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..

 ●●●

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.

# # #

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.

Shared e-bikes, e-scooters remain on horizon

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, October 16, 2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Recently the cities of Cape Coral and Fort Myers have been approached by micromobility share companies — companies that offer shared bikes or scooters — that are seeking to set up shop. As of the time of writing this column, none have moved forward nor, as far as I’ve been able to discern based on discussions at various bicycle/pedestrian planning meetings, has either municipality come up with a plan should the companies decide to ask for forgiveness rather than seek formal permission. In fact, even for those companies that would seek formal approval or a partnership with the government, none of our local governments have thus far put in place policies to regulate the businesses or their devices.

Based on what I’ve learned in researching how other communities have been affected when micromobility devices become a common part of the transportation environment, it’s imperative to have policies and ordinances in place beforehand. The companies themselves are generally multinational and have plenty of resources to fight once they’ve established a foothold in a community — think Uber and Lyft, the two primary rideshare companies that have now gotten into the micromobility business.

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.

Whether privately owned or as part of a rental or share business, the benefits of micromobility are undeniably appealing. Fewer cars on the roads means less pollution, congestion, and perhaps even being able to delay or completely eliminate the need to add additional motor vehicle travel lanes to existing roads.

Urban area parking woes could be alleviated. Transit users might benefit by having access to these devices as part of a commute that might otherwise require additional transfers or too much walking on either end of a trip. E-bikes, in particular, could actually add years to the time bicycle use would be an option for established riders, especially when climbing hills is necessary (something that isn’t really an issue here, other than a few bridges).

And folks who simply can’t afford cars or are otherwise unable to legally drive would now have an option. As someone who has consistently promoted ways to get folks out of cars you’d think I’d be 100% behind micromobility. But perhaps because of the hyper-capitalism that is the American way, what I’m instead seeing is an industry understandably seeking to maximize its products’ presence in the market but our governments being totally unprepared to deal with the many potential negative consequences — whether predictable or unintended — they represent.

My biggest concern is the potential for injury, or worse, especially among those users when riding on sidepaths. But whether on paths or roads, our infrastructure is clearly inadequate to handle a significant increase of even human-powered bikes, never mind e-bikes and e-scooters, meaning users themselves are at risk as well.

Considering how many people don’t even know the rules and laws that apply to traditional cyclists it seems pretty risky to add electric power to the mix. And how many potential users of share program e-scooters will actually have experience with them, including knowing laws that govern their use? Pedestrians, being the most vulnerable in the traffic mix, already deal with enough hazards, including in the form of some cyclists who use space not intended for them and who have little regard for others. E-bikes and e-scooters operate silently and can travel at up to 20 mph so now the sidewalks and bikepaths will become even dicier.

Until our governments come up with policies and regulations related to micromobility, and unless these same governments put the resources necessary to make our infrastructure able to handle them, rentals and share programs should be restricted or denied. As well, sidewalks and bikepaths should remain off-limits when e-bikes and e-scooters are used under electric power.

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.

Pedestrian, bicycle improvement projects moving along

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, September 11, 2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

A rending of the temporary improvement on Fowler Street looking south toward Hanson Street. COURTESY IMAGE

As Lee County and all of Southwest Florida continues to grow at a breakneck pace many transportation projects are taking place as well. While most road improvement projects or new road development include sidewalks or shared-use paths and sometimes even bike lanes, the fact is that what generally continues to be designed and built are facilities intended to move motor traffic as quickly and efficiently as possible with non-motorists being treated as secondary users.

This approach means pedestrians and those on bicycles continue to face dangers and difficulties when navigating our public rights of way. In fact, many of the improvement projects turn our streets and roads into full-fledged highways with design speeds increased by 10 mph or higher than the posted speed limit (usually 40 mph higher), making using them a challenging and largely unpleasant task for non-motorists.

Here are a few project updates.

¦ Fowler Street from Hanson Street to MLK/SR-82 is the last segment of the Metro corridor stretching from Alico Road in south Fort Myers to just north of the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers. It’s been left unimproved for decades and is the definition of a dysfunctional road segment. Although it’s under the jurisdiction of FDOT, the city of Fort Myers has held up any kind of improvement since the late 1980s, all at the expense of pedestrians and cyclists. There are no sidewalks or even usable shoulders, not to mention driver safety is compromised, as it’s a four-lane road with no median or left- turn lanes. FDOT and Fort Myers have finally come to a tentative agreement on at least an interim plan that provides accommodation for pedestrians (bicycle users will be accommodated on parallel Evans Avenue with the addition of an on-road, two-way cycle track; the existing sidewalk will remain on Evans). As part of the plan, Evans will turn one of its three northbound lanes into a southbound one; Fowler will have two southbound lanes and one northbound.

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 fact that FDOT is willing to take this temporary approach after almost 40 years of taking no action tells me there’s really no satisfying the city of Fort Myers, so what a final plan might be remains to be seen. This segment is appropriate for a one-way pair as there are a number of perpendicular streets running between Evans and Fowler, allowing for easy access to locations on both streets. But because the city has dug in against a one-way pair (even though that’s what exists from MLK to both spans of the Edison Bridge) we’re stuck with this temporary solution which may last for another few decades.

