BikeWalkLee Blog

September 26: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-09-26T00:00:00.001-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.
Turkey Trot 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, downtown Fort Myers.
City of Palms River Run 8K, Saturday, Dec. 3, downtown Fort Myers.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples.
GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, Cambier Park, downtown Naples.

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
Thanksgiving Day 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, two locations – Hertz Arena, Estero, and Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples.
Naples Fall Classic half marathon and 5K, Saturday, Dec. 10, Sugden Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

The Caloosa Riders are offering member rides, but some are open to non-members (and it wouldn’t hurt you to join the club); check their ride calendar (caloosariders.org) for a description of the distance and speed, and to see if the ride is open to all.

SW Florida Critical Mass is offering their usual slate of family-friendly rides. Check out their line-up online (www.meetup.com/Biking-SWFL/events/) for details and times (and to make sure the ride is still rolling).

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

For the very latest, go to Fort Myers Track Club (ftmyerstrackclub.com), Gulf Coast Runners (gcrunner.org), Caloosa Riders (caloosariders.org), and South West Florida Critical Mass (meetup.com/Biking-SWFL)

September 19: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-09-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.
Turkey Trot 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, downtown Fort Myers.
City of Palms River Run 8K, Saturday, Dec. 3, downtown Fort Myers.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples.
GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, Cambier Park, downtown Naples.

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
Thanksgiving Day 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, two locations – Hertz Arena, Estero, and Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples.
Naples Fall Classic half marathon and 5K, Saturday, Dec. 10, Sugden Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

September 12: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-09-12T00:00:00.008-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.
Turkey Trot 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, downtown Fort Myers.
City of Palms River Run 8K, Saturday, Dec. 3, downtown Fort Myers.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples.
GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, Cambier Park, downtown Naples.

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
Thanksgiving Day 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, two locations – Hertz Arena, Estero, and Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples.
Naples Fall Classic half marathon and 5K, Saturday, Dec. 10, Sugden Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

BikeWalkLee: The problem (and promise) of e-bikes

2022-09-08T00:00:00.007-04:00

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, September 8, 2022
by Ken Gooderham

E-bikes are a blessing. E-bikes are a curse. They are making biking more accessible and more dangerous.

That encapsulates the ambivalent way many feel about electric bicycles.

On one side, e-bikes make it possible for folks to ride longer – both longer distances and longer in their lives. The extra boost an e-bike brings to the road not only make it easier to keep riding, but may even bring some people back (or in for the first time) to bicycling as a reduced-exertion means of exercise and transportation.

In fact, cargo e-bikes are becoming a viable auto alternative in areas where climate and proximity make hauling things (and people) on two wheels possible. And when e-bikes show up for sale in places such as Costco, you know the trend is trending more mainstream.

Which may become part of the problem. In areas where e-bikes have proliferated, complains about e-bikes tend to follow the same pattern of growth. They tend to focus on two areas of conflict – speed and recklessness.

Before we plow ahead, a brief tangent into Florida Statutes regarding e-bikes.

The state has actually created three levels of e-bikes:

Class 1: A bike with a motor that can assist a cyclist up to speeds of 20 mph – but pedaling is required.
Class 2: A bike that can propel a bike (with or without the cyclist’s help) to speeds of 20 mph – which means a rider can go faster by turning a throttle, not pedaling faster.
Class 3: A bike with a motor that can assist a cyclist up to speeds of 28 mph – again, thanks to a throttle they are able to reach speeds usually reserved for very good cyclists.

Florida Statutes give all three of these e-bikes “all the rights and privileges, and be subject to all of the duties, of a bicycle or the operator of a bicycle

So let’s return to the e-bike question: See any problem with an e-bike capable of going, say, 28 mph sharing a bike path with a regular bike (and cyclist) capable of going half that speed (if that)?

How about with a bicyclist of uncertain skills (either due to age or experience, since e-bikes can bring in folks who are new to biking or whose skills have begun to falter thanks to advancing years) on a fast-moving e-bike sharing the space with an equally skilled (or even very skilled) pedal-only cyclist? Then let’s throw in pedestrians, kids on scooters, baby strollers, pet walkers, etc.

The potential catastrophes almost write themselves.

There could be any number of unsafe and unpleasant interactions between e-bikes and regular bikes sharing the same bike path – not due to malice, but simple mass. E-bikes are heavier (due to motors) and faster (same reason), which means they can be harder to steer and (more important) harder to stop. Put them in the hands of an inattentive or inexperience cyclist, and you’ll understand why some folks find the e-bikes concerning.

So far, there have been limited instances of e-bike issues in our area (at least instances being reported), due to the low number of e-bikes and the general paucity of pedalers on our bike paths and lanes overall. (Complaints nationally have risen in areas with more e-bikes and more bikers in general.)

However, perhaps a portend of things to come, Sanibel has seen a rapid increase in presence of e-bikes on its Shared Use Path in recent years, prompting slower-moving path users to complain at City Council meetings. That has sparked consideration of more aggressive enforcement and education about the rules.

Florida law allows all e-bikes, and regular bikes, to operate on roads and streets; however, Florida law also allows local jurisdictions to restrict e-bike operation on paths and sidewalks. Sanibel has a current ordinance allowing Class 1 e-bikes to use the Shared Use Path (SUP) and Class 1 e-bikes can be rented on Sanibel. However, Class 2 and 3 e-bikes are not approved for use on the SUP – although they still show up there when people bring them onto the island.

The city has also restricted e-bikes from operating on the beaches to protect “the beach and dune systems from possible destruction or diminishment potentially caused by the use of e-bikes and other battery or electric-powered vehicles.” That rule took effect Aug. 30, so no more e-biking on the beaches there. (Frankly, any biking on the beach is not a great idea… bad for the bike, bad for the beach, not great for the other beachgoers or critters who call the beach home.)

Since e-bikes shine when people want to haul things (stuff and other, usually littler people), particularly up hills, the flat terrain and lack of people using bikes as primary transportation may serve as a natural control on e-bike excesses. This may also lessen demand for Class 2 or 3 bikes, since many local cyclists may not want to stop pedaling – they’d just like a little help with it.

But, as Sanibel shows, when problems pop up, the state lets local governments to regulate said bikes on streets, bike paths or beaches under their jurisdiction.

E-bike sales are projected to continue their rapid rise in the years ahead. For the benefits they can offer to an aging (or at least less energetic) population as well as to people seeking more environmentally friendly ways of getting around, let’s hope more people find e-bikes a welcome alternative. Who knows, perhaps some day we’ll even get to the point of offering to subsidize e-bikes as recognition of their eco benefits, similar to the way France (among others) incentivizes their purchase.

But let’s also hope that any rise in e-bikes brings with it a rise in responsible e-biking, for the safety of everyone out there on two wheels. Going faster doesn’t let you evade the rules of the road (or bike path) that govern us all.

Biking – with or without motors – should inspire fun, not fear.

●●●

What’s ahead? Glimmers of hope for runners seeking races (albeit short ones), with the Tunnel Towers 5K next Saturday and the Downtown Dash 1-miler on Sept. 16. The 5K is at the fort Myers campus of Florida Southwestern State College, and the dash (as the name implies) is in downtown Fort Myers.

●●●

EVENTS

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.
Turkey Trot 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, downtown Fort Myers.
City of Palms River Run 8K, Saturday, Dec. 3, downtown Fort Myers.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples.
GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, Cambier Park, downtown Naples.

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
Thanksgiving Day 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, two locations – Hertz Arena, Estero, and Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples.
Naples Fall Classic half marathon and 5K, Saturday, Dec. 10, Sugden Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

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 bikewalklee.blogspot.com.

September 5: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-09-05T00:00:00.001-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.
Turkey Trot 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, downtown Fort Myers.
City of Palms River Run 8K, Saturday, Dec. 3, downtown Fort Myers.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 5, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples.
GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, Cambier Park, downtown Naples.

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
Thanksgiving Day 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, two locations – Hertz Arena, Estero, and Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples.
Naples Fall Classic half marathon and 5K, Saturday, Dec. 10, Sugden Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

August 29: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-08-29T00:00:00.006-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.
Turkey Trot 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, downtown Fort Myers.
City of Palms River Run 8K, Saturday, Dec. 3, downtown Fort Myers.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples.
GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, Cambier Park, downtown Naples.

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
Thanksgiving Day 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, two locations – Hertz Arena, Estero, and Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples.
Naples Fall Classic half marathon and 5K, Saturday, Dec. 10, Sugden Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

BikeWalkLee: What’s your bike budget?

