BikeWalkLee: Parks and prohibitions

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, May 20, 2021
by Ken Gooderham

Some bike/ped activity from the county brings us new parks and new rules.

Lehigh linear park:

The recent announcement of plans for a 6-mile-long linear park in Lehigh Acres may not be the best part of the recreational news – but it’s still a welcome plan for local bikers, runners and walkers. The park, which will run along the northern side of the Able Canal, will provide much needed bike/ped options away from the roadways while tying together a number of community assets – from Harns Marsh to Lehigh Trailhead Park and including Lehigh Elementary and Lehigh Community Park.

It’s the latter facility that also has some welcomed improvements ahead. The county purchased 47 acres adjacent to the existing Lehigh Acres Park, and a number of new facilities are in design right now to be added soon. Reports say they may include football and soccer fields, pickleball courts, fishing areas and a disc golf course.  

Some of the additional acreage will be devoted to a bus transfer station, further enhancing accessibility to the park and facilities without generating additional traffic.

The linear park is a joint project with Lee County and the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, with funding from the county ($2 million) and the Florida Dept. of Transportation ($4.9 million).

Construction on the shared-use path is expected in 2023, while work on the park expansion hopefully will begin next year.

Lehigh Acres is often overlooked when it comes to bike/ped infrastructure, so adding a major pathway that will make access to a number of recreational assets easier is welcome and long overdue. As one of the faster growing areas of the county, we expect the new parks (linear and community) will see a lot of use in the years ahead.

Yarbrough trailhead under way:

Moving to another linear park, construction is well under way on the long-awaited trailhead park for the John Yarbrough Linear Park. Featuring parking, pavilions and restrooms, the trailhead is on a 1.4-acre parcel where the linear park intersects Ben C. Pratt/six Mile Cypress Parkway.

Parking has been sorely lacking along the linear park, which runs 4.8 miles from Colonial Blvd. south to Six Mile Cypress Parkway along the Ten Mile Canal. Despite this, the park has still seen considerable use thanks to numerous adjacent neighborhoods and its connections to other bike paths and recreational facilities.

Having a place to park for the park will just expand its use even more… good news for bikers, runners and walkers, as well as dog lovers (on-leash, please) and people who fish the canal.

Weather permitting, construction should be done by early summer.

Rules for the right-of-way:

Finally, last month county commissioners also approved new restrictions on “dangerous uses of public roads and rights of way.”

The condensed version is that folks who have been soliciting money and selling goods along major intersections (which has increased noticeably during the pandemic) will have to find another place to operate instead of standing on narrow concrete medians or beside busy roadways.

The good news? The ordinance cited the county’s unpleasantly high ranking among the country’s most dangerous places for pedestrians as justification for the action, acknowledging a very unwelcome history of pedestrian injuries and deaths along county roadways (even though the activities being prohibited here are rarely the reason for pedestrian fatalities).

The bad news? Some more benign activities may be swept up in the new restrictions, including “Fill The Boot” charitable drives held by local fire departments and some political campaigning where candidates and supporters waving at passing motorists traversing busy intersections.

The new rules apply only to roads in unincorporated Lee County and, while fines and jail time are possible, the Sheriff’s Office plans to work on education and awareness first before more strict enforcement kicks in.

Making county roadways safer for pedestrians is a laudable goal – but the real danger for most pedestrians lies elsewhere than standing at busy intersections. Bad road design, inadequate crossing options, insufficient lighting and inattentive drivers are far more dangerous to pedestrians – and none of these are impacted by the new rules.

And while the tighter regulations are no doubt driven by the rise in homeless people seeking help, it will be interesting to see if charities and candidates push back on the prohibitions once the economy recovers and the restrictions kick in. 

EVENTS 

Summertime has squeezed local running and biking events, with July 4 the biggest bump on the horizon. It’s still smart to confirm events with the organizers and stay flexible in case conditions (and pandemic guidelines) change.

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• Priority Business Solutions Freedom 5K Run/Walk & Gunterberg Charitable Foundation Kid's Fun Run, Sunday, July 4, Cape Coral Bridge
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• SNIP Collier 5K, May 31 
• GCR Firecracker 5K, July 3-5, virtual

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• USA Independence Day 5K, Sunday, July 4, Estero
  

OTHER RUNS

• Publix Run to the Arts 5K run/walk – in-person is now delayed to Nov. 20, runsignup.com or runtothearts.com
  

OTHER RIDES

• Costco/CRBC Golisano Children's Hospital Benefit Ride, Saturday, May 22, starts at 7:30 a.m. from Costco at the Gulf Coast Town Center. 45 miles, five speed groups, minimum $20 donation, no reservations needed. Info at caloosariders.org.
  
