passing vehicle, has rolled across the globe to become an international annual event memorializing and honoring cyclists who have been injured and killed while riding.

The Ride of Silence is a worldwide event, with almost all USA States participating, along with 22 other countries.

Previous Ride of Silence, Fort Myers

 The many hundreds of events share the same goals: "To honor fallen cyclists, to promote road safety, and to make a difference."

Bike safety is not a fleeting issue, especially here in Florida which ranks as the very worst in the nation for cyclist safety, with the highest fatality rate for ten years in a row.

In 2017, 4 cyclists were killed in Lee County crashes, in 2016, 9 cyclists were killed, and 1 cyclist has been killed in 2018 to date.





The Ride of Silence, in memorializing riders injured and killed, seeks to draw motorist's attention to cyclist's legal rights to full use of the roadways, to inform motorists that we are here, to watch for us--as if our lives depended on it. Please come out to show your support and send the message that we deserve our right to operate on our own roads. We are not just bike riders, but friends and neighbors and we must all Share the Road.

Locally there are TWO Rides of Silence planned--downtown Fort Myers and Sanibel.

Fort Myers Ride of Silence: Sponsored by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club
Arrive by 6:45, ride begins promptly at 7:00 PM

Centennial Park 2000 W First St, Fort Myers (Under the Bridge at Heitman and Bay Streets)

 

Cyclists will ride in a silent, funeral-style procession at 10-12 mph for 8 miles to honor those who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

Riders are requested to wear black arm bands or red if they have personally been injured in a cycling versus motor vehicle accident.
· Everyone welcome, free of charge. No registration necessary.
· Helmets are required, no headphones please.
· For further details email: ros@caloosariders.org or check CRCBC website.

Sanibel Ride of Silence: Sponsored by the Sanibel Bicycle Club in partnership with Matzaluna Restaurant and Billy's Bikes.

Gathering for Sanibel ride at Matzaluna's

 

• Riders are encouraged to arrive at 6:15 p.m. at Matzaluna Restaurant (1200 Periwinkle Way) for a short educational program.
  
  · At 7:00 p.m. promptly the ride will leave Matzaluna's, down Periwinkle Way to the Sanibel Causeway. The ride will cross over the first 2 bridges of the causeway, do the turnaround under the main span, and return to Matzaluna (approximately 7 miles round trip).
  
  · Helmets required for all riders and front and tail lights are required if you plan to ride your bike home after dinner.
  
  · Matzaluna will provide discounted food and drink for all riders.
  
  · For further details, contact Salli Kirkland 239-472-3620.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

REMINDER: Ride of Silence on Wednesday May 17th--Fort Myers and Sanibel

Ride of Silence on May 17th--Fort Myers and Sanibel

Join one of the two local Ride of Silence events (Fort Myers and Sanibel) this Wed. evening May 17th to honor fallen cyclists and promote road safety.

Previous Ride of Silence, Fort Myers

What began in 2003 in Dallas as a spontaneous outpouring of grief for a friend and fellow rider, struck and killed by the mirror of a passing vehicle, has rolled across the globe to become an international annual event memorializing and honoring cyclists who have been injured and killed while riding. The Ride of Silence is a worldwide event, with almost all USA States participating, along with 22 other countries.

The many hundreds of events share the same goals: "To honor fallen cyclists, to promote road safety, and to make a difference."

Bike safety is not a fleeting issue, especially here in Florida which ranks as the very worst in the nation for cyclist safety, with the highest fatality rate for ten years in a row.

 In 2016, 9 cyclists were killed in Lee County crashes, in 2015, 4 cyclists were killed, and in 2017 to date, there has been one.

The Ride of Silence, in memorializing riders injured and killed, seeks to draw motorist's attention to cyclist's legal rights to full use of the roadways, to inform motorists that we are here, to watch for us--as if our lives depended on it. Please come out to show your support and send the message that we deserve our right to operate on our own roads. We are not just bike riders, but friends and neighbors and we must all Share the Road.

Ghost bike on Sanibel Causeway

Locally there are TWO Rides of Silence planned--downtown Fort Myers and Sanibel.

Fort Myers Ride of Silence: Sponsored by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club

• Arrive by 6:45, ride begins promptly at 7:00 PM

• Centennial Park 2000 W First St, Fort Myers (Under the Bridge at Heitman and Bay Streets)

• Cyclists will ride in a silent, funeral-style procession at 10-12 mph for 8 miles to honor those who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

• Riders are requested to wear black arm bands or red if they have personally been injured in a cycling versus motor vehicle accident.

