Sanibel celebrates "Gold" Bicycle Friendly Community status and recognizes collective efforts of community

See BikeWalkLee's earlier blog today for the City's Press Release: Sanibel elevated to "Gold" Bicycle Friendly Community Status.  Links to previous BikeWalkLee blog posts that highlight Sanibel's accomplishments since achieving "Silver" BFC status in 2014 are at end of this blog.


 Sanibel Bicycle Club (SBC) members with Councilwoman Holly Smith, Council Liaison to SBC, at today's City of Sanibel''s "Gold" BFC Celebration

City of Sanibel's Celebration


Sanibel Mayor and City Council Members announcing "Gold"
[Members L to R:  Holly Smith, Mayor Kevin Ruane, Vice-Mayor Mick Denham and Chauncey Goss]

The City of Sanibel held a press conference on December 6th to announce and celebrate this "Gold" BFC designation. The event was hosted by Mayor Ruane and City Council members.  In attendance were city staff, representatives from the County's Visitor and Convention Bureau and Department of Recreation, Sanibel community leaders, members of the Sanibel Bicycle Club, a representative from BikeWalkLee, and other members of the public.  In announcing the City's Gold designation, Mayor Ruane applauded the Sanibel Bicycle Club for partnering with the City over the past two decades to enhance the shared use path system and all the related programs and efforts that go into making our community bicycle-friendly. He said these efforts have resulted in Sanibel progressing  from Bronze, to Silver, and now Gold, Bicycle Friendly Status, in eight short years. He also thanked the many other community partners for their efforts, and did a special shout out to BikeWalkLee's Darla Letourneau (Sanibel resident) for her contributions.  Mayor Ruane stated, "To have our collective efforts recognized nationally as one of the nation's premier programs is a source of community pride for Sanibel."

 

The City provided refreshments, including special cookies designed just for the occasion.  

Celebration Cookies

Celebration Cookies

 BikeWalkLee's statement:

Congratulations to the City of Sanibel for being elevated to "Gold" Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) status!  Since Sanibel's “Bronze “designation in 2010, then Silver" designation in 2014, the City has continued to improve its Shared Use Path system, enhance its safety, and strengthen its efforts to promote biking and walking as a mode of transportation. BWL especially applauds the community’s safety improvement efforts over the past 4 years.  The City completed a comprehensive intersection and path signage/safety marking review and then updated the traffic control treatments throughout the path network.  Once the City puts the finishing touches on a few remaining intersections, the City's path markings system will be consistent and clear, making it safer for path users as well as drivers. In addition, the community (led by the Sanibel Bicycle Club), underwrote an award-winning "Cycling on Sanibel" video and distributed it widely to broaden the island’s safety education effort.

BWL's Darla Letourneau (R) celebrates today with Mayor Ruane (Center) and Holly Smith (L), City Council Liaison to SBC and lead on Shared Use Path issues

The City's improvements in making Sanibel a bicycle-friendly community have been recognized by the national BFC Program, with a steady progression from Bronze, to Silver, and now Gold.  Being designated as a Gold BFC community further solidifies the City's branding of itself as a "Bikeable/walkable Community".  BikeWalkLee’s dream is for more communities in Lee County to join Sanibel and Cape Coral in achieving “Bicycle Friendly Community” status, so that all of SWFL will someday be bicycle-friendly.

Click here to read about the League of American Bicyclists' Dec. 6th announcement of the 61 new and renewing Bicycle Friendly Communities

Previous BikeWalkLee (BWL) Blog Posts:

 

BWL Blog 12/6/18:  Sanibel elevated to "Gold Bicycle Friendly Community Status

     BWL Blog 12/18/16: Sanibel nearing completion of removal of STOP markings on path system (article in Santiva Chronicle)

BWL Blog 12/7/16: Sanibel City Council Approves Placement of ”3 Feet Please—It’s the Law” on City Vehicles

   BWL Blog 3/15/16: Sanibel Bicycle Club receives Florida Bicycle Association 2015 Club of the Year Award

BWL Blog 3/4/16: Sanibel’s successful promotion of biking and walking as a way to get around Island provides ideas for other communities
Santiva Chronicle 2/25/16:  Sanibel paths busier than ever...

