April 30th is last chance to provide input to the Sanibel Shared Use Path Master Plan

Since February, the City of Sanibel has been working on the update of its Shared Use Path Master Plan, and the period of public input ends on April 30th.  If you live, work, or play on Sanibel, please take advantage of one or all of the channels and opportunities for participating in the update of the City’s Shared Use Path Master Plan.  www.sanibelbikeped.com Public input is important for developing a visionary plan (with a 10-20 year time horizon) for one of the community’s crown jewels—its shared use path system.  Be sure to check out the cool Interactive Comment Map online, which is easy to use (see step by step instructions below) http://www.sanibelbikeped.com/interactive-comment-map/

Background

The City of Sanibel’s Shared Use Master Plan was adopted in 2009 and has guided the implementation of updates to our shared use path system over the past decade. The City of Sanibel, in collaboration with the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), is currently updating the Sanibel Shared Use Master Plan. The Master Plan Update is being conducted to recognize the improvements completed over the past decade and will guide the long-term vision for the Shared Use Path system. During this process the City and MPO will solicit and receive public comment through a variety of channels including Open Houses, surveys and emails. A webpage has been created just for the Update of the Sanibel Shared Use Path Master Plan project now underway. www.sanibelbikeped.com

How to Participate:

There are three ways you can still provide your input to Sanibel's Update of its Shared Use Path Master Plan:

1. On Monday, April 22, 2019 the community is invited to drop-in any time between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to share citizen input and recommendations to date for the Shared Use Master Plan Update . The Open House is being held at the Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel, FL 33957.

2. You can respond to an online survey with the click of your mouse.
3.  Input comments about specific locations on Sanibel where you have comments, concerns, or suggestions by using the Interactive Comment Map.
4. The project website www.sanibelbikeped.com also has links to the Project Calendar, Resources (which includes previous studies and source documents related to the Master Plan), and a “Contact Us” button to allow you to communicate with the project management team.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE INTERACTIVE COMMENT MAP

This is an excellent online tool for using the map of Sanibel to indicate specifically where you have concerns, comments, and ideas.  You can also see everyone else’s comments and can comment on their comments.  It is easy to use, once you have a few instructions:

1. The link to the website is: www.sanibelbikeped.com. This site includes links at the top (orange icons) to the following components:

2. Click on orange icon, "Interactive Comment Map". http://www.sanibelbikeped.com/interactive-comment-map/

3. Then move to the Green heading below and click on the tab "About and Help".

4. A drop down menu will appear. Click on "Instructions" tab.
 

5. Instructions for using the Map:

• To begin the comment process; please zoom to your location of interest.
• Once you have identified the location, click on the “Issues and Concerns” tab in the header.
• Click on the map at the location that you wish to identify as an issue or concern – a comment box will appear for you to describe the specific issue or concern.
• Once you are done entering your comments, please click on “Submit.”
• If someone has already identified a similar issue at the same location, you can click on the icon to view the respective comment.
• If you wish to Agree or Disagree with the comment or want to add an additional comment, please click the Show Comments/Surveys button to provide your input.
• Click “Add Comment” once you have completed your entry.

Don't forget to participate before April 30th!

Share your comments on Sanibel’s Shared Use Path at Feb. 19th Open House, Interactive Comment Map, and Online Survey

If you live, work, or play on Sanibel, please take advantage of one or all of the channels and opportunities for participating in the update of the City’s Shared Use Path Master Plan.  www.sanibelbikeped.com Public input is important for developing a visionary plan (with a 10-20 year time horizon) for one of the community’s crown jewels—its shared use path system.  Be sure to check out the cool Interactive Comment Map online, which is easy to use (see step by step instructions below) http://www.sanibelbikeped.com/interactive-comment-map/

Background

The City of Sanibel’s Shared Use Master Plan was adopted in 2009 and has guided the implementation of updates to our shared use path system over the past decade. The City of Sanibel, in collaboration with the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), is currently updating the Sanibel Shared Use Master Plan. The Master Plan Update is being conducted to recognize the improvements completed over the past decade and will guide the long-term vision for the Shared Use Path system. During this process the City and MPO will solicit and receive public comment through a variety of channels including Open Houses, surveys and emails. A webpage has been created just for the Update of the Sanibel Shared Use Path Master Plan project now underway. www.sanibelbikeped.com

How to Participate:

There are three ways you can provide your input to Sanibel's Update of its Shared Use Path Master Plan, which is now underway:

1. On Tuesday, February 19, 2019 the community is invited to drop-in any time between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to provide your input directly to the team preparing the Shared Use Master Plan Update. The Open House is being held at the Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel, FL 33957.

