BikeWalkLee Column: Bike To School Day

This week's BWL column, written by Tessa LeSage, shares the joy of biking to school with her 1st grader and offers tips with other parents about walking and biking to school.  Be inspired and give it try! [Note: photos below did not appear in printed article due to space constraints.]   
News-Press "Go Coastal" Section, Oct. 2, 2014     By Tessa LeSage

A graduate of Lee County schools, I remember the days before school assignment, or school choice. I rode my bike to and from school with my neighborhood friends. We collectively complained at the time, but we now realize biking gave us freedom and a sense of community.

Today, my first-grader is assigned to Tanglewood Elementary School. We chose Tanglewood because it’s an awesome school, but also because we live within the two-mile preference proximity — meaning we can ride bikes to school every day.

Biking to school with car lines and school assignment is intimidating. On the other hand, it means no idling in a car line or putting your child on a bus for an eternity. Despite these dreaded aspects of local school these days, sharing the road with rushing automobiles and school buses is enough to make most avoid it all together.

As a working mother, I felt uncertain about fitting a morning ride into our crazy schedule and scared of the potential dangers. I wasn’t sure my 6-year-old could endure the entire mile in one direction to school with a backpack, lunchbox and (sometimes) a violin. Less than two months into the school year, we’ve adapted to all of these challenges and look forward to riding together every morning, even in the rain.

Now we want more people to join us. It would be safer and less expensive for everyone if more of us got out of our cars and went to school the old-fashioned way.

Walk to School Day is Wednesday, Oct. 8, and provides an opportunity to try walking or riding to school. Here are some tips we picked up along the way:

• Identify the route: We chose a route we wouldn’t drive. It crosses more roads but allows more time on less-traveled streets. This is where the stress goes away and the fun stuff happens.
• Practice: We spent the summer practicing our route, preparing for four potential interactions with vehicles on the way to school one-way, and building endurance for that 1-mile ride. We reviewed the rules of the road, hand signals, and we added a “3-feet it’s the law” sticker to our bikes so drivers understand how to react to us.
• Prepare for tradeoffs: We leave extra early to avoid traffic. My kids know it’s a tradeoff to get up earlier in the morning, but riding is worth it. Others include toting her belongings and her little brother on my bike so she can focus on riding.
• Work with your school: Talk to the administration and teachers about riding and where and how to secure the bike. In our situation, the bike is in a locked gate most of the time, but we still put a lock on it to be safe.

Biking to school is more than transportation. It’s about uninterrupted time with my kids. We engage with our neighbors and others using people-powered transportation. Upon arrival, my daughter is ready to sit and focus because she’s burned off excess energy and gotten a little exercise. Most importantly, both of my kids cite the ride to school as the best part of their day, every day. It’s the best part of mine, too.

— 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 BikeWalkLee.org.

Upcoming events

Running/walking:
• Sunday, Oct. 11: Fort Myers Cops and Joggers 5K. Centennial Park, downtown Fort Myers. Race starts at 7:30 p.m., and proceeds will benefit the Fort Myers Police Department Fallen Officer Memorial Fund and the Brotherhood Ride. Registration: $20 adult, $15 youth on or before Oct. 9. (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, Oct. 18: 6th annual Sanibel 10K 4 F.I.S.H. Starts 7:30 a.m. at Sanibel Community House 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Registration $30 by Oct. 11, $35 through Oct. 17 and $40 day of. (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Sunday, Oct. 19: Rocktoberfest 10 mile race. North Collier Regional Park, 15000 Livingston Road, Naples. Registration $55, students $45; starts at 7 a.m. (eliteevents.org).

Cycling and other events:
• Saturday, Oct. 11: Project 10 Ride 4 Wishes. Cape Harbour, Cape Coral. 15-, 30-, and 62-mile rides. $35 registration, raises funds for Make-A-Wish Southern Florida. (www.eventbrite.com/e/project-10-ride-4-wishes-tickets-12368036129?aff=zvents)
• Sunday, Oct. 12: Trek Breast Cancer Awareness Ride. 10-, 15- and 25- mile rides. From The Bicycle Center, 3795 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. $30 before Sept. 1, $40 after. (www.eventbrite.com/e/trek-breast-cancer-awareness-ride-the-bicycle-center-registration-11405930445)
• Sunday, Oct. 26: Fifth annual Tour de North Port. 15-, 35- and 65-mile rides that begin and end at the Imagine School, Upper Campus, 2757 Sycamore St., North Port. Full support, trick-or-treat rest stops. Breakfast and lunch offered. Starts at 7 a.m.; $40 each, $10 under age 10, group discounts available. (http://peoplefortrees.com/tourevent1_14.php).