• Everyone welcome, free of charge. No registration necessary.

• Helmets are required, no headphones please.

• For further details email: ros@caloosariders.org

Sanibel Ride of Silence: Sponsored by the Sanibel Bicycle Club in partnership with Matzaluna Restaurant and Billy's Bikes.

Gathering for Sanibel ride at Matzaluna's

• Riders are encouraged to arrive at 6:15 p.m. at Matzaluna Restaurant (1200 Periwinkle Way) for a short educational program. 

• At 7:00 p.m. promptly the ride will leave Matzaluna's, down Periwinkle Way to the Sanibel Causeway. The ride will cross over the first 2 bridges of the causeway, do the turnaround under the main span, and return to Matzaluna (approximately 7 miles round trip).

• Helmets required for all riders and front and tail lights are required if you plan to ride your bike home after dinner.

• Matzaluna will provide discounted food and drink for all riders.

• For further details, contact Salli Kirkland 239-472-3620.

Ride of Silence on May 17th--Fort Myers and Sanibel

It's May and time to make plans to join one of the two local Ride of Silence events (Fort Myers and Sanibel) on Wed. evening May 17th to honor fallen cyclists and promote road safety.

Previous Ride of Silence, Fort Myers

What began in 2003 in Dallas as a spontaneous outpouring of grief for a friend and fellow rider, struck and killed by the mirror of a passing vehicle, has rolled across the globe to become an international annual event memorializing and honoring cyclists who have been injured and killed while riding. The Ride of Silence is a worldwide event, with almost all USA States participating, along with 22 other countries.

The many hundreds of events share the same goals: "To honor fallen cyclists, to promote road safety, and to make a difference."

Bike safety is not a fleeting issue, especially here in Florida which ranks as the very worst in the nation for cyclist safety, with the highest fatality rate for ten years in a row.

 In 2016, 9 cyclists were killed in Lee County crashes, in 2015, 4 cyclists were killed, and in 2017 to date, there has been one.

The Ride of Silence, in memorializing riders injured and killed, seeks to draw motorist's attention to cyclist's legal rights to full use of the roadways, to inform motorists that we are here, to watch for us--as if our lives depended on it. Please come out to show your support and send the message that we deserve our right to operate on our own roads. We are not just bike riders, but friends and neighbors and we must all Share the Road.

Ghost bike on Sanibel Causeway

Locally there are TWO Rides of Silence planned--downtown Fort Myers and Sanibel.

Fort Myers Ride of Silence: Sponsored by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club

• Arrive by 6:45, ride begins promptly at 7:00 PM

• Centennial Park 2000 W First St, Fort Myers (Under the Bridge at Heitman and Bay Streets)

• Cyclists will ride in a silent, funeral-style procession at 10-12 mph for 8 miles to honor those who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

• Riders are requested to wear black arm bands or red if they have personally been injured in a cycling versus motor vehicle accident.

• Everyone welcome, free of charge. No registration necessary.

• Helmets are required, no headphones please.

• For further details email: ros@caloosariders.org

Sanibel Ride of Silence: Sponsored by the Sanibel Bicycle Club in partnership with Matzaluna Restaurant and Billy's Bikes.

Gathering for Sanibel ride at Matzaluna's

• Riders are encouraged to arrive at 6:15 p.m. at Matzaluna Restaurant (1200 Periwinkle Way) for a short educational program. 

• At 7:00 p.m. promptly the ride will leave Matzaluna's, down Periwinkle Way to the Sanibel Causeway. The ride will cross over the first 2 bridges of the causeway, do the turnaround under the main span, and return to Matzaluna (approximately 7 miles round trip).

• Helmets required for all riders and front and tail lights are required if you plan to ride your bike home after dinner.

• Matzaluna will provide discounted food and drink for all riders.

• For further details, contact Salli Kirkland 239-472-3620.

Save the Date: May 18th--Ride of Silence 2016

Mark your calendar now and plan to join one of the two local Ride of Silence events on Wed. evening May 18th to honor fallen cyclists and promote road safety.