BikeWalkLee Blog, January 24, 2016: FBA Board Impressed by Sanibel Bicycle Club's Bike Safety Programs

BWL Blog Dec. 1, 2015: Sanibel City Council Approves Shared Use Path Funds: ‘Stop’ Markings Going Away (Santiva Chronicle Article) 

BikeWalkLee Blog, June 3, 2015: Sanibel Bicycle Club Releases New Bicycle Safety Video

   BikeWalkLeeBlog, November 18, 2014: Sanibel awarded "Silver" Bicycle Friendly Community Status 

BWL Blog 7/24/14: Bikers focus on Sanibel (published in News-Press newspaper)

Report by Darla Letourneau

Sanibel elevated to"Gold" Bicycle Friendly Community Status

Congratulations to the City of Sanibel for being elevated to "Gold" Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) status!  Since Sanibel's “Bronze “designation in 2010, then Silver" designation in 2014, the City has continued to improve its Shared Use Path system, enhance its safety, and strengthen its efforts to promote biking and walking as a mode of transportation. BWL especially applauds the community’s safety improvement efforts over the past 4 years.  The City completed a comprehensive intersection and path signage/safety marking review and then updated the traffic control treatments throughout the path network.  Once the City puts the finishing touches on a few remaining intersections, the City's path markings system will be consistent and clear, making it safer for path users as well as drivers. In addition, the community (led by the Sanibel Bicycle Club), underwrote an award-winning "Cycling on Sanibel" video and distributed it widely to broaden the island’s safety education effort.

The City's improvements in making Sanibel a bicycle-friendly community have been recognized by the national BFC Program, with a steady progression from Bronze, to Silver, and now Gold.  Being designated as a Gold BFC community further solidifies the City's branding of itself as a "Bikeable/walkable Community".  BikeWalkLee’s dream is for more communities in Lee County to join Sanibel and Cape Coral in achieving “Bicycle Friendly Community” status, so that all of SWFL will someday be bicycle-friendly.

By Darla Letourneau

News Release – For Immediate Release December 6, 2018 Contact: City Manager’s Office (239)472-3700

City of Sanibel elevated to “Gold” status Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists

The highest tier of Florida Communities Sanibel one of only two Florida communities designated “Gold” Status

Today, the League of American Bicyclists recognized the City of Sanibel with a “Gold” Bicycle Friendly Community (BFBSM) award. In 2010 Sanibel was awarded the “Bronze” designation and in 2014 was one of only four Florida cities designated as a “Silver” status by the League of American Bicyclists. The Villages is the only other Florida community to hold the prestigious “Gold” designation.

Upon announcing the designation, Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane stated, “We invest heavily and systematically into our Shared Use Path system as a City-wide alternative to motorized transportation. We are fortunate to have many partners who support the City’s efforts to focus on the health benefits and safety of biking on Sanibel. To have our collective efforts recognized nationally as one of the nation’s premier programs is a source of community pride for Sanibel.”

With the announcement of 61 new and renewing BFCs today, the City of Sanibel joins a leading group of communities in every state that are transforming the American landscape. “We applaud these communities for making bicycling a safe and convenient option for transportation and recreation,” said Bill Nesper, Executive Director at the League of American Bicyclists. “We are encouraged by the growing number of leaders who see bicycling as a way to build more vibrant, healthy, sustainable and connected communities and be a part of the solution to many complex challenges faced at both the community and national levels. We look forward to continuing to work with these communities as we move closer to our mission of creating a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone.”

Tom Sharbaugh, the Sanibel Bicycle Club Liaison to the City of Sanibel, stated, ”The Sanibel Bicycle Club congratulates the City for their commitment to developing and maintaining the Sanibel Shared Use Path and their support for other cycling amenities and services on the island. Without their efforts, Sanibel would not have achieved Gold Status as a Bicycle Friendly Community. Our Club is proud to be long-standing partners with the City in making our community’s cycling resources safe and welcoming for residents and visitors.”

A citywide non-motorized transportation network to protect young children through a system of “hike and bike” trails was organized in 1972 by the Sanibel Bike Path Committee. The four original members of the Sanibel Bike Path Committee were Grace Whitehead, Mariel Goss, Sherry Vartdal and Starr Thomas.

The Sanibel Bicycle Club was founded in 1994, with a threefold mission: 1) to promote cycling for recreation, transportation and health; 2) to advocate for improvements of the safety and infrastructure of Sanibel’s shared-use path system; and 3) to provide an opportunity for cycling enthusiasts to socialize together. In 2005 the Club established the “Sanibel Trails In Motion Fund”, a 501 (C) 3 dedicated to supporting path enhancements. Since then, the Club has partnered with the City on a variety of path improvements and amenities.

In July 2018, the City completed construction of the Bowman’s Beach Shared Use Path, an important pedestrian connection linking the Sanibel-Captiva Road Shared Use Path into Bowman’s Beach Park. This project was completed with funding assistance through the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection Recreational Trails Program. The City is responsible for maintaining 26.06 miles of shared use path. Recently, the City completed an extensive repair project due to damages caused to the path system by Hurricane Irma. In addition, the paths are inspected annually for necessary repairs and the 2018 Shared Use Path Repair Project included 73 different repair sites in the amount of $92,330.

More information about the City of Sanibel’s Shared Use Path system may be obtained at www.mysanibel.com. More information about the Bike Friendly Community program is available at https://www.bikeleague.org/bfa.

