BikeWalkLee: Walk (not) on the wild side

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, June 3, 2021
by Ken Gooderham

If you read the recent article concerning a rise in pedestrian fatalities nationally in 2020 and thought that was counter-intuitive… you’re right.

But if you think a little more about road design and exercise changes wrought by the pandemic, it starts to make more sense.

With rare exceptions, road design in the U.S. is driven by one main goal: To move motor vehicles as expeditiously as possible. Any other road user – especially pedestrians and cyclists – are an afterthought to the overarching function.

True, pedestrians and cyclists are sometimes accommodated in road planning. Sidewalks and bike lanes are often included (albeit often after the fact), and many busy intersections have some level of signaling to boost pedestrian safety (again, often after the initial construction).

But, in general, the vast majority of roads are meant for motor vehicles alone, designed to make driving as easy as possible.

That’s why, even when the pandemic pushed many vehicles off the road, the ones that remained were driving faster than ever. Less traffic and wide open roadways equals the need to speed.

And vehicle speed is the key to killing pedestrians, the difference between injury and fatality.

Now, add in the rise in pedestrians and cyclists thanks to the pandemic, which closed off many other forms of exercise and got more people to dust off their walking shoes or bicycles as a way to stay fit (and stay sane) in the face of shutdowns and social distancing.

It probably didn’t help that many of these new walkers and bikers weren’t up on their rules of the road, the ways to stay safer when interacting with motor vehicles.

So, more pedestrians and more speed was bound to lead to more deaths, sadly.

Image courtesy: nhteendrivers.com

But this should not deter you from walking or cycling even as the world opens back up and more exercise options are available to you. There are simple steps you can take to help make your walking safer:

• Be predictable: Follow the rules so drivers know what to expect. Walk facing traffic, sidewalk or not. Cross at intersections if possible, or at places where you can see (and be seen by) traffic.
• Be visible: Bright (and reflective) colors make it easier to be seen, as does walking on well-lit roadways or carrying a flashlight if you walk at night.
• Be aware: Don’t be distracted by your devices or shut off any of your senses (especially hearing) that let you know what’s going on around you.
• Be wary: Don’t assume drivers see you, will yield to you (even when they are supposed to) or will stop in time. Watch for distracted drivers whose attention is diverted by devices, other traffic or the endless quest for that primo parking space.
• Be smart: As the most vulnerable road user, you have more at stake than anyone else. Act like it.
  

There’s one more: Be supportive of efforts to make roadways more pedestrian- and cyclist-friendly. Push for sidewalks, bike lanes and complete streets – anything that helps make roadways safe for all users. 

And when you get behind the wheel, remember what it’s like to be a pedestrian in the land of motor vehicles – and drive accordingly. 

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):

• Membership 5K Fun Run (untimed) & Annual Meeting, Sunday, June 13, 5 p.m., Eastwood Golf Couse, Fort Myers.
  
• Priority Business Solutions Freedom 5K Run/Walk & Gunterberg Charitable Foundation Kid's Fun Run, Sunday, July 4, Cape Coral Bridge
  

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• 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

• 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 bikewalklee.blogspot.com.

 

 

BikeWalkLee: Are pedestrians in peril?

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, October 8, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

Are pedestrians in peril?

A new book asserts our country is in the midst of a pedestrian public health crisis, with the number of pedestrian deaths climbing every year.

So how are we doing locally?

First, a little more about the research. The book -- “Right of Way: Race, Class and the Silent Epidemic of Pedestrian Deaths in America” by Angie Schmitt – arrives at a time when pedestrians deaths nationwide hit a 30-year high in 2019 of 6,590 (or about 18 deaths a day).

What’s behind this rise? Among the issues Schmitt cites are our roads and our vehicles, driving too fast and driving while distracted.

• Our roads: Inadequate bike/ped facilities and roads built to move traffic faster and faster… and even something as simple as pedestrian crossing lights that don’t give older/slower walkers enough time to safely traverse the traffic.
• Our vehicles: The move to SUVs and pickups puts more pedestrians at risk, with vehicles that are bigger and bulkier more likely to result in a pedestrian’s death if they are hit by one.
• Our speed: In a vehicle-pedestrian collision, the faster the vehicle is moving the more damage it will do to the pedestrian. If a vehicle is moving at less than 20 mph, the fatality rate is 5%... at more than 40 mph, the rate jumps to 65%.
• Our phones: Drivers distracted by their devices have slower reaction times and are more likely to drift and otherwise drive erratically… all of which spells trouble for nearby pedestrians. (To be fair, distracted walking is also a factor in some collisions.)

Schmitt also notes that people of color are more at risk, both because they more often rely on walking in their transportation mix and because they often have to do so in places where the pedestrian infrastructure is inadequate or incomplete (if not missing altogether).

Getting back to our local conditions, are pedestrians at risk here?

Yes, although our local numbers may not be rising as dramatically as the national count. Nonetheless, Fort Myers-Cape Coral was ranked the eighth most dangerous metro area by the 2019 “Dangerous by Design” report from Smart Growth America. That’s a slight improvement in ranking from prior years, -- not because our area is doing better, but because other areas are doing worse.

Florida continues to rank as the most dangerous state for pedestrians by a considerable level – which is what you’d expect when eight of the Top 10 worst metro areas are all in Florida.

Remember as well that these are 2019 statistics – meaning pre-Covid. The pandemic pushed a lot of activity outdoors, increasing the chances for pedestrian peril. The only saving grace may be that, while there may have been more pedestrians, there also were fewer vehicles.