• Wheel Lee Fun instructional series for young riders. Four weekly sessions beginning July 5, go to crbc.clubexpress.com/wheelleefun for details.
  

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:

• 2021 Heartland Triathlon, June 12-13, Sebring. Kid’s event Saturday, adult Olympic and sprint triathlon, duathlon and aquabike Sunday.
• Fort Desoto Triathlon, June 26, Fort Desoto (St. Petersburg), sprint and Olympic
• Sirens & Merman Triathlon & Duathlon, June 27, Sarasota
• Top Gun Triathlon, July 17, St. Petersburg
• Siesta Sprint Triathlon, Aug. 1, Siesta Key
• 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 www.BikeWalkLee.org.

 

 

BikeWalkLee: Bike/ped facilities a good investment

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, July 30, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

Want proof that investing in bike/ped infrastructure works? Watch what happens once a bike lane or shared-use path is in place.

To misquote the well-worn movie phrase: “If you build it, they will come!”

One example: The bike path along Palomino Lane has been open less than a year, but it’s in constant use already – even in the summer!

In fact, it’s so popular that one of the communities nearby is working with the City of Fort Myers to construct its own shared-use path to connect to the Palomino pathway. This will boost usage even more, as well as move cyclists off a narrow two-lane road – the scene of a cycling fatality earlier this year.

Another example: Drive along Treeline Avenue some Saturday morning and you might see more bicycles than cars taking advantage of the bike lanes on both sides of the four-lane roadway – a favorite of the faster paceline riders – or the sidewalks along most of the roadway– preferred by more leisurely pedalers.

The coronavirus crisis has sparked a surge in cycling, but the popularity of bike/ped facilities was in place long before the pandemic arrived.

Whether a few streets long or an entire community wide, these facilities bring people out to enjoy a ride, run or walk at all hours of the day.

Why?

• Safety: Give people a safer place to ride, run or walk and they’ll use it. Getting them out of traffic and into a place designed with these activities in mind is a great attraction.
• Visibility: More people ride when they see more people riding, same with walking. It’s both a reminder that riding and walking is a viable option and the sense of safety in numbers – more people riding and walking reminds motorists to watch out for them.
• Convenience: Build a park people can drive to and they will… just not every day. But bring the park to their doorstep – literally – and watch them put it to use day in and day out.

Photo courtesy: www.aviewfromthecyclepath.com

More and more communities are realizing that bike/ped infrastructure is not just a good investment – it’s a public amenity that can attract residents and visitors simply by its presence. Just look at, say, Sanibel, where the extensive shared-use path is a boon to tourists and residents alike, both drawn by the ability to traverse the island without the constant need for a motor vehicle.

Cape Coral is following suit, identifying existing infrastructure that can be adapted for bike/ped use while working to fill in the gaps to make that infrastructure complete – and thus more useful to riders and walkers who want to get somewhere when they jump on their bikes or tie up their shoes.

More communities – existing and developing – tout their fitness amenities as a lure to buyers. It’s not too much of a stretch to imagine they could also tout their community’s access to the larger county bike/ped network as yet another draw… which makes the continuing expansion of bike/ped infrastructure a smart move for city and county officials.

The county’s track record on creating bike/ped infrastructure is getting better, although there is still some lingering resistance to such investments (and a still-growing backlog of worthy projects lacking the funding to move forward). The county’s municipalities have done much better, even though some are more facile than others at making bike/ped planning integral rather than an afterthought.

If the coronavirus spike in biking stays in place, bike/ped facilities will see more demand. That’s why some smart cities worldwide are using this opportunity to expand bike/ped options and take back more of the public spaces for non-motorized use. More open space and less pollution, more room to run, walk or ride (at an appropriate distance) and less reliance on cars in places where their transportation attributes are not put to use.

Let’s hope the urge to ride or walk sticks around even when this tiresome virus has waned, and that local governments follow the international trends and keep growing our bike/ped infrastructure.

It should be a no-brainer. Just look around and see existing bike lanes and shared-use paths teeming with bikers and walkers… and you’ll see why building it is (public and private) money well spent.

Ready to ride or run?

Nothing new on the race calendars, just virtual events and the promise of racing to return come the fall (Covid willing). Keep checking the usual websites for updates… be prepared to sign up, but also be prepared to deal with postponements if the rules on gatherings don’t change.

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. 

Landscaping transforms Alliance for the Arts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dan Moser is a long-time bicycle/pedestrian
advocate and traffic safety professional
who cycles, runs and walks regularly for
transportation, recreation and  fitness.
Contact him at bikepedmoser@gmail.com
and 239-334-6417.