¦ The spine of Lee County’s trail network runs adjacent to the rail line between U.S. 41 and Metro Parkway and includes John Yarbrough Park Trail (JY Trail), which currently exists from Six Mile Cypress Parkway to Colonial Boulevard. The next phase continues north to Hanson. This is indeed welcome news. But there’s really no plan to extend it as a pathway that’s not along a highway from Hanson (it’ll run along Metro/Evans from there and the path is a sidewalk not a shared-use path). Additionally, one of the key features that was supposed to be part of this extension will not come to be: there will be no direct connection between JY Trail and North Colonial Linear Trail. FTOD even redesigned the Metro overpass just north of Winkler Avenue to accommodate this planned connection.

¦ On the southern end of JY Trail a long-overdue trailhead parking lot is in the works. Lee County purchased property west of Metro and the railroad tracks and east of Independence Circle and is currently designing the trailhead facility, which is slated to be constructed in 2020.

¦ The SUNTrail statewide trail system segment in Cape Coral is making progress. This 12-foot wide, 6.5-mile project runs from Burnt Store Road to the east along Van Buren Parkway, El Dorado Boulevard and Kismet Parkway, terminating at Del Prado Boulevard. It’s broken into two phases with design of phase 1 — from Burnt Store to Nelson Road — about complete and construction slated to begin next year. What should be interesting is how a segment east of Del Prado that’s necessary to meet up with the north-south SUNTrail corridor in North Fort Myers along 41 will be dealt with. Lee County is currently designing a realignment to directly connect Littleton Road to Kismet, but it does not appear to be including a shared-use path facility along it in the plan.

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.

Everyone benefits when safety improvements are made for students

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, April 24, 2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Infrastructure like this “solar tree” could illuminate and provide seating in remote areas, making it safer for bus riders. COURTESY PHOTO

Will the recent deaths of two student pedestrians who were hit by motor vehicles result in real change this time? Tragedies like these usually do little more than raise awareness and provoke outrage for a short time before public pressure and actual efforts to find solutions wane.

One would like to think when children are the victims of such tragedies — especially those who did nothing that added to their risk — we as a community would do everything necessary to ensure it doesn’t occur again. However, over the decades I’ve been involved in working to prevent such occurrences, that’s simply not been the case. Other than survivors and families of those who have been lost, collectively we seem to have short memories.

I don’t claim to have the solution to what is clearly a complicated problem. It’s going to take a number of efforts and reforms to do the job, some that may be unappealing to the powers that be, especially in terms of land use and transportation infrastructure decisions. Reform in those areas and other potential solutions would require a sea change for our community.

For example, Lee County is still segregated enough to require School Choice, a major factor that isn’t going away tomorrow, and rightfully so. Until the underlying cause for School Choice takes place some students are going to have to travel long distances to get to their schools, which requires extra time, thus being at bus stops early in the day. Absent that unlikely transformation, moving start times to later in the morning is one idea put forth by many and should be seriously considered, even with the significant complications and added costs it means to the school district’s transportation division. It would also impact our overall traffic situation at peak hours as many more buses would likely be on the road at the same time, an inconvenience that should be acceptable to save lives but that the general public and our leaders may not find palatable.

Another big-picture element that has created the need for kids to wait in the dark on empty lots and roads that weren’t meant to handle the kind of traffic they get is our suburban sprawl model of development. This growth pattern also means schools are being built in locations with little to no infrastructure for those students who would walk or bike there. We’ll never completely undo the damage done by this suburban sprawl model, but we can at least stop making it worse, although that also seems unlikely as our elected officials and community development departments continue to give their stamps of approval to developers who only see dollar signs with the status quo. As well, implementing Complete Streets can do wonders for pedestrians, folks on bikes and drivers alike, but we need to stop the bleeding as that’s put in place. And the school district needs to think critically about the problems they create by siting schools in the hinterlands.

As for what might be done in the immediate future, I’m pleased to see the variety of options being put forth as the school district, law enforcement, students, parents and the larger community come together with their ideas. As I wrote about in a previous column, training for teachers and others who can offer traffic safety instruction to students is readily available at no cost to those being trained, resources that are woefully underutilized. A critical and thorough assessment of bus stop locations and walking/ biking audits of the streets around schools are hopefully going to be undertaken so local governments will be aware of infrastructure needs. Benches and solar lighting can be implemented relatively quickly. Ensuring that kids can be seen by the use of lights and reflective clothing and backpacks should be something done yesterday, an aspect of the problem that requires individual and family responsibility. And while law enforcement can’t be everywhere, beefing-up patrols around bus stops and within school walking and biking distances should also already be the norm.

I’m sure many more practical ideas will be offered and considered as the community comes together, ideas that in the end will be helpful to all of us who use our public roads. To learn more, visit bikewalklee.blogspot.com and www.streetsaliveswfl.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.

Roundabouts are here and more are coming

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 1/1/2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

This spot at McGregor Boulevard and Virginia Avenue near the Edison and Ford Estates will become a major intersection once the empty lot is developed.

A significant and welcome change is coming to many of our intersections in the form of roundabouts, a feature that benefits drivers, cyclists and pedestrians alike, including those with limited mobility, vision issues and other disabilities. Unfortunately, many older roundabouts (also known as rotaries and traffic circles) throughout the country have design flaws that have left a negative impression on some who’ve used them and even for some who haven’t due to bad press and negative word of mouth. But modern roundabouts — especially those designed in the last decade — are much improved and do indeed make using them safer and more efficient for all users.

