BikeWalkLee: A really good time to run or ride

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, March 26, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

Is this a good time to go for a walk, run or ride? Actually, it’s probably one of the best times to do that.

Just don’t do it with a group, or at least a group of more than 10 people… CDC’s orders!

COVID-19 is nothing to take lightly, and the social distancing and closures of both places and activities are reasonable responses to a worsening situation. But the dual specters of viral contagion and financial collapse have ratcheted up the stress for almost everyone with enough sense to realize just how bad it could get.

So, when you need some stress relief, exercise is a great outlet (and it’s good for your immune system, too). But the parks and pools, beaches and gyms have also been shuttered.

So it’s a good time to go for a walk, a run or a ride.

If you’ve been out since the social distancing began, you probably have noticed more people walking, running and riding – even with the early departure of some winter residents. I’ve also noticed more families walking or riding together, which is both understandable and gratifying.

Why does taking to the streets, sidewalks and pike paths make more sense right now?

It’s safe, with appropriate actions of course. Keep numbers down and keep your distance, but keep up the conversation and camaraderie… it’s a good way to be social and socially distant at the same time.

It takes very little in equipment to be ready to go, probably things you already have – which is a plus in these economically uncertain times (and when shopping is discouraged).

It’s de-stressing, at a time when we need all the stress relief we can find. It’s a way to be more engaged with your neighbors and community, without engaging in potentially unhealthy behavior.

And it’s something you can do when everything else is closed, on your own schedule and with family – particularly family who’ve been cooped up together much more than they are used to being.

In fact, in these times of disrupted schedules, it’s a good time to establish a few new habits… like going for a walk, run or ride during the time you used to drive to work or drive the kids to school. Given the way things are shaping up, start today and you’ll have enough time to build a new habit – a little silver lining in a world full of clouds.

From viral to virtual

If you’re a fan of organized events, this is not a happy time for you. Thanks to COVID-19, the local running and riding calendar has been wiped clean for the next few weeks (at least), as race organizers abide by the government requests to eliminate group activity.

If you already signed up for a cancelled race, check with the organizers on your options to defer, donate or refund your fees. Since a lot of these events may be fund-raisers for local charities, if you can afford to donate please do – because the fund-raising prospects for local nonprofits is otherwise pretty bleak right now.

And if you really need a race to motivate you, maybe it’s time to go virtual.

What’s that? You do the distance and get the bling… but no crowds, no parking problems and no lines at the Porta-Potties (and no Porta-Potties!).

It’s easy: Google your way to a virtual race that looks interesting, sign up for the distance you want, pay your entry fee, run (or walk) your race and submit your results.

You can still race to benefit charities and to earn some fancy medals. But mostly it’s a way for runners who need a goal to put a virtual finish line out there to get them moving.

It may not be for everyone, but desperate times call for desperate measures.

Ready to ride or run?

Sorry, you’re on your own at least through mid-April. Every local race or ride organizer has put events on hold pending the next phase of the coronavirus calamity. Check back with the various websites (or this space in two weeks) to see if anything changes.

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: New habits for the new year

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, January 2, 2020
by Ken Gooderham

For many, the end of the holidays means the beginning of a new year – with all the well-intentioned resolutions that can go along with that. If one of those intentions is to get more movement into your daily routine, you can face the crunch of having to adopt new habits during your already time-crunched day.

If the idea of carving out time to get to the gym or go to a class makes you panic, relax… sometimes the best exercise is the one you can do almost anytime and any place – and something you can make part of your already busy day.

The answer? Take a walk or ride your bike.

There are all sorts of studies to convince you that getting up and getting out is good for your health. (Google it and be prepared for a lot of reading.) There are sound medical, emotional and physical reasons why exercise is often considered the best medicine.

But I’d make the case that walking or biking is also a very convenient way to add some action to your day.

Sure, it would be great to schedule an hour-long walk or ride during each day. If you have the time, it’s the best way to make movement part of your daily routine – since doing an activity regularly even for a few weeks can establish a pattern of practice that will carry you forward into doing something without thinking about it.

That’s why walking and riding can be great ways to sneak up on healthier habits. Why? Because you can incorporate the movement into something you already do.

Want to walk more? Park further away from where you work and shop. Take the stairs rather than the elevator. Plan a five-minute break every hour or so to walk around the office, around the block or around your house.