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



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


For Lee County cycling and tri events visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL). The Florida Bicycle Association (floridabicycle.org) is your source for statewide happenings. BikeWalkLee’s blog site has all the information you’ll need to stay abreast of advocacy efforts in Southwest Florida as well as statewide and nationally.

Lee County continues to ignore bicycle-pedestrian needs

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

Courtesy Photo

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dan Moser is a long-time bicycle/pedestrian
advocate and traffic safety professional
who cycles, runs and walks regularly for
transportation, recreation and  fitness.
Contact him at bikepedmoser@gmail.com
and 239-334-6417.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Image Courtesy thesfnews.com

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



For Lee County cycling and tri events visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL). The Florida Bicycle Association (floridabicycle.org) is your source for statewide happenings. BikeWalkLee’s blog site has all the information you’ll need to stay abreast of advocacy efforts in Southwest Florida as well as statewide and nationally.

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.

Efforts underway to make cycling, walking better in Lee County

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 8/1/18
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Turning this unpaved pathway along Cleveland Avenue into a paved trail would connect the two neighborhoods on either side of Fort Myers Country Club. DAN MOSER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Is the glass half-full or half-empty? Depending on many factors, such as where we come from, where we visit, or our individual everyday experiences, our perspectives on Southwest Florida’s bike/pedestrian infrastructure and overall environment can fall anywhere from excellent to horrendous. I regularly hear comments reflecting both extremes.

I admit to looking at this subject very critically because I’m involved in so many aspects of it, from injury prevention to equitable transportation and recreation access for those on foot and bicycle. That being my point of view, our part of Florida rates a “C-”, with lots of room for improvement. That’s actually a generous grade, considering the Cape Coral/Fort Myers metro area is the most dangerous place in the country for pedestrians (smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design).

Rather than dwelling on what’s lacking I thought I’d provide a sampling of what’s coming in terms of infrastructure projects and what other efforts are taking place to get us off the top of the Dangerous by Design list.


¦ Central and south Lee County: The last infrastructure element of Lee County’s $10 million TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery)(leempo.com) grant is wrapping up as wayfinding signage are being installed. The bulk of funding went to improve our bike/ ped/transit network from Colonial south to the Collier County line, mostly on U.S. 41 and points east.

¦ Lehigh Acres: Planning work continues for the Able Canal Multi-Use Trail (swflroads.com/ablecanalpathway) that will serve as a 5.5-mile linear park as well as linking existing parks and recreation areas in Lehigh Acres. There’s a way to go before the pathway is on the ground but funding to continue moving towards that end is in place.

¦ Cape Coral: The possibility of creating public use within the long-abandoned Cape Coral Golf Club property remains alive (saveourrecreation.us). After a developer’s plan to build homes on the site was denied by the city in 2017 the city council approved the reinstatement of the Park Master Plan Stakeholders Group in order to come up with recreational-use recommendations for the 175-acre former golf course. The city still doesn’t own the property but it is in negotiations with its owners.

¦ Fort Myers: A non-motorized link between Cleveland Avenue and McGregor Boulevard will likely run along Fort Myers Country Club property on Hill Avenue. A major benefit is the possibility of utilizing the canal berm along Carrell Road from Cleveland to points east, theoretically linking to both John Yarbrough (JY) Trail and North Colonial Linear Trail. Since the proposed trail from McGregor to U.S. 41 must run along a portion of the golf course property along Cleveland to get to the intersection with Carrell, the next logical addition to the plan would be to continue north along U.S. 41 to Halgrim Avenue, thereby connecting the two neighborhoods on either side of the golf course and giving residents access to the Carrell trail.

¦ Fort Myers: The extension of JY north of Colonial is also being studied. The ultimate plan is to reach downtown and the river, mainly utilizing the existing Metro/ Evans corridor. But the key missing link at this point — besides the pathetic segment of Fowler Street from near Hanson Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (that’s a sad story in itself) — is from Colonial to the new Metro overpass north of Winkler. If properly designed and constructed (a big “if”) JY will also connect to the existing North Colonial Linear Trail and the proposed Carrell Road trail. Information about the two Fort Myers projects can be found at cfmpathwaystudies.com.

¦ Southwest Florida Critical Mass (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL): These well-established outings are not your usual group rides in that they truly represent the essence of having fun on a bike. And while the rides are entertaining they also raise awareness about traffic safety and the benefits of cycling.

¦ Streets Alive of SWF (streetsaliveswfl.org): This nonprofit that began as the creator of two Open Road/Cyclovia events has morphed into one that, according to its mission statement, will foster a livable community through activities, advocacy, education and service.

