Mayor Henderson: Urbanism symposium important for area's growth

Great to see Mayor Henderson's commentary in News-Press highlighting the importance of the upcoming Oct. 15th symposium on Walkable Urban Communities.  Thanks to the Mayor and City Council for sponsoring this exciting event.  If you haven't already signed up, CLICK HERE to learn more and to register.

News-Press, Sept. 5, 2015

Commentary by Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson

 http://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2015/09/04/urbanism-symposium-important-areas-growth/71653530/

(Photo: Andrew West/The News-Press)

If you want to learn about what is going on in the world of building great communities, please mark your calendar for Thursday, Oct. 15, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and plan to attend the Mayor's Symposium at the Harborside Event Center in the River District of Fort Myers.

Your ticket will include breakfast and lunch and will feature 10 renowned national and local speakers on urbanism, walkable cities, best practices for quality of life, and more. Some months ago I enlisted the support of my Colleagues on Council to host this Symposium and it is timely and relevant. You will also hear what is new and exciting on the horizon and who is doing what.

Expect to learn about walkable communities, multimodal, placemaking, complete streets, traditional neighborhoods, etc. As I attend conferences and learn about these topics in great cities across the country, it is more and more apparent that we are evolving in our city and region in positive ways and we are on tract to be considered by Baby Boomers and Millennials alike as a high quality place to choose to live, work, and play. In particular the younger population is growing and the trend indicates this will be the case for the foreseeable future, a welcomed event for sure. Thirty six years ago when I graduated from College in North Carolina, I bucked the trend at that time to move here and start a life, marrying, and raising three children in a place I have always considered paradise. While I may be older today, back then I saw no reason to wait until I retired to come and experience this beautiful place, and glad that I have, and continue to do so.

Three world class speakers together with a panel of Florida based experts will discuss the diverse components of attracting and supporting successful urban development. Special topic forums on finance and Government’s role are planned. Discussions will range from land valuation, economic advantages, ROI, to the viability of local visions and plans. The Southwest Florida Community Foundation will lead a noon hour conversation with Mayors. Communities in SW Florida have been preparing to take full advantage of this growing market preference. As an example, Fort Myers has invested public money in infrastructure and curb appeal of approximately $70 plus million in the core of the city downtown, and has witnessed $600 million in private investing with some $400 million more planned within the next 36 months as the overall economy shows encouraging signs of growth and consumer confidence.

Cape Coral, the largest city in the region is moving forward with its exciting Bimini Basin Vision, replete with shaded walk-ability and transit station as central public space. The village of Estero is laying out its future and vision with great detail and contemplation to inspire the best in their city. Bonita Springs has for years rolled out its plan and today is positioned to experience high quality growth. Fort Myers Beach is preparing for improvements that will modernize and prepare for a high quality experience as well as Sanibel, and of course the great city of Naples. The region is attractive and the future is bright. With 412 cities in Florida, the Symposium will examine how these cities will emerge over the decades ahead.

It is time to pause in a busy world, take stock in our work, learn interact, network in one of the most dynamic regions of the United States, Southwest Florida. Please plan to join us at Harborside on October 15.  Please visit cityftmyers.com or eventbrite.com to register on-line.

Randall P. Henderson is mayor of the City of Fort Myers.

See BikeWalkLee's August 23rd blog: Register for Oct. 15th Walkable Urban Communities Symposium
http://bikewalklee.blogspot.com/2015/08/register-for-oct-15th-walkable-urban.html

BikeWalkLee Column: Three keys to cycling with traffic

BikeWalkLee's Column in "Go Coastal" section of News-Press: Sept. 3, 2015 (http://www.news-press.com/story/life/outdoors/2015/08/31/three-keys-cycling-traffic/71468842/)

This week's BWL column provides tips for cycling with traffic.

(Photo: Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com)

Some cyclists wouldn’t ride in regular traffic if you paid them money. Others wouldn’t ride anywhere else. Why such a disparity of disposition?