Want to ride more? Look at your daily or weekly errands, and see what ones could be done on a bike rather than a car. Something that’s five minutes away by car may not be much longer by bike… and this time of year you can enjoy the fresh air and cooler temps to boot. Maybe even see if you could replace one commute or one errand each week by getting out of the car and onto the bike lane.

Not only will you start to incorporate walking and biking into your day, you’ll be getting something done at the same time. That’s makes it more likely you can continue the habit in the weeks ahead.

If time is not an issue, then walking and biking is an even more attractive alternative. Walking is probably the easier form of fitness around, since all you really need are some good shoes and the desire to start putting one foot in front of the other. Find a friend or a form of entertainment to make it a more social activity if that helps… or use the alone time to process and plan your day.

Biking takes a little more work, since you need to have a working bicycle (and a helmet if you’re smart). But it can take as little or as much time as you can offer, and is a low-impact but high-results option to get moving.

So if you need to figure out how to make fitness fit into your daily life, why not go for a walk, or a ride today?

Please put down that phone…

The new year may mean more walking or biking, but it could also mean less texting.

Starting Jan. 1, texting while driving will now earn you a ticket rather than a warning… and using any handheld device in a school or construction zone is also subject to punishment or penalty.

The texting-while-driving rules went into effect last July 1, but police could issue warnings for the first six months to get drivers used to the new regulations. The same grace period applied to the ban on using handheld devices in school or construction zones since those new rules took effect Oct. 1.

Now, those warnings turn into tickets (and fines), making a dangerous habit an expensive one as well. “No texting” doesn’t mean no phone use at all, although a bill seeking to ban any handheld use while operating a vehicle has been filed for the next legislative session. You can still text at stoplights, as well as use your phone in non-distracting ways while driving.

But the first offense will earn you a fine, with subsequent violations earning you points against your license as well as escalating fines (not to mention increased risk to you, your passengers and anyone else on the road with you).

So make your life simpler (and safer)… just don’t text and drive, period.

Ready to ride or run? 

Run? Ring in the new year with the Jan. 5 Hooters River Roots and Ruts 10-mile and 5K run at Caloosahatchee Regional Park in Alva (details at ftmyerstrackclub.com). Next weekend (Jan. 11) brings the Pine Island Kiwanis Club Calusa 5K; details at 3dracinginc.com. On Jan. 18 you can join two 5Ks – Run to Home Base at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers or the Tour de Cape 5K at Cape Harbour in Cape Coral; details at ftmyerstrackclub.com and tourdecape.net. For the more ambitious, plan on the Naples Daily News Half Marathon on Jan. 19; details at gcrunner.org.

Ride?  Critical Mass has these regularly scheduled rides on tap:

•  Friday, Jan. 3: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the Publix side lot at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd Details and start times at meetup.com.
• Saturday, Jan. 11: Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended. Details and start times at meetup.com.
• Friday, Jan. 17: NE-Lee Critical Mass night ride, gathers at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended. Details and start times at meetup.com.

Lights required for night rides, helmets recommended for all, details at meetup.com.

Jan. 18-19 is the Tour de Cape weekend, with multiple-length bicycle rides, a 5K run and more, based at Cape Harbour, Cape Coral (tourdecape.net).

If you’re looking for a good ride and some cycling camaraderie, look no further than the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club. Check out their ride calendar and you see a ride for almost every day of the week (never on a Friday, but even more on weekends), all mapped and planned for your enjoyment. The Riders even tell you how fast (or not) you’ll need to be to keep up… click on the ride of your choice for all the details and even a map. All at caloosariders.org.

Both?  The multiple-length HITS Endurance Sarasota Tri is Sunday, Jan. 5, offering sprint, Olympic and half Ironman distances, all running out of Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota (hitsendurance.com).

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE:

Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you’d like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.

# # #

Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, a community coalition raising public awareness and advocating for complete streets in Lee County — streets that are designed, built, operated and maintained for safe and convenient travel for all users: pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Information, statistics and background online at www.BikeWalkLee.org. 

National Alliance on Mental Illness to hold first 5K walk in SW Florida this Saturday

National Alliance on Mental Illness, Lee, Charlotte and Hendry Counties will host NAMIWalks Southwest Florida — its inaugural 5K walk — on Saturday, Sept. 29.

The event is designed to raise awareness and funds for NAMI organizations across the United States. Founded in 1979, NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMI is an association of hundreds of local affiliates, state organizations and volunteers who work in communities across the nation.

The walk will begin at 7 p.m. at the City of Fort Myers Pier. Check-in will begin promptly at 6 p.m., and various activities for all ages will take place throughout the day, including activities for those who wish to participate but not walk. Fundraising teams are also welcome.

More at fortmyers.floridaweekly.com

It’s time again for some sidewalk talk

Florida Weekly 'Outdoors' column, 6/20/18
danMOSER
bikepedmoser@gmail.com

Wondering how it’s allowed to get this bad?

It’s that time again when summer rains lead to extensive growth of any and all vegetation, from planted landscaping to wild flora. As I do every year at this time, I remind readers to keep sidewalks and pathways clear of overgrowth that can create obstacles for pedestrians and others. Whether the growth originates from your property or from the public right of way, it should not be allowed to create problems for users. What might be a minor inconvenience for some could be a major hindrance and even a hazard for others, particularly those who have mobility limitations or who are pushing a baby stroller or pedaling a bike.

In all of Lee County, any overgrowth that emanates from private property is the responsibility of the property owner. In most of the county, trees and bushes growing from within the right of way are the jurisdictional government’s responsibility. The one exception to that is in the city of Fort Myers, where adjacent property owners are responsible for maintaining all of the right of way from the edge of their property up to the edge of the roadway, including the sidewalk if one exists. Per city ordinance 134.2.25.C, repair and replacement of the sidewalk is technically the financial responsibility of the adjacent property owner, even though it’s within the public right of way.

While this ordinance might seem unfair, it is nonetheless enforceable, at least in jurisdictions that follow their own policy. I say that because the city usually repairs and replaces sidewalk — or leaves it in disrepair — but rarely if ever requires the property owner to pay for or do the work.

Right of way foliage, however, is generally left to the property owner.

The lack of enforcement of the sidewalk obligations and the application of the right of way trimming requirement are so inconsistent that I think the ordinance should be amended to reflect practice, meaning Fort Myers should replicate what every other jurisdiction in Lee County does: Remove the sidewalk element. Also, considering how much personnel time and effort the city spends maintaining its roadway medians, one would think it would do the same where it would have real impact verses strictly for aesthetic purposes.

On a similar note, obstacles such as illegally parked vehicles and other items such as waste containers and debris piles are also prohibited on all sidewalks and pathways. While most neighborhoods aren’t teeming with such obstacles, it only takes one car parked across a sidewalk to create a big problem for the whole street.

Unfortunately, my experience in trying to encourage proactive enforcement is that no matter how easy it is to identify and deal with those who are chronic violators, local officials have little interest in doing so. Usually it takes a formal complaint to get any kind of action, and even then it’s done reluctantly, as if it’s too petty a matter for them to be concerned with.

As I’ve said many times, I believe failure to enforce the law means the responsible jurisdiction is itself violating the Americans with Disabilities Act. But just like the way law enforcement fails to address obvious parking violations, so is the case for the U.S. Department of Justice: It takes a formal ADA complaint for a violation to be even be considered. While blocking the travel lanes of a roadway on a regular basis is not to be tolerated, denying pedestrian access is another story.

One last matter involving blocked sidewalks: As downtown Fort Myers continues to undergo change, a special segment of sidewalk is currently blocked from public access and might never be the same. The street-level pedestrian area at the Monroe Street entrance to Harborside Event Center is the home of more than 100 personalized bricks that were sold as a way for the city to raise money for the center’s construction and for individuals, families and businesses to be recognized or memorialized. Now the entire area surrounding the convention center is cordoned off in anticipation of construction of an adjacent hotel (one that might never be completed, thanks to the city overlooking title issues).

The plan is to inventory and map the bricks, dig them up, store them and then replace them at the completion of work. At least that’s city officials have told me. But if the loss of some personalized bricks due to earlier repair work is any indication, I have my doubts. Being one whose family has a few bricks there, I can only hope officials will indeed do as they say in order to preserve history and keep the promise that was made when they took the public’s money.

To stay abreast of these matters, visit bikewalklee.blogspot.com. Until next time, I’ll look for you on the roads and pathways.¦

- 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.

Cape is walking the walk

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, 5/10/2018
by Ken Gooderham


If you like to walk in Cape Coral, the city has had a lot of good news for you lately.

The recent announcement that some five miles of sidewalks will be constructed in the next few years is welcome indeed. The additional mention that these projects will be in areas near schools is even better.

The fact that this project joins an ever-growing list of sidewalk efforts is the best news of all.

All this is solid evidence that Cape Coral is working to build on its recent (and successful) efforts to improve biking in the sprawling city – a mission made very clear in the recently (2017) adopted Bicycle + Pedestrian Master Plan.

You can find the complete plan online at: https://www.capecoral.net/department/parks_and_recreationhome/bike-ped/Report.pdf

The plan’s goals are:

• Achieve Silver or Gold Bicycle Friendly Community designation by the League of American Bicyclists
• Achieve Walk Friendly Community designation by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
• Reduce the number of bicycle and pedestrian crashes by half within five years
• Reduce the share of all bicycle and pedestrian crashes in Cape Coral that occur along Del Prado Boulevard, Cape Coral Parkway, Santa Barbara Boulevard, and Pine Island Road from approximately 50% to 25% within ten years
• Double the combined walking, biking and transit commute mode share to 3% within 5 years (Currently 1.5% for walking, biking and transit in Cape Coral)
• Create a 228-mile walkway network within 20 years (135 miles currently; 93 miles proposed)
• Create a 202-mile on-street bikeway network within 20 years (66 miles currently; 136 miles proposed)
• Create a 31-mile multi-use path network within 20 years (9 miles currently; 22 miles proposed)

Focused goals, tangible results and a specific timetable… this might just happen!

That would be good news for Cape students (safer routes to school) bikers/walkers (more facilities and safer streets) and residents (more transportation options that could mean fewer cars). This kind of infrastructure is also going to be crucial as Cape Coral works to grow into its massive boundaries – 110 square miles of dry land plus 10 square miles of water – and as transportation alternatives become more necessary (because you just can’t build that many new roadways when your population races past a half-million).

While we’re congratulating the City of Cape Coral, kudos also should go to the Florida Dept. of Transportation (FDOT), which is funding much of this infrastructure investment. This kind of partnership can bring real results, and both governments should be thanked for making this happen.

Ride of Silence reminder

Those wishing to honor killed or injured cyclists should remember to join one of the two Rides of Silence being held in Lee County on May 16.

The Fort Myers ride, sponsored by the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, gathers by 6:45 p.m. to start at 7 p.m. from Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers.

The Sanibel ride, sponsored by the Sanibel Bicycle Club in partnership with Matzaluna Restaurant and Billy's Bikes, gathers at 6:15 p.m. at Matzaluna (1200 Periwinkle Way) to leave at 7 p.m.

Riders are requested to wear black arm bands or red if they have personally been injured in a cycling versus motor vehicle accident. Everyone welcome, free of charge, and no registration is necessary. Helmets are required, lights are recommended no headphones please.

Lehigh meeting

If you live, work, or play in Lehigh and support the proposed 5.5-mile pathway that will connect Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park to the Lehigh Acres Community Park and the Harnes Marsh, allowing residents and visitors to bike or walk between these popular destinations, now is the time to make your voices heard. This proposed FDOT-funded project has been in the study/planning phases since 2013, and is now at the stage when alternative locations and conceptual designs are available for public input. It's important that pathway supporters attend this open house to show their support for moving forward to implementation of this important project.

The meeting will be 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, at the Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936. The meeting will be an open-house format with no formal presentation.

Ready to ride or run?

Run? Some 5Ks ahead to get you moving: Turtle Trot 5K on May 12, 8 a.m., Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach; and the Cape Cops 5K on May 19, 7:30 a.m., Cape Coral Yacht Club, Cape Coral (details for both at ftmyerstrackclub.com).
 
Ride? Critical Mass meets up for its NE Lee ride tomorrow (May 11), and for its Sanibel ride Saturday. For the night rides, lights are mandatory; for all rides helmets are suggested. Details at meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/.

Both? Next up is the Cape Coral sprint at the Yacht Club on Saturday, May 12 (details at active.com or capecoral.net). Ahead:

• Sunday, June 3: Fitness Challenge Sprint Tri, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Naples (active.com).
• Saturday, July 14: Englewood YMCA Sprint Triathlon, Englewood (active.com)
• Also, registration opened for the Galloway Captiva Tri on May 1; the race weekend is Sept. 15-16, with the kids’ events Saturday and the sprint tri Sunday.

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. 


 

Editorial: Bringing walkable communities to Lee County

News-Press Editorial: April 15, 2018

Bringing walkable communities to Lee County

Tom Hayden, THAYDEN@NEWS-PRESS.COMPublished 5:00 p.m. ET April 13, 2018

The standard blueprint for building a community over the last 50 years has become a predictable nightmare.