2014 Ride of Silence, Fort Myers

What began in 2003 in Dallas as a spontaneous outpouring of grief for a friend and fellow rider, struck and killed by the mirror of a passing vehicle, has rolled across the globe to become an international annual event memorializing and honoring cyclists who have been injured and killed while riding. The Ride of Silence is a worldwide event, with almost all USA States participating, along with 22 other countries.

The many hundreds of events share the same goals: "To honor fallen cyclists, to promote road safety, and to make a difference."

Bike safety is not a fleeting issue, especially here in Florida which ranks as the very worst in the nation for cyclist safety, with the highest fatality rate for ten years in a row. In 2014, 8 cyclists were killed in Lee County crashes, in 2015, 4 cyclists were killed, and in 2016 to date, there has been one. (Florida Bike Crashes: News-Press)

The Ride of Silence, in memorializing riders injured and killed, seeks to draw motorist's attention to cyclist's legal rights to full use of the roadways, to inform motorists that we are here, to watch for us--as if our lives depended on it. Please come out to show your support and send the message that we deserve our right to operate on our own roads. We are not just bike riders, but friends and neighbors and we must all Share the Road.

Ghost bike on Sanibel Causeway

Locally there are TWO Rides of Silence planned--downtown Fort Myers and Sanibel.

Fort Myers Ride of Silence: Sponsored by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club

• Arrive by 6:45, ride begins promptly at 7:00 PM

• Centennial Park 2000 W First St, Fort Myers (Under the Bridge at Heitman and Bay Streets)

• Cyclists will ride in a silent, funeral-style procession at 10-12 mph for 8 miles to honor those who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways.

• Riders are requested to wear black arm bands or red if they have personally been injured in a cycling versus motor vehicle accident.

• Everyone welcome, free of charge. No registration necessary.

• Helmets are required, no headphones please.

• For further details email: ros@caloosariders.org

Sanibel Ride of Silence: Sponsored by the Sanibel Bicycle Club in partnership with Matzaluna Restaurant and Billy's Bikes.

• Riders are encouraged to arrive at 6:15 p.m. at Matzaluna Restaurant (1200 Periwinkle Way) for a short educational program. 

• At 7:00 p.m. promptly the ride will leave Matzaluna's, down Periwinkle Way to the Sanibel Causeway. The ride will cross over the first 2 bridges of the causeway, do the turnaround under the main span, and return to Matzaluna (approximately 7 miles round trip).

• Helmets required for all riders and front and tail lights are required if you plan to ride your bike home after dinner.

• Matzaluna will provide discounted food and drink for all riders.

• For further details, contact Patti Sousa: 395-1695.

Moser Column: Cross-country bicycling network offers local benefits

 Dan's column highlights the status of the longterm efforts to designate a bike route across the country as well as across Florida.  His advocacy update spotlights the threat to bike/ped access and connectivity that is happening in Fort Myers, with the developer on Meadow Park Drive planning to close the popular access corridor that has been used for decades. If you live in that area and/or use this critical bike/ped access, time to contact your Fort Myers elected officials and urge them to protect the public access.

Work is well underway to designate a national bike route that’s similar to our interstate highway system, a good example of the progress on the bike/ped front throughout the country. It’s a longtime dream for many that’s finally coming to fruition, albeit piece-by-piece. Much of the network is on-road with some segments having bike lanes and many others without any markings.

Also included in the US Bicycle Route are segments of paved trails that are immediately adjacent to highways and roads, while others are dedicated facilities such as abandoned rail lines converted to trails, and even others along active rail lines. While most of us will never be so ambitious to ride cross-country using the US Bike Route, its existence benefits every community it touches upon, just as our interstate highway system does.

Along with this large-scale undertaking are similar regional and local efforts, including some that aim to make their entire routes exclusively off-road on shared-use pathways. Among those endeavors are many in Florida.

This popular and critical bike/ped access in Fort Myers is being threatened by development. One that will directly benefit us and is currently on our local transportation planners’ radar is the Florida SUNTrail System (floridasuntrail.com).

The Lee County MPO is joining with all the other MPOs in our SUNTrail region — which stretches from Tampa Bay to the eastern edge of Collier County — to give us a better chance of becoming the next priority for receiving the bulk of state funding.