As you may expect, it comes down to what you as a rider are comfortable with. Those who have mastered the mechanics of sharing the road feel safer acting like a vehicle, while those who find on-road cycling too nerve-wracking avoid the traffic lanes whenever possible.

That’s not at all inappropriate – in fact, it’s downright prudent. Because if you don’t feel confident on the road, you won’t ride confidently – and that’s when things can go wrong, either because you don’t know what to do when things go wrong or  motorists don’t know what to do with you when you don’t act like another vehicle.

How do you build that confidence? Practice, practice, practice – in a venue that you find challenging without being terrifying, such as a road with light traffic and wide lanes. You also build confidence by being comfortable on your bicycle under a variety of circumstances and conditions, either by doing lots of riding or taking a skills class to show you the tricks and limits of your riding skills.

As expected, there are some simple steps you can take to help you stay safe. They range from being visible and predictable to signaling your intentions and being aware of your surroundings (and the tendencies of drivers to engage in behaviors that could put you at risk). But the big three things to remember when operating on the road are:

• Your bike is a legal vehicle – operate it that way: Stay to the right (but not in the gutter), pass on the left, go with traffic, hold your position in the lane (or take it altogether if you see the need to control the situation) and generally “drive” your bike.

• Obey the law: Yield and stop as required by law (and common sense); don’t ride erratically or dart into traffic; know how to signal to other vehicles correctly; and know how to ride with other cyclists (and in the vicinity of pedestrians and others).

• Always ride defensively: See (mirrors) and be seen (bright colors and lights). Pick your routes wisely (wider streets with moderate traffic). Stay aware of your surroundings with no distractions like music or cell phones.

And if you don’t feel comfortable riding in traffic – don’t! It may limit your route choices since not all roads have sidepath, and those that do are frequently not intended for bicycles so they have plenty of their own risk factors. Just remember there are rules of the road off the road, too. Shared-use paths, bike paths and sidewalks still require some interaction with other cyclists and pedestrians (who always have the right of way) – and even with traffic, typically at intersections.

If you plan to ride a lot, plan on dealing with traffic – and remember, if you play by the rules and feel comfortable with the conditions, everyone can share the road in safety.

Ready to ride or run?
Run: How about an evening run for a change? Still can be a challenge this time of year, between heat and thunderstorms. Nonetheless, there’s a new 5K Glow Run set for Cape Coral on Saturday, Sept. 12 – details at 3dracinginc.com.
Ride: Sept. 4 is the first Friday of the month, which means SW Florida Critical mass will be massing at the field next to the downtown Publix at 7:30 p.m. for its monthly ride. Bring your lights and helmet and join the fun.
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: The Venice YMCA Triathlon (sprint) is a traditional tri on Sunday, Sept. 5 (www.swflymca.org/programs/venice-triathlon), while the Life’s A Beach Triathlon on Lido Key is a more easy-going tri on Saturday, Sept. 12 (www.lifesabeachtriathlon.com). Check them out online to make sure you can still register.

Help improve safety

• Want to support the "6ft Flag" Safety Movement - Bike Lights Campaign, a grassroots movement to help improve the safety of cyclists in Southwest Florida? Go to http://www.gofundme.com/SWFL6ftflag_lights for details and to donate.

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.

Dan Moser's column: Mayors challenged to complete our streets

This week's column provides an update on activities in Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, and Fort Myers--the three local cities that signed on to USDOT Secretary Foxx's Mayors' Challenge (an initiative to promote bike/ped safety and complete streets).

Florida Weekly, Outdoors section, Sept. 2, 2015

Three of Lee County’s municipalities have signed-on to the Mayors’ Challenge, an initiative of USDOT that’s intended to jump start the implementation of the Complete Streets plan. The cities of Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Fort Myers have agreed to address each of the elements of the challenge and provide self-assessments to gauge progress, along with taking a Complete Streets approach to transportation planning. The elements of the challenge include:

¦ Identify and address barriers to make streets safe and convenient for all road users, including people of all ages and abilities and those using assistive mobility devices.