It went something like this: Find ways to pack as many homes into an area as possible, try and build a school nearby, and by all means build wide roads, to handle lots of traffic created by these huge residential developments and commercial centers.

The problem with the template is it encourages more cars, encourages more suburban development, takes people away from what could be enticing downtown centers and limits the ability of people to walk, cycle or take public transit to places. And in Lee County, the model has led to a high number of traffic fatalities,

Building bigger roads is not the answer for many designers and innovators of walkable communities using smart street designs. Encouraging walkable communities is working in places like Asheville, North Carolina, and even in bigger cities like Chicago and New York.

That's why local civic activist Ann Pierce has organized her second walkable community event, bringing in experts in redesign of communities who have wanted fewer cars, more walkers and cyclists, more public transit use and safer streets.

The event, called Creating the Future Today Designing for People, Place & Profit, is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 19 in Building U-102 on the campus of Florida Southwestern State College.

Communities encouraging less vehicle traffic are not someone's pipe dream. They are happening and working. Cape Coral has embraced some of it by creating over 90 miles of cycling paths. Fort Myers Beach has some of it with new sidewalks. Fort Myers has a walkable downtown area. But we need more, especially with new projects online for the Beach, Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

"We have got to put everything to better use," said Dan Burden, one of next week's speakers who has authored safe streets and walkable communities programs throughout the country. "We have to build the kind of streets that allow for the right development."

Young adults, the millennial's and the Generation X population, aren't interested in being dependent on their vehicles to get around their communities. According to the National Association of Realtors, 79 percent want to live in walkable communities, and only 14 percent of them live in neighborhoods they consider walkable.

Collier County is looking at putting sections of U.S. 41 on a road diet, decreasing the number of vehicle lanes from six to four. The other two lanes could be used for street parking or for buffered bike lanes.

Building more roads or expanding current roads to handle more traffic isn't working in Lee County. More cars simply increase the chances for more road fatalities. The National Complete Streets Coalition ranked the state the most dangerous in the nation for pedestrians, with 5,189 people killed between 2003-12, including 163 in Lee County.

And the number of people killed has only continued to go up as 117 people died in Lee County crashes in 2017. Reversing this horrifying trend is not in our near future as the state continues to be a popular destination for domestic visitors with a record 98 million coming last year, as well as another 14.8 million international visitors. In the Dangerous By Design Report issued by Smart Growth America in 2016, the Cape Coral-Fort Myers area ranked the worst for pedestrian deaths.

Communities are not ignoring the importance of complete streets as 1,200 policies are now in place at state, regional and local levels. Lee County created a Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan in 2013 with the goal of reducing fatality and serious injury rates each year through 2019. There is plenty of work to be done to reduce those rates by 17 percent over three years.

It starts with parking cars, and walking, cycling or using public transit as next week's speakers will frame in their presentations.

Joe Minicozzi, who analyzes return on investment outcomes of local government decision making, will tell you government engineers need to break from the habit of building wider roads. "They don't understand the diet problem," he said. "You just don't go out and buy a bigger set of clothing. You don't induce people to go farther out (from urban areas)."

He wants people to look at how much their cities are worth in terms of taxable value and how suburbs can drain a government budget because of the need to try and keep up with infrastructure as people crowd into gated communities.

He uses a baseball analogy to sum up the wrong thinking of some community planners. He says one has a better chance of getting to "home," if you take more pitches and draw a walk, rather than the low percentage route of swinging big and trying for a home run.

Minicozzi wants city planners to not focus on parking requirements where there is no real return on investment for businesses, but rather a design that limits parking spots and encourages people to leave their car in one location and then walk from place to place.

Another speaker, Victor Dover, who helps create sustainable, walkable communities, says it's only a myth that bigger, wider routes help move vehicles through an area quicker. He believes roads should be built to give a person a choice: driving, walking, cycling or public transit.

He believes in tree-lined streets because shade - especially in Florida - can encourage walking. He believes in restoring dying shopping centers and malls into small communities where people can live, work, shop and play. "There is a need for more housing at all price points," he said. "We need to look at life between the buildings."

People want to be encouraged to get out of their cars and away from the congestion. It's good business and it's good health.

Walkable communities event

When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 19

Where: Building U-102, Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers

Cost: $90. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack included.

