Quick hits around the outdoors

Rather than focusing on a single subject in this column, I'll be covering a number of things I hope will be of interest. Thanks to those who've contacted me in the past to comment and to offer suggestions. I hope you will continue to do so.

First, I'd like to bid farewell to Lee County Parks & Recreation Department Director John Yarborough and congratulate him on his retirement. It was John who resurrected the Ten Mile Canal linear trail project after two prior attempts to get it built failed at the 11th hour. Having been involved with this effort over the decades, I remain impressed as to how John was able to make it happen and I'm very grateful to him.

The completed product — at least the three phases that are open today — is truly a linear park and not just a bike path. And it's the spine of Lee County's off-road bike/ ped network as defined in our Trails & Greenways Master Plan, another effort initiated and conducted by Lee County Parks & Recreation. Hopefully our elected officials will make it a priority to see that this locally developed plan will come to be.

Like many others who know John, I'll miss the skills and leadership he provided while at the top of a well-run department. Lee County's Board of County Commissioners showed their appreciation by renaming Ten Mile Linear Park the John Yarborough

Park when he went before them to accept his proclamation of appreciation for his 29 years of service.

Another long-overdue project also finally came to fruition, this one due to a combination of Hurricane Charley and certain residents who understand the importance of accommodating their neighbors and visitors who use human-power to travel and for recreation. After more than 20 years of failed attempts to get some kind of bike/ped feature on Captiva Drive, a 4-foot paved shoