Bicycle Ministry in Fort Myers provides bikes to SWFAS women

Click here to read the article in this week's Island Reporter (Sanibel/Captiva). Here are a few excerpts:

"Christmas came a week early for the women at the Southwest Florida Addiction Services (SWFAS) Transitional Living Center(TLC), when they arrived at the Bicycle Ministry at the First Baptist Church in downtown Fort Myers. Ken Nies, Director of the Bicycle Ministry, played Santa Claus and provided refurbished bikes to the delighted women from TLC....

Nies outfitted each woman with a bike, adjusted the seat, put on lights and a lock and chain, and gave them a few safety tips. Dan Moser, who’s a certified cycling instructor and longtime cycling advocate in Lee County, came over to the SWFAS campus on Tuesday to give them helmets and introduce them to the basics of bicycling safety.

The women were very excited about having wheels, both for transportation and exercise.

” It is so wonderful that someone took the time and thought of us,” said Eloise. “It’s a big deal today since a bike is often our only available transportation. These are awesome bikes — nice and sturdy!”

Another participant, Patricia, said, “This will make it easier to go to work and to church. No... it will make it a lot easier! I love bike riding. I will also use my new bike for leisure and exercise.”

“For them to think of transportation for us is so thoughtful, I am so grateful,” she added.

This volunteer program is a real win-win-win for the Lee County community. Individuals and bike shops donate bikes and equipment to the Bicycle Ministry, which trains homeless people in how to refurbish bicycles, then provides the bikes to the homeless and other individuals in need, who, in exchange, agree to perform community service for charities.

The new bicycle owners now have a reliable mode of transportation so that they can get to work and around town. Who knew a used bike could provide so many benefits?

The women of SWFAS say a special thank you to the Tarpon Bay Explorers of Sanibel for donating the bikes. If you are interested in donating bikes to this good cause, contact Ken Nies at (239) 458-0075...."

Save the Date, Feb. 11th for Reconnecting Lee Symposium:

Lee County in Year 2035--Back to the future?

February 11, 2011
Harborside Event Center
1375 Monroe Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901
(239) 321-8110

8:00-8:30 Registration
8:30-4:30 Program
On February 11, at the Harborside Event Center in the Fort Myers River District, experts from the University of Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University and Edison State College, will join Florida Transportation Commissioner and former Cape Coral Mayor Dr. Joseph Mazurkiewicz, renowned economist Dr. Henry Fishkind, former Appraisal Institute Past-President Woody Hanson, Lee County School Board Chairman Thomas Scott, Florida Department of Community Affairs former Secretary Linda Shelley and other local and state experts in sharing their predictions of what our community will look like in the year 2035 and how we will get there.

For more information or to RSVP, please contact Angela Brooks at 800.226.0436 or abrooks@fowlerwhite.com

Traffic Skills 101 Course offered in Fort Myers 12/28

Beginning at 9am Tuesday, December 28, 2010, a League of American Bicyclists' bike education course is being offered in Fort Myers.

Traffic Skills 101 (TS-101) gives cyclists the confidence they need to ride safely and legally in traffic or on the trail. The course covers bicycle safety checks, fixing a flat, on-bike skills and crash avoidance techniques and includes a student manual. Recommended for adults and children above age fourteen, this fast-paced, nine-hour course prepares cyclists for a full understanding of vehicular cycling. TS-101 is a prerequisite to becoming a League Cycling Instructor (LCI).

There is a $10 fee for the course materials. Please contact Dan Moser, LCI, to register for the course and for information about other bike/ped education opportunities. Dan can be reached at 239-334-6417 or dan@floridabicycle.org.
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