To register: MoveForward.ezevent.com

Speakers

Dan Burden, director of Innovation and Inspiration, Blue Zones, LLC. He will talk on Blue Zones or community improvement initiatives.

Jerry Champa, engineer, GHD. He will talk on transportation systems and other safety innovations.

David Clark, deputy secretary, Florida DEP. He will talk on integrating greenways and trails.

Victor Dover, principal-in-charge at Dover, Kohl and Partners. He will talk on thriving, walkable, thriving communities

Billy Hattaway, director, DOT, Orlando. He will talk on local government integration of land use and the new FDOT program.

Ian Lockwood, engineer, Toole Design Group. He will talk on solutions to increasing safety, economic and social value.

L.K. Nandam, FDOT Division 1 Secretary and DeWayne Carver, AICP. They will talk on the state's new complete streets program.

Joe Minicozzi, Urban 3. He will talk on analyzing return on investment outcomes of local government decision making.

Tom Hayden, senior engagement editor at The News-Press, writes this editorial on behalf of the editorial board.

BWL Column: The case for walking

BWL Column
The News-Press, 11/8/2017
by Ken Gooderham

Image: health.usnews.com

It’s one of the simplest and most accessible exercise regimes around, yet it’s also an essential skill that can have a tremendous impact on both the quality and quantity of life you enjoy. It can help you lose weight, gain insights and reduce stress.

Sound miraculous? Not really… it’s just walking, the exercise everyone takes for granted (until they can’t).

Walking is a pathway to both fitness and to wellness. Let me explain.

Walking for fitness typically means to improve your health by reducing weight, building muscle, improving cardiovascular function, etc. You set goals and track progress with a regular routine designed to challenge your body – albeit in a low-impact way that makes this an ideal entry point for exercise.

Walking for wellness means maintaining your health and mobility, to help your body combat aging and infirmity and to keep both your muscles and your mind better toned. It keeps you moving mentally and physically, a benefit you probably never fully grasp until you have those mobility skills challenged.

You see, walking is not just the means to get around. It strengthens balance and endurance, enabling you to stay independent longer – ever more critical as we live longer and have less support systems around on which to rely.

So if walking is so easier and so good for you, why don’t more people do it? There are a variety of reasons/excuses:

• It’s inconvenient. Everyone drives everywhere, then cruises the parking lot to find the closest parking spot. Or there’s nowhere nearby where it’s safe to walk, with so many local streets lacking sidewalks or even decent shoulders.
• It’s inclement. The summers here are hot and humid, and it’s too easy to get caught in the rain. When the weather gets better, the traffic gets worse – and shorter amounts of daylight further curtail your chances to take a stroll.
• It’s uninspiring. Frankly, you’re more likely to walk when there’s something to walk to and when that’s the faster way to get somewhere. But our roads and development patterns revolve around cars, so unless you are in a more densely populated area (think downtown) or a place where traffic makes you think twice about jumping in your car (think the islands in season), walking is not likely your first choice.

Well, it should be (your first choice, that is) for all the reasons above.

You can combat inconvenience by making walking more of a habit, by parking further away from your destination and letting your legs do some of the work. You can look around your neighborhood for safer routes (or go where it’s easier to walk as a last resort. While you’re doing that, look at who else is out walking… if it’s some you know (or should), maybe you could join them for a walk (one of the better ways to motivate yourself.

Inclement? In the summer, walk early or late when both the heat and rainfall chances are lower. In the winter, make time to walk – or get yourself some lights and reflectors and walk when it’s a little darker.

Uninspired? Get over it! Put on a good pair of shoes and hit the bricks… and inspiration may just come when you least expect it. Maybe it will be a better mood, or a few less pounds and a few more muscles. Maybe it just be how good you feel after a good walk.

Finally…

Looking for a different place to run? How about the Midpoint Bridge?

Midpoint Madness is back, in the annual 5K put on by the YMCA. This year, both the calendar and the weather are on your side, with a Saturday night race (starts at 7 p.m.) and moderate temperatures (thank you, cool fronts) making this an ideal event. The only downside? The ups and downs of the bridge itself, a possible shock to those used to our flat terrain.

Interested? Look for the link at ftmyerstrackclub.com and join the crowds this Saturday night rallying at Royal Palm Square.

Ready to ride or run?

Run? Besides the Midpoint 5K, you have plenty of choices and distances: The Olde Naples 10K is also this Saturday, while the Coconut Run 5K is Sunday. The following weekend brings you the Naples Fall Classic Half Marathon and 5K. Find out more at gcrunner.org, 3dracinginc.com and napleshalf.com respectively.