Editorial: Let's build bike routes and sidewalks

In the wake of two bicyclist fatalities in Cape Coral in Sept., News-Press editorial urges Cape Coral to invest in more bike lanes and sidewalks. It also recognizes the efforts underway in Lee County to improve bike/ped safety.  Also included below are links to the articles about the recent fatalities, along with the latest 2014 statistics of bike/ped fatalities in Lee County and trends from 2000 to 2014 to date. Unfortunately, we are heading for a record number of cyclist fatalities in 2014.  Bike/ped safety must be a high priority for all partners, for every jurisdiction and their elected officials.  Drivers need to slow down and watch for pedestrians and cyclists and we need more enforcement.

News-Press editorial, Oct. 1, 2014

Another senseless death. Another reason for the city of Cape Coral to aggressively pursue funding for bike routes and sidewalks for all major roads in the city.

Another cyclist lost his life on Sunday when a car slammed into Scott Johnsen on Diplomat Parkway. Diplomat is one of many roads in the city which does not have sidewalks or bike routes over large stretches. It is also is a four-lane road with open stretches where cars can speed. Residents have complained about excessive speeding recently. People also have complained about the lack of routes where cyclists and pedestrians could feel safe.

Adequately addressing the needs of pedestrians and cyclists has not been easy. The Cape has constructed 119 miles of bike lanes or paths and 192 miles of sidewalks, but there is much more to do. All main north-south and east-west roads throughout the city should provide safe routes for those who are not in vehicles.

The city has approximately 164,000 residents, ranking it ninth in the state. It has the third-largest land mass of any municipality in the state. With so much land and a growing population we hope a strategic and comprehensive plan is being built to add additional sidewalks and bike routes, so that this population of people feels safe.

Tight budgets over the last several years have prevented the city from funding future road projects that address these needs. Now, as budgets start to provide extra revenue because of rising property values and other assessments, it is time for the city to dedicate more funding toward these projects.
Johnsen's name is now added to an alarming and growing statistic. Lee ranks among the worst counties in the state with 491 pedestrians and bicyclists involved in crashes in 2013, with 25 losing their lives, according the Florida Highway Patrol. This year, seven cyclists and 14 pedestrians have died. Florida continues to lead the nation in the number of cycling deaths. Such a statistic will not change until government leaders devote more funding and attention to this serious issue.

People are dying, mainly because of aggressive and insensitive driving that puts people at risk. Law enforcement also should be charged with enforcing laws in areas where speeding has been reported.
The Cape police department provides extra enforcement to accident-prone areas based on data. They will respond to a high volume of calls from one area and add extra enforcement. If it is determined that there is enough data to support adding extra patrols to the area, then police will respond.

We applaud the continuing efforts of BikeWalkLee, Cape police, the sheriff's office and the Bike-Ped program for keeping the importance of bike and pedestrian safety front and center.

We also applaud ongoing efforts by cities and the county to improve safety. Cape has secured a grant to fund 18 additional miles of sidewalks and the design of five miles of bike lanes or trails. In a 2011 report, Lee County had more than 270 miles of bike paths on 596 miles of major roadways, or about 45 percent. Because of other projects completed or planned since then, that percentage is expected to climb when the Metropolitan Planning Organization issues its next report soon.

Cyclists and pedestrians should feel safe when they ride or walk. Bike paths and sidewalks provide that security. Fatalities are preventable if people play by the rules — vehicles traveling at safe speeds with attentive drivers behind the wheel and cyclists and pedestrians using bike lanes or sidewalks.

 See links to News-Press recent related in-depth articles:

10/3/14 "Woman run over three times by a Ford F350 in Fort Myers," by Michael Braun.

