April 30: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

Upcoming events

Running/walking:

• Sunday, May 6: Tropicool 5K. Enjoy a wonderful 5K race that showcases the beautiful streets of Olde Naples. This course is two loops starting on Broad Street. Proceeds of the Tropicool will go to the Gulf Coast Runners Youth Development Fund. 1161 Third Street South, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, May 12: Turtle Trot 5K, This unique trail course takes runners through a shady maritime hammock ecosystem on a hard packed shell path. No part of the course requires running through beach sand. The course ends at our pavilion overlooking the beach where refreshments will be served and awards will be presented. 8 a.m., Lovers Key State Park, Fort Myers Beach (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Saturday, May 19: Cape Cops 5K, 7:30 a.m., Cape Coral Yacht Club, Cape Coral (ftmyerstrackclub.com) 
• Monday, May 28: SNIP Collier Memorial Day 5K, 8 a.m. (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, June 9: Sugden Stride 5K, 7 a.m., Sugden Regional Park, Naples (eliteevents.org)
• Saturday, June 16: Veterans 5K, Estero Community Park, Estero (active.com)
• Wednesday, July 4: Freedom 5K, 7 a.m., Cape Coral Bridge (ftmyerstrackclub.com)
• Wednesday, July 4: USA Independence Day 5K, 7 a.m., Germaine Arena, Estero (eliteevents.org).
• Wednesday, July 4: Moe’s Firecracker 5K, 7 a.m., Fleishmann Park, Naples (gcrunner.org)
• Saturday, July 28: Eagle Lakes 5K, 7 a.m., Eagle Lakes Regional Park, Naples (eliteevents.org)
• For more running events visit gcrunner.org/calendar.html; ftmyerstrackclub.com/race-calendar; and 3dracinginc.com

Cycling:

• 
  Friday, May 4: SW Florida Critical Mass ride. A family-friendly slow ride through Fort Myers starting at a special time: 7:15 p.m. Front and rear bike lights required. Grab your helmet, bring all your friends and meet in the open field next to Publix at First Street Village, 2160 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
• Friday, May 11: NE-Lee Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7:30 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie, 14600 Palm Beach Blvd. Lights required, helmets recommended.  (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
• Saturday, May 12: Sanibel Critical Mass ride, gathers at 7:30 p.m. at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended. (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/)
• Wednesday, May 16: Ride of Silence, to remember cyclists killed or injured on public roadways. Centennial Park, Fort Myers, ride starts at 7 p.m. Details at www.caloosariders.org.
• Ongoing: Join the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club on one of their many weekly rides for members and potential members, with an array of paces and routes to choose from. Check them out online at www.caloosariders.org.
• For more Lee County cycling and tri events, visit Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club (caloosariders.org); Florida Mudcutters (mudcutters.org); and SW Florida Biking Meetup Group (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL).

Triathlons:

• Saturday, May 12: Cape Coral Yacht Club Sprint Tri (active.com).
• Sunday, June 3: Fitness Challenge Sprint Tri, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Naples (active.com)
• Saturday, July 14: Englewood YMCA Sprint Tri, Englewood. (active.com)
• Check trifind.com to find regional and state tris.

BikeWalkLee: Passing on your left!

BikeWalkLee Column
The News-Press, 4/26/2018
by Ken Gooderham



Recently, a morning ride took me through Lakes Regional Park, a usually popular place made even more so that day by the weekly farmers’ market. Because of this, the shared-use paths were filled with walkers and the occasional cyclist.

As is (usually) my habit, I warned any walker I was approaching from behind with a “Passing on your left”… particularly useful, I’ve found, when you are actually passing on their left. Their responses fell into one of three categories:

• “Thanks” and/or a friendly wave.
• A startled scurry to the side of the path.
• Complete ignorance, either due to headphones or an engrossing conversation.

Of course, there is no right response, but the range is typical – and interesting. It also raised the eternal quandary: “To warn or not to warn, that is the question.”

Those steeped in their Florida Statutes (you know who you are) know that there is no question on this – it’s the law to provide “an audible warning” before passing a pedestrian (F.S. 316.2065(10) for those keeping score).

Of course, just because it’s the law doesn’t mean it actually happens… which explains the range of responses above. Many walkers are not used to being warned before passing, but many of them appreciate the gesture.

The warning – whether by voice, bell or other device – is not to scare people, but to avoid surprising them – or having them inadvertently do something (such as swerve) that could cause a collision with the cyclist. (The same motivation should come into play when passing other cyclists… particularly the “avoiding collision” part.)