Ride? Upcoming Critical Mass rides are NE Lee (Friday) and Sanibel (Saturday), with Estero on Nov. 17. For night rides lights are required, helmets recommended, and details and sign-up info is online at meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events. For a more traditional group ride, there’s the Tour for Epilepsy next Sunday, with 21-, 32- and 62-miles rides starting from Coastline Cyclery in Fort Myers; details at caloosariders.org.

Both? You’ve got time to train for 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. 


 

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. 


 

Walk Audits provide "roadmap for improvements" needed to make walking safer in Tice and Dunbar communities

Over the past year, BikeWalkLee, FGCU, and Goodwill Industries have been working on a collaborative community project funded by a SWFL Community Foundation grant, to work with residents of the Tice and Dunbar neighborhoods to assess their walking and biking environments and to facilitate engagement in the community. The release of the Walk Audit Final Report this week provides local officials with recommendations to consider as they respond to last week's national Dangerous by Design 2016 report, which ranked the Lee County metro area as the most dangerous area in the country for pedestrians, with economically disadvantaged communities disproportionately impacted by unsafe conditions.

BikeWalkLee thanks the community residents who participated in the walking audits, the community organizations that hosted the walks, our project partners--FGCU, Goodwill Industries, the Southwest Florida Community Foundation; and members of the project team [Dr. Margaret Banyan, Diane Odeh, Vickie Rydz, Stephan Pierce, Mercedes Castillo, Darla Letourneau, and Dan Moser].  We are also appreciative to AARP for its excellent "AARP Tool Kit" for conducting walking audits. 

At the end of this blog is an extensive list of links to all components of this report, the Dangerous by Design 2016 report, and all BikeWalkLee's previous blogs about our efforts in the Tice community over the past 5 years.

Background
Over the past five years, much work has been done with the Tice community, involving the Tice Historic Community Planning Group, BikeWalkLee, FGCU, Goodwill, the Lee Department of Health, along with many other community stakeholders.  Tice was also part of a federal grant administered through Project for Public Spaces to improve community engagement and livability in the Tice Community.  These combined efforts have resulted in thorough identification of problems and community-supported recommendations to policymakers to increase safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.

BikeWalkLee has taken a special interest in working with the Tice community due to the high concentration of people riding bikes and walking, its high incidence of accidents, and its status as a disadvantaged community. We, and the community, believe that improving the conditions for walking and biking would translate into increased livability for its residents.

Walk Audit Final Report: A Collaborative Community Project
BikeWalkLee was a proud partner with Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida and Florida Gulf Coast University on a transportation and livability grant funded by the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation administered through the Southwest Florida Community Foundation. The grant was designed to work with residents of the Tice and Dunbar neighborhoods to assess their walking and biking environments and to facilitate engagement in the community. The Dunbar area was included in the grant as a way to leverage the project throughout two communities with high concentrations of pedestrians and bicyclists. The result was a series of walk audit reports that each documented the routes, issues, and opportunities within the neighborhoods. The team also produced a final report that summarizes the problems and opportunities throughout the neighborhoods.  Links to the final report as well as the ten individual walking audits are listed below.

The project also included the first known and documented research on what participants learned during the walk audits. Across the board, participants demonstrated increased knowledge of safe walking and biking. In addition, they increased their understanding of who is responsible for making change in their neighborhoods and who they can tell when there are problems.

Goodwill and its grant partners are continuing the work of improve safety for walking and biking in Tice and Dunbar, sponsoring a series of "Traffic Safety Tips and Tools" presentations in the community with BWL's Dan Moser. 

The partners are also continuing to distribute the Request for Assistance (RFA) cards developed by the team as part of this grant to provide an easy way to let residents know how to report infrastructure problems in their communities.

BikeWalkLee is grateful to its partners and the Southwest Florida Community Foundation for its commitment to seeing this grant through.  We also want to thank AARP (one of our partner organizations and national champions of Complete Streets) for its excellent tool kit on how to perform a walking audit, which was used as a model throughout these walk audits.

This work will position the highly walkable neighborhoods of Tice and Dunbar to advocate for better and safer infrastructure that will, in turn, enhance livability and community engagement.