Acceptance of roundabouts among governments is now commonplace, with FDOT leading the way, at least in terms of encouraging them via funding that flows through them (they report 20 being on state roads, a relatively low number considering that’s statewide). Slowed speeds, reduced conflict points, and lack of right-angle (T-bone) and head-on collision potential are key factors as to why they are so much safer than traditional intersections. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, studies of intersections in the United States converted from traffic signals or stop signs to roundabouts have resulted in decreases in injury crashes by 72-80 percent, fatal crashes by 90 percent, and reductions in all crashes by 35-47 percent, which includes a 40 percent reduction in pedestrian collisions (no statistics for bicyclists were noted). Those are significant improvements in safety that are hard to dismiss merely because of pushback from some who fear them. At least from my perspective, motorists who truly cannot navigate them after traversing them more than once probably shouldn’t be behind the wheel in the first place. As an aside, AARP fully supports roundabouts.

While reduction in crashes and the injuries or fatalities that result are the primary reason why transportation planners are moving in this direction, cost is also an important consideration. When roundabouts are used instead of traffic signals — which is frequently the case — they save taxpayers a significant amount of money in terms of both upfront and ongoing operating costs. Storage space in the form of additional pavement for turn lanes and additional through lanes are also another cost saving element since roundabouts increase both space and delay efficiency compared to signalized intersections. Less obvious but still significant is reduced fuel consumption and air pollution when idling while waiting for the signal to change as well as less time wasted for the same reason. And lest we forget, another benefit of these type of intersections being low-tech is that when a power outage occurs chaos doesn’t prevail. You’ll recall that being the case for days and even weeks at some intersections after our recent hurricanes.

In Lee County there are 10 roundabouts already in place on public roads, 11 programmed, and 30 more planned; this doesn’t even include the many in gated communities and on other private roads. But even though the city of Fort Myers is a leader in their use there’s currently a battle taking place regarding a roundabout that’s proposed for McGregor Boulevard at Virginia Avenue, a rather benign intersection currently, but one that’s soon to be very busy. The long-empty lot adjacent to that corner will soon become City Walk, a major mixed-use development that will include offices, retail businesses, condos, townhouses and a hotel. Also, Virginia will become a primary route between Cleveland Avenue and McGregor once the realignment of Edison Avenue occurs. Based on detailed analysis that’s been undertaken, that intersection will require traffic management; the analysis indicates a roundabout would clearly be the best option versus traffic signals. But because of resistance based on misperception and fear of change among some residents, there’s enough pushback that it’s yet to be formally approved. Protected royal palms will be removed by either option.

A report on roundabout use in Lee County can be found at Lee MPO (leempo.com). Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (www.pedbikeinfo.org) and USDOT/FHWA (safety.fhwa.dot.gov) have information related to how roundabouts impact non-motorists. And because roundabouts are a vital element of Complete Streets, bikewalklee.blogspot.com has more about their use, locally and elsewhere. ¦

- 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.

Environment near schools for bikes, walkers, cars needs to be improved

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 10/24/18
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

A car blocking the sidewalk is an all-too-common sight around Allen Park Elementary School in Fort Myers,
even with No Parking signs posted everywhere.

Even if you don’t live very near a school there’s a good chance you’re affected by one or more of them each day they’re in session. Whether you’re a nearby resident or simply have to navigate around one or more schools during the morning or afternoon bells, you are well aware of the congestion and chaos around them. Based on conditions you witness daily, if you have a student in your household you’d understandably be skeptical of allowing your child to walk or ride a bike there. If you’re a chauffeur for your child, you are the reason for the problem.

I recently took part in Walk to School Day activities and a couple of bike-safety training sessions for school resource officers. Those experiences prompted me to again write about the very poor conditions for anyone around school campuses on foot or bike, and even in their cars. The relatively recent phenomenon (at least for an old guy like me) of so many kids being driven to school has resulted in a vicious cycle that won’t end unless changes are made. The environment is downright hostile, whether you’re a student, parent or just some poor sap who ventures near.

Per Florida policy, any student who lives within one mile (elementary) or two miles (all other grades) of a school are considered close enough to walk or bike unless there are hazardous walking conditions between home and the school — then a school bus would be an option. Hazardous walking conditions include crossing major highways where no crossing guards are in place, lack of safe conditions along busy roads (no sidewalk may not be enough to warrant hazardous conditions), or other things determined on a case-by-case basis. Many students who have bus transportation available, whether because they reside more than walking distance away or due to hazardous conditions, are instead driven by parents. For those eligible to be bused, this means wasted tax dollars because the bus must still be available for the entirety of the school year (the annual busing/ transportation budget for Lee District Schools is more than $58 million).

Besides congestion there’s the ongoing issue of speeding and driver distraction in school zones. Safe Kids Worldwide (www.safekids.org) reports that within school zones the number of teen pedestrian deaths has increased 13 percent since 2013. But there are ways deal with the traffic problems created by the high number of parents driving kids to school.

Some customs, reported by the National Center for Bicycling and Walking (www.bikewalk.org).

