Our local cycling environment

I'm about to share. And even if as a cyclist or motorist you disagree with me, I think you'll appreciate my perspective.

If you already cycle regularly here in Southwest Florida - and particularly Lee County - you can probably relate to what I'm about to share. And even if as a cyclist or motorist you disagree with me, I think you'll appreciate my perspective.

A typical reaction I get when certain friends, acquaintances, and even total strangers realize I use my bike for transportation and recreation - often riding on the road rather than sidepaths - are comments such as "Are you crazy?" Or, "I used to ride up North but wouldn't think of doing it here." And, "I hope you're not one of those nuts who clogs up the roads."

I'm used to those remarks (and worse things) by now, but is the environment for cycling as bad as many perceive it to be?

I can only say "it depends." It depends on where you ride. It depends on when you ride. It depends on your level of tolerance. And most importantly, it depends on how you ride.

If you choose your route carefully, including the time of day you ride on our busier roads, conditions are definitely better. In fact, there are certain roads I simply won't ride at any time except perhaps Sunday mornings. That's a sad statement but born of experience.

Generally, however, if you follow the rules of the road, local crash data says you're likely to fare well. That's not to say that some motorists aren't going to harass or try to intimidate you when you're on the road, or that you won't have close calls that never show up in statistics. But if you're predictable, visible, and a competent rider, vehicular cycling in Southwest Florida isn't much worse than other places, at least not in terms of actual crashes.

Pedestrians - and cyclists behaving as pedestrians on

wheels - don't make out nearly as well. By far, the vast majority

of injuries and fatalities among humanpowered travelers are among those in that category. And it's about a 50/50 split of motorist/pedestrian being at fault.

Still, even for those who are proficient and courteous cyclists, whether on-road or sidepath, motorists who are either ignorant of the law, inattentive, or just plain hostile too often make what should be an enjoyable way to get around very stressful.

Perhaps if more of our roads were "Complete Streets," designed for all users and not so weighted to motor vehicles, drivers would get the message that bikes belong, and we could actually be considered a bike-friendly community (I'll write about the League of American Bicyclists' Bike-Friendly Community designation in a future column).

The point of all this is that it is possible to safely use your bike for transportation, recreation, or exercise; but it could be much better if you become part of the effort to put pressure on our elected officials and the transportation departments in charge of the infrastructure to create a bike/ped-friendly environment.

Finally, if you're a driver yourself, practicing better behavior towards all road users is something that can have immediate impacts.

Southwest Florida Bicycling News:

•Recently local cyclists have come out in droves to let the Lee County Department of Transportation know that we are not happy with their policy of refusing to include designated bike lanes on county roads. Many individuals and organizations came to one or both Lee County Bicycle/ Pedestrian Advisory Committee meetings to express their opinions and many more sent letters, e-mails, and editorial opinions to LCDOT, elected officials, and local media making it clear that such a policy is counterproductive. BPAC unanimously voted to recommend that Lee County Board of County Commissioners take action to reverse this policy. Stay tuned as to the outcome and feel free to contact me about this important issue. I can be reached at (239) 334-6417 or moserdeleon@juno.com. This is a good chance to be part of the movement to create better conditions for cyclists.

•"EVERYONE RIDES!", an organized bike ride that raises money to purchase quality bikes (i.e. brands from bike shops, not discount stores) for Boys & Girls Club kids, takes place on Sunday, Nov. 2, beginning at Buckingham Park in East Fort Myers. It includes rides of 15 miles, 30 miles, 62 miles (metric century), and 100 miles. For more information, go to www.everyonerides.org or call Matt McCain at (866) 428-3968. It's a great event for an excellent cause.

Until next time, I'll look for you on the roads…..

— Dan Moser is League Cycling Instructor/ Trainer and a former Bike/Ped Coordinator who cycles regularly for transportation, recreation, and fitness. He may be contacted at moserdeleon@juno.com or (239) 334-6417.

Where is the Blueway Mobile?

>>Sunday, Aug. 17: Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New England Patriots

>>Monday, Aug. 18: Tropicana Stadium in St. Petersburg for Tampa Bay Devil Rays vs. Anaheim Angels