City of Sanibel starts work on 4 shared use path projects

 In the last blog post I reported on the City of Sanibel's shared use path survey results, presented at the June 5th City Council meeting.  Also at that meeting, the Council approved contract awards to begin four important shared use improvement projects.

First, there are two new shared use path extensions (each 8 ft. wide), one on Dixie Beach from the Dunes down to the bay; and the other on Bailey Road, from Periwinkle Way down to the bay.  Both of these important extensions will connect these areas to the island-wide shared use path system, making it safer for residents and visitors, especially the many children and families that live in the communities off both of these roads.

Second, Tarpon Bay Rd. is going to be widened between Island Inn Road and West Gulf to 10 ft., making it safer for the many pedestrians walking from the Tarpon Bay Beach parking lot to the beach.

Third, the Rabbit Road shared use path will be widened from 6 feet to 8 feet, thanks to a partnership with SCCF.

In total, $572,000 was awarded for these projects, which will be constructed this summer.

Kudos to the City of Sanibel for its ongoing commitment to implementation of its Shared Use Path Master Plan! 

 If your community has bike/ped projects under construction this summer, let us know. We love reporting on the expansion and improvement in biking and walking facilities throughout the county.

Sanibel's Shared Use Path Survey Results

 At the May 18th Sanibel City Council meeting, City Manager Judie Zimomra presented the shared use path survey results.  Click here to read the full report. This important survey was called for in the City's 2009 Shared Use Path Master Plan, as a follow-up to the survey conducted in 2006, and was conducted to be comparable between the two surveys.  There are lots of interesting findings, but to highlight just a few:

• During the survey period (2 days/4 hour periods each at 7 locations) a total of 4,650 bikes and 1,361 pedestrians were counted.  This represents an increase of 56% in cyclists and 77% in pedestrians as compared to 2006.  
• Over this period, the share of pedestrians on the path increased from 20% of path users to 22%.  The percentage of rental bikes on the path increased by 49%.  
• The percentage of helmet use remained flat at approximately 38% between 2006 and 2012.

Clearly, Sanibel's shared-use path is popular and well-used by both residents and visitors, whether they're walking or cycling.  Kudos to the City of Sanibel for conducting this important survey and to the Sanibel Bicycle Club for providing the volunteers to conduct the survey.

Link to the full report.
Click here for the June 8th Island Reporter story:  Bike path usage rises

Dan Moser's Florida Weekly Column: Hot! Hot! Hot!

Florida Weekly  June 6, 2012                  

 Dan's column this week focuses on tips for biking and running in summer weather, FBA developments, including a statewide strategy on law enforcement issues.

Hot, hot, hot! And it won’t be long before daily thunderstorms will be added to our weather forecast. Many runners retreat to the indoor treadmill this time of year, but with a little planning and some acclimation, one need not make that the only option. For those who ride a bike for fitness and recreation, summer mornings are relatively mild and dry so this time of year is actually preferred by many who make cycling a daily activity. Like running and walking, some planning and a bit of getting used to the heat are all it usually takes to stay on track.

It’s a bit more challenging for commuters, mainly due to storms that tend to dump copious amounts of rain and often include lightning at just about the time most people are heading home from work. Using rain gear is generally futile since the sweat that accumulates under it is as soaking as the rain. And dodging lightning is something I don’t recommend, so the best option is to wait until the storm passes, or at least loses its punch and potential to kill.



Interestingly, some of my most memorable runs and races have been in summertime downpours. Likewise, I’ve had a few rides in similar conditions that I’ll never forget, although my running experiences left more of a pleasant memory than did the bike rides, due mainly to the wind that usually accompanies summer thunder-boomers (I find it a lot easier to run than to cycle in windy conditions). Below are a few tips for dealing with wet conditions. Keep in mind that our intense heat means dehydration can happen quickly and you can be fooled into drinking less water than necessary when cooling rain is in the picture.

¦ Running: Consider wearing a hat to keep rain out of your eyes; wear performance clothing that won’t hold excess moisture; be even more visible than usual by wearing reflective and light colored clothing; wear your old running shoes, then remember to properly dry them; prevent chafing with petroleum jelly or other similar products; and remember that motorists and cyclists may be struggling to see and operate, so don’t make unpredictable moves and always assume they can’t see you.

¦ Cycling: Operate your bike more cautiously by taking corners at a lower speed than usual; lightly apply the brakes to dry the rims and be prepared to brake sooner than you might otherwise; be aware that painted lines and other roadway markings and features will be slick and that oil accumulated on the surface is particularly dangerous when it first begins to rain; avoid puddles since they may hide potholes or debris that can cause you to lose control; be as visible as possible, include using lights and reflective materials; wear yellow or clear lens glasses to protect your eyes; add fenders to your bike; and remember to dry and lubricate your chain afterward.

Advocacy update
The Florida Bicycle Association, the statewide nonprofit organization that provides education and awareness services, recently held a grand opening for its new headquarters, located in beautiful downtown DeLand. Immediately adjacent to Stetson University, FBA’s spacious offices are in the Chamber of Commerce building, so there’s plenty of walk-in traffic and opportunity to engage folks who the group otherwise might not.

On the same weekend of the opening, FBA’s board of directors held its quarterly meeting. Among the topics discussed were law enforcement matters BikeWalkLee and others throughout the state are dealing with. A strategy was developed to address the numerous and serious concerns expressed my many and includes FBA seeking to meet with top officials from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, the department that oversees Florida Highway Patrol. I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about this effort on both the local and state level. As usual, for up to date information you can visit www.bikewalklee.blogspot.com.

Until next time, I’ll look for you on the roads and trails. ¦
— Dan Moser is a league cycling and CyclingSavvy instructor/ trainer and programs director for the Florida Bicycle Association who cycles, runs and walks regularly for transportation, recreation and fitness. He can be contacted at dan@floridabicycle.org or 334- 6417.