2022-08-25T00:00:00.064-04:00

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, August 25, 2022
by Ken Gooderham

Does more money get you more bicycle?

Not necessarily. Sometimes spending more on a bicycle is really about getting less – less weight, less repairs, less aggravation.

But if you’re pondering a bike – or even just an upgrade – there are some questions you should ponder to guide your decision.

What’s your budget… or, more precisely, what’s your acceptable range of cost? One person may think that spending $1,000 on a bike is extravagant, while another might look at that as the low end of their bicycle budget.
Where will you ride, and for how long? The bike you need to commute to work or run a few errands is very different from the one you’d want to ride a century or take on a multi-day tour.
How good a cyclist are you – really? If you’re just starting to ride, or just interested in getting from Point A to Point B, a basic bike makes sense. If you’re striving to be better and have some miles under your belt (and if you’re working to ride longer and faster), spending some bucks will pay off in your future riding.
How important is reliability and rideability? If you want a bike that doesn’t break much, or one that’s tuned in to your style of riding, spending more gets you more. If you view bikes as disposable transportation, spending less makes sense since it won’t be around long enough to matter.
How important is the “sizzle” factor – spending money more for image than for usefulness? A Fiat and a Lamborghini will both get you where you want to go… but only one of them will turn heads in the process.

As a rule of thumb, spending more on a bicycle gets you better equipment where it matters (such as frame, drivetrain and braking), and often a ride that’s better put together than your big-box bargain.

What are some of the things to consider if you’re bulking up your bike budget?

Frame: More money definitely means less weight here, moving you away from sturdy (and heavy) steel to aluminum, titanium and carbon fiber. It also usually means better design, which equals a smoother and more responsive ride.

Drivetrain: Here, money translates into quality… since, for the most part, bike drivetrains are basically the same chain and gears. Spending gets you better gears, better shifters and better components that not only last longer but are easier to repair or upgrade. The only other jump up is to electronic shifting, which is definitely higher end.

Brakes: Two basic choices – rim (pushing rubber pads against the wheel) and disc (calipers push pads against a rotor mounted on the hub), with the latter possible in two variations – mechanical and hydraulic. Which one you want may depend on how you ride (or, more exactly, stop). Say, if you do a lot of downhill riding or ride in a lot of adverse weather conditions, hydraulic discs will be a worthwhile upgrade.

Suspension: First, of course, is asking whether you need one… for, say, serious off-road riding. Then you can decide how good it needs to be… enough to smooth out the trail bumps, or sturdy enough to handle big drops and hard landings.

The intangibles: This can include assembly and set-up, where a high-end bike (or spending a little more for a bike built by your local bike shop) will get you a ride that’s tuned for your style and preferences. It can also address the “snob” factor, whether you need a “name” bike to make a name for yourself. Conversely, it may also cover where you ride (and park), where a fancy bike could end being a target for theft (although they do make locks for that).

The final intangible is perhaps the most important: Is this a bike that makes you want to ride? One that turns an everyday ride into something special every time? Something that sparks joy every time you hop aboard?

Then that’s money well spent.

●●●

Looking for a Labor Day run? Look at the thermometer first, and decide if that’s a prudent idea given where the heat index has been lately. However, if the holiday isn’t complete without one, head to Naples where Gulf Coast Runners will offer a 5K in support of Friends of Foster Children Forever, kicking off at 7:30 a.m. at Lowdermilk Park (north of downtown Naples).

●●●

EVENTS

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.
Turkey Trot 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, downtown Fort Myers.
City of Palms River Run 8K, Saturday, Dec. 3, downtown Fort Myers.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples.
GCR Thanksgiving 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, Cambier Park, downtown Naples.

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.
Thanksgiving Day 5K, Thursday, Nov. 24, two locations – Hertz Arena, Estero, and Village Shops on Venetian Bay, Naples.
Naples Fall Classic half marathon and 5K, Saturday, Dec. 10, Sugden Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

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.

# # #

August 22: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-08-22T00:00:00.029-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events. With summer heat in full force, it is a quiet time on the running front. Cycling wise, SW Florida Critical mass have their Cape Coral ride scheduled for Friday. Of course, weather may interfere, so check their website (link below) for latest status and details.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

August 15: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-08-15T00:00:00.026-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events. This weekend features a SWFL Critical Mass ride in NE Lee (Ft Myers shores) and an opportunity for triathletes in St. Pete, weather permitting of course, as we've seen a fair amount of thunderstorms around here lately. Check their websites (links below) before you go.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Aug. 21, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

BikeWalkLee: Hot, hot, hot!