¦ BikeWalkLee (bikewalklee.org & bikewalklee.blogspot.com): With a mission similar to Streets Alive this community coalition that was established in 2008 works to raise public awareness and advocate for Complete Streets in Lee County. The main difference is that BWL works behind the scenes on governmental policy matters and posts information related to advancing Complete Streets on its blog and via e-newsletters.

¦ Bicycle/pedestrian master plans and bike map: Lee MPO (leempo.com) is the conduit for funding of local jurisdiction bike/ped master plans that identify needs and quantify required resources. Along with those slated to be funded in the near future is the revision of a countywide bike/ped safety action plan. As well, work on a new edition of Lee County’s bike map should be forthcoming from Lee MPO now that TIGER grant projects are complete.¦


- 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.

Making Bonita Bike-Friendly

Exciting to see all the work going on in Bonita Springs to make the city a friendlier (and safer) place to bike and walk. Thanks to Deputy Mayor Peter O'Flinn for writing this commentary in Spotlight Magazine. Be inspired...and get involved.

Bonita Spotlight Magazine:  Making Bonita bike friendly
March 1, 2018

By Peter R. O’Flinn
Deputy Mayor
City of Bonita Springs

A few weeks back, a group of cyclists from around town gathered near the community pool on Terry Street. During the course of an hour-long discussion and subsequent walk along the roadway, members of the Pelican Landing and Bonita Bay bike clubs and the city’s Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Group shared safety ideas with design professionals from Alta Planning + Design, a national design leader engaged by the city.

From left to right, Bonita Bay's Bill Drum and Dave Timm, and Pelican Landing's Steve Gunther and John VanderMeer meet with Arleen Hunter, assistant city manager, and Matt Feeney, public works director, and representatives from Alta Planning + Design to discuss Terry Street bike safety.

The meeting place was fitting. Terry Street between US 41 and Old 41 has been selected as the city’s first priority on its new bike/pedestrian master plan.

The goal of the Terry Street project is to have something special – a transformational project to serve as a template for future improvements in town. It will include a safe, shaded pathway for recreational cyclists and pedestrians, replacing the narrow sidewalk on Terry Street’s north side. An expanded road right of way on both sides of the road is expected to allow better separation of road bicyclists and automobiles, enhancing safety for all.

Around the country, the creation of mobility infrastructures for bicyclists and pedestrians are pathways to healthy living and quality of life. It also enhances good economic development. As a result, this initiative is a city priority.

For the sake of public safety, it’s a necessity.

Florida has consistently topped the most dangerous list in the national “Dangerous by Design” report; the Fort Myers- Cape Coral metropolitan sta­tistical area has ranked as the most dangerous in Florida. Obviously, this is a designation Bonita Springs must have zero tolerance for.

Terry Street as it appears today, before pathway.

After taking additional public in­put, Alta will be designing the Terry Street project this spring, with a goal of construction beginning later this year. Other priority projects include exploring the creation of a route, north of the Terry Street roundabout, so that students living in Rosemary Park can better access the middle school, and building a pathway along Terry Street east of Imperial Parkway toward the YMCA, Bonita Nature Place and Cullum’s Bonita Trail.

As we know, Bonita’s selfless volunteers are the heartbeat of kindness in town. Their efforts also ease the taxpayer burden, and the city’s bike safety initiative is no exception.

Earlier this year I mentioned to Bonita Bay’s Jim Wurster that I had just learned, a bit too late I thought, of a state grant program for bike paths. Two weeks later, Jim beat the deadline by work­ing with our public works staff, and a full grant application was submitted. When the results were announced, Bonita Springs was awarded a $200,000 state grant for the Terry Street project. Thank you, Jim Wurster.

In a presentation to the city, Alta Planning + Design showed before and after concepts depicting a new Terry Street pathway near the city’s community pool. The actual design awaits the formal process.

Public involvement also has proved essential to a longer-term project we are investigating with our friends in Estero – the possibility of a pathway along the railroad right of way from Bonita Beach Road to Estero Parkway. When its “Priority Trail” status recently was in jeopardy with the state of Florida, Estero Village Council member Nick Batos and I traveled to Tallahassee to advocate before the state’s Greenways and Trails Council. The council unanimously re-approved Priority Trail status, making special note of nearly 1,000 emails of support from Bonita and Estero, together with letters from Sen. Lizbeth Benacquisto and Rep. Ray Rodrigues.

The Bonita Spotlight provides this space to members of the Bonita Springs City Council for commentary on their person­al views about city matters.

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.

Drive like your kids (or cops) played here

BWL Column
The News-Press, 12/7/2017
by Ken Gooderham

Lee County sheriff's operation targets pedestrian, bicycle safety in traffic problem areas.
Ricardo Rolon/news-press.com

Which is more likely to change your behavior: Fear of harming others (including people you might know), or fear of harming yourself?