To that end, BikeWalkLee added its voice with a letter of support, which describes our area’s commitment to bike/ped infrastructure. The letter states, in part: “The $10 million federal TIGER grant awarded in 2013 to the Lee MPO for its Complete Streets Initiative Project will be completed by the end of 2016, setting the stage for enhanced economic benefits from bike tourism, which would be greatly enhanced by a trail system … Bike tourism is already gaining traction in Lee County with the recent completion of Cape Coral’s 90-mile bicycle routes system. By the end of this year, there will be 14.3 miles of additional shared use paths as result of the TIGER grant, increasing the current connected shared use path system in the area (Lee County’s Tour de Parks Loop) to a total of almost 50 miles.”

Advocacy update
 
Along with that good news comes a threat to bike/ped access and connectivity that is a vital part of Complete Streets. A very popular access corridor for pedestrians and cyclists that has existed for decades is slated to be closed by a developer. Meadow Park Drive, the street that formerly provided a link between McGregor Boulevard and Colonial/ Summerlin, was closed to motor vehicle traffic many years ago in order to keep this residential area from being overrun by drivers seeking to avoid the McGregor-Colonial intersection. As part of the road closing, the city had the foresight to leave open the sidepaths and allow non-motor traffic to continue to flow. But in 2004 the city gave away — apparently at no charge to the adjacent property owner — the entire street, an action that had no consequences until now, because the land surrounding Meadow Park remained undeveloped. Then one day that all changed.

After a number of stalled attempts to develop the property, new owners took over and are planning to try again. But the new developer does not intend to honor the vital public access that has existed since the original nearby developments — which granted this perpetual access — were built. Residents of The Hamlet, Mission Monterey, McGregor Reserve and all the McGregor neighborhoods will have this access cut off if the developer succeeds. To add insult to injury, the ownership group is trying to fast-track a long-expired development order that doesn’t even resemble the plan being shown on its own website.

Not surprisingly, area residents have taken up the battle to save this precious access.

For more on this and many other bike/ped matters, visit BikeWalkLee’s blog (bikewalklee.blogspot.com).

Until next time, I’ll look for you on the roads and pathways. ¦

— Dan Moser is a longtime 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.
Upcoming events
Running/Walking:
>> Sunday, March 13, Mission for Nutrition 5K Run, Fort Myers (endurancesportstiming.com)

>> Saturday, April 23, Fight for Air Stair Climb, Oasis Towers, Fort Myers (fightforairclimb.org)

Cycling and other events
>> Sunday, March 13, 18th annual Royal Palm Classic, Fort Myers Brewery, Gateway (caloosariders.org.)

>> Sunday, March 13, Everglades Ride, Everglades City

BWL Column: Connectivity critical when it comes to cycling

Connectivity of our bike/ped network is critical to safety and accessibility, and is the key ingredient for encouraging more people to bike and walk. Our column contrasts what is happening in Cape Coral and Fort Myers. 

BikeWalkLee Column in News-Press "Go Coastal" section, Dec. 10, 2015
http://www.news-press.com/story/life/outdoors/2015/12/09/connectivity-critical-bike-walk-lee-cape-coral-mass/77033192/

(Photo: news-press.com)

Why does connectivity matter in cycling and walking? For the same reason that the whole is usually greater than the sum of its parts.

Having great facilities in isolation may be good for those people who want to ride or walk only in that area. But what about those who want (in particular) to ride somewhere to enjoy a good bike path? Or who want to be able to actually DO things – such as commute, shop, get to appointments – by bike without having to take their lives in their hands on local roads not built to accommodate cyclists?

When isolated bike lanes or paths are linked together by simply adding a few miles of paths, all of a sudden a bunch of smaller facilities become a good-sized, usable network – and the opportunities to bike places multiply exponentially.

Want to see that in action? Look at Cape Coral, where Cape Coral Bike Ped’s considerable efforts with the city to link existing segments created a 90-mile network almost overnight – which recently helped win the city a Bronze Bike Friendly City designation and a lot of attention.

Want to see it not being done? Look at downtown Fort Myers, which desperately wants to be bike friendly and has made some investments in facilities to encourage cycling. However, if you want to ride to downtown to enjoy those improvements, be prepared for a lot of honking and sidewalks unless you know the back streets and are willing to meander… because there are no good bike paths or lanes leading downtown in almost any direction (you can safely traverse the Edison Bridge if your legs are up for the climb).

The city missed a chance to correct this mistake by not including any bike improvements in the planned renovation of McGregor Boulevard set to begin soon. That means cyclists either have to brave the narrow driving lanes (curbed to add even more excitement) or join the pedestrians and (illegal) golf carts on the narrow sidewalks…. or they have to haul their bikes downtown, unload them to enjoy a ride, then reload and return home by car.