2022-08-11T00:00:00.001-04:00

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, August 11, 2022
by Ken Gooderham

Heat has been hogging the headlines this summer.
Not here, of course… high temps in Southwest Florida is old news at best. However, other places around the globe have been breaking records – often in places not built for the heat.

Europe and the UK sweltered in record-setting temperatures. The U.S. Northwest and Northeast simmered in triple-digit degrees. Even Texas (no stranger to searings) saw the thermometer reach new heights.

Why should you care? Because the heat over there will have an impact over here.

First, if the overall temperature of the planet is creeping upward, we’ll eventually see the effects here as well. It might be hotter days, but it more likely going to be felt in other ways… such as longer high-temp seasons, stronger storms (both daily and the far-less-welcome tropical variety), more flooding (both storm-driven and sunny-day inundation) and, in general, more weird weather (not good news for an area that already gets more than its fair share).

On a more personal level, if things get warmer or wetter longer, those of us who like to get outside to ride, run or walk will face more challenges to our daily routine.

When the temperature barely gets below 80°, there’s no “cool part of the day” to opt for… and acclimatization simply can’t cope with heat and humidity that won’t let your body cool from even the slightest exertion.

And if the thunderstorms start early and stay late, being outside gets even more dangerous here in Lightning Central. (That’s not even considering the dangers inherent in rain-slicked roadways and reduced-visibility deluges.)

This goes double for folks whose jobs put them on the hot seat (literally). Working outside – or working inside at a job built around hot spots such as kitchens and attics – becomes even more dangerous as the degrees mount. It’s hard enough now to find and keep workers without also putting their lives at risk due to hotter workplaces.

Even the athletes of summer face challenges as temperatures climb. The stress of heat saps energy and muddles thinking… and can prove damaging and even deadly for the fittest of folks. When the people who ride the Tour de France or run ultra-marathons get hammered by the heat, how can we mere mortals motor through it?

Look up “heat-related illnesses” if you want graphic examples. In particular, look up “heat cramps, “heat exhaustion” and “heat stroke” if you plan to undertake even the mildest exertion during the heat of the day… which, if these trends continue, will just be called “the day” since it will be hot from pre-dawn to post-dusk.

It behooves us all to learn and watch for the signs of heat exhaustion and stroke, and to take the preventive measures of hydration and avoidance seriously.

The symptoms to watch for are:

Heat exhaustion: Headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness, irritability, thirst, heavy sweating, elevated body temperature and decreased urine output.
Heat stroke: Confusion, altered mental status, slurred speech; loss of consciousness; hot, dry skin or profuse sweating; seizures and very high body temperature.

It’s also important to remember that not everyone has an air-conditioned option to beat the heat. (That’s why places not built for the kind of summers we routinely have feel the heat so severely.) You’re at greater risk from the heat if you can’t get away from it – especially if you’re older or dealing with medical issues that make coping with heat more difficult.

But we’re all at risk to some degree. All it takes is a good power outage – say, the kind that comes from a hurricane blowing in – to turn an uncomfortable situation downright dangerous when there’s no A/C to cool things down or even a fan to move the hot air around.

So know the signs, be prepared and do what you can to keep the heat at bay. Because the problem, unfortunately, is only going to get worse.

●●●

EVENTS

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Aug. 21, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

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.

# # #

August 8: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-08-08T00:00:00.014-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events, with this Saturday evening the SWFL Critical Mass evening ride on Sanibel. Check their website (link below) before you go.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Aug. 21, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

August 1: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-08-01T01:34:00.016-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events, with this Friday the massive SWFL Critical Mass evening ride in Fort Myers.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Top Gun Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, Aug. 6, Pinellas Bayway, St. Petersburg (www.thunderboltmultisport.com/Events/Top-Gun-Triathlon or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Aug. 21, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

BikeWalkLee: How design makes roads dangerous

2022-07-27T23:00:00.020-04:00

BikeWalkLee Column ‘Go Coastal’
The News-Press, July 28, 2022
by Ken Gooderham

Image: FDOT improving pedestrian safety on roadways (WJHG)

The most recent “Dangerous by Design” analysis of pedestrian risk was just released. A front-page News-Press article told you about the “dangerous,” so let’s take a minute to look at the “design.”

