In case you missed Dan Moser on Gulf Coast Live

In case you missed Dan Moser's interview on Monday's Gulf Coast Live re: Lee County's ranking as most dangerous place in the country for pedestrians, click here to listen and/or read. Thanks, Dan.

Cape Coral-Fort Myers Area 'Most Dangerous' For Pedestrians In U.S.

By Jessica Meszaros • Jan 11, 2017

Pixabay/Public Domain

A recent national study rates the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metropolitan area the most dangerous in the country for pedestrians. And Florida was labeled the worst state, overall.

The nonprofit group Smart Growth America said pedestrians in Cape Coral and Fort Myers are at most risk based on the number of people struck and killed by cars between 2005 and 2014.

Dan Moser is with the local advocacy coalition Bike, Walk, Lee. He’s not surprised with the latest report. Moser said Lee County’s roads are designed like highways, which he said induces speed. Plus, he said there’s a lack of sidewalks and amenities for walkers and cyclists.

"But even where they do exist, and they're up against a highway, you gotta cross a 6, 8,12-lane intersection that's not very friendly to you-- doesn’t matter how many sidewalks you have or crosswalks. It's just not conducive to people wanting to use them," said Moser.

But the study’s data stops at 2014, and Moser said a lot of improvements have been made by the county in the last couple years.

Donald Scott, with the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization, said they’ve adopted a master plan looking into pedestrian and cyclist needs. In 2015, they got $40 million from state and federal funds, alone, to make Lee County streets pedestrian-friendly. But Scott said it’s not just about infrastructure.

"One of the things we'd like to see also from the education side of it is more attentive driving, avoid distraction" said Scott. "Quite a few of these fatalities happen at night-- about 40 percent. And wearing bright clothing and flashlights and reflective clothing would help."

Scott hopes to see some more changes within the next five years. But Lee County is not the only one with the problem. Eight out of the top 10 worst metro areas in the country were in Florida, placing the state as the most hazardous for pedestrians.

More than 5,000 people died walking on Florida roads between 2005 and 2014. Alex Dodd is with the group that released the report. She said overall, people of color in low income communities and older adults were most affected.

"For people of color and low income communities, we know those populations walk more. So the more that you walk, as a pedestrian, the greater your exposure is to being struck and killed or just being struck and injured," she said. "For older adults... they move more slowly, have lower eyesight and sometimes pedestrian infrastructure is just not built to accommodate those types of impairments."

Dodd said she hopes the Florida Department of Transportation uses this study to improve the state’s roads for walkers, especially those at higher risk of being hit by a car.

This story answers a Curious Gulf Coast question from Dan Moser asking, "What are the reasons for our area being deemed the most dangerous place in the US to be a pedestrian (cyclists don't fare well, either?"


Article link: http://wgcu.drupal.publicbroadcasting.net/post/cape-coral-fort-myers-area-most-dangerous-pedestrians-us

BWL's Dan Moser on WGCU's ‘Gulf Coast Live’ this Monday

BWL's Dan Moser will be on WGCU's Gulf Coast Live call-in show on Monday, 11/13, at approx. 1:30 p.m. to discuss the League of American Bicyclist's report card on our bicycling environment. The report featured in this week's Dan Moser column. Florida State Senator Kathleen Passidomo, a supporter of our cause and a sponsor of vulnerable road user bills, will also be a guest.

Participate in BikeWalkLee's on-air Oct. 19th WGCU Community Campaign

BikeWalkLee's Cindy Banyai will be on-air during the popular "All Things Considered" WGCU/NPR program, starting at 4 p.m. on Monday Oct. 19th.  This would be a great time to call in with your WGCU pledge and select "Streets Alive of Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee" as the organization to receive free radio spots. Our radio spots will promote bike/ped safety and encourage more residents to bike and walk. You can go online NOW to participate, or better yet, call 1-800-533-9428 on Monday.  Help spread the word to your colleagues, family, and friends!

When organizations work together through teamwork and collaboration, exceptional things happen.  This is one of the reasons Streets Alive of Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee, along with 60 other nonprofit friends in the region have partnered with WGCU Public Media for their October Community Campaign Radio Pledge Drive.   Last year we participated in this pledge drive, and loved the opportunity to talk on air about our mission and local efforts to make our communities more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.  You may have also heard some of our radio spots promoting BikeWalkLee's complete streets mission.  This year, WGCU has made it even easier for you to help us receive free radio spots!

If you’re unfamiliar, a couple times a year WGCU turns to the community to raise the necessary funds to keep public radio programming on the air.  These “pledge drives” are critical to WGCU’s operations and thousands of people from our region donate money.

Cindy Banyai at Royal Palm Classic BWL booth

Here’s the fun part! On Monday Oct. 19th from 4 p.m.  until 5 p.m.  BikeWalkLee's Dr. Cindy Banyai will be live on air on WGCU FM, raising funds for Southwest Florida’s award-winning public radio station.  In return, WGCU has offered us free radio promos that we can use to promote our events and our mission throughout the next year. 

You can help us receive these free radio spots!

Just call in (1-800-533-9428) anytime during the pledge campaign (October 17-23) and make a pledge of any dollar amount. Once we’ve raised $1000 for WGCU, Streets Alive, Inc. and BikeWalkLee will receive 28 radio spots!  The more we raise, the more spots we earn! Your gift will support our local treasure, WGCU Public Radio, and at the same time provide us with valuable marketing opportunities that we might otherwise not be able to afford. 

WGCU-FM can be found at 90.1 on the FM Dial (91.7 FM on Marco Island), is streamed live on WGCU.org, or can be accessed through the WGCU mobile app.  You can make your pledge of support by calling 1-800-533-9428 or by pledging online at WGCU.org.  Just make sure that you select "Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee" as the nonprofit you want to support with free radio promos on the scroll down menu labeled "Click for the Non-profit List" (it's in alphabetical order and we're 4th from the last) . 

Tune in, make a pledge, and we'd love to thank you live on the air.  Tied up on Oct. 19th? or just can't wait to participate?  Click here to make an online pledge.  Just scroll down the "non-profit list" and Check the box: "Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee".  Thank you!

 Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee are honored to partner with the WGCU "Your Community" Pledge Drive.

Help BikeWalkLee receive free radio spots--Participate in WGCU's "Your Community" radio pledge drive

Want to help BikeWalkLee promote bike/ped safety? encourage more residents to bike and walk? Participate in WGCU's "Your Community" pledge drive and select "Streets Alive of Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee" as your organization to receive free radio spots. You can go online NOW to participate, or better yet, call 1-800-533-9428 during BWL's 4-5 p.m. on Monday Oct. 19th WGCU pledge hour. Help spread the word to your colleagues, family, and friends!

When organizations work together through teamwork and collaboration, exceptional things happen.  This is one of the reasons Streets Alive of Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee, along with 60 other nonprofit friends in the region have partnered with WGCU Public Media for their October Community Campaign Radio Pledge Drive.   Last year we participated in this pledge drive, and loved the opportunity to talk on air about our mission and local efforts to make our communities more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.  You may have also heard some of our radio spots promoting BikeWalkLee's complete streets mission.  This year, WGCU has made it even easier for you to help us receive free radio spots!

If you’re unfamiliar, a couple times a year WGCU turns to the community to raise the necessary funds to keep public radio programming on the air.  These “pledge drives” are critical to WGCU’s operations and thousands of people from our region donate money.

Cindy Banyai at Royal Palm Classic BWL booth

Here’s the fun part! On Monday Oct. 19th from 4 p.m.  until 5 p.m.  BikeWalkLee's Dr. Cindy Banyai will be live on air on WGCU FM, raising funds for Southwest Florida’s award-winning public radio station.  In return, WGCU has offered us free radio promos that we can use to promote our events and our mission throughout the next year. 

You can help us receive these free radio spots!

Just call in (1-800-533-9428) anytime during the pledge campaign (October 17-23) and make a pledge of any dollar amount. Once we’ve raised $1000 for WGCU, Streets Alive, Inc. and BikeWalkLee will receive 28 radio spots!  The more we raise, the more spots we earn! Your gift will support our local treasure, WGCU Public Radio, and at the same time provide us with valuable marketing opportunities that we might otherwise not be able to afford. 

WGCU-FM can be found at 90.1 on the FM Dial (91.7 FM on Marco Island), is streamed live on WGCU.org, or can be accessed through the WGCU mobile app.  You can make your pledge of support by calling 1-800-533-9428 or by pledging online at WGCU.org.  Just make sure that you select "Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee" as the nonprofit you want to support with free radio promos on the scroll down menu labeled "Click for the Non-profit List" (it's in alphabetical order and we're 4th from the last) . 

Tune in, make a pledge, and we'd love to thank you live on the air.  Tied up on Oct. 19th? or just can't wait to participate?  Click here to make an online pledge.  Just scroll down the "non-profit list" and Check the box: "Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee".  Thank you!

 Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee are honored to partner with the WGCU "Your Community" Pledge Drive.

WGCU/Gulf Coast Live: Improving Safety for Florida Bicyclists

WGCU--Gulf Coast Live 3/18/15: Improving Safety for Florida Bicyclists

WGCU's Gulf Coast Live! hosted News-Press writer Janine Zeitlin, BikeWalkLee's Dan Moser and Branden Walsh, the brother of a local bicyclist killed in a hit-and-run, for its segment Wednesday on improving bike safety. Click here to listen to the 30-minute show.
By John Davis


University of Southern California via Flickr

Gov. Rick Scott recently declared March as Bike Month in Florida, but when it comes to safety for bicyclists sharing our roadways, the Sunshine State is the deadliest in the nation. Southwest Florida in particular consistently ranks among the top ten most dangerous regions in the state for bicyclists. Following a recent special investigation by the News-Press, we’ll explore what’s behind the dangerous conditions Florida bicyclists face from driver aggression and a lack of safety education to ill-designed roadway infrastructure and a lack of effective legislation to protect cyclists. We’ll also discuss what’s being done to make Florida roads safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Guests:
Dan Moser, Organizer of the BikeWalkLee Coalition and Lee County and EMS Traffic Safety Consultant
Janine Zeitlin, Reporter for the News-Press

Also posted on the News-Press.