Our areas checks off all the elements Schmitt cites as drivers for the national risk:

Our roads, while improving (particularly in some municipalities), still are incomplete or inadequate when it comes to safe spaces for pedestrians – especially in communities that rely on their feet to get around.

Our vehicles keep getting bigger and bulkier, at least looking around on almost every road.

Our driving speeds seem unencumbered by either enforcement or design… although the rise in riding and walking with the pandemic has made drivers more aware of cyclists and pedestrians, at least from anecdotal experience.

Our distractions are still diverting our attention, although we can hope that the new texting laws that took effect last October will help. Again, with the pandemic, it’s too soon to tell.

So should you be afraid to walk along our roadways? No, but you should be very aware. Follow the rules of the road (such as walking facing traffic), be on the defensive for bad drivers, be visible and predictable… and pay attention!

When you’re not being a pedestrian, you can also help by being a better driver. It not only makes the streets safer, it sets a good example for others… which you’ll appreciate when you’re not on the street surrounded by two tons of metal.

With a little caution, you can be a safe pedestrian… and you can avoid becoming a statistic.

EVENTS: 

Below is what’s scheduled for organized running and biking events locally… but confirm with the organizers and be flexible in case conditions change and large-group activities are limited. Of course, wear a mask and act appropriate to your age, condition and concerns.

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

• Cops & Joggers Virtual 5K, July 10-Oct. 10 (virtual)
• Sanibel Island 10K Race 4 F.I.S.H., Aug. 18-Oct. 31 (virtual)
• Cape Coral Turkey Trot 5K, Sept. 17-Nov. 26 (virtual)
• City of Palms River Run 10K, Sept. 17-Dec. 5 (virtual)
• Lazy Flamingo Half Marathon & 2-Person Relay, Sept. 17-Dec. 20 (virtual) 

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

• Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 17 (in-person)
• Halloween Monster 5K (Naples), Saturday, Oct. 31 (virtual)
• Old Naples 10K, Saturday, Nov. 7 (in-person & virtual)
• GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 26 (in-person & virtual)
• Naples Daily News Half Marathon, Saturday, Jan. 17 (in-person & virtual) 

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

• Rocktoberfest 10K and 5K, Naples, Saturday, Oct. 10
• Fall Classic Half Marathon and 5K, Naples, Saturday, Nov. 21
• Thanksgiving Day 5K Run and Walk, Estero, Thursday, Nov. 26
• Naples Christmas Glow Run 5K, Saturday, Dec. 5
• Naples Distance Classic 5K, 10K and Half Marathon, Sunday, Dec. 6 

OTHER RUNS:

• 2020 LCEC Goblin Gallop 5K, Oct. 31, Jaycee Park, Cape Coral (in-person) (active.com)
• Run for Foster Kids, Oct. 1-31 (virtual) (runsignup.com)

CYCLING:

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, although the NE Lee ride seems to be lacking a leader and thus is not on the calendar. The options are below, and you can check out their line-up online (http://www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times.

• 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 Tuesday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
• 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 corralling some of the club’s usual volunteers, a few new helping hand would certainly be welcomed. 

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. 

Advent of cars, suburbs led to threatening times for pedestrians

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, January 15, 2020
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com



Using our feet to get around is the original form of human transportation, at least on land. At some point humans used animals for transporting themselves and goods. Around 3500 B.C. the wheel came onto the scene — initially to serve as a potter’s tool — and it was used for transporting humans in chariots.

But travel by foot remained the primary mode for the masses. It wasn’t until human-powered bicycles and then motorized vehicles came about in the late 1800s that was there any significant change in how the majority of the world’s population got from place to place. Although the first use of the modern train predates bicycles by just a few years, they were few and far between and very limited as to where they could go. Even after the locomotive became commonplace, most personal transport, especially for local and short trips, was still made on foot. Once the motor vehicle proliferated in the early 1900s — because of its affordability, thanks to mass production — the world changed drastically, even in places where cars were rare or non-existent. This change became even more significant after World War II.

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.

Early in the 20th century, roads and streets that were used for centuries became unsafe for those on foot when an automobile was added to the mix. Laws that were purported to manage this new arrival and protect vulnerable users of the public right of way actually relegated the latter to second-class status in that space. For our own protection, of course. That trend continues to this day, regardless of lip service given to laws and road designs intended to allow pedestrians equitable and safe access to our public spaces. But we’re not giving up on making those two concepts reality.

Beginning in the late 1940s, car ownership exploded along with the new suburban model of community building. The growth of automobile ownership was both the reason for and result of our push away from easily accessible places and services to outlying suburban and exurban bedroom communities. One couldn’t/can’t live in those places without a car. Even, perhaps, one car for each adult in the household. When this change happened, an amazing thing occurred: requirements and infrastructure for accommodating pedestrians were nixed, both in the new suburban neighborhoods as well as existing places where walking was still commonplace and necessary.

Look around and you’ll notice gaps in sidewalks that coincide with the date the adjacent homes or businesses were constructed. On a larger scale, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, San Carlos Park and any other place that came up out of the ground after WWII are prime examples of the consequences of automobile becoming the end-all, be-all.

The lack of requirement for developers and governments to include safe accommodations means we have between hundreds of millions to over $1 billion of projects identified (depending on which estimates are used). And that’s just in Lee County. Multiply that by all the suburban model counties and it becomes quite clear that as a society we put way too much emphasis on the automobile at the expense of the general public’s access and safety. The good news is that since we are all pedestrians sometimes, there continue to be efforts to right the wrongs. Even with local governments that build bridges without allowing pedestrians to use them as recently as the 1990s. Even with governments still allowing businesses to be constructed along Pine Island Road without providing sidewalks. And even with governments providing only a pittance of the money needed to put a dent in our backlog.

While those short-sighted policies and actions continue to take place, progress is being made, thanks to the fact that people still need to, want to and love to walk and run. Those who put all their money on the automobile must have never envisioned would be the case.

Local coalitions and organizations like BikeWalkLee, Streets Alive of SWF, LeeFuture, Stay Alive… Just Drive! and Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition, as well as many business, certain government agencies such as Lee MPO and Lee Health continue to work toward getting our primary decision-makers to fully comprehend the public’s wishes and prioritize funding and policies appropriately. As well, local efforts are backed-up by scores of regional, state, national and international efforts and actions taking place to ensure people and not machines are the highest priority.

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.

Watch out on the roads for visually impaired pedestrians

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, November 6, 2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Courtesy Photo

Along with a half-dozen others I donned a blindfold, clutched a white-tipped cane and took the arm of my guide. Visionless, we then ventured into one of the crosswalks we were using to get around all four legs of the very busy and noisy intersection of Old 41 and Pine Island Road in North Fort Myers.

Crystal, my guide, herself visually impaired, was also using a white-tipped cane but I knew I was in good hands. Nonetheless, as was the case for all of my fellow blindfolded pedestrians, it was quite harrowing and an informative experience.

This exercise - part of the annual White Cane Awareness Day - was one I’ve took part in a few years ago, yet it was no less stressful or impactful this time. I’ve also participated in a similar undertaking while in a wheelchair, blindfolded and with ear plugs in (not simultaneously), all to experience firsthand what folks with certain significant limitations must deal with on a daily basis simply to get around in the public space.

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 latter exercise was part of an urban planning conference with the target audience being those who design our infrastructure. Teams of three or four were sent to lunch with instructions to swap positions/disabilities as they made their way around downtown. Most of the teams either got back very late or never even had time to eat lunch because our journeys were so difficult and time-consuming.

Design and construction of what’s on the ground is one thing, but the way we treat each other on our roads and pathways is even more important and is something that has an immediate affect compared to awaiting infrastructure improvements. Realizing that our society is an aging one in terms of the overall number of those over 65 means more of us will have health and cognitive issues that have us moving slower and otherwise compromises our ability to react as efficiently as had once been the case.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “In less than two decades, the graying of America will be inescapable: Older adults are projected to outnumber kids for the first time in U.S. history.” Add to the mix very young children who don’t always make the best decisions and that equates to a lot of people out and about who are even more vulnerable than the average non-motorist. As we operate our two- to four-ton potential killing machines - otherwise known as our cars and trucks - we should always keep this in mind.

Specific to those with visual impairments, I’m reminded of the lack of awareness among drivers who encounter those with obvious visual impairments each time I teach the bike/pedestrian portion of the High Risk Driver class, a course that’s facilitated by Lee Health’s Trauma Center. When I cover the law that addresses what a driver is required to do when someone with a white-tipped cane or guide dog makes it clear they want to cross a street it’s rare that even one of the court-ordered attendees is aware of the law.

So, for everyone’s sake, here is Florida statute 316.1301(2): “Whenever a pedestrian is crossing, or attempting to cross, a public street or highway, guided by a dog guide or carrying in a raised or extended position a cane or walking stick which is white in color or white-tipped with red, the driver of every vehicle approaching the intersection or place where the pedestrian is attempting to cross shall bring his or her vehicle to a full stop before arriving at such intersection or place of crossing and, before proceeding, shall take such precautions as may be necessary to avoid injuring such pedestrian.” That’s similar to what is required of drivers when a school bus has its red lights flashing.

Bottom line: As drivers we should treat all others we share the public space with as we’d like to be treated and always keep in mind what limitations vulnerable road users may have that could compromise their abilities - even when it’s not as obvious as using a white-tipped cane or wheelchair. And remember that it will likely be you and me who are in that compromised position at some point.
 
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.

Pedestrians matter

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, May 22, 2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Shutterstock

“We are all pedestrians sometimes” served as the catch phrase for a local pedestrian safety awareness campaign many years ago. That and similar phrases can be found among many past and current traffic safety campaigns around the state, country and world.

Considering just how accurate and valid that statement is, one would think it would equate to the kind of behavior the campaigns intend: When we are motorists, we should drive carefully around vulnerable road users because, at some point, we’ll be the vulnerable ones. But instead, pedestrians — many who are earnestly trying to get around on foot as a means of transportation or simply trying to enjoy a walk — continue to be mowed down in record numbers, here and pretty much everywhere else. So, what gives?

Everyone has his or her own theory, but there’s a profession dedicated to studying and attempting to understand what’s going on in the minds of road users. These people are considered “traffic psychologists.” Although I have a social sciences degree that included plenty of psychology courses, I am not among these specialists. Rather, my interest and understanding comes from dealing with road use and traffic on an individual level and from working in the injury prevention field for many decades. That being the case, I’d like to take a brief look at our behaviors when we’re part of traffic.

As might be expected, failure to pay attention to one’s task, whether it be driving, walking or operating a bike, is a common factor in crashes or near misses among all of those modes. While there are many studies focusing on distraction/ inattention and its impact on behavior, the actual number of crashes, injuries and fatalities is unknown but likely much higher than statistics suggest, due primarily to incomplete or unreported crash data. Some studies look at distractions coming from a variety of sources and often label them as “inattention” due to “mind wandering” or “perceptual load.” So, it’s not just handheld electronic devices that are the source of distraction; anything that takes one’s mind off the task of driving, walking or operating a bike creates increased risky behavior. This should come as no surprise to anyone who’s paying attention.

Personal experience confirms the problems that result from inattention and distraction. Who hasn’t been behind the driver who speeds up and slows down inappropriately because he’s using a phone? Or the person on a bike who’s riding with no hands, wearing earbuds and looking down to deal with music choices on a device (and usually riding on the wrong side of the road)? That same scenario is all too common among pedestrians crossing the street, whether at a crosswalk or not.

It’s a bad idea to give everyone in those examples the benefit of the doubt that they know what they’re doing. Traffic psychologists (or anyone else, for that matter) don’t seem to be able to get to the root of why those types of potentially self-destructive distractions are so common.

Complex traffic conditions, surrounding environments full of stimuli such as flashing signs or beautiful scenery, or other elements out of one’s control are understandable distractions. But the examples I cited in the prior paragraph confound me and most researchers. Perhaps it’s as simple as the perceived benefits (i.e., yapping with a friend, checking text/email messages, concentrating on media/music choices) being worth the risk, especially among the majority of people who have not yet been the victim of their own or someone else’s distraction. Why those who have been harmed or harmed others by engaging in this behavior yet still choose to continue is even more perplexing.

Pedestrians and people on bikes, being the most vulnerable road users, have the most to lose due to mistakes or poor decisions made by themselves or others. However, since motorists can inflict the most damage, we have the highest level of responsibility when behind the wheel. Disappointingly, law enforcement officials too frequently put the blame on the non-motorist victim when determining who’s at fault in a crash. That equates to the general public — especially those who are less inclined to walk or bicycle regularly — believing it’s just fine to operate a 2-ton vehicle as a secondary task while doing whatever else they’d rather be doing.

I guess besides individually behaving the way we’d like others to behave, all we can do is hope people decide to behave better whenever mixing with traffic. And we can get involved in changing the dynamics of our infrastructure and traffic law enforcement.

As always, to learn about these topics and more visit bikewalklee.blogspot.com and www.streetsaliveswfl.org (where you’ll find a newly developed map of crashes involving pedestrians and people on bikes).  ¦




 
- 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.

Are pedestrians in peril?

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, January 31, 2019
by Ken Gooderham

So just how dangerous is it to walk in Southwest Florida? It really depends on where and when you walk, with perhaps a little “why” thrown in as well.

The recently released “Dangerous by Design” 2019 report noted a rise in overall pedestrian deaths nationally, with Florida as the most dangerous state for pedestrian fatalities (again) and Lee County remaining in the Top 10 most dangerous metropolitan areas (albeit moving from its No. 1 position in 2016 to No. 8 in this edition) in the country – and eight of the top 10 most dangerous areas are in Florida).

Looking over a broader arc of time, from 2008 to 2017 nationally:
    • Vehicle miles traveled increased by 8.1%,
    • Walking as a share of all trips increase by less than 1%,
    • Traffic deaths among motor vehicle occupants decreased by 6.1%
    • And pedestrian deaths increased by 35.1%.

So we’re not really walking more, and it’s safer to be in a vehicle than it was before – but pedestrian deaths have jumped more than four times the increase in vehicle miles traveled. What gives?

A lot of the problem is being chalked up to street design – specifically, streets designed only to move motor traffic and not foot or bicycle traffic – as well as more distracted drivers… yes, we’re talking about you there texting on your cell phone as you drive to work.

Think about it… streets designed to move only motor vehicles (and move them as quickly as possible) usually leave out safe places for people to walk and bike – places away from fast-moving motor vehicles such as off-road sidewalks and shared use paths and buffered bike lanes – as well as safe places to cross the traffic lanes – crosswalks and other pedestrian crossings that are safe and convenient to use (for the walkers, that is).

Without those safe places, pedestrians and cyclists are either forced to find another route or forced to share the road in a way that’s not really sharing – and not really safe. Then add in the motor vehicle operator who is paying more attention to his or her electronic devices than they are to the demanding work of driving – and a momentary lapse in attention becomes a life-threatening situation for a nearby walker or biker who unfortunately has nowhere else to go but right next to the traffic lanes.

Enticing distractions and bad road designs – a recipe for pedestrian disaster.

But to go back to the initial question: How dangerous is it to walk or ride here? If you have choices – of routes, let’s say, or times of day or any other option that would let you take a safer route – you can probably feel pretty safe. Walk on the sidewalk or shared use path, ride on a bike path or bike lane – and, of course, keep your wits about you while you doing this – and you’ll more often than not return home safe.

But if you don’t have the luxury of making those kind of choices, if you have to walk along a busy road to get to work or school or shopping, and you have to do it during rush hour, before dawn or after dusk – being a pedestrian can be dangerous.

A lot of our major roadways – where jobs and shops and schools tend to be – weren’t design for pedestrian or bicycle traffic. They were designed to move vehicles as quickly as possible from A to B… and even with upgrades to overcome design flaws, they can still be a pretty scary place to walk or bike.

Pedestrians and cyclists can (and should) do whatever they can to be safer, more visible and more aware when they are biking or walking, Bright colors, flashing lights or reflectors and smart walking or biking make a difference.

Of course, we all should encourage our public officials to design and build better roadways (and fix the ones that need to be updated), roads that take into account ALL the users… because well-designed roads make ALL of us safer, whether we’re driving, biking or walking.

Finally, we should all start paying more attention to what we’re doing – whether we’re walking or biking or driving (but especially driving). Put down the phone, turn down the music, take off the headsets – and focus on the most important task at hand, getting yourself safely from one place to another.

Some dangers are done by design, others out of bad habits. Either way, we can and should do something about them.

Ready to ride or run?

Run?  Plenty of 5Ks this weekend and next, where you can run for education, clean water, the arts, scouting and even Rotary.. and there’s even a special Edison Festival race for kids! Details at ftmyerstrackclub.com, gcrunner.org, 3dracinginc.com, runforthearts.com and trifind.com.

Ride? If the weather lets you hit the road, a few rides ahead: Critical Mass amasses for the downtown Fort Myers ride Friday night and the Sanibel ride Feb. 9 (meetup.com) Looking for more? Head to Arcadia Feb. 9 for Ride for Tiny Town and 60-, 30- or 15-mile rides. (caloosariders.org). Not enough? Then throw in the Wakey, Wakey! Sunday morning rides (helmets are required, no ear buds, and no aero bar use while in the group). 

Both? Upcoming events include:

• Sunday, Feb.11: Tri Your Heart Out sprint, Sarasota (trifind.com) 
• Saturday, May 11: Cape Coral Sprint Tri (trifind.com)
• Saturday, May 18: Life’s a Beach Tri, Sarasota (trifind.com)
• Sunday, June 2: 33rd Annual Fitness Challenge Triathlon, Naples (trifind.com)
• Sunday, June 9: Heartland Sprint and Olympic Tri, Sebring (trifind.com)
• Sunday, June 23: Sirens Sprint Tri, 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. 


 

Lee County shows very slight improvement in safety ranking

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 1/30/2019
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Unenforced sidewalk parking violations is one reason we have such a poor pedestrian record. DAN MOSER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

The 2019 Dangerous by Design report has been released and once again Florida is the most dangerous state in America for pedestrians. Eight of the top 10 worst metro areas are in our state. While the Cape Coral-Fort Myers metro area — all of Lee County — moved from first to eighth most dangerous, it’s primarily because other communities had a reduction in pedestrians walking to work, and that factors into the index used for the rankings.

So there’s really nothing to celebrate when it comes to Lee County’s improvement. Admittedly, there have been a number of bike/ped infrastructure additions since the last report, but many of our elected representatives and transportation officials’ mindsets remains focused on moving as many motor vehicles as efficiently as possible with the plight of non-motorists being of secondary concern.

In 2018, pedestrians accounted for 23 of the total of 93 overall traffic fatalities in Lee County, meaning approximately one of every four of those killed was a pedestrian — well above the national average — as has been the case for many years. Cyclists fared better, accounting for four of the total fatalities. However, the 473 non-fatal reported crashes among vulnerable road users frequently result in serious and life-changing injuries, keeping in mind that law enforcement agencies frequently fail to report crashes involving non-motorists. So, besides our elected representatives and transportation officials implementing Complete Streets with improvements such as reducing speed limits through redesign and road diets, what else must be done?

One way that communities become bike/ped-friendly is when a critical mass of people on foot, bike and other non-motorized means are part of traffic and become impossible to ignore. When that occurs drivers and non-motorists alike change behavior accordingly. Sanibel Island is probably the only local community that even comes close to reaching a critical mass that has actually created an environment much different than the rest of our county, hence they’ve earned silver-level Bike Friendly Community status.

A few other pockets of critical mass are in some of our cities’ downtown areas and beach communities. However, none of these places can truly be considered bike/ ped-friendly, at least based on the way drivers routinely fail to stop for folks in crosswalks, the fact that many pedestrians aren’t assertive in exercising their right to compel drivers to allow them to cross streets at crosswalks and the tendency of cyclists to ride against traffic and operate on sidewalks rather than roads, even where bike lanes exist.

Enforcement of traffic laws that put non-motorists at risk is another area that should be beefed up. In particular, speeding and failing to stop before making a right turn would be good violations on which to focus. Stopping cyclists who ride against traffic is another common violation that’s never addressed unless a crash has occurred. Also, law enforcement personnel should have a better understanding of laws that pertain to non-motorists because all too often motorists are wrongly let off the hook when they are involved in a crash with pedestrians and cyclists or the non-motorist is incorrectly deemed at fault. When this occurs, motorists continue to drive with the mindset that they rule the road and non-motorists realize they don’t really have the rights our laws provide them.

Of course, individual and societal responsibility are paramount. How often do we see signs posted in residential areas that remind motorists to “Drive Like Your Kids Live Here”? Why is this even necessary? There will always be a small percentage of bad actors but it should be socially unacceptable to operate a weapon (i.e., motor vehicle) that can kill in an instant in any way other than to treat it as such. Far too many of us operate as if we were sitting in our living room, paying little attention to the complex act of driving.

Obviously, it will take everyone to change our traffic environment reality. Let’s hope the latest report that re-confirms our severe problem will be taken seriously by everyone. For much more on this matter, look to 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.

Roundabouts are here and more are coming

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Can you hear me now?

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 7/18/18
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Free T-shirts from past races were part of the perks at the 2018 FMTC Membership Run.
DAN MOSER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

Walkers and runners can be spotted everywhere at almost any time of the day. These two activities are very popular because they’re such an easy and cheap way to get fit, to socialize, and for practical reasons, such as getting to work and taking care of errands. Whether solo or in a group, organized or not, more of us than ever are regularly taking to the pathways and roads on foot. Organized running events are fewer this time of year than during the cooler months but still taking place because demand is there.

And on any given weekend morning I’m among the many who pound the pavement as if the heat and humidity wasn’t even a factor. But one disturbing trend I’ve noticed becoming even more common is the use of earbuds, headphones and other listening devices by runners and walkers.

While not illegal for pedestrians to use them (it is for cyclists and motorists per Florida Statute 316.304) it’s clear they create problems for a number of obvious reasons. Other than when on a treadmill we runners and walkers are mixing with traffic, no matter how much of a “protected” environment we may believe we’re using. That traffic includes other pedestrians (which include users of wheelchairs and power chairs, skaters and skateboarders), cyclists, low-powered electric vehicles and motorists. Intentionally reducing or fully eliminating our ability to hear what’s going on around us while in that situation isn’t too smart, to put it bluntly. Besides the safety aspect there’s the social element: it’s pretty rude to ignore your walking or running buddies by shutting them down. This goes for organized events where many participants are sharing space, even when the course (theoretically) is free of cars.

I witness the problems created by these devices at races when taking on the duty of ensuring the front runners stay on course and run interference for them by leading them out on bike. This task is becoming more difficult not by drivers who sometimes venture onto closed race courses or onlookers crossing or standing in the middle of the road but instead by the race participants themselves. In almost all cases the reason some runners create a problem is because they’re wearing earbuds and unable to hear me telling them to move to one side, so the leaders can pass or provide other instructions. This sometimes happens when coming head-on toward them because some folks run or walk with their head down so they neither hear nor see me trying to get their attention.

Most recently I rode the lead bike for the Fort Myers Track Club’s annual Membership 5K Run. This year’s course was fully contained within the Lee County Sports Complex on its driveways, parking areas and paved paths. This compact course included numerous conflict points as runners and walkers encountered each other, sometimes from the opposite direction and other times in the same direction. Adding to the course challenges was a baseball tournament taking place that morning so vehicular traffic was unexpectedly thrown into the mix.

As it turned out the biggest problem was not 3,000-pound vehicles seeking to encroach onto the race course as drivers tried to determine where their field was and where to park — race volunteers managed them well — but rather from the runners and walkers who were unable to hear me as I attempted to get the leaders past them. So as not to run over some of the clueless runners and walkers I enlisted the help of those who could hear me to make physical contact with the unhearing to get their attention. By my estimation one-third to one-half the participants were among the clueless.

Even after participants were reminded in no uncertain terms when registering and at the start line that any type of listening devices is prohibited — as is the case for all running/ walking events sanctioned and insured by Road Runners Club of America (rrca.org) — many decided to ignore the common sense rule. If this were a triathlon, even a short sprint distance that attracts many firsttimers and casual athletes, anyone failing to heed the rule would have been disqualified. I can only hope that close calls — not serious injuries or worse — will convince my fellow runners and walkers to forego the earbuds and keep the vital sense of hearing in full use when out there mixing in traffic, no matter what the traffic entails. ¦


- 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.

Use caution when biking and walking on congested pathways

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 3/14/18
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Even when it’s not crowded, this downtown Fort Myers sidewalk isn’t a place to ride a bike. DAN MOSER / FLORIDA WEEKLY

With high season upon us, our roads aren’t the only place where congestion — and sometimes bad behavior — reign. Many of our pathways are quite busy and some reach capacity at times. Those include some stretches on Sanibel, Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Beach, parts of McGregor Boulevard and sidewalks in the core of downtown Fort Myers. While full-time residents can forego overcrowded restaurants until things get back to normal, that’s not always an option for roads and pathways.

For those walking or running the most common complaints relate to cyclists who use the paths — which are frequently narrow sidewalks only 5 feet wide — but travel fast and fail to warn when passing. Another common gripe is that motorists fail to comply with crosswalks, don’t stop before making a right-on-red or block the crosswalk when waiting to proceed.
 

Florida law allows cyclists to use sidewalks unless local jurisdictions enact ordinances banning it. Other than a few blocks in the core of the downtown Fort Myers business district and one side of West First Street in the same general vicinity, the rest of Lee County allows bikes to operate on sidewalks. And as far as I can tell there is no enforcement of the city’s ordinance, even though downtown is frequently crowded with sidewalk café tables, diners, servers and other pedestrians. According to Florida law, “A person propelling a vehicle by human power upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, has all the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances” and “A person propelling a bicycle upon and along a sidewalk, or across a roadway upon and along a crosswalk, shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian and shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing such pedestrian.”

The law is clear and it should be common sense that cyclists have an obligation to proceed with caution and warn before passing true pedestrians and even other “pedestrian” cyclists. And while there’s no specific language in Florida law related to pedestrians who are running, on skates or skateboards, or those using power wheelchairs and scooters, they should adhere to the same common sense concept so as not to create the potential for surprise and injury when approaching from any direction.

Motorists obviously have a high level of responsibility because of the serious damage vehicles can render.

Unfortunately, Lee County is the most dangerous place in the U.S. for pedestrians, and not much better for cyclists, primarily because too many drivers don’t adhere to the law. It seems so many of us thumb our noses at traffic laws that it’s almost impossible to enforce to the degree necessary to get us off the top of the worst-of list. Add to that the over-design of our roads and lack of adequate bike/pedestrian accommodation in many places and the worse pedestrian environment label is what results. When our roads are maxed out and filled with aggressive, impatient, inconsiderate and distracted drivers, the problems are even more serious. At the very least, sidewalk parking violations can easily be enforced by simply observing the offending cars.

Why this is not the case remains a mystery to me and the fact it’s not addressed is among is one of the reasons we have such a poor reputation.

Like so many other problems in our society, it’s really only a few people who create them. When traffic laws are observed and common courtesy practiced, things usually go smoothly. It’s unfortunate that there are enough who don’t go along with societal expectations that our law enforcers can’t keep up, thus our traffic and especially the bike/pedestrian environment has become dismal and dangerous.¦


- 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.

What would make us more walkable?

BWL Column
The News-Press, 7/6/2017
by Ken Gooderham

Image: seniorcarecorner.com

What would it take to make Southwest Florida more walkable?

There are a number of obstacles to overcome, some manmade and some natural. The natural issues are obvious, at least this time of year… it’s hot and it rains a lot some days. However, there are many places where weather can be an issue for walkers, and yet people walk just the same. Why? Because the manmade issues are less of an impediment, giving people more reason to brave the elements.

You can push back against some of the weather-related woes -- think trees for shade and shelters for a brief break --and remember that, for more than half of the year, our weather is an asset for walkers compared to more northern climes.

For improved walkability, you’d need to address the two kinds of walkers – the “utilitarians,” who walk to get somewhere, and the “recreationals,” who walk for pleasure and health. The latter will walk if you give them a place to do it, so appealing to them is easy (assuming they get how good walking can be for your body).

Appealing to the destination-driven takes a little more work, particularly in our area where walking infrastructure can be lacking and development patterns are grounded in the old suburban model of homes way over here and businesses way over there.

Still, this is not an insurmountable challenge, and communities are making moves to make walking more welcome. How can that be done?

• Make walking easier than the other transportation options. When it’s easier (or less expensive or less hassle) to walk to some place than it is to drive, people will walk. And if you target the appropriate areas for pedestrian infrastructure – places that have destinations, just not sidewalks or paths – you’ll see a much quicker return on that public investment.
• Plan for walking from the beginning, not after the fact. Building roadways with sidewalks and bike lanes designed in is a lot cheaper than installing them after the fact Making parks and other public spaces both walkable and connected to a larger network of transportation makes them both destination and thoroughfare, and increases their use and value. And making infrastructure conducive to walking will encourage use, unlike some of our local roadways that almost defy someone to walk on or along them.
• Make walking safe. Safe from injury, safe from crime, safe consistently and overall. In an area with some of the worst pedestrian safety rankings in the country, this point cannot be overstated.
• Give people a destination they can walk to. That may mean rethinking our neighborhoods, so shops can mix in with homes like the good old days. It certainly means rethinking our transportation planning, where bike and pedestrian infrastructure is underfunded and under-appreciated.
• Look at walking as a viable part of your transportation system. Not everyone has a motor vehicle, and not everyone should have to drive to survive. (There are some people you really don’t want behind the wheel, for example.) So if walking can get them to and from some reliable form of mass transit, that makes a vehicle a little less essential.

Why would we want to make our area more walkable? That’s easy… it’s healthier, it gets people out of their cars and it improves our sense of community. It would be an attractive asset for tourists and residents alike, particularly as more people look for alternatives to being trapped in a car every day. It can certainly be good for business, since you notice a lot more walking by a storefront than you do driving by one. And it is a clear boon to health, a physical activity almost everyone can do and gain benefits from almost immediately.

What’s not to love?

Stop it!

A quick quiz for drivers: You’re approaching an intersection in your vehicle. Where do you stop?

A) At the thick white line that crosses your lane (or lanes)?
B) At the first of two parallel lines that cross the entire road?
C) At the second parallel line, the one closest to the intersection itself?

If you answered A, congrats. You obeyed the law and made a pedestrian very happy. If you answered B, you’re wrong… but at least you stayed out of the crosswalk.

If you picked C, not only did you impinge on the pedestrian crosswalk (not cool) but you may have blocked the line of sight for right-turning drivers watching for oncoming traffic (also not cool) – and, at some intersections, you also missed the trigger to turn the traffic signal green. So you may be stuck there until someone pulls up behind you and stops in the correct spot.

Ready to ride or run?

Run? Heat and humidity are taking their toll on run events, but there’s still a few to choose from: Try the Beat the Heat 5K at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral on Saturday, July 15 (3dracinginc.com) or join the Fort Myers Track Club for a two-mile fun run on Tuesday, July 18 (ftmyerstrackclub.com).

Ride? You can always count on Critical Mass rides: Friday night is the big downtown monthly ride, massing at 7:30 p.m. Saturday is the Sanibel ride, and Friday, July 14 is the NE Lee ride. They all start at 7:30 p.m., lights are required and helmets recommended, and details and sign-up info is online at www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events. For a longer ride, head to Punta Gorda for the 9th annual Wheels and Wings on Saturday, July 9; details at www.peaceriverridersbicycleclub.com.

Both? Saturday brings the Englewood YMCA Sprint Tri in Englewood (www.swflymca.org/programs/englewood-triathlon). Planning ahead, there’s the Naples Junior Triathlon on Saturday, Aug. 12, at North Collier Regional Park (naplesjuniortriathlon.com), and the Galloway Captiva Tri weekend Sept. 9-10… kids events on Saturday and the adult sprint on Sunday, captivatri.org.

# # #

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. 


 

Dan Moser Letter to Editor: Clarification on Jaywalking

 Thanks to Dan for responding to a recent letter to the editor to clarify a common misconception about "jaywalking".

News-Press, Sunday April 3, 2016

Clarification on jaywalking

I’d like to clarify a common misconception that appeared in a recent letter to the editor (March 23, Jaywalking growing, Olivia Nowak and Paige Schneider). Jaywalking is a slang term coined by the auto industry in its early days as a way to combat the push-back from the general public as noisy, dirty, and dangerous vehicles (and drivers) began changing the long established use of public rights-of-way. In order to make it appear that roads were only meant for motor vehicles, the promoters launched a campaign to equate non-motorists to dumb country folk (i.e. “Jays”). The belittling term has endured, thus the presumption that pedestrians are trespassers on our own streets continues to this day.

A pedestrian may legally cross the road outside of a crosswalk so long as doing so does not impede traffic (FSS 316.130(10)). One exception is when nearby adjacent intersections have pedestrian signals, a rarity here. The reason crosswalks aren’t always used is more about motorists’ noncompliance at those locations and pedestrian self-preservation than anything else.

Finally, crosswalks exist at every intersection even if unmarked (FSS 316.003(6)(a)), a fact universally ignored by drivers and even most law enforcement.

- Dan Moser, Fort Myers

BWL Column: Pay attention to walkers, bikers with school in session

(Photo: Sarah Coward/news-press.com)

School’s open next Monday, a milestone that can provoke a range of emotions from anticipation to anxiety to celebration. That means it’s also time to remind drivers — and students and parents — about some of the rules of the road.

Watch out close to schools: With kids (and parents) biking and walking to school, the immediate area around a school can be a busy bike/ped place. Slow down (speed limits usually are lower anyway) and pay attention.

Watch out for drop-off lines: This one applies both ways. First, the line of cars leading up to some schools can be long and slow-moving, which messes up regular traffic and often means inattentive drivers. Then, once their little darling has been safely deposited, some drivers can be a little too eager to make up for lost time, speeding away from school at an imprudent pace while often attempting to do something completely unrelated to driving — say, texting, eating or applying makeup — at the same time.

Watch out for stopped buses: Not only so you don’t hit them, but so you don’t break the law by not braking. If a bus is stopped in a two-lane road, both lanes to traffic must stop when the red lights start flashing. If it’s a multi-lane road paved across all lanes, that also means everyone (in both direction) must come to a complete stop while the bus is loading. It’s only on truly divided highways — with a landscaped or barricaded median — where only the traffic behind the bus must stop… but those driving in the other direction are urged to pay attention, of course.

Watch out for bus stops: Even (especially) if the bus hasn’t arrived, it doesn’t mean you can zoom right by. Any place where students congregate is a place where something could go quickly wrong —someone dashing into the street, kids making their way inattentively to the stop, parents parked nearby waiting for the arrival of the bus, and more. All good reasons to pay attention.

If you’re a student (with or without a parent) who’s decided to bike or walk to school, good for you! It’s a great way to start the day, it gives you some independence along with your exercise — heck, it may even make you a better student (but it unfortunately won’t get you out of homework).

You may be walking or biking because you live closer than two miles to the school — which means the school district does not have to provide transportation except in special circumstances. Or it may be because it’s fun. Either way, remember a few simple things:

•If you’re under age 16, put on that helmet before you ride… it’s the law. Parents, if you’re riding with young kids, put your own helmet on. It not only sets a good example, but it can keep you safe if accidents happen… and don’t you want to see your kid grow up and graduate?

•There’s safety in numbers… on foot or on bikes. Some neighborhoods organize walking school buses or bike trains so kids and adults can move together, making them more visible and (hopefully) safer.

•Be predictable and follow the rules of the road. Stay out of the driving lanes, walk facing traffic (but bike with it if you can’t be on a sidewalk), stop at all intersections and don’t expect drivers to pay attention to everything you do (even though they supposed to do so).

Groups such as Safe Routes to Schools (http://saferoutespartnership.org/) and Walk/Bike to School (http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/), among others, have ideas for ways parents and communities can work to keep bike/walk kids safe. And the Lee County School District (leeschools.net) has all the bus routes, school details, calendars and rules you’ll need to keep this school year on track.

At the beginning of every school year, we ask our kids to work hard and learn. Let’s all of us — drivers, bikers, walkers, parents and anyone else — work just as hard to keep them safe.

BikeWalkLee is 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.

Ready to ride or run?

Run: The dog days offer slim pickings for organized runs —there’s one in Naples on Saturday (North Collier Regional Rampage, www.eliteevents.org) — so plan your own run to keep in shape or get ready for a full fall calendar ahead.

Ride: There’s a Global Solidarity Ride on Sunday, Aug. 30, to support the Afghan National Women’s Cycling Team. It starts from Go Girl Cycling, 9377 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Fort Myers. Also, mark your calendars for the next SWFL Critical Mass gathering on Friday, Sept. 4, in downtown Fort Myers.

Both: While the Sept. 12-13 Galloway Captiva Tri is sold out, if you’re willing to drive north a little there are two choices: A traditional tri is the Venice YMCA Triathlon (sprint) on Sunday, Sept. 5 (www.swflymca.org/programs/venice-triathlon) and the Life’s A Beach Triathlon on Lido Key is a more easy-going tri on Saturday, Sept. 12 (www.lifesabeachtriathlon.com).

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