Such situations also underscore the importance of having something that will cut through the din when a shout just won’t do. One group walking four abreast could not hear my warning over their own conversations, but they sure did hear the bell that followed it up. Said bell also cuts through most (but not all) earphone noise, a useful trait.

Warnings also play a big role in many group rides, particularly larger groups whose riders are both experienced and fast. Riders will warn one another of approaching vehicles, pedestrians and hazards, as well as of impending actions such as turns and stops. Watching – or, even more, listening – to an experienced group keep every cyclist aware of what’s happening around them is a sight to behold (or be-hear).

Speaking of turns and stops, it’s also the law for any vehicle (including cyclists) to warn other vehicles in advance. It’s also a smart way for a cyclist to take control of an impending interaction with motor vehicles, to both warn them of your plans and show that you are being a responsible vehicle operator.

Will everyone warn or signal? Of course not. Should they? Yes!

Anything that can help everyone using the roadway or pathway safer and less likely to collide is a smart thing to do – for all parties involved.

Ready to ride or run?

Run? As the temperatures rise, the organized run season winds down… with a 5K Run/2 Mile Walk to Support Head & Neck Cancer Patients at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers Saturday, and the Tropicool 5K in Naples May 6. Details at 3dracinginc.com and gcrunner.org.
 
Ride? Critical Mass meets up for its Cape Coral ride tomorrow (April 27), and for its Slow Roll in downtown fort Myers Saturday morning. Then it’s back downtown on the night of May for the big CM ride. For thee night rides, lights are mandatory; for all rides helmets are suggested. Details at meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/.

Both? Next up is the Cape Coral sprint at the Yacht Club (obviously, bacteria levels permitting) on Saturday, May 12 (details at active.com). Ahead:

• Sunday, June 3: Fitness Challenge Sprint Tri, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Naples (active.com).
• Saturday, July 14: Englewood YMCA Sprint Triathlon, Englewood (active.com)
• Also, registration opens for the Galloway Captiva Tri on May 1; the race weekend is Sept. 15-16, with the kids’ events Saturday and the sprint tri Sunday.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR RIDE:

Have a favorite route you like to bike, or a unique walk you’d like to share with others? Tell us about it at info@bikewalklee.org, and maybe we can feature it in an upcoming column.

# # #

Ken Gooderham writes this on behalf of BikeWalkLee, 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. 


 

Attend May 17th Open House re: Abel Canal Pathway Project

If you live, work, or play in Lehigh and support the proposed 5.5 mile pathway that will connect Lehigh Acres Trailhead Park, to the Lehigh Acres Community Park and the Harnes Marsh, allowing residents and visitors to bike or walk between these popular destinations, now is the time to make your voices heard. This proposed FDOT-funded project has been in the study/planning phases since 2013, and is now at the stage that alternative locations and conceptual designs are available for public input.  It's important that pathway supporters attend this open house to show their support for moving forward to implementation of this important project.Read  BWL's March 2017 blog post for background.

FDOT Press Release 4/25/18________________________________________________________________
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), District One, will hold an Alternatives Public Meeting for the Able Canal Pathway PD&E Study from Harns Marsh to Joel Boulevard (CR 884) in Lee County, Florida. We invite you to attend the meeting anytime from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, 2018, at the Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936. The meeting will be held as an open house format with no formal presentation. A location map for the meeting is enclosed. FDOT will send notices to all property owners located at least 300 feet on either side of Able Canal within the project limits, as well as to public officials, regulatory agencies, organizations, and people interested in the project. People attending the meeting may review the proposed pathway alternatives under consideration and speak one-on-one with project team members. This meeting will give interested persons an opportunity to express their views concerning the location, conceptual design, and social, economic, and environmental effects of the proposed improvements.

Build Alternatives for the proposed shared-use pathway include one option on the north side of the Able Canal, one option on the south side of the canal, and combination options (“hybrids”) of the north and south alignments. All Build Alternatives include a connection to Harns Marsh, located north of the Able Canal. The purpose of the pathway is to facilitate the use of viable, non-motorized travel options for commuters and recreational users in the Able Canal corridor and within the Lehigh Acres community, by providing connections between nearby residential areas and Lehigh Acres park facilities. The No-Build Alternative will remain a viable alternative throughout the study.

If you have questions about the project or scheduled Alternatives Public Meeting, please contact the Project Manager, Steven Andrews, at (863) 519-2270 or by e-mail to steven.andrews@dot.state.fl.us seven (7) days prior to the meeting. You can also visit the project website at www.swflroads.com/ablecanalpathway.

 

 Previous BWL Blog
March 10, 2017: Action Alert: Support the Abel Canal Trail project in Lehigh Acres