Cape Coral Bike Ped presents progress report at Sept. 23rd Cape City Council meeting

Kudos to CCBP for its successful launch of the new 90-miles of connected bike routes on the Cape, and for celebrating the progress with City Council and many public/private partners that made this possible.

Cape Coral Bike Ped member Gary Aubuchon updated the Cape Coral City Council at its September 23, meeting on the progress made to date on the Cape bike routes project.  He did so on behalf of Carolyn Conant who was not able to be present, saying " We are here today to celebrate and to publicly thank those who have made this day possible." 

One year ago the Council unanimously approved the Resolution establishing Cape Coral Bike-Ped, a project whose mission is to “develop a system of interconnecting bike and pedestrian routes throughout Cape Coral for everyone to enjoy." 

·        To raise the money necessary to create and identify the routes, CCBP modeled its program in part after the “Adopt a Median” signs.

·        Many of the Route Sponsors independently raised funds from their members and others to underwrite the cost of route sponsorship. 

·        The revenue raised from the sponsorship signs coupled with the green traffic control signs will allow the City to create over 90 miles of interconnected bicycle routes throughout the City.

·         In less than 6 months, the Cape community came together in a true public-private partnership to raise all the funds necessary to create every bike route in CCBP's plan.

·        Mr. Aubuchon presented the map showing the major route sponsors, including: The Cape Coral Chamber of Commerce, Physicians’ Primary Care, The Cape Coral Community Foundation, The Cape Coral Construction Industry Association, and Team Aubuchon. 

·        In addition, the large donors include: Kiwanis Club of Cape Coral  Rotary Club of Cape Coral North, Century Link, Smart Companies, Cape Coral Hospital, LCEC, Tim Collier State Farm, Rotary Club of Cape Coral and many other businesses, individual and organizations that have helped to fund the Cape Coral Bike-Ped effort.

·        The City of Cape Coral has donated labor and Lee County’s Department of Transportation is providing signage for the Veteran’s Route.

·         Representatives from several of these donor organizations were present for the Council presentation.

·        Public Works will begin installing the first signs in November and all routes will be completed by the end of 2014. 

·        Benefits of the miles of interconnecting bike ways include: increase tourism, improve property values and bring positive recognition to our city.

Mr. Aubuchon closed by thanking the Mayor, Members of Council, City Manager John Szerlag, Park & Recreation  Director Steve Pohlman, Public Works Director Steve Neff and his staff for encouraging this public/private partnership and for the  hard work and cooperation that made it happen.

The Mayor and Council members thanked Mr. Aubuchon for the report and expressed a special thank you to Carolyn Conant, and the CCBP Team she guided, for their outstanding achievements in such a short time. 

Report by Gary Aubuchon and Steve Chupack (CCBP)

Moser Column: Take a ride with Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club

This week's column focuses on the benefits of participating in Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club, Fowler Street as "street of shame", and advocacy update on LeeTran service cuts. Florida Weekly, Oct. 2, 2013 Dan Moser Quality of life means different things to different people, but for those for whom it means living an active lifestyle, Lee County’s full- and part-time residents and visitors are fortunate to have quite a few organizations that provide opportunities to do just that. Everything from organized running to disc golf tournaments is available in our community. One of the premier organizations that adds significantly to our quality of life is the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club. Founded in 1988, Caloosa Riders was created to offer cycling opportunities for anyone from beginner to advanced levels and interests. They plan, schedule and lead a weekly slate of rides that challenge riders to improve their conditioning levels and cycling abilities so they can gain as much enjoyment as possible from cycling. Caloosa Riders is a partner of BikeWalkLee, thereby leveraging their advocacy efforts to safeguard the rights and safety of cyclists in Southwest Florida. A bicyclist makes his way across Fowler St. on an early Sunday morning. Caloosa Riders offers club/group rides five days per week, year round, as well as special events like the Royal Palm Classic, the upcoming Turkey Leg 100, and even rides to Key West, adding up to more than 400 opportunities each year. Shorter rides begin with options of 15 miles (including a weekly “newcomer rt ride”), but for riders seeking longer distances, routes from 30 miles to 100-mile “centuries” more are available. Overnight and multi-day rides are also part of their offerings, with most ride descriptions and maps posted on their website. Like all volunteer organizations, Caloosa Riders needs more help to insure its continued success as a valuable community service. It’s seeking folks to take on tasks such as club leadership roles, leading rides, advocacy duties and working major events. Whether you’re one of the organization’s 250 members or among the countless others who’ve take advantage of the events and services it provides, visit its website to see how you can get involved: www.calusariders.org. Street of Shame: Fowler Street Many columns ago, I wrote of the folly that is Fowler Street, a major north-south roadway that runs through the heart of Fort Myers. It’s part of what’s essentially Business/Old-41, with its south terminus at Alico Road and its northern end in North Fort Myers, just south of the Del Prado Extension, and includes the two spans of the Edison Bridge. The segment of Fowler that is the most dangerous and embarrassing is the four-lane section from Hanson Street to SR-82/Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. Once a thriving business corridor, albeit one that totally ignored pedestrians and cyclists since the time of its creation, Fowler is now little more than a pathetic example of all that’s wrong with the way we built and continue to neglect some of our most valuable assets. Not only are there no sidewalks or accommodations for cyclists, but businesses have been allowed to encroach into the little right of way that there is outside the pavement, making it even more perilous to navigate on foot or by bike. And because it’s in an economically depressed area, there are many people who must put their lives at risk on a regular basis. Worse yet, the plan to “improve” Fowler Street has been in the works for more than two decades, with the current design doing little for non-motorists and the businesses that exist there because it’s being designed as a highway and not the urban street is should be. Advocacy update Unfortunately, for those who use Lee- Tran, all the arguments presented to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners detailing the human toll and poor business sense of cutting back service weren’t enough to convince them not to shrink our transit service’s operating hours and frequency. As was suggested at a public meeting after the cuts were approved but before it was too late to reverse this very bad decision, a challenge to the commissioners was made that they ride the bus themselves so they get a taste of what their constituents must deal with. Check BikeWalkLee’s blog at bikewalklee.blogspot.com to see if any of them took the challenge. 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. Upcoming events Running/walking: Lexington Cares 5K, Saturday, Oct. 5, South Fort Myers (www.ftmyerstrackclub.com) Sanibel 10K, Saturday, Oct. 19, Sanibel Community House (www.ftmyerstrackclub.com) Cycling and other events: Share the Road Celebration of Cycling, Friday-Sunday, Oct. 25-27, DeLand, Fla. (www.bikeflorida.org) Streets Alive!, Sunday, Nov. 10, downtown Fort Myers River District (streetsalivelee.org) Turkey Leg Century Ride*, Sunday, Nov. 29, Publix, Six Mile Cypress at Daniels Parkway (www.caloosariders.org) (*A self-supported ride)