2. You can respond to an online survey with the click of your mouse.
3.  Input comments about specific locations on Sanibel where you have comments, concerns, or suggestions by using the Interactive Comment Map.
4. The project website www.sanibelbikeped.com also has links to the Project Calendar, Resources (which includes previous studies and source documents related to the Master Plan), and a “Contact Us” button to allow you to communicate with the project management team.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE INTERACTIVE COMMENT MAP

This is an excellent online tool for using the map of Sanibel to indicate specifically where you have concerns, comments, and ideas.  You can also see everyone else’s comments and can comment on their comments.  It is easy to use, once you have a few instructions:

1. The link to the website is: www.sanibelbikeped.com. This site includes links at the top (orange icons) to the following components:

2. Click on orange icon, "Interactive Comment Map". http://www.sanibelbikeped.com/interactive-comment-map/

3. Then move to the Green heading below and click on the tab "About and Help".

4. A drop down menu will appear. Click on "Instructions" tab.
 

5. Instructions for using the Map:

• To begin the comment process; please zoom to your location of interest.
• Once you have identified the location, click on the “Issues and Concerns” tab in the header.
• Click on the map at the location that you wish to identify as an issue or concern – a comment box will appear for you to describe the specific issue or concern.
• Once you are done entering your comments, please click on “Submit.”
• If someone has already identified a similar issue at the same location, you can click on the icon to view the respective comment.
• If you wish to Agree or Disagree with the comment or want to add an additional comment, please click the Show Comments/Surveys button to provide your input.
• Click “Add Comment” once you have completed your entry.

Participate in Sanibel's Online Survey re: Shared Use Path Master Plan Update

 

Here's your chance to provide input with the click of your mouse, to Sanibel's Shared Use Path Master Plan Update process.  If you live, work, or play on Sanibel, please take a few minutes to have your voices heard. 
If you're on island on Feb. 19th, you can also provide input at their day-long Open House at the Rec Center.

Feb. 8, 2019 Press Release: City of Sanibel
Shared Use Path Survey Open

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SURVEY


Citizen input is an important component of decision making by our local government on Sanibel. Historically, our citizens participate at significant rates when we conduct surveys. As of today, we are soliciting public input regarding the City's Shared Use Path Master Plan. All citizens, including motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, are welcome and encouraged to participate in this important survey. Throughout the Shared Use Master Plan update process, public input will be solicited through various means. In addition to this survey, all residents and path users are also welcome to attend the Shared Use Master Plan Update OPEN HOUSE which will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2019, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel, FL 33957.

The current version of the City's Shared Use Path Master Plan was adopted in 2009, and has guided the implementation of updates to the shared use path system for the past decade. The City of Sanibel, in collaboration with the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), is currently updating the Sanibel Shared Use Path Master Plan. The Master Plan update is being conducted to recognize the improvements completed over the past decade and will guide the long-term vision for the Shared Use Path system.

If you have questions about the Sanibel Shared Use Path Master Plan Update or Project Advisory Committee meeting, please visit the project website at www.sanibelbikeped.com: 
Sanibelbikeped@mysanibel.com or contact Keith Williams, P.E., Director of Community Services Department, at (239) 472-6397, ext. 507. 

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS SURVEY

Sanibel Feb. 19th Open House: Public Input on Shared Use Path Master Plan Update

City of Sanibel Shared Use Path Master Plan Update OPEN HOUSE BRING YOUR INPUT!

Tuesday, February 19, 2019, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel Captiva Road Sanibel, FL 33957

02/05/2019 01:34 pm


The City’s Shared Use Master Plan was adopted in 2009 and has guided the implementation of updates to our shared use path system over the past decade. The City of Sanibel, in collaboration with the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), is currently updating the Sanibel Shared Use Master Plan. The Master Plan Update is being conducted to recognize the improvements completed over the past decade and will guide the long-term vision for the Shared Use Path system. During this process the City and MPO will solicit and receive public comment through a vareity of channels including Open Houses, surveys and emails.