• In Odense, Denmark, parents are told at an assembly that their kids are capable of walking or biking to school and that student drop-offs are not allowed. Having a good bike/ped infrastructure is key to 80 percent of students using their feet or bikes.
• Bolzano, Italy, closes the streets around schools to cars for 15 minutes before and after bell times and has been doing it for over 20 years. This has resulted in a 50 percent drop in injuries involving cars versus people. And one school in Vienna is doing the same as a pilot project.
• A school in Vancouver, Canada, has taken the annual Walk/Bike to School Day concept and made it a weekly event. “Freedom Friday” was created as a way to encourage parents to allow their kids to get out of the car each Friday and it has resulted in a major increase in that happening as well as a coinciding significant decrease in cars around the school, exactly as intended.

While it is possible to change people’s behavior on this matter, the political will must be in place. Unfortunately, as is the case with our local leadership’s unwillingness to address the larger problem (i.e., being the most dangerous place in the U.S. for pedestrians), there’s little hope for anything like those examples to be undertaken here. But all it would take is one or two school principals or a few school board members to have the courage to take action to prove it can be done. Getting kids back on their feet, bikes, skateboards and scooters improves their health and ability to learn. Reducing the number of cars around schools creates a better environment for those kids and reduces the number of traffic-related injuries and fatalities. It’s a win-win. Keep abreast of issues like this by visiting www.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.

Advocacy groups are raising awareness for pedestrians, cyclists

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 9/12/18
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Hanson Street, above, in Fort Myers is an example of an incomplete street.
North Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach, right, is a complete street.
DAN MOSER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

As much as I find lacking in our area in terms of the precarious environment for people on foot and bicycles, the dedication among individuals, groups and formal organizations working to affect change isn’t one of our weak points.

My Aug. 1 column delved into some of the projects coming online that should improve things and I briefly touched on folks who are organized in one way or another in order to affect change for the better. This time I’d like to expand on a few of those positive efforts taking place.

Southwest Florida Critical Mass just marked its fifth anniversary. This loose-knit group of people that meets up each month at four or five different locations around Lee County to enjoy parade-like rides is going strong. While having fun is the primary purpose, members also raise awareness about traffic safety and the many benefits of cycling, on their brightly lit-up, oftentimes tricked-out bikes. In some parts of the country the term “critical mass” is associated with bike advocacy that involves civil disobedience. The Lee County group is just the opposite as it represents fun and positive advocacy.

Streets Alive of Southwest Florida, originally created in 2012 as a Healthy Lee coalition effort to plan and facilitate our area’s first two Cyclovias, has expanded its focus beyond event management. It is now engaging directly with the community by undertaking bike/ped-related projects and efforts, primarily in at-risk and underserved neighborhoods. It is also conducting symposiums for government, private sector developers and individuals who are concerned about how growth affects our quality of life. Their achievements include needed improvements being made to the pedestrian infrastructure in and around Franklin Park Elementary School in Dunbar. Thanks to formal walking audits they undertook with residents, nearby nonprofits, and the school’s students and personnel, Streets Alive was able to document the need to add bike/ped facilities on school property and surrounding streets. It also secured grants to purchase bikes, safety equipment and to develop a curriculum specific to their needs to teach bike/ped safety. Many Streets Alive members have received formal training from the Florida Traffic and Bicycle Safety Program so are certified community instructors who can conduct bike safety, clinics and assist schools, recreation programs, and others with hands-on bike/ ped safety education. It also planned and facilitated two exemplary conferences to educate professional community and transportation planners, elected officials, developers and concerned citizens about the benefits of sustainable development and Complete Streets.

BikeWalkLee continues to work behind the scenes to promote, monitor and inform the public related to Complete

Streets policies and practices in our area. This coalition, which came together in 2008 as a result of outrage over transportation policies and practices that focused almost exclusively on moving cars and that put pedestrians and cyclists at risk when using our public roads, has been instrumental in convincing local governments and even Florida Department of Transportation to embrace Complete Streets as official policy. The challenge now facing BikeWalkLee is ensuring the various governments follow through with their policies and not backslide by giving in to certain developers and others who would rather go back to accommodating cars over people. This is no easy task as our economy thrives and we again experience breakneck growth.

To sum up, along with other group efforts, such as Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition, Healthy Lee, Community Traffic Safety Team and supportive governmental agencies like the Metropolitan Planning Organization, there should be success in getting Lee County off the top of the list of most dangerous places for pedestrians and move us toward being truly bike/ped-friendly.

For more information on these projects and efforts, see 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.

Bad environment for cyclists, pedestrians increases danger

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 8/29/18
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

For anyone who gets around on foot, on bike and behind the wheel it’s quite easy to conclude that we clearly have a one-sided traffic environment geared toward moving drivers as quickly and efficiently as possible.

That means, of course, pedestrians and cyclists are second-class users of our transportation network. This disparity creates a dicey and inefficient situation for non-motorists that has led to our area having some of the worst overall statistics for crashes, injuries and fatalities. It’s also why Lee County is one of the most dangerous places in the country to be a pedestrian. And cyclists aren’t too far behind.

Not only do our dismal traffic crash statistics confirm this but the Dangerous by Design report (www.smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design) further underscores the situation. Now another recent study adds credence to what many of us know: when the overall traffic environment is poor, pedestrians take more chances and use traffic controls and features less often. This isn’t a chicken-or-egg situation but rather confirms exactly what the Dangerous by Design report reveals, as expressed in its name.