News-Press editorial: Cape deserving of bike paths honor

 News-Press editorial 11/19/15
http://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2015/11/18/cape-deserving-bike-paths-honor/76003538/

We applaud Cape Coral for its ongoing efforts to improve bicycle safety that have resulted in the city achieving national recognition as a Bicycle Friendly Community.

A beautifully planned network of interconnected paths for cyclists and pedestrians, covering 90 miles, is the reason the Cape joins only 351 other communities in the nation earning bronze-level designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. Impressively, the city is no resting on what it has already accomplished. Officials and residents are moving forward with a vision and plan that will expand paths, provide bicycle targeted education classes for specific demographic groups, build complete roads that allow for pedestrian/bicycle paths, and continue to seek grants for “high visibility” enforcement and the use of bicycles by police officers.

The city, as well as Carolyn Conant, who is a major reason the city is becoming the place to ride and walk for the region and is the driving force behind the Cape Coral Bike Ped organization and the future development of a master plan (buoyed by Metropolitan Planning Organization funding), along with many others, have made this vision a reality. Cape Coral Bike Ped and the city continue to seek ways to improve safety, tourism and the economy. Its commitment to bicycle safety and awareness is doing just that.

“Our community has really pulled together to make Cape Coral a place where people want to come live, work and play,” said Conant, whose group raised $115,000 over six months to help pay for signs along the seven bike path routes that make up the 90 miles, and also received in-kind contributions from the city to help make and erect the signs, helping reduce costs by over $300,000.

The positive realities of this effort are vital because of the tragic realities of the past and no doubt ones that will occur in the future if other communities in the region do not step up and roll out similar plans. Florida is the deadliest state in the country for cyclists and pedestrians and Lee ranks among the top counties in the state for deaths.

Cape is setting a wonderful example and people are taking notice. Bike Ped has distributed over 30,000 brochures on the city's bike safety efforts to various visitor centers throughout the state "and they are flying off the shelves," Conant said.

People can learn more about Bike Ped's efforts at an 8:30 a.m. meeting today at the Team Aubuchon Building in downtown Cape's Club Square or on the city's website, where a GPS interactive map on the city's bike paths, is available at capecoral.net/bicycling. We encourage more communities in Southwest Florida to develop and execute master plans that look at expanding current roadways with paths, include complete streets in its future road building projects, initiate educational campaigns that focus on fitness and safety and encourage more residents to leave their vehicles in the driveway and pedal and walk to their destinations. 

What people are saying about the designation:

FDOT District One Secretary Billy Hattaway
“As the champion for the FDOT Bike Ped Safety Initiative and Complete Streets effort, I’d like to congratulate the city of Cape Coral for making the kind of concerted efforts being rewarded by this recognition."

Tamara Pigott, executive director for the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau
"Most people who visit Southwest Florida want to spend time outdoors. This impressive bicycle-friendly designation is an asset to the entire community. Safe biking paths offer locals and visitors the chance to spend even more time exploring our slice of paradise.

Bill Nesper, vice president of programs at the League of American Bicyclists
“We applaud the visionary leaders and dedicated citizens of Cape Coral for making bicycling a safe and convenient option to transportation and recreation.

Marni Sawicki, Cape Coral mayor
"Our goal has been to create safer bicycling opportunities in our community, and we have made significant strides toward that goal, thanks to our partnership with Cape Coral Bike Ped."

Cape Coral awarded "Bronze" Bicycle Friendly Community Status

Congratulations to the City of Cape Coral for achieving "Bronze" Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) status.  This coveted designation is the culmination of a successful partnership between the City and  Cape Coral Bike-Ped.  

It was great to celebrate with City Officials, Cape Coral Bike-Ped, and VCB officials at Monday's City Council meeting.  BikeWalkLee is honored to have participated in these efforts.  Thanks to everyone who played a role in Cape Coral's BFC designation! A special thanks to Steve Clark (LAB's BFC expert) whose January visit to Cape Coral (as part of the SWFL leg of a national initiative to bring hands-on technical assistance to local areas working to make their communities more bicycle-friendly) inspired the Cape to apply for BFC designation.

City Manager, Mayor, CCBP rep, and City staff at Council presentation

It's exciting to see two of the six municipalities in Lee County (Sanibel (silver) and Cape (bronze)) achieve BFC designation. In addition to Lee County, Naples (bronze) (in Collier County) joined the club today, and Venice (silver) (in Sarasota County) was the first in SWFL.  BWL's dream is that more communities throughout Lee County will seek to achieve BFC status, so that all of SWFL will someday be bicycle-friendly.