Michael Braun’s front-page article did a fine job of summarizing (and contextualizing) the most recent analysis by Smart Growth America. A brief recap for those who may have missed it:

Our area (Cape Coral/Fort Myers) dropped from the No. 1 spot a few years back to 23rd – not because we got safer, but because others areas got worse.
Similarly, Florida lost the No. 1 spot as most deadly state (losing to New Mexico) – not because we got safer, but because NM got worse.
One way to put this into perspective is that No. 9 most dangerous city in 2022 would have lead the list in 2017… but there were eight locations even worse.
The pandemic, which caused traffic to plummet, didn’t make things safer for pedestrians – because people just started driving faster.
Socioeconomic factors still hold sway in pedestrian risk, with skin color and annual income too often equaling more risk (age matters, too).

So, what’s the “design” part of the danger?

The study authors put it this way: “Our nation’s streets are dangerous by design, designed primarily to move cars quickly at the expense of keeping everyone safe.”

The design factor is twofold: The roadway design that encourages drivers to exceed the speed limit, and the roadway design that fails to offer other road users (especially pedestrians) a safe place to travel.

An example of the first is a wide, straight road with lots of lanes but not many signaled intersections. That’s a road meant for fast driving – which is what most drivers will do whatever the posted speed limit may be. A traffic study may indicate vehicle speed should not exceed 30 mph due to a variety of issues, but the road design itself is for twice that rate. How fast do you think most drivers are going to go?

The second design issue is one we see a lot around here: Roads made to move traffic, not anyone or anything else. Sidewalks may or may not exist – and if they do, they are usually interrupted by a lot of curb cuts or driveways. Those sidewalks are not separated from the traffic lanes, meaning fast-moving vehicles pass too close by pedestrians.

Crosswalks are too spread out if they exist at all, so people who need to cross the road for whatever reason do so amid speeding vehicles over multiple traffic lanes. There’s usually a lot of visual clutter or obstructions that make it harder for pedestrians (and others) to see or be seen.

And when other vehicles moving at slower speeds or making more frequent stops (think buses, for example) become part of the traffic, there’s no place for them to do their thing but in a traffic lane – where vehicles used to moving fast are subsequently frustrated or frenzied by the change.

As the study points out, even the way corners at intersections are rounded has an impact, making it easier for vehicles to turn without slowing much and making it a longer trip for pedestrians hoping to cross the street there.

That’s how things got worse during the pandemic: As traffic subsided, so did traffic congestion – meaning those who were still out on the road were able to drive faster. They did, and pedestrians (whose ranks may have grown as people sought ways to keep moving during the shutdown) paid the price.

That’s why the U.S. was one of just three countries (out of 63 analyzed) that saw pedestrians deaths rise during the pandemic.

Overall pedestrian fatalities are up 62% nationwide since 2009, which means we’re killing 18 people per day nationally. What can be done?

Obviously, change the design comes first. If you intentionally design streets to be driven faster than speed limits, people will drive faster. If you put crosswalks too far apart, or away from other traffic infrastructure that generates road crossing (such as, say, a bus stop pedestrians will cross the road to get to), people will take the risk of crossing where they have to (rather than where you want them to).

Second, incorporate “complete street” designs (made to accommodate all road users) in all new roadways (when it’s cheaper to do than after the fact) and in redesigns (especially high-traffic roads). Since a “complete street” in the middle of a highly developed urban area looks very different from one for a rural roadway, a more sensible road design would be easier to accomplish than some think.

Third, better data will yield better results. The fact that a report issued is 2022 can only address data collected in 2020 creates too much lag time between reality, review and response.

Fourth, while roadway design often is a top-down process, with local DOTs taking their cues from federal and state guidelines, it needs to incorporate more bottom-up thinking – because local officials (and local road users) often have the best handle on the most dangerous streets or the most unrealistic speed limits. Their insights need to have a place at the table, too.

Finally, safety needs to be the driving force in traffic design – not traffic speed or congestion reduction. Obviously, safety needs to factor in the other road users besides motor vehicle drivers, and it is possible to make this a win-win for all those users so that drivers and walkers all feel safer driving our streets.