The State Smart Transportation Initiative (www.ssti.us) reports that in order to get people on foot to adhere to traffic rules road designers need to consider not only the immediate walking environment (features such as sidewalks and designated crossings) but also the entire traffic safety climate of an area, an aspect where our area completely fails.

According to the abstract of “The Mediating Effect of Traffic Safety Climate Between Pedestrian Inconvenience and Pedestrian Behavior,” researchers conclude: “Pedestrians’ perceived inconvenience is an important factor that affects pedestrian behavior, and the influence of pedestrians’ perceptions of the traffic safety climate cannot be disregarded.” It’s no surprise then that pedestrians tend to break the rules and make bad judgments more often when they perceive overall traffic environment as out of control and blatantly skewed toward drivers. Poorly designed or non-existent sidewalks and motorists’ noncompliance at intersections and marked crosswalks affect people’s overall perception of traffic safety and lead them to decide to break the rules, whether for self-preservation, efficiency or both. Using the Complete Streets model can improve people’s opinions of the transportation environment and perhaps make them more compliant even if, and when, encountering minor inconveniences, not to mention an actual reduction in crashes, injuries and fatalities among all road users.

As for how this also applies to the cycling environment, too many law enforcers and even some of our court officials are still getting wrong what constitutes the safest and legal position for road-using bicyclists. I once wrote about a cyclist who was cited for illegally obstructing traffic by riding away from the right edge of the roadway. Some law enforcement officials - and, unfortunately, even some ill-informed judges - believe those on bikes who aren’t riding in the gutter are illegally impeding traffic and are being arrogant. Those of us who know how to operate safely are well within our rights to take a position as far away from the right edge/curb as necessary to discourage unsafe passing, even if it does indeed obstruct traffic, albeit legally. Yet the bias continues - in this case the judge upheld the citation.

Let me go over it again for the benefit of cyclists, drivers, law enforcers and traffic court officials: While Florida law states that a cyclist must ride “as close as practicable to the right hand curb or edge of the roadway” it also lists a number of exceptions, including “when a lane is too narrow for a bicycle and another vehicle to travel safely side by side.” (FSS 316.2065(5)). Even though the term “practicable” is open to interpretation, the fact is that any lane under 14 feet wide is considered sub-standard in terms of even an average-sized car and bike being able to safely share.

The Florida Department of Transportation states: “With the exception of a few types of high-speed, limited-access roadways (for example an Interstate Highway or the Turnpike), every FDOT travel lane is also a bikeway — no special signs or markings needed. In the state of Florida, the bicycle is considered a legal vehicle and may be operated on the street, unless there is some guidance otherwise, such as marked bicycle lane. Standard travel lanes are 12’ wide and too narrow to share, so you will need to control the lane.” (www.fdot.gov/roadway/BikePed/BikePedBF.shtm)

To further illustrate why it’s both practicable and safe to stay away from the gutter I implore everyone - but especially law enforcers and traffic court officials - to view a short video produced by CyclingSavvy (www.cyclingsavvy.org/cycling-law).

Finally, I’d like to invite readers to take part in a survey about your perception of our local cycling environment (www.peopleforbikes.org/placesforbikes-community-survey-tell-friend).

As always, you can find more about these projects and efforts 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.

Cape is walking the walk

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, 5/10/2018
by Ken Gooderham


If you like to walk in Cape Coral, the city has had a lot of good news for you lately.

The recent announcement that some five miles of sidewalks will be constructed in the next few years is welcome indeed. The additional mention that these projects will be in areas near schools is even better.

The fact that this project joins an ever-growing list of sidewalk efforts is the best news of all.

All this is solid evidence that Cape Coral is working to build on its recent (and successful) efforts to improve biking in the sprawling city – a mission made very clear in the recently (2017) adopted Bicycle + Pedestrian Master Plan.

You can find the complete plan online at: https://www.capecoral.net/department/parks_and_recreationhome/bike-ped/Report.pdf

The plan’s goals are:

• Achieve Silver or Gold Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists
• Achieve Walk Friendly Community designation by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
• Reduce the number of bicycle and pedestrian crashes by half within five years
• Reduce the share of all bicycle and pedestrian crashes in Cape Coral that occur along Del Prado Boulevard, Cape Coral Parkway, Santa Barbara Boulevard, and Pine Island Road from approximately 50% to 25% within ten years
• Double the combined walking, biking and transit commute mode share to 3% within 5 years (Currently 1.5% for walking, biking and transit in Cape Coral)
• Create a 228-mile walkway network within 20 years (135 miles currently; 93 miles proposed)
• Create a 202-mile on-street bikeway network within 20 years (66 miles currently; 136 miles proposed)
• Create a 31-mile multi-use path network within 20 years (9 miles currently; 22 miles proposed)

Focused goals, tangible results and a specific timetable… this might just happen!

That would be good news for Cape students (safer routes to school) bikers/walkers (more facilities and safer streets) and residents (more transportation options that could mean fewer cars). This kind of infrastructure is also going to be crucial as Cape Coral works to grow into its massive boundaries – 110 square miles of dry land plus 10 square miles of water – and as transportation alternatives become more necessary (because you just can’t build that many new roadways when your population races past a half-million).