So Fort Myers may be where people should be riding their bikes, but over time Cape Coral may be where people actually ride on a daily and consistent basis – because, thanks to a sufficient and safe bike network, cyclists will actually be able to get there from here (wherever here and there may be).
Turning to a different kind of connectivity, this time of year a lot of people like to admire the artistic (and often awe-inspiring) efforts of homeowners who go all-out in outside décor for the holidays.

Whether tastefully done or seriously over the top, holiday decorations are often quite a show – and there’s no better way to see them than on a bike or on foot.

Bikes are good because you can cover more ground while still proceeding at a pace that lets you take it all in, but you really need a good set of lights (front and back) to keep everyone safe. A walk can be a more impromptu thing – grab a flashlight and go – and either activity will help you burn off a few of those holiday calories.

Even better, however, these excursions by bike or on foot can get you back in touch with your neighborhood (and your neighbors, if they’re out taking in the sights and lights themselves) while taking you away from the usual frenzy of family and festivities. It’s a great break in the day and a great way to see nearby decorations (or even those not so nearby, if you’re willing to go a little farther).

You have two Critical Mass rides to choose from -the traditional Fort Myers fun ride or the new Cape Coral ride. (Photo: Courtesy of Critical Mass)

Feeling really ambitious? Decorate your bicycle and become part of the festivities as you ride. The Caloosa Riders regularly roll out the lights for their annual Christmas Ride; you’d be surprised what they (and you) can accomplish with a couple of strings of battery-powered lights and a little imagination.

Whatever your reason, get into the season… and escape some of its stress with a ride or walk today.

BikeWalkLee is 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.

Ready to ride or run?
Run: Break up your holidays with a run… either  the Santa Stroll 5K run/walk at Sugden Park in Naples (www.eliteevents.org) or the longer Knights of Charity 10K in Estero (3dracinginc.com).
Ride: You now have two Critical Mass rides to choose from… the traditional Fort Myers fun ride (on Friday Jan. 1, rolling out at 7:15 p.m.) or the new Cape Coral ride (just as fun and family friendly, this month  at 7:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 26).
Both: Tri for the holiday spirit at the Christmas Sprint in Naples on Dec. 20, or keep training for the HITS Naples Triathlon Weekend on Jan. 9-10.
#BeSeenLee: To keep people safe at night while biking, we’re working to provide free bike lights to those unable to afford them (but who have to ride at night). BikeWalkLee partners (such as including Pawnbroker Marketing and Billy's Bikes) will be coordinating events during this campaign. Be sure to watch the BikeWalklee Facebook and Twitter pages for more #BeSeenLee event announcements and details.

Moser Column: The problem with golf carts on roads and pathways

Moser's column focuses on Fort Myers' recent decision to enforce laws prohibiting golf carts on roads and sidewalks, and also highlights two recent Fort Myers road projects that were missed opportunities for a complete streets approach.

 

Florida Weekly "Outdoors" Section, Dec. 2, 2015

 http://fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/node/260389?pk_campaign=Newsletter

Seemingly out of the blue and after decades of looking the other way — at least in certain parts of town — the city of Fort Myers decided it’s time to enforce laws prohibiting most golf carts from the public roads and sidewalks. According to those who know more than me about this change of policy, the decision came about due to an increase in complaints.

Indeed, these electric (and sometimes gas or propane powered) vehicles are a problem when operated on sidewalks intended for pedestrians. Even bicycles, in many cases, are a menace on pathways when operated with little regard for pedestrians. However, most golf cart operators I’ve observed and encountered on McGregor’s sidewalks have been quite cordial, frequently pulling over and stopping while pedestrians pass. A problem with that, however, is the damage done to the grass the carts cause when pulling off the sidewalk. So too, the wear and tear created by wheels that hang over the narrow sidewalk all along McGregor, which leads to grass dying and erosion becoming a problem around the royal palm-tree-lined roadway. Dead grass and erosion is one thing, but even if only a few inconsiderate cart operators are out there they clearly put vulnerable sidewalk users at risk of injury. Bottom line: these motorized machines don’t belong on sidewalks.