On Tuesday, February 19, 2019 the community is invited to drop-in any time between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. to provide your input directly to the team preparing the Shared Use Master Plan Update. The Open House is being held at the Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel, FL 33957.

If you have questions about the Sanibel Shared Use Path Master Plan Update or the Open House Meeting, please visit the project website at www.sanibelbikeped.com or contact Keith Williams, P.E., Director Department of Community Services, at phone (239) 472-6397, ext. 507.

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT, PERSONS NEEDING A SPECIAL ACCOMMODATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PROCEEDING, TO INCLUDE HEARING IMPAIRMENT, SHOULD CONTACT PAMELA SMITH, CITY CLERK, NO LATER THAN ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE PROCEEDINGS AT (239) 472-3700. FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE IF HEARING IMPAIRED, TELEPHONE THE FLORIDA RELAY SERVICE AT 711.

Going for the gold

BWL's column this week spotlights both Sanibel's designation as a "Gold" Bicycle Friendly Community, and Bonita Springs Deputy Mayor Peter O'Flinn, who was honored by BWL this week as its 2018 Complete Streets Champion of the Year. It's great to be able to celebrate progress being made towards making our communities more walkable and bikeable...places people want to live, work, and play.
BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, December 20, 2018
by Ken Gooderham

From left: Sanibel Councilor Holly Smith, Mayor Kevin Ruane and BikeWalkLee’s Darla Letourneau at the announcement of Sanibel
achieving gold status as a Bike Friendly Community (Courtesy Photo)

Sanibel has long been known locally as setting the gold standard for bike-friendliness. Now the city has an actual gold award to back that up.

Earlier this month, the League of American Bicyclists awarded Sanibel with its Gold level as a Bike Friendly Community, making it only the second community in the state to earn the top award. This comes after the city earned a bronze in 2010, followed by a silver in 2014.

“We invest heavily and systematically into our Shared Use Path system as a city-wide alternative to motorized transportation,” said Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane. “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.”

Among the elements that earned the city this higher status:

1. Biking infrastructure improvements, including a new shared-use path to Bowman’s Beach and upgrades/repairs to the 26-mile system following Hurricane Irma
2. Island-wide shared use path intersection updates and safety improvements, 
3. Education efforts to promote safe cycling, including an award-winning “Cycling on Sanibel” video spearheaded by the Sanibel Bicycle Club.
4. Promoting the importance of the shared use path system to Sanibel, including increased focus on the “bikeable and walkable community” brand.
5. A commitment to future improvements, including a Sanibel Master Plan update and continued improvements and expansion of the path network.

The Bike Friendly America program run by the League offers communities a roadmap to improvements that make cycling more accessible and safer based on five “building blocks”: Enforcement, education, engineering, evaluation and encouragement.

Cape Coral and Naples have earned the bronze level in bike friendliness from the League. We hope both communities follow Sanibel’s lead and keep working to move up the ladder – and that other communities (and businesses and institutions) in our region opt to apply to see if they can improve (or even just prove) their bike friendliness.

O’Flinn’s a champion

Speaking of awards, BikeWalkLee recently honored Bonita Springs Deputy Mayor Peter O’Flinn as its 2018 Complete Streets Champion of the Year for his outstanding leadership, vision, and commitment to bringing complete streets concepts to reality on the ground in Bonita Springs.

“Deputy Mayor O’Flinn is a tireless leader who is focused on bringing that vision to reality one project at a time, each building on the other attracting grant funds, and gaining state and national recognition,” said BikeWalkLee’s Darla Letourneau.

Vice Mayor O'Flinn (center with trophy) with BWL representatives (Darla, Doug, Sarah, to his right),
along with Mayor Simmons (L) and member of Bonita Springs City Council

Bonita Springs is a shining example of a community making a paradigm shift into a new way of thinking and doing business. The city has taken the complete streets approach and, through collaborations and partnerships, adapted and built on the foundation put in place over the past decade.

Prior to joining the Bonita Springs City Council in 2016, O’Flinn was an engaged community leader, advocating for enhancing the quality of life in Bonita through a complete streets approach.

Once on the council, he made complete streets one of his top priorities. He has provided visionary leadership on the council, throughout the community and countywide. His goal has been to consistently advance these concepts and help educate the public about its benefits.