While we’re congratulating the City of Cape Coral, kudos also should go to the Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT), which is funding much of this infrastructure investment. This kind of partnership can bring real results, and both governments should be thanked for making this happen.

Ride of Silence reminder

Those wishing to honor killed or injured cyclists should remember to join one of the two Rides of Silence being held in Lee County on May 16.

The Fort Myers ride, sponsored by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, gathers by 6:45 p.m. to start at 7 p.m. from Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers.

The Sanibel ride, sponsored by the Sanibel Bicycle Club in partnership with Matzaluna Restaurant and Billy's Bikes, gathers at 6:15 p.m. at Matzaluna (1200 Periwinkle Way) to leave at 7 p.m.

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, and no registration is necessary. Helmets are required, lights are recommended no headphones please.

Lehigh meeting

If you live, work, or play in Lehigh and support the proposed 5.5-mile pathway that will connect Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park to the Lehigh Acres Community Park and the Harnes Marsh, allowing residents and visitors to bike or walk between these popular destinations, now is the time to make your voices heard. This proposed FDOT-funded project has been in the study/planning phases since 2013, and is now at the stage when alternative locations and conceptual designs are available for public input. It's important that pathway supporters attend this open house to show their support for moving forward to implementation of this important project.

The meeting will be 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, at the Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936. The meeting will be an open-house format with no formal presentation.

Ready to ride or run?

Run? Some 5Ks ahead to get you moving: Turtle Trot 5K on May 12, 8 a.m., Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach; and the Cape Cops 5K on May 19, 7:30 a.m., Cape Coral Yacht Club, Cape Coral (details for both at ftmyerstrackclub.com).
 
Ride? Critical Mass meets up for its NE Lee ride tomorrow (May 11), and for its Sanibel ride Saturday. For the night rides, lights are mandatory; for all rides helmets are suggested. Details at meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/.

Both? Next up is the Cape Coral sprint at the Yacht Club on Saturday, May 12 (details at active.com or capecoral.net). Ahead:

• Sunday, June 3: Fitness Challenge Sprint Tri, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Naples (active.com).
• Saturday, July 14: Englewood YMCA Sprint Triathlon, Englewood (active.com)
• Also, registration opened for the Galloway Captiva Tri on May 1; the race weekend is Sept. 15-16, with the kids’ events Saturday and the sprint tri Sunday.

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. 


 

Save the date: April 19th - Creating the Future Today

Mark your calendars for this important event presented by Streets Alive of  SWFL, Florida CCIM Chapter Southwest District and Lee County Economic Development Southwest Florida.



The Summit is scheduled for April 19, 2018, and will feature experienced speakers on topics that include “Integrating Land Use, Transportation, and Economic Planning”.

SPEAKERS:

VICTOR DOVER, AICP
Dover, Kohl & Partners
Victor has a national and international portfolio of work emphasizing community revitalization.

IAN LOCKWOOD, P.E.
Toole Design Group
Ian is a national leader in sustainable transportation policy and urban design, with extensive background in both public government and private consulting.

BILLY HATTAWAY, P.E.
City of Orlando
Working closely with a Smart Growth America Advisory Team, Billy initiated and developed Florida’s new Complete Streets program, called Context Classification.

JOE MINICOZZI, AICP
Urban 3
Joe’s analyses help localities make better decisions, measuring investments against ROI, through identification and comparative assessment of revenue streams.

DEWAYNE CARVER, AICP
FDOT Complete Streets Team
The new state-wide Context Classification Program will be presented.

Registration here and more information here.


For more information contact: AnnPierce350@gmail.com

A holiday wish list

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 12/20/17
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Dear Santa,

I know I’ve asked for some of these many times over the years but I’m hoping this time you’ll see fit to fulfill my wishes.

☛ That people will be more considerate of others by not obstructing sidewalks with their vehicles and other items. It’s especially difficult for those who have trouble getting around due to mobility limitations and other disabilities - not to mention folks pushing strollers. If you can’t grant this one, could you at least ensure that the laws prohibiting what is an easily observable violation will be proactively enforced?

☛ That the Seminole Gulf Railroad will agree to sell the rights to the CSX corridor it leases and that runs down the middle of our county so we can turn it into the spine of our paved trail system as envisioned in our bike/ped plans. Also related to the rail corridor, that the state of Florida will reinstate it into the SunTrail plan so Estero and Bonita Springs will once again be included.

☛ That the city of Fort Myers will finally come to an agreement with FDOT on a plan for the last segment of the Metro corridor left unfinished (Hanson Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) so cyclists and pedestrians will finally be accommodated and so that Cleveland Avenue could be put on a “road diet” in order to add bicycle lanes and widen sidewalks.

☛ That the city of Fort Myers will stop dragging its feet on studies to 1.) extend Yarbrough Trail that will link it to North Colonial Trail and 2.) decide on a Winkler Canal trail alternative that could include a north-south trail along the edge of the Fort Myers Country Club property along U.S. 41 that would link two neighborhoods, as well as improving east-west access, also along their golf course property adjacent to Hill Avenue.

Pedestrians and cyclists could get off the edge of Cleveland Avenue if this golf course buffer area was made into a shared use path. DAN MOSER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

☛ That FDOT will approve funding of this 5-plus mile Able Canal trail shared use path that connects Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park to Lehigh Acres Community Park and Harnes Marsh, providing residents and visitors a safe and enjoyable way to bike and walk between these popular destinations.