Carts operating on neighborhood roads, however, are quite different, from my perspective. They are an excellent example of “rolling traffic calming.” When roads have plenty of pedestrian and bicycle users on and around them, motorists tend to behave better and keep their speeds down. Unfortunately, like some scofflaw bike riders, not all cart operators follow the rules of the road, thereby creating the same kind of unpredictable dynamic as cyclists who disregard traffic laws. It’s quite disappointing to witness adult cart operators — and adult cyclists, for that matter — routinely ignore stop signs and other traffic control devices when in their carts, something I’m pretty sure most wouldn’t even think of doing when behind the wheel of their cars, especially when kids are in tow. Also, like those boneheaded cyclists, cart operators who think going against traffic is the safe thing to do create even more dangerous conditions for themselves and others.

When kids are operating carts on our roads and sidewalks, my observations over the years lead me to the conclusion that most are courteous and treat the opportunity to be behind the wheel as driving practice. They are grateful to have access to a vehicle and usually follow the rules. However, because they don’t have any experience as a driver they’re prone to making poor decisions (for example, going against traffic). But when the cart is loaded up with young people and no adult is among them, the operator tends to do what kids do: show off, get distracted, and drive more recklessly than he or she otherwise would. Florida law requires golf cart operators to be at least 14 years old but I’ve seen much younger kids behind the wheel.

Whatever comes of this expected enforcement action is anyone’s guess, but one can only hope it’s done fairly and consistently. Perhaps as part of this effort police will finally enforce laws prohibiting illegal sidewalk obstruction, which is much more common and more problematic than golf carts. You can find the Florida law related to illegal sidewalk parking in FSS 316.45 and golf cart operation on public roads and pathways in FSS 316.212.

Continuing on the subject of the city’s section of McGregor Boulevard and its neighborhoods, in a few weeks or months most of it will have its road and sidewalks torn up and “reconstructed.” Unfortunately, bike lanes will not be added even though there’s clearly a need. According to the city’s own announcement, removal and replacement of royal palms, landscaping, mailboxes, medians and sidewalks are all included in the work — yet another opportunity to turn our signature street into a Complete Street is missed. The same missed opportunity just occurred on Second Street, between Evans Avenue and Seaboard Street, where the whole street was reconstructed but left without bike lanes. Both of these slights are disappointing but not surprising, considering the city’s track record on following its own policies and its so-called commitment to making Fort Myers a bike-friendly community. Maybe hiring a new city manager with vision and experience in managing a forward-looking community will make the difference.

Call for volunteers

“I Will” Mentorship Foundation, which is organizing bicycle ride-alongs that pairup at-risk neighborhoods’ youth with Fort Myers Police officers, is in need of volunteers to help repair bikes that will be used by the kids for these rides. If you are mechanically inclined, consider spending some time this coming Saturday, Dec. 5, at the SW Florida Enterprise Center. Details can be found at iwmf2.org.

Until next time, I’ll look for you on the roads and pathways. ¦

— 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 atbikepedmoser@gmail.com or 334- 6417.

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

>> River Run 10K & 2-Miler, Saturday, Dec. 5, Centennial Park, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com)

>> River Roots & Ruts Half- Marathon & 5K, Sunday, Jan 10, Alva (ftmyerstrackclub.com)

Cycling and other events:

>> SWFL Critical Mass, Friday, Dec. 4, Fort Myers (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)

>> Everyone Rides, Sunday, Dec. 6, JetBlue Park (everyonerides.org)

>> Tour de Cape, Sunday, Jan 17, Cape Coral (capecoral.net)

Action Alert: Attend Dec. 3rd Fort Myers Public Meeting re: McGregor Blvd. Improvements

There's an important public meeting in Fort Myers on Thursday, Dec. 3rd (5-7 p.m.) about upcoming improvements along a 2-mile stretch of McGregor Blvd.  As Councilman Flanders notes below, this is an opportune time to communicate with the City about the need to incorporate plans for speed control, traffic calming, and safe pedestrian crossings as part of this project. 

 

 

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE

December 1, 2015

RE:   McGregor Boulevard Repair and Resurfacing

Dear Interested Citizen,

Within the next several months, FDOT has funded the repair and resurfacing of McGregor Boulevard from Colonial Boulevard to Poinciana Avenue.  In addition, The City of Fort Myers will also follow up and fund the repair and resurfacing of McGregor Boulevard from Poinciana Avenue to Cleveland Avenue.