Making a road safer to walk or bike means more people will try walking or biking on it – which is definitely a win for the community (giving people a reason to engage instead of isolate inside their vehicle), for the businesses they stroll by (rather than pass at 45 mph) and for walkers themselves – something we all become once we park our vehicles.

• Find out more online at https://smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design/

●●●

EVENTS

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Siesta Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, July 30, triathlon, duathlon and swim/run, Siesta Key, Sarasota (trifind.com)
Top Gun Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, Aug. 6, Pinellas Bayway, St. Petersburg (www.thunderboltmultisport.com/Events/Top-Gun-Triathlon or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Aug. 21, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

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.

# # #

July 25: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-07-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events, with this Sunday the Siesta Key triathlon, duathlon and swim/run in Sarasota. More activities and details below.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Siesta Sprint Triathlon, Sunday, July 31, triathlon, duathlon and swim/run, Siesta Key, Sarasota (trisignup.com).
Top Gun Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, Aug. 6, Pinellas Bayway, St. Petersburg (www.thunderboltmultisport.com/Events/Top-Gun-Triathlon or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Aug. 21, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)

July 18: Upcoming running/walking/bicycling/tri events

2022-07-17T23:30:00.037-04:00

Upcoming events

Here is your weekly update of upcoming running, bicycling, and tri events, with this week the Cape Coral Critical Mass Ride on Friday. For more rides, visit SWFL Critical Mass and Caloosa Riders' websites. Links are provided below.

RUNNING

FORT MYERS TRACK CLUB (ftmyerstrackclub.com):

Tunnel to Towers 5K, Saturday, Sept. 10, FSW campus, Fort Myers.
Downtown Dash 1 Mile Run, Friday, Sept. 16, downtown Fort Myers.
Fort Myers Cops & Joggers 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, downtown Fort Myers.
Cape Coral Fire Department Fueled by Fire 5K, Saturday, Oct. 15, Tarpon Point, Cape Coral.
10K F.I.S.H. race, Saturday, Oct. 22, Sanibel Island.

GC RUNNERS (gcrunner.org):

Friends of Foster Children Forever Labor Day 5K, Monday, Sept. 6, Lowdermilk Park, Naples.
Gulf to Gulf 80 Mile Relay, Saturday, Oct. 22, Naples to Sanibel and back.
Olde Naples 10K, Sunday, Nov. 13, Rodgers Park, Naples

ELITE EVENTS (runeliteevents.com):

Naples Distance Classic Half-Marathon, 10K and 5K, Saturday, Oct. 8, Eagle Lakes Park, Naples.
Naples Rocktoberfest 5K and 10K, Saturday, Oct. 22, North Collier Regional Park, Naples.

CYCLING

SW Florida Critical Mass ride, first Friday of the month. A family-friendly slow night ride through Fort Myers. Front and rear bike lights required. Helmet and lights required, meet in the parking lot at 2180 West First Street, Fort Myers.
Sanibel Critical Mass night ride, second Saturday of the month. Gathers at Jerry’s Shopping Center, 1700 Periwinkle Way, on Sanibel. Lights required, helmets recommended.
NE Lee Critical Mass ride, third Friday of the month. Gather in the Winn Dixie parking lot on Palm Beach Blvd. about five miles east of the Interstate; gather at 7 p.m. and roll at 7:30 p.m. for a slow ride through Fort Myers Shores.
Cape Coral Critical Mass ride, fourth Friday of the month. Gather at the Southwest Florida Military Museum parking lot at 4820 Leonard Street for a family-friendly night ride through the Cape; helmets and lights required.
Saturday Morning Slow Roll, fourth Saturday of the month. Meet-up at 2160 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Recommended for inexperienced/young riders. Distance is 6 miles, includes group ride instruction.

TRIATHLONS

Siesta Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, July 30, triathlon, duathlon and swim/run, Siesta Key (Sarasota).
Top Gun Sprint Triathlon, Saturday, Aug. 6, Pinellas Bayway, St. Petersburg (www.thunderboltmultisport.com/Events/Top-Gun-Triathlon or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Aug. 21, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
Fort Desoto Sprint or Olympic Tri, Sunday, Sept. 18, St. Petersburg (fortdesototrilogy.com/ or runsignup.com)
City Island Tri, Sunday, Oct. 9, Sarasota (https://run941.com/ or runsignup.com)