¦ Gather and track biking and walking data.

¦ Use designs appropriate to the context of the street and its uses.

¦ Take advantage of opportunities to create and complete ped-bike networks through maintenance.

¦ Improve walking and biking safety laws and regulations.

At a recent Metropolitan Planning Organization Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinating Committee meeting each municipality provided an update, including how they are approaching the challenge. The reports were both informative and generally encouraging.

Bonita Springs is about to embark on a total re-do of its Main Street, Old 41, so the timing for the Mayors’ Challenge couldn’t be better. There seems to be an awareness among both elected officials and key staff that the Complete Streets approach is the way to go and their self assessment reflected this commitment, although they realize they have work to do to meet all of the Challenge’s goals, not to mention creating Complete Streets.

Cape Coral, which is on a roll in terms of becoming a truly bike-friendly community, has the support of many of its elected officials and senior staff but also boasts a public-private partnership approach as one of their best assets. Cape Coral Bike- Ped, the organization that was formed to develop and put in place the initial bicycle route network by engaging the business community to help fund it, continues to be a driving force. The city just submitted its application to League of American Bicyclists for a Bike Friendly Community designation. It’s not all about cycling, either. The city’s self-assessment made clear it’s taking a Complete Streets approach, something that’s quite an undertaking in a city that has a grid system of roads that cover the entirety of its 110 square miles.

Fort Myers, which includes some of Southwest Florida’s oldest neighborhoods as well as the more sprawling suburban areas to the south and east — including reaching into Lehigh Acres — is taking a much different approach. Although the city approved a Complete Streets policy a number of years ago, moving to the implementation phase, which requires amending a number of guiding documents and changing the way staff reviews and approves developments and their own projects, has been stifled up to this point. But a citizens led working group was put in place to tackle both the next steps of implementing the Complete Streets policy and leading the Mayors’ Challenge. The self-assessment report, which was prepared by staff and not the citizens group, reflected the disconnect within the city as compared to the other two municipalities. As has been the case for many years, there’s a perception among some within that there’s no need to formalize a Complete Streets policy because it’s already being done so, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But, other than having a stellar walking environment in the downtown River District, there’s a lot to be desired in many other parts of the city. As for being considered a bicycle-friendly community, there’s much work to be done before they could even consider applying for such a designation. All that being said, if city staff who are working with the citizens group are allowed to implement the recommendations that result, Fort Myers will be both a Complete Streets model and Bicycle Friendly Community.

For more information on the Mayors’ Challenge, visit transportation.gov/mayorschallenge. As usual, you’ll find much more about the Mayors’ Challenge and other community matters at BikeWalkLee’s blog at bikewalklee.blogspot.com.

Hit the roads

The monthly Fort Myers Critical Mass ride happens this Friday, Sept. 4. As usual, this evening fun ride stages from the old Boulevard Plaza lot next to Publix between McGregor and West First Street. Details can be found at meetup.com/ Biking-SWFL.

We’re about a week away from the annual Galloway Captiva Triathlon, a very popular event that’s perfect for the whole family. As in past years, it’s sold out and registration is closed. But there’s always a need for volunteers over the course of the weekend of Sept. 11-13. If you’d like to lend a hand and have some fun doing so, go to captivatri.org/volunteers.

The annual City of Fort Myers / Healthy Harvest 5K is being staged at the location of our community food gardens at the Southwest Florida Enterprise Center, just west of FleaMasters Fleamarket on Martin Luther King Blvd. In conjunction with it will be audits of the surrounding area’s infrastructure and environment to gauge the walkability and conditions for those using bicycles to get around. For 5K info, you can go to healthyharvestfarms.org and to inquire about the walking and biking audits, contact Ann Pierce, who’s leading the Fort Myers Mayors’ Challenge committee, at apiercegardner@gmail.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.