This is not an esoteric exercise. Rather, it could be key to making our streets, sidewalks and bike paths safer.

Safety is a big issue locally, particularly for cyclists and pedestrians. Our region has regularly ranked far too high in the “Most Dangerous” places for walking and biking, evidence of a chronic and, sadly, statewide issue putting far too many people at risk on a daily basis.

How do you make streets and sidewalks safer? Three ways:

• Better facilities, meaning properly designed, adequately interconnected and of sufficient quantity to provide a (somewhat) secure network.
• Better awareness, by both drivers and walkers/bikers of both the laws under which they all should operate and the courtesies that should be extended to other users.
• Better enforcement of existing laws or passage of necessary new ones, so those who are determined to flaunt the rules can reasonably expect to pay a price.

So, how are we doing?

On facilities, we’re catching up – with some cities pulling ahead of others. On the county level, the sizeable backlog of bike/ped capital expenditures is still appalling, but there are success stories out there and new designs are at least not letting our roads lose more ground in the fight for safety.

As to awareness, also signs of improvement but with a long way yet to go. As more people bike, run and walk, the awareness of those users increases – both because there are more people out there for motorists to see, and because more walkers and bikers tend to be (we hope) more aware drivers. Again, there’s room for improvement… but the danger seems to be turning from outright hostility toward bike/ped users to benign ignorance.

Enforcement has always been a thorny issue. For it to be effective, it has to be consistent and timely – hard to do unless one posts a police officer on every corner. It also has to have consequences – again problematic, since some of the offenses against bikers and walker is not a primary offense or lacks a serious penalty (unlike the penalty weighing on a biker or walker in an unfortunate interaction with a motor vehicle… which can be serious injury or death).

So the news of the new initiative by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, “High Visibility Enforcement,” is welcome. Deputies are targeting areas prone to bike/ped/car problems. It will run to the end of May, hopefully enough time to both educate good behaviors and eradicate bad habits. And it will underscore both the existing traffic laws and the need to enforce/abide by them. (And you can bet that those LCSO officers on foot who narrowly escape harm at the hands of local drivers will be all the more sensitive to the vulnerabilities of bikers and walkers in the future.)

Of course, enforcement goes both ways; bikers and walkers need to abide by the rules of the road as well. However, given the disparity of consequences for an unfortunate interaction, the bike/ped side of the equation will be far more likely to obey than one may see from the motor vehicle drivers.

That’s why enforcement is crucial, and we hope the LCSO initiative is a great success and can be repeated in the future. But enforcement alone is not enough.

That brings us back the opening question about changing behaviors. You need both enforcement (the fear of harming yourself) and awareness (the fear of harming others) to effective change behavior over the long haul.

People will change their actions if they see a police car parked on a street. But will they will also change their behavior if they see a “Drive Like Your Kids Played Here” sign along the road? Will they be more careful if they fear getting caught OR if they know the cyclist or pedestrian could be someone they know – or that could be them the next time?

 

Ready to ride or run?

Run? Feel like running to celebrate the holidays? Join the Babcock Ranch Jingle Bell 5K/10K for its first outing on Saturday. There’s also a QBE Shootout 5K in Naples that morning. Appropriately, the Christmas theme continues Dec. 16, with evening 5Ks in Fort Myers and Naples. Find out more at 3dracinginc.com, gcrunner.org and eliteevents.org respectively.

Ride? Upcoming Critical Mass rides are NE Lee (Friday night) and Sanibel (Saturday night), with a special “Crappy Sweater, Cookie and Carol” ride Dec. 16 in downtown Fort Myers (details pending, so check on this one before you go). For night rides lights are required, helmets recommended, and details and sign-up info is online at meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events.

Both?  If you want a tri for the holidays, check out the Dec. 17 Christmas Duathlon & Triathlon set for Sugden Regional Park in Naples. Otherwise, check active.com or trifind.com for statewide events.

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. 


 

Florida’s bikeability report card a mixed bag

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 11/7/17
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Editor's Note: 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 LAB's report card. Florida State Senator Kathleen Passidomo, a supporter of our cause and a sponsor of vulnerable road user bills, will also be a guest.

If you came home with a report card similar to the one Florida just received from the League of American Bicyclists, grading the bicycling environment, you might be happy but confused. While we received a solid “B” there are so many negatives noted that it would make you wonder how that “B” is possible.

LAB’s 2017 Bike Friendly State Report Card (bikeleague.org) ranks Florida 15th out of 50 states, up from 24th in 2015, the date of the last report and 28th in 2014. We fare very well in most categories, ranking 8th best for infrastructure and funding; 6th for education and encouragement; 3rd for policies and programs; and 10th for evaluation and planning. Much of those good marks can be attributed to Florida Department of Transportation’s commitment to Complete Streets, both in policy and practice, something that’s trickling down to county and other local governments, at least to some degree.

Anyone who has a disability, rides a bike, walks or runs should be thankful for this major change of approach to infrastructure planning and construction by FDOT. It’s due to the herculean efforts of Billy Hattaway, our area’s former FDOT district secretary. And he made it happen not just in our district but statewide. However, there remain key weak points that even he could not affect.

Florida is near the bottom in legislation and enforcement, ranking 42nd. The report stated, “Florida has a long and sustained record as one of the most dangerous states for bicyclists. Florida has the highest per capita bicyclist fatality rate by two standard deviations and this rate is increasing. This extraordinary safety crisis deserves extraordinary actions by FDOT and all communities in Florida to improve traffic safety, particularly for people who bike and walk.”

At the state level, Florida fails to enact legislation to make our roads and paths safer for all users. In particular, LAB points to the lack of any real distracted driving laws or penalties and the legislature’s obsession with banning all local governments from using photo-enforcement of traffic laws. Ironically, the few laws that have been put in place have made it less safe for cyclists and pedestrians.

LAB notes the need to rescind the relatively recent change to the law that now requires bicyclists use bike lanes when they exist. While this may seem like a no-brainer, the fact is that far too many bike lanes are poorly designed, not adequately maintained, or made unusable by illegally parked vehicles and other obstacles. Florida Bicycle Association (floridabicycle.org) has been a strong opponent of this law, legislation that was slipped into a catchall bill at the end of the session a few years ago.

Another area needing to be addressed is Florida’s lack of a statewide bicycle plan. We have a state trail plan, something that has allowed local governments to tap into funds they’d otherwise not have access to. An on-road bike plan would do the same, as well as assist local jurisdictions when developing their own plans, as has been the case with the SunTrail Plan. Funding is also a shortcoming, according to the report, which gives us a low mark for policies that limit the ability to fund bicycling and walking infrastructure. Finally, other than counting bike/ped crashes, injuries, and fatalities — for which we have far too much experience and opportunity — data collection on users and latent demand needs to be significantly improved. In Lee County we essentially have no such data collection ability or programs other than when consultants are called in for specific projects.

Florida did well on advocacy and FDOT’s education efforts but not so good on driver education. Local efforts led by BikeWalkLee, Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition, Stay Alive…Just Drive!, Lee Trauma Services and others are always working to fill those vital needs.

Local governments should also heed the LAB report. The urgent call to take immediate and significant action to reverse our record of being the most dangerous place in the U.S. for non-motorists is the loud and clear message. For more about these matters visit 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.

Blame it on Irma

Dan Moser
BWL Guest Column - 10/25/2017

For all of us who’ve been attempting to get around outdoors since early September on foot, by wheelchair (manual or motorized), or by bike it’s still hit-and-miss as to whether the way is clear. Because this unfortunate condition continues I’m compelled to speak up about it.

Well over a month after the major storm event debris remains on vital infrastructure, some being on pathways along major roads too busy for pedestrians or even most cyclists to “share” with cars and trucks. What could be considered an inconvenience for some of us is much more serious for others. At the risk of sounding like a broken record and labeled a whiner I’m none the less going to make the case that our community priorities need to change when it comes to non-motorized elements of our transportation network.

At a community event I attended recently to promote and encourage bike and pedestrian safety I spoke to a woman who uses a motorized wheelchair. She told me of having to summon law enforcement to help get untangled from debris on the Summerlin Rd pathway. Over a month after Irma deposited large tree limbs and palm fronds from the Whiskey Creek neighborhood most remain on that pathway, continuing to hinder many non-motorists.

There were at least six more of these obstructions on a one-mile segment of Summerlin Road
well over a month after Irma.

These obstacles are quite obvious to anyone driving along that segment of Summerlin so it’s hard to imagine why no one in a position to take action to have the debris removed ever did, or, apparently, even reported it.

I’ve personally made a number of requests since the storm in an attempt to prod our local governments to ensure safe access for pedestrian and bicycle traffic on our main roads, with a clear understanding that it would be impossible for every sidewalk and pathway to be made a priority. Just a short time after clean-up began very few, if any, motor vehicle travel lanes remained impassible, but pedestrians and cyclists haven’t received anywhere near the same level of service as the motoring public. At a certain point in time, even after a major storm event such as this one, that’s no longer justifiable, especially when access for people with disabilities remains hindered and when it puts anyone needing to use the facilities at risk.