Oct. 21st: Help BikeWalkLee receive free radio spots--Participate in WGCU's "Your Community" radio pledge drive

Want to help BikeWalkLee promote bike/ped safety? encourage more residents to bike. walk, and take transit? promote an upcoming BikeWalkLee or Streets Alive event?  Call in during BWL's 1-2 p.m. on Tues. Oct. 21st WGCU pledge hour and help us receive free radio spots. Or go online anytime this week and select our organization (listed as Streets Alive and BikeWalkLee). Help spread the word to your colleagues, family, and friends!

When organizations work together through teamwork and collaboration, exceptional things happen.  This is one of the reasons Streets Alive of Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee, along with 60 other nonprofit friends in the region, have partnered with WGCU Public Media for their October “Your Community” Radio Pledge Drive. 

If you’re unfamiliar, a couple times a year WGCU turns to the community to raise the necessary funds to keep public radio programming on the air.  These “pledge drives” are critical to WGCU’s operations and thousands of people from our region donate money.

Here’s the fun part! On Tuesday, Oct. 21st from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. BikeWalkLee's Dr. Cindy Banyai will be live on air on WGCU FM, raising funds for Southwest Florida’s award-winning public radio station.  In return, WGCU has offered to help us augment our marketing budget by awarding us with free radio promos that we can use to promote both Streets Alive and BikeWalkLee events and missions throughout the next year.

You can help us receive these free radio spots!

Just call in anytime during the pledge campaign (October 17-24) and make a pledge of $250 and (Streets Alive of Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee will receive EIGHT radio spots!  Pledges of $500 earn us 16 spots; your $750 gift earns 24, and so forth.  Your gift will support our local treasure, WGCU Public Radio, and at the same time provide us with valuable marketing opportunities that we might otherwise not be able to afford. 

WGCU-FM can be found at 90.1 on the FM Dial (91.7 FM on Marco Island), is streamed live on WGCU.org, or can be accessed through the WGCU mobile app.  You can make your pledge of support by calling 1-800-533-9428 or by pledging online at WGCU.org.  Just make sure that you select as the nonprofit you’d like to support with free radio promos!  Tune in, make a pledge, and we'd love to thank you live on the air. 

Tied up on Oct. 21st? or just can't wait to participate?  Click here to make an online pledge.   Just scroll down and check the box:"Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee". Thank you!

Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee are honored to partner with the WGCU "Your Community" Pledge Drive.

Support WGCU and help Streets Alive and BikeWalkLee receive free radio spots!

Here's your chance to help the community in several ways at once:  support WGCU Public Media and at the same time support Streets Alive and BikeWalkLee!

When organizations work together through teamwork and collaboration, exceptional things happen.  This is one of the reasons Streets Alive of Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee, along with 60 other nonprofit friends in the region, have partnered with WGCU Public Media for their October “Your Community” Radio Pledge Drive. 

If you’re unfamiliar, a couple times a year WGCU turns to the community to raise the necessary funds to keep public radio programming on the air.  These “pledge drives” are critical to WGCU’s operations and thousands of people from our region donate money.

Here’s the fun part! On Tuesday, Oct. 21st from 1 p.m. until 2 p.m. BikeWalkLee's Dr. Cindy Banyai will be live on air on WGCU FM, raising funds for Southwest Florida’s award-winning public radio station.  In return, WGCU has offered to help us augment our marketing budget by awarding us with free radio promos that we can use to promote both Streets Alive and BikeWalkLee events and missions throughout the next year.

You can help us receive these free radio spots!

Just call in anytime during the pledge campaign (October 17-24) and make a pledge of $250 and (Streets Alive of Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee will receive EIGHT radio spots!  Pledges of $500 earn us 16 spots; your $750 gift earns 24, and so forth.  Your gift will support our local treasure, WGCU Public Radio, and at the same time provide us with valuable marketing opportunities that we might otherwise not be able to afford. 

WGCU-FM can be found at 90.1 on the FM Dial (91.7 FM on Marco Island), is streamed live on WGCU.org, or can be accessed through the WGCU mobile app.  You can make your pledge of support by calling 1-800-533-9428 or by pledging online at WGCU.org.  Just make sure that you select as the nonprofit you’d like to support with free radio promos!  Tune in, make a pledge, and we'd love to thank you live on the air. 

Tied up on Oct. 22nd? or just can't wait to participate?  Click here to make an online pledge.   Just scroll down and check the box:"Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee". Thank you!

Streets Alive Lee County, Inc. and BikeWalkLee are honored to partner with the WGCU "Your Community" Pledge Drive.