☛ That the city of Cape Coral will continue to fulfill its commitment to improving its environment for pedestrians and cyclists to the point that they are awarded silver-level Bike Friendly Community status at the next renewal in 2019.

☛ That the city of Sanibel will treat as legitimate roadway users those who operate their bikes on the island’s streets because they are traveling too fast to use the pathway network or simply choose to do so.

☛ That FDOT and all the local governments that formally made Complete Streets their policies will not backslide on their commitment to accommodating all users, by caving into developers’ pressures and allowing them to “build on the cheap” in order to maximize profits at the expense of public access and safety.

☛ Finally, that all drivers - whether locals, visitors or part timers - will behave and treat fellow road users as they’d wish to be treated, keeping in mind that it could be their loved ones or even themselves who could become victims of distracted, aggressive, inconsiderate, clueless, or impaired driving.

For more about pedestrian and cyling matters, see BikeWalkLee’s blog 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.

Cyclists, walkers need to use caution as debris lingers from Irma

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 9/27/17
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Hurricane Irma made recreational and exercise cycling a challenge, especially in the first days and weeks after its impact.

Downed trees, pathways and bike lanes were blocked, there were tire-flattening hazards everywhere and service vehicles peppering the roadways created quite the obstacles for those seeking to get their regular rides in.

For those using their bikes as transportation it was the same story. However, in the early hours and even days after Irma hit it was actually easier to overcome the obstacles on a bike than in other vehicles. The same was true for those walking for a purpose — versus exercise or recreation. Traversing fallen trees and debris to check on neighbors was possible on foot, but not by motor vehicle.

With fewer motor vehicles on the roads right after the storm, walking and biking were relatively safe, at least for a little while. Once cars and trucks returned the dynamics changed drastically. Being on the roads in the days before traffic signals were back up and running was dicey for anyone, whether in a car, on a bike or on foot.

A tree hangs precariously on a power line along North Colonial Trail after Irma. DAN MOSER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Appropriately, roads were the first priority and cleared as soon as possible.

I witnessed crews from public works removing large downed trees at 1 a.m. while still dealing with Irma’s rain and wind. Especially early on, sidewalks and bike paths were turned into debris storage areas, something to be expected in the initial clean-up stage.

Public works folks did a good job of reopening many sidepaths soon after the road-clearing phase.

And much to my pleasant surprise, in the days following Irma, most residents placed debris from their property off the sidewalk, allowing pedestrian and bicycle traffic to pass. Unfortunately, this practice was not universal (some had no choice but to place debris on sidewalks) and some folks selfishly blocked — and continued to obstruct — pedestrian paths with their vehicles merely for their own convenience.

Sidewalks broken or heaved-up by fallen tree roots will take a while to be replaced and repaired. In some locations, where there’s no other place to pile debris, sidepaths will be impassible until it’s picked-up. For those needing to get around by bike or foot it’ll be a challenge for quite some time in some areas. Those with mobility issues will be especially impacted. Time and money will eventually lead to things getting back to normal, at least in neighborhoods where adequate infrastructure exists.

In the bigger picture of bike and pedestrian access, events such as Hurricane Irma highlight the fact that there’s a lot to be desired in neighborhoods where residents depend on their feet, bicycles and transit as their primary transportation where infrastructure is lacking.

In Lee County, where our transit service is less than adequate but nonetheless available, safe and easy access to it is critical. As is the case with transit in general, the “first mile/last mile” (FM/ LM) is a term used by professionals and advocates that refers to the primary obstacle to people’s access to a transit stop. In reality, the average distance one should have to walk to a transit stop is ¼ mile, but that’s usually not the case in a place with marginal transit service such as in Southwest Florida. So we’re closer to the literal FM/LM than others. That being the case, there’s quite a problem with that in many transit-dependent neighborhoods in Lee County due to lack of infrastructure.

During this time of hurricane recovery, few people want to think about transportation inequity, unless, of course, you’re experiencing it yourself now as well as before and after the storm recovery.

It’s not about walking, running or riding a bike for exercise or recreation that’s at issue here — although those reasons are important, too — but more about basic access and transportation options. For more about transportation equity, visit BikeWalkLee’s blog at bikewalklee.blogspot.com and Streets Alive at facebook.com/StreetsAliveSWFL.¦


- 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.

Bike safety report echoes need for better roadways, slower motorists

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 9/13/17
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

On the 200th anniversary of the invention of the bicycle, it’s a mixed bag for users of what is still considered one of the most efficient human-powered machines ever devised.

Bicycle design, materials and construction make it more efficient than ever, and more people are using them for function, recreation or exercise. But the environment for people on bikes has been getting riskier in recent years after several years of steady decline in crashes, injuries and fatalities.

A new report by the Governors Highway Safety Association documents the state of conditions for bicycle users and many other aspects of the dynamics involving bicycles. “A Right to the Road — Understanding & Addressing Bicyclist Safety” (ghsa.org/resources/bicyclist-safety2017) is a comprehensive and well-written document that details problems, lists potential solutions and links to resources to get to those solutions.