Nov. 10th Streets Alive: Free, fun and family

Excitement is building around Lee County's inaugural Streets Alive event on Nov. 10th.  This press release provides many more details about all the activities that will be available. Stay tuned for more details in coming weeks, including BikeWalkLee's "booth". Mark your calendars and spread the word!  And consider volunteering.

Press Release: Oct. 1, 2013

When was the last time someone asked you, “Can you come out and play?”  Regardless of your age or ability, Streets Alive is asking you to join us on Nov. 10 in the downtown Fort Myers River District for five hours of play (from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m.). It is fun, it is free and it involves the whole family.

Streets Alive is opening the streets for people to play free of traffic and vehicles.  Think of it as a parade turned inside out. At a parade the participants typically sit passively along the edges watching while the parade moves by. Instead, Streets Alive is made up of those who would normally sit and watch, but they themselves become the parade.  Not to be confused with street fairs or block parties, Streets Alive specifically encourages physical activity and healthy eating! 

In addition to having the streets open to people, we are also going to have activity villages with a veritable buffet of activities from hula hoops to meditative walks.  We hope through Streets Alive that everyone, regardless of age or ability, will either discover or rediscover activities that are fun and help them be and stay active.

You are in control.  Do what you want and stay as long as you’d like.

Design your own play:  The streets will be open to walk, run, bike, skate, walk your dog – whatever you’d like to do.  Maybe you’ll bring a piece of chalk and draw a hopscotch game.  Parks and parking lots will be open to play Frisbee, kick a soccer ball, play hide and seek, do jumping jacks or whatever inspires you.

Check out the activities:  There are too many to mention here, but we will have five activity villages with a huge range of activities from yoga to dance to Walk with a Doc to bed races to jumping rope to tennis to meditative walking.  All activities are short, are repeated and are at a beginner’s level.

Combine the two:  Do your own thing and then join in some activities.  Walk, jog or bike from activity village to activity village and check out your choices.

Streets Alive features instructors offering a buffet of free and accessible games, sports, dance and other movement for attendees to try. There will be several Activity Villages where a variety of activities and instructions will be offered, along with a series of events taking advantage of the traffic-free downtown streets. Participants of all ages and abilities are encouraged to participate, with the focus particularly being on easy-to-learn activities to get people moving.

The family-friendly Streets Alive will have local restaurants and outlets along the route offering food and beverages, highlighting their most delicious and nutritious menu items. A range of other vendors will also be participating in the festivities.

For more event information or sponsorship options, go to www.streetsalivelee.org.

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Streets Alive of Lee County Inc. is designed to close the streets to traffic and open them up for people to play, move and combine fun with health. The first signature event of the Healthy Lee Coalition is set for Sunday, Nov. 10, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the downtown Fort Myers River District. Streets Alive is a tax-exempt 501c3 nonprofit based in Fort Myers, with long-term plans to schedule a series of fun and participatory events at sites throughout Lee County. Information is online at www.streetsalivelee.org.

Contact: Kate Gooderham

                 (239) 489-2616

                 kgooderham@comcast.net