The crews doing the heavy lifting are to be commended. I have no beef with their efforts – they’re simply doing what they’re tasked to do, sun-up to sundown in many cases. Where I believe change needs to occur is among those making the vital decisions about what tasks take precedence.

Any post-disaster recovery effort requires a plan that should be in place well before it’s needed, something I assume is the case for each of our local governments in this event. If the plan does not have pedestrian access and ADA compliance on the same level as that for motor vehicles the plan needs to be changed to make it so. Especially on major and busy roads and in areas where car ownership levels are lower than average, being able to walk and bicycle safely isn’t a luxury but a necessity. Along with public safety it’s also about social equity.

This is a common scene in Pine Manor where most sidewalks and bike lanes remain
impassible over a month after Irma.

 One glaring example of the inequity is in Pine Manor where more than one month after Irma’s devastation it appears no debris whatsoever was picked-up, meaning most sidewalks and paved shoulders remain impassible. This is a neighborhood with lower than average car ownership levels and many children and folks with disabilities needing a safe place to travel.

As we move forward and get beyond the first stages of recovery it’s looking like Irma’s going to take the blame for many programmed and funded projects that would improve safety and access for non-motorists to be pushed back indefinitely or even cancelled. While some delays are to be expected and justified I fear Irma will be used as an excuse rather than legitimate reason for delaying or killing some improvements already in the queue, especially by local governments. “Blame it on Irma” may well become the buzz-term for foot-dragging on moving towards creating a network of Complete Streets and working to remove the stigma that Lee County and all its towns and cities have earned by being tagged as the most dangerous place in the USA for pedestrians. I hope I’m wrong.

- 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. 

Same old, same old: Cars over people

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 5/31/17
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Maybe if our elected leaders take an occasional walk and try to cross our busiest streets they will take seriously the fact that we have a major problem needing immediate and substantial attention. Reading the official notes from a recent meeting of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (leempo.com), which is comprised of representatives from all local governments, made clear that our elected officials still aren’t overly concerned about the fact that the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area (all of Lee County) is the most dangerous place in the U.S. to be a pedestrian. One comment in particular from a member who sits on the board confirmed the lack of concern and political will to do something about our dubious ranking.

The MPO meeting minutes noted that this elected official was concerned that Florida Department of Transportation’s plan to implement sorely needed safety features on Cleveland Avenue between the Edison Mall and downtown Fort Myers might create delays for motorists. Considering that this segment of U.S. 41 is one of our hot spots for injuries and fatalities involving pedestrians you’d think the member’s comment would have been focused more on whether the proposed safety improvements are enough. Another MPO member seemed more concerned with landscaping than pedestrian or motorist safety (there are no provisions in the plan presented to improve conditions for those using bicycles). Based on what I learned from the meeting minutes and many other dealings I’ve had regarding this matter, I’m convinced the Dangerous by Design report (smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design) that deemed Lee County the worst-of-the-worst for pedestrian safety hasn’t had the impact on our leaders I’d hoped. So if being called-out by this report won’t cause our leaders to take action, what will?

Cleveland Avenue is a sea of asphalt with no refuge
to help pedestrians cross. Dan Moser/Florida Weekly

When the Dangerous by Design report was first released back in January, I said in my column: “What’s needed is a complete reset of our transportation network priorities and design standards. Anything less and we’ll continue to experience unnecessary and tragic loss of life, lives ruined forever by permanent injury, and significant economic losses to individuals and our community at large. If this doesn’t serve as a wake-up call to our elected officials, senior government staff, the business community, and the general public nothing will.”

Based on current traffic crash stats and the prevailing lack of concern among our elected and high-ranking officials it’s business as usual, meaning we’re not even close to moving in the right direction so perhaps it’s time to take a step that may not go over well with everyone.

What I’m thinking needs to be done to get the attention of those who matter and who can make a difference is to conduct a social media campaign that also focuses on those who don’t live here. Perhaps by getting the word out that Lee County is a risky place to visit or live because of our hostile traffic, bicycle and pedestrian environment but also because nothing of significance is being done to change this condition. Surely, some folks would have concerns about raising a family in such an environment, moving their business here, or even visiting, if there’s a good chance they won’t be able to take a stroll, bike ride, or even a drive without the fear of injury or worse.