Though funds are specifically for repair and resurfacing, it will be the opportune time to design and implement the City’s long range adopted plans for speed control, traffic calming, and “safe” pedestrian crossings.  In addition, it may be the only time in the next 30 years to address questions about how we should plan, design, and construct for multimodal transportation on a historic boulevard which is 85% bordered by single family residential property.  I have bee3n told that construction work beyond “repair & resurfacing” would have to be an additional cost paid by the City.

Please read the attached flyer and make an effort to attend this important public information meeting at Fort Myers Country Club hosted by FDOT and the City of Fort Myers.  The meeting is Thursday, December 3, from 5pm to 7pm.

See you there!

Michael Flanders, Ward 4 Councilperson

239-321-7004

 

Follow-up to Symposium on Walkable Urban Communities

 As we said in our Oct. 15th blog post, the Oct. 15th Walkable Urban Communities symposium sponsored by Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson, Council and staff was an outstanding opportunity for local elected officials, developers, real estate professionals, planner, bankers, government staff, and advocates to learn from the national experts about how to create walkable communities in Florida.  As a follow-up to the symposium, the Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency has posted the excellent PowerPoint presentations by the three national keynote speakers, which are provided below.  The City also plans to make videos of the symposium available and we will share them when they are posted.  In addition, this week's SW Spotlight Magazine published Ann Pierce's commentary about take-aways from the symposium, which is also provided below.

Mayor's Symposium on Walkable Urban Communities
Three National Keynote Speakers:Symposium PowerPoints:

Chris Leinberger: 
 former investment banker, CEO LOCUS, Brookings Institute Fellow, land use consultant, principal Arcadia Land Company

Jeff Speck
 Jeff Speck, founder of Mayor's Institute of City Design and Governors' Institute on Community Design, former Director of Planning w DPZ & Co., author of Walkable City

Joe Minicozzi
principal Urban3, urban redevelopment consultant developer of ROI estimating tool for local governments and development agencies

Speaker Bios

SW Spotlight Magazine 11/1/15
A dollars and sense argument for a walkable economy

Commentary

By Ann Pierce, Smart growth and complete streets advocate

Last Thursday over 400 citizens, elected officials, developers, lenders, planners and realtors gathered in Fort Myers for the “Making Dollars and Sense of Walkable Urban Communities Symposium.” They heard from three world-class speakers and expert panelists from around Florida, all with experience in successful multimodal, urban form, mixed use, infill and redevelopment.

Joe Minicozzi of Urban3 Consultants in Asheville, N.C., hewing true to Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s dictum, “In God we trust; everyone else bring data,” delivered compelling data making the economic case for investing taxpayer money in existing communities and neighborhoods over services to new greenfield building (on previously undeveloped land), as we see across southeast Lee County.

Annual taxpayer ROI in property and sales taxes from a small downtown mixed use, six-storied building on .2 acres was eight times that of a large suburban Walmart on 34.0 acres, generating traffic congestion, requiring wider roads and traffic signals.

And the all-important metric — jobs created? Thirteen times as many jobs, of all varieties, grew from the one downtown investment.

Urban3 has discovered similar results across the country – the existing cities and close-in neighborhoods supply the bulk of county tax revenues. Here in Lee County, property tax revenues received from the single mixed-use building housing a Fort Myers’ restaurant — Ford’s Garage — are three times per acre more than those from the Miramar Outlet Mall.

Christopher Leinberger, of Brookings Institute and George Washington University, walking through the history of human development, illustrated drivable sub-urban development as the anomalous form. Millennials and boomers alike, now 50 percent of the total U.S. population, are voting with their feet in a return to walkable urban places or “WalkUps,” where the basic needs of life are within easy distance and all amenities are reachable by bike or transit so there is freedom to choose auto ownership or not.

Again, making the economic case, Leinberger’ s data showed a tax revenue per acre from these WalkUps at 12 times those from far-flung suburban commercial areas and six times those of typical, drive-only suburban neighborhoods.

Jeff Speck, of Speck and Associates Consulting and author of “Walkable City,” outlined the four qualities of thriving walkable areas: a reason to walk, a safe walk, a comfortable walk, an interesting walk. All diminished when transportation and land use decisions are separated. Walkable choice is greatly determined by the surrounding land uses.

Purposeful walking needs useful destinations. A safe walk needs a lot of activity and people, as well as thoughtful infrastructure engineering. A comfortable walk requires good sidewalks away from traffic, with shade and places to sit. An interesting walk requires shop windows, restaurants, greenspaces and inviting public places.