“Thanks to Deputy Mayor O’Flinn’s efforts, the citizens of Bonita Springs will have safer streets, a community with more options for getting around town, a trail that will serve present and future Bonitans for generations, and a burnished reputation as a great place to live, work, and play,” said Letourneau.

Ready to ride or run?

Run? Running races take a break for the holidays, with the exception of the Marco 5 Mile Hill Run this Saturday (Dec. 22 – details at gcrunner.org). Keep on training, though, as the events come back strong in the new year.

Ride? Tomorrow night is the month NE Lee Critical mass ride, followed on Dec. 28 with the Cape night ride and the Dec. 29 downtown Fort Myers Slow Roll. Front and rear bike lights required for the night rides, so grab your helmet, bring all your friends. The regular Sunday morning rides continue as well; details on all at meetup.com.

Both? Upcoming events include:

• Sunday, Jan. 6: HITS Triathlon Series, with sprint, Olympic and half-Ironman distances. Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota (hitstriathlonseries.com)
• Sunday, Feb.11: Tri Your Heart Out sprint, Sarasota (trifind.com)
• Willing to drive? Check trifind.com or active.com for tris around the state.

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. 


 

Sanibel Island wins gold for attention and care for cyclists, pedestrians

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 12/19/2018
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Bike parking is not overlooked at Sanibel’s Farmers Market. Darla Letourneau / Courtesy Photo.

Congratulations to the city of Sanibel for achieving gold-level Bike Friendly Community status from the League of American Bicyclists, a designation that was announced earlier this month. After being awarded bronze and then silver status the last two go-rounds (re-certification is required every four years) a very strong application resulted in moving up a notch to the next-to-highest platinum level.

Anyone who lives on or has visited Sanibel Island can attest to the functionality and beauty of its pathway network. Some of the improvements made in the last four years include widening of two miles of pathway, a new path to Bowman’s Beach (one of the best beaches on the gulf, in my opinion), removal of unnecessary/inappropriate STOP pavement markings (getting that done was like pulling teeth), additional and enhanced crosswalks, repair and resurfacing of much of the network, an ongoing robust public-private campaign promoting the use of the pathway network as an alternative to driving and safety awareness aimed at both users and motorists.

Also added was a new unpaved path running parallel to Periwinkle Way from Causeway Road at the Island Welcome

Center to Roadside Park, just beyond the historical Bailey Homestead, which is accessible from the trail. It’s more of a foot trail but bikes are allowed. This nature trail is a real gem and has free parking/ trailheads at both ends, something very rare on the island. There are also many other equally wonderful unpaved trails on the island, most being within various parts of J.N. Ding Darling Wildlife Refuge.

While the pathway network is world-class, there remains a glaring lack of on-road facilities and bike-friendliness for those who ride bikes too fast for pathways. Although there will probably never be significant roadway accommodation due to limited right-of-way space, signage and pavement markings (i.e., sharrows) making clear to drivers that cyclists are to be expected as part of the traffic flow and an overall acceptance of on-road cycling by city leadership would go a long way.

Making roadway operation a practical and welcoming option for those who routinely hit speeds of 18-22 mph would also make it safer for pedestrians and novice/inexperienced/shaky cyclists on the paths — many of whom are riding bikes for the first time in many years as part of their vacation experience. A safe pathway speed is no more than 15 mph, much slower when congested and where frequent driveway openings exist, two common conditions on many parts of the network.

In terms of the pedestrian environment, Sanibel may want to consider applying for Walk-Friendly Community status, which is modeled after LAB’s Bicycle Friendly Community program and is operated by the University of North Carolina’s Highway Safety Research Center, one of our country’s most respected bike/ped research institutions. WFC is also supported by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, a national clearinghouse on bicycling and walking funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Preparing the application for WFC status would perhaps lead to ideas and policies that would benefit pathway users and on-road cyclists alike.

Sanibel actually has an opportunity to consider applying for that designation as it begins an update of its Bicycle/Pedestrian Master Plan, an effort that’s funded through Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization and is just now getting off the ground. As was the case with the BFC application process, Sanibel Bike Club will be a major player. But just as relevant in developing the BPMP is the inclusion of nonclub residents and visitors (i.e., daytrippers and island-based tourism professionals who will represent non-local visitors). That vital element should include both a formal stakeholder committee (a requirement of the funds being used) and robust outreach beyond the usual one or two in-person input sessions (think online opportunities). Considering that Sanibel was able to move from being a bronze BFC to silver and now to gold in three consecutive cycles, it’s very likely it will do a great job in updating its Shared Use Path Master Plan. You can find Sanibel’s current plan (from 2009) at mysanibel.com and 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.