A ghost bike represents the death of a cyclist.
COURTESY PHOTO

One fact included is that fatalities among users of bicycles are much lower than those for pedestrians. Nationally it’s almost seven pedestrians to each bicyclist. Florida is around five to one and Lee County is closer to three to one (these estimates are from nhtsa.dot.gov and flhsmv.gov). On a positive note, many states and communities are taking one or more of the actions suggested by the GHSA as potential solutions to reducing injuries and fatalities. Implementing Complete Streets, which includes slowing motorists and improving infrastructure for all road users, is a recommendation with the most potential impact. Locally, we are moving in that direction, at least in the Complete Streets policies that most jurisdictions have put in place.

BikeWalkLee, a community coalition whose mission is to raise public awareness and advocate for Complete Streets in Lee County, recently posted the following about the GHSA report on its blog: “As one of the highest ranked Florida communities for bicyclist fatalities, Lee County is acutely aware of the need to improve safety for cyclists (and pedestrians). This national report again puts this growing national problem on the front pages of national newspapers. The report found that bicyclist deaths rose 12.2 percent in 2015, the largest percentage increase of any roadway user group that year. In response to this safety crisis, the Governors Highway Safety Association report details 30 actions that states can take to reduce deaths and injuries among people who bike. What are our local elected officials and government agencies doing to address these serious safety concerns in our community?”

As I’ve noted before in this column, it’s quite disappointing to me that the Dangerous by Design report that placed Lee County as the most dangerous place in the U.S. to be a pedestrian hasn’t prompted the action or even a sense of urgency it should have among our governments or tourism and real estate community. Here’s yet another wake-up call to all of us.

Perhaps a partial answer to BikeWalkLee’s question about what is being done is that Lee Metropolitan Planning Organization is about to embark on an update of the Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Action Plan that was originally approved in 2013. With the data and resources from GHSA’s report and that from Smart Growth America’s Dangerous by Design (smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design) the updated plan could make a difference if it’s done right and actually implemented. The League of American Bicyclists called the governors report “a great resource for individuals who want to know more about bicycle safety efforts, state and local agencies looking to address bicycle safety issues and everyone who wants to know more about why bicyclist safety is a persistent issue in our current transportation system.”¦


- 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.

County on summer break, but cities continue work on bike, pedestrian safety

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 8/2/17
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Are we making progress?

July is historically a slow month in local government, as the Lee County Board of Commissioners takes its annual month-long hiatus. The Lee Metropolitan Planning Organization’s July meeting and its advisory boards are also canceled, meaning not much gets done in the way of transportation decision making. Fortunately, local municipalities have been meeting regularly, so there’s at least some hope of summertime progress towards improving the bike/ped environment here.

I’m concerned about any pause because six months after the release of the latest Dangerous by Design report (smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerousbydesign) there appears to be little to no political will to deal with the fact that Lee County is ranked as the most dangerous metro area in the U.S. for pedestrians.

At the time of the study’s January release, BikeWalkLee called “on all local jurisdictions, the Lee MPO, Florida Department of Transportation, and the Lee legislative delegation to act now to make pedestrian and bicyclist safety a top priority and to make the necessary investments to have safety improvements on the ground as soon as possible. The stakes are high and the collective actions by all jurisdictions must be commensurate with the stakes.” But alarm bells that have been sounded from the report itself, BikeWalkLee, Healthy Lee, and others did not create the sense of urgency that one would expect.

But it’s not all bleak. One major infusion of resources that is already be making a positive impact is about to wrap-up. Most of the projects identified in the $10 million Transportation Investments Generating Economic Recovery grant that was awarded to Lee County MPO in 2013 have been completed.

But one last element — added when it was determined funds were left over — is still in the works. According to Don Scott, Lee MPO director, “The design package for the installation of the way-finding signs is currently being worked on, with completion of those planned for the middle of August. The signs will then be fabricated (takes four to six weeks) and then will be installed. The other TIGER facilities, sidewalks, bus stops, pathways, etc. have been completed but there are some remaining punch list items that are currently being addressed.”

Visit MPO’s Complete Streets Initiative website at leecompletestreets.leempo.com for more details.

These improvements not only provide better access for non-motorists but will also potentially equate to a reduction in crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists. Time will tell.

Another positive to report on is actually a planning tool. The Lee Countywide Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Action Plan that was created in 2013 in an effort to make it safer for non-motorists is about to be revised. Lee MPO, the lead agency in the undertaking as well, has gotten the scope of work for the consultant approved by the Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinating Committee and will next go to the MPO’s other advisory boards and then the full MPO board later this month for final approval. Advertising for consultants will follow. Besides having the right consultant on board, public input is important so weigh in with your ideas and insight. You can read the current plan at leempo.com and send your comments along to them.

It’s also encouraging to see a number of bike and pedestrian projects and studies being undertaken by our municipalities. Bonita Springs’ beautiful downtown re-do is taking shape with traffic calming and walkability the key features. Sidewalk repairs and replacement work is happening throughout the city of Fort Myers, although there are still many busy streets in long-established neighborhoods still lacking adequate infrastructure. And Fowler Street between Hanson Street and MLK/S.R.-82 — the last unimproved segment of the Metro corridor — remains our area’s worse overall arterial roadway, thanks to the city dragging its feet since the late 1980s. By now FDOT should have moved forward with their own design since it is, after all, their roadway. ¦

- 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.