9/30/14 "Bicyclist talked of safety day before death on road" by Michael Braun

9/24/14 "Operation P.E.D.S. focuses on bikes, pedestrian safety" by Michael Braun

 

Florida Weekly, 9/10/14 "Deadly Streets" feature story, by Roger Williams 

Lee County Bike/Ped Fatalities Trends: 2000-2014 (as of 10/3/14)

(from Lee MPO/Signal Four Analytics)

 

 

 

Dan Moser Column: Streets Alive! returns to River District

Dan's column highlights the Nov. 2nd Streets Alive event coming to downtown Fort Myers, along with the Oct. 18th golf outing in support of the event.  Mark your calendars now!  On advocacy, if you support putting sharrows on McGregor, let the City Manager know.

 Florida Week, Outdoors 

Oct. 1, 2014

bikepedmoser@gmail.com

As the Fort Myers River District thrives, the city, business community and engaged citizens continue to work on improving its micro-economy and the many benefits a vibrant downtown offers to residents and visitors. An event that fits perfectly with this ongoing effort is about to take place again.

Streets Alive! returns from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2. Our “Cyclovia” or “Open Streets” event was born of a group of citizens who believe some of our most important and popular streets should be used for more than simply moving motor vehicle traffic. After all, streets are public spaces intended for travel, commerce and socialization. To that end, those who attend this free event will be able to experience all three, as well as engage in a number of physical activities and have fun doing so. The inaugural Streets Alive! had an estimated 5,000 participants, a number that organizers anticipate may double this time around.

Sharrows on Stringfellow Road in St. James City.Well over a mile of streets along the river and in the core business district will be closed to motor vehicle traffic and open to everything else. Come to bike, skate/ skateboard, run or walk. Sample various dance styles. Engage in Zumba, Jazzercise, yoga and agility exercises. Try your hand at disc golf, traditional golf and tennis. Or let the kids navigate mazes and obstacle courses, create sidewalk chalk art and join in many other child-friendly activities. Besides the numerous physical activities, healthy foods will be abundant, with many samples being served up free of charge, along with cooking and food preparation demonstrations.

Over the past decade or so, cities throughout the U.S. and the world have made Cyclovias regular events, which is the ultimate goal of our Streets Alive!. Along with the physical benefits these events provide to individuals, the economics are just as impressive. Local businesses gain new customers, or at the very least, become aware of their existence so they may return at another time. The city-center also gets great exposure as participants enjoy the streets without having to deal with motor traffic. And those who take part in any way get in some exercise while socializing and having fun. What's not to like about Streets Alive!?

Because this event raises no revenue from participants or those providing services and products, sponsorship and fundraising are necessary. A golf outing to benefit Streets Alive! is taking place on Saturday, Oct. 18, at River Hall Country Club. To take part or to become a Streets Alive! sponsor, contact Tom Timmons at cttstreetsalive@gmail.com.

Advocacy update

In previous columns I’ve written about McGregor Boulevard being a “street of shame” because most cyclists dare not use the travel lanes due to a very bad design. Instead, they’re relegated to sidewalks that aren’t intended for both pedestrians and cyclists. But an opportunity to change this dynamic immediately on at least one segment of McGregor Boulevard will hopefully be seized upon by the city of Fort Myers.

Sharrows, or shared lane markings, could make a world of difference on the city’s most famous street from Colonial Boulevard to U.S. 41. Adding these markings — a bicycle and two chevrons — on the pavement in the travel lane wherever cyclists can be expected to be riding near or in the center of the lane reinforces the fact that cyclists do indeed have the right to be there. It also serves as a traffic calmer, meaning speeding will be reduced. This very simple and inexpensive treatment is really the only option to improving McGregor Boulevard since bike lanes will never be added, nor is there room to widen the sidepaths. Getting more bikes off the sidewalk also greatly enhances safety for pedestrians who must deal with bikes and cyclists who are put at risk by motorists exiting and entering side streets and driveways.

The Lee County Department of Transportation has sharrows in place on Gladiolus Drive in Harlem Heights and on Stringfellow Road in St. James City. They are common treatments in other jurisdictions around Florida and throughout the U.S.

If you’d like to be able to ride on McGregor Boulevard with the knowledge that motorists should expect you there, contact the Fort Myers city manager’s office at citymanager@cityftmyers.com or 321-7022. As usual, you can learn more about this and other complete streets matters at 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. Contact him at bikepedmoser@gmail.com or 334- 6417.