Dangerous by Design 2016 Report
The recently released Dangerous by Design 2016 report by Smart Growth America, ranked the Cape Coral/Fort Myers metro area as the most dangerous for pedestrians in the country.  [See BWL blog 1/10/17: Lee County ranks as most dangerous metro area in country for pedestrians: BikeWalkLee's statement in response to Dangerous by Design 2016 report.]

The national report also documented that people of color and those in economically disadvantaged communities are disproportionately represented among pedestrian deaths.  This national finding holds true in Lee County: Our most economically disadvantaged communities, including Tice and Dunbar, are the ones suffering the disproportionate share of pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities yet receive the least investments to make their streets safer.

BikeWalkLee's statement in response to this national report includes a detailed "roadmap for improvement", with suggestions for all regional and state agencies as well as each of the local jurisdictions.  All jurisdictions are asked to "Fund projects, review policies and revise practices to ensure that infrastructure in those community disproportionately impacted by unsafe conditions and those in underserved and economically disadvantaged communities are given priority."  In addition, the specific suggestions for Lee County and the City of Fort Myers include implementing the recommendations of this walking audit report.

Report by Dr. Margaret Banyan and Darla Letourneau

Links to Walk Audit Reports:
Walking Audit Final Report: A Collaborative Community Project, Jan. 2017
Individual Walk Audit Reports:
Tice:
•    St. Martin de Porres (Participants)
•    Tice United Methodist Church
•    Morse Shores Civic Association
•    Jesus the Worker Church
•    Tice Elementary School
•    Orange River Elementary School
•    St. Martin de Porres Board
Dunbar:
•    Franklin Park Elementary
•    Royal Palm--Housing Authority of Fort Myers
•    Mt. Hermon Ministries
•    Dunbar High School


Comprehensive Walk Audit Final Report and 10 audit reports (all above combined)

AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit

Links to BWL blog posts about focus on Tice Community (2012-to present)

• BWL blog 1/10/17: Lee County ranks as most dangerous metro area in country for pedestrians: BikeWalkLee's statement in response to Dangerous by Design 2016 report

• BikeWalkLee's statement re: Dangerous by Design 2016 Report [with detailed "roadmap for improvements" for each agency/jurisdiction]

• 1/10/17: Dangerous by Design 2016 report, Smart Growth America

• 7/26/16: Reporting a problem with roadway and getting results: The story of one pothole and FDOT

• BWL blog 4/28/16: BikeWalkLee's Column: Who to call if there's a problem with a roadway
• Click here for a one-pager with all who/what/when/how to report (keep this handy)

• 12/16/15: Efforts to promote safer biking and walking recognized with multiple awards by Lee Injury Prevention [Includes award to DoH for Health Impact Assessment project in Tice]

• 5/4/15: FGCU student study on economic benefits of complete streets in Tice community

• 4/9/15: Road Zombies in Lee County: The Invasion of Bad Planning in the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan [Tice Community's connectivity plan vs. 4-laning Ortiz Ave. in context of MPO LRTP 2040 goals and decisions.]

• 12/22/14: Lee Department Health receives national grant for Health Impact Assessment in Tice

• 9/10/14: Florida Weekly feature article puts spotlight on safety in Southwest Florida [Includes discussion of Tice community safety concerns]

• 9/8/14: FGCU's Health Impact Assessment: Ortiz Ave. Road Widening

• 3/1/14: Lee County Advisory Committees complete action on two more New Horizon 2035 Lee Plan elements [includes recommendations re: Tice Historic Community Plan]

• 5/29/13: BWL's Guest opinion: Engaging to improve our bike/walk safety [printed in News-Press]

• 5/29/13: Dan Moser's Column: With Complete Streets, Tice could (once again) be nice

• 5/22/13: BikeWalkLee rakes in awards by spurring awareness, action.  Florida Weekly article by Roger Williams. [focus on nationally funded Tice walk audit project]

• 5/10/13: Tice walking audit and FDOT/Lee bike/ped safety campaign kick-off receives good media coverage

• 5/1/13: Partnership Aims to Increase Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety in Tice Community, Lee County

• 10/29/12: Palm Beach Community Planning Panel recommends "road diet/complete streets" approach to section of Ortiz Ave. [Note: name of Planning Panel was changed to Tice Historic Community in 2013.]

• 9/26/12: Update on Ortiz Avenue: Community efforts in support of safe and walkable neighborhood

• 8/7/12: FGCU Students Analyze Local Road Conditions

• 4/6/12: Palm Beach Planning Panel Recommends Further Analysis on Ortiz Avenue