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.

Pedal your way through history

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, 7/5/2018
by Ken Gooderham


Sanibel is certainly known for its bike-friendly facilities. But did you know about its extensive history?

Now you can combine those two pleasures into a cruise around the new Sanibel Heritage Trail.

The trail is a series of 22 panels located throughout the island describing some aspect of Sanibel’s historic past – and the island has quite a history to look back upon, including:

• Commercial farming was widespread on the island from the late 1860s until the 1920s, when successive hurricanes ended that enterprise.
• The Sanibel School was the first racially integrated school in the county, beginning in 1964. (The first school on the island was built in 1892.) In 1962, St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church was the first church in the region to be racially integrated.
• The Sanibel Lighthouse has been a beacon for navigators since 1884. And the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge – created in 1945 and renamed in 1967 for the renowned conservationist who fought for its creation – comprises more than 6,400 acres of uplands, wetlands and forests.
• The opening of the Sanibel Causeway in 1963 brought a boom to the island, which to that point had been accessible only by ferry. That, among other reasons, inspired the island to incorporate as a city in 1974, as a means to preserve and protect the island.
• The community came together to build the first church – the Sanibel Community Church in 1917 – and the Sanibel Community House in the late 1920s.

Sanibel Heritage Trail (click for larger version)

The trail is an easy ride for most, concentrated on the east end and middle of the island. There’s no start or finish, unless you want to use the Sanibel Historical Museum & Village (https://sanibelmuseum.org/) as a beginning or ending point. It’s located at 950 Dunlop Road (near the library and City Hall), and is open 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, with special events often scheduled outside those hours in season.

If you can stand the heat, the paths are quieter this time of year. Plus, there’s a rumored app on the way to make traversing the trail a little easier (not an essential issue, however).

So why not mix a little education with your recreation (or vice versa), and take ride back in island history soon?

 

Ready to ride or run?

Run? After you recover from the plethora of 5Ks to celebrate July 4, two runs upcoming: Fort Myers Track Club Summer Social, July 10 at 7 p.m. at Lazy Flamingo, Fort Myers (ftmyerstrackclub.com); and Beat the Heat 5K, July 14 at 7 a.m., Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (3dracinginc.com).
 
Ride? Critical Mass rides ahead include the original (and still undefeated) downtown Fort Myers ride Friday night, the NE Lee ride July 13 and the Sanibel ride July 14. Lights required for night rides, helmets recommended for all; details atmeetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/. On Sunday, July 8, Wheels & Wings offers four different rides (plus an off-road option) based at Beef O’Brady’s in Punta Gorda (peaceriverridersbicycleclub.com/). You can also join the no-drop Wakey, Wakey! Sunday morning ride leaving from Fort Myers Trek. The ride is sanctioned by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, so helmets are required, no ear buds, and no aero bar use while in the group.

Both? Upcoming events include:

• Saturday, July 14: Englewood YMCA Sprint Triathlon, Englewood (active.com)
• Saturday, Aug. 11: Naples Junior Tri, 8 a.m., North Collier Regional Park (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, Sept. 8: Venice Sprint Triathlon, Sharkey’s on the Pier, Venice
• Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 15-16: Galloway Captiva Tri, with the kids’ events (three age groups) Saturday and the sprint tri Sunday.
• Saturday, Sept. 22: (“The Original”) Siesta Key Sprint Triathlon, Siesta Key (trifind.com)

 

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. 


 

Join a Ride of Silence event on May 16th

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

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

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

Previous Ride of Silence, Fort Myers

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

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

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





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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

Gathering for Sanibel ride at Matzaluna's

 

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

Ride of Silence on May 16th--Fort Myers and Sanibel

May is right around the corner and time to make plans to join one of the two local Ride of Silence events (Fort Myers and Sanibel) on Wed. evening May 16th to honor fallen cyclists and promote road safety.

Previous Ride of Silence, Fort Myers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gathering for Sanibel ride at Matzaluna's

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