Social media being what it is today, it won’t take a sophisticated marketing campaign and budget to get this message across. Personally, I keep my social media use to a minimum. I do, however, think I understand the extent of its reach and potential impact. This is indeed a drastic approach and not one I put out there without the concern of shooting ourselves in the foot by undertaking it. But considering the seeming total lack of concern (or, much to my surprise, even of lip-service) to address a problem that’s literally a matter of life and death I contend it’s a course of action that should be considered as a last option. I’d like to think the leadership of our hospitality, tourism, economic development and home building industries will put some pressure on our commissioners and council people to take our traffic safety problems seriously. From a solely local perspective, something like this can also spark discussion and shed light on the inaction among elected officials, something that just might make a difference to voters when deciding who should run our local governments next go-around.

As I’ve asked before in this and prior columns, if being called-out by this report won’t cause our elected leadership to take action what will? Maybe a harsh tactic such as this is the only way.

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

- 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. 

Still can’t get there from here: Lee County’s serious lack of access

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 10/19/2016 
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

For as much progress as our area has seen in terms of bicycle and pedestrian improvements, serious and major shortcomings remain. Most egregious is the complete lack of pedestrian access between Fort Myers and Cape Coral and between the mainland and Sanibel Island. As well, many of our urbanized and built-out areas and corresponding roads that are west of (and include) U.S. 41 are lacking in adequate bicycle accommodation. Colonial Boulevard, College Parkway, Cypress Lake Drive and Cleveland Avenue north of Daniels Parkway are chief among them, having nothing more than 5-foot or 6-foot sidewalks and no bike lanes. There’s little option but to use these major thoroughfares and when traversing them, as a pedestrian or cyclist, none offer adequate or safe accommodation.

Here’s one way to look at this inequity: For pedestrians to cross the Caloosahatchee River, only one of the four bridges spanning the river between downtown Fort Myers and College Parkway have a sidewalk, meaning anyone who wants to legally cross the river by foot must use the one span of the Edison Bridge that has a 5-foot sidewalk. So, to go from McGregor Boulevard at College Parkway on the Fort Myers side to Cape Coral Parkway on the west side, the difference in distance if the Cape Coral Bridge had a sidewalk is two miles versus the 20-mile trek required by using McGregor, Edison Bridge, Pondella/Hancock and Del Prado. For those wanting to do so from the Fort Myers side to Cape Coral from the base of the Midpoint Bridge, the difference is four miles versus 14 miles.

The Edison Bridge is the only bridge from Fort  Myers
to Cape Coral/North Fort Myers that allows pedestrians.
DAN MOSER/FLORIDA WEEKLY

Cyclists fare little better crossing the river. Although some have motor vehicle breakdown lanes, none of the approaches to, or exits from bridges accommodate that use. Worse yet, to go from Fort Myers to Cape Coral there’s no shoulder on westbound Cape Coral Bridge so it’s not really an option, considering the traffic conditions most times of the day. The Caloosahatchee River Bridge (“New 41”) has no shoulders in either direction and FDOT indicates both bikes and pedestrians are prohibited, although I believe the bike prohibition is unenforceable since the bridge doesn’t meet the “limited access” standard required to keep bikes and low-speed vehicles off. However, regardless of legal issues, using that structure is an adventure very few cyclists would even consider.

Regular readers of this column may find this topic to be little more than me once again beating my head against the wall. Indeed, it’s pretty sad that I have to repeat this drumbeat over and over but I consider it necessary lest things remain the same indefinitely. Even with these transportation inequities being documented there’s absolutely nothing being considered to remedy any of the aforementioned problems. The reason given, of course, is cost, but to me it’s really a matter of priority — plenty of funds are spent on motor vehicle accommodation that are not even necessary (Alico Road improvement east of I-75 is one current glaring example). Other than the fact that all bridges eventually need to be replaced, the river will remain a barrier for the foreseeable future. Retro-fitting them with cantilever sidepaths or reallocating existing space to include accommodations are not options, according to those who dole out funds. The same goes for surface roads that have similar issues; right of way can be reconfigured to add bike lanes or at least widen sidewalks into multi-use paths, but that’s not something our car-centric funders are interested in spending money to do.

On any given day you’ll find many walkers and runners on the southbound span of the Edison Bridge — the only one where pedestrians are allowed. Most are there for exercise but some are using the sidewalk to get from one place to another. The exercise and recreation use is just as valid as the transportation function if you put in perspective that many motor vehicle trips are not for critical purposes but are taken for other reasons. The Sanibel Causeway is the most outrageous example of this disparity in access. A conscious and discriminatory decision to deny pedestrian use was made by Lee County when replacing the bridges less than a decade ago. If you think things need to change you’ll have to get involved in one way or another. One place to start is by going to BikeWalkLee’s blog to see how you can take action. Contacting Lee County commissioners is another first step to consider. Fixing these serious problems may not happen in many of our lifetimes but our area’s young people shouldn’t be denied the access we all deserve. ¦


- 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.