Link to national announcement from League of American Bicyclists

Link to News-Press story 11/16/15:  Naples and Cape Coral receive bike friendly awards.

http://www.news-press.com/story/news/2015/11/16/naples-cape-coral-receive-bike-friendly-awards/75874702/
Link to News-Press editorial 11/19/15: Cape deserving bike paths honor 
http://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2015/11/18/cape-deserving-bike-paths-honor/76003538/

Link to News-Press 11/19/15 VCB Director column: Thankful for sun, sand, songs in SWFL " I am so grateful we have another bicycle-friendly community in our county. The League of American Bicyclists awarded Cape Coral the bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community designation this week for the city’s exceptional 90-mile network of interconnected bicycle and pedestrian friendly paths. Sanibel Island has also been recognized."

 City of Cape Coral Press Release

Cape Coral, Florida Named Bicycle Friendly Community

By the League of American Bicyclists

                       

CAPE CORAL, FL (November 16, 2015) -- The League of American Bicyclists today awarded Cape Coral, Florida the bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) designation in recognition of the city’s accomplishments in creating a 90-mile network of interconnected bicycle and pedestrian friendly paths. The City of Cape Coral joins a distinguished group of only 351 communities in the nation recognized with this prestigious award.

“This is a significant achievement for Cape Coral and reflects our commitment to improving the quality of life for our citizens,” said Mayor Marni Sawicki.  “Our goal has been to create safer bicycling opportunities in our community, and we have made significant strides toward that goal thanks to our partnership with Cape Coral Bike Ped.”

 “We applaud the visionary leaders and dedicated citizens of Cape Coral for making bicycling a safe and convenient option for transportation and recreation,” said Bill Nesper, vice president of programs at the League of American Bicyclists.  

The BFC program is revolutionizing the way communities evaluate their quality of life, sustainability and transportation networks while allowing them to benchmark their progress toward improving bicycle friendliness.  The award recognizes Cape Coral’s commitment to improving conditions for bicycling through education, infrastructure and pro-bicycling policies.

Dan Moser, a long-time bicycle/pedestrian advocate and traffic safety professional, said “Cape Coral has made tremendous progress in its efforts to become a true bike-friendly community.” 

Within only a few short years, the public-private partnership between the City of Cape Coral, the volunteer group Cape Coral Bike Ped and community leaders has created a network of seven dedicated bike routes that encourage residents and visitors to discover landmarks, facilities and recreational activities throughout the city.  The interconnected routes border nature preserves, scenic canals, marinas, golf courses and the Caloosahatchee River.

“As the champion for the FDOT Bike Ped Safety Initiative and Complete Streets effort, I’d like to congratulate the City of Cape Coral for making the kind of concerted efforts being rewarded by this recognition,” said FDOT District One Secretary Billy Hattaway.  “Because the city is in Lee County, one of the 15 counties in the state with the highest number of bicycling and pedestrian incidents, it is especially noteworthy that the city has made pedestrian and bicycling safety a priority.”

“Most people who visit Southwest Florida want to spend time outdoors,” said Tamara Pigott, executive director of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau. “This impressive bicycle-friendly designation is an asset to the entire community. Safe biking paths offer locals and visitors the chance to spend even more time exploring our slice of paradise.”

Supporters of Cape Coral Bike Ped pledged to continue the effort with the goals of making the 120 square-mile land mass of Cape Coral a national model for bicycle safety.  “Our community has really pulled together to make Cape Coral a place where people want to come live work and play,” said Carolyn Conant, representative of Cape Coral Bike Ped.  “We look forward to continuing to develop the Cape Coral Bike Ped Master Plan with ongoing support from the City Council through dedicated funding for bicycle and pedestrian enhancements, and the continuing efforts of the police department to enhance bicycle/pedestrian and related motor vehicle enforcement and education.” 

Supporters of Cape Coral Bike Ped explained they are already working toward achieving the silver level BFC designation through the following efforts:

•  Adopting bicycle facility selection criteria that increase separation and protection of bicyclists based on levels of motor vehicle volume;

• Providing targeted bicycle education classes for specific demographic groups;

• Promoting cycling with more family-oriented rides, bicycle-themed events; 
•     Continuing to seek grants for high visibility enforcement and the use of bicycles by police;

• Adopting and implementing the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan that is currently being prepared;

• Ensuring that there is dedicated funding for the implementation of bicycle master plan. 

• Allocating bicycle-related funding to low-income/minority communities.-

For more information: 

Contact Carolyn Conant, Cape Coral Bike Ped at ceconant1024@gmail.com or 239-851-9737. 

Contact Connie Barron, City of Cape Coral at cbarron@capecoral.net or 239-574-0448

The League of American Bicyclists is leading the movement to create a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone. As leaders their commitment is to listen and learn, define standards and share practices to engage diverse communities and build a powerful, unified voice for change.  See www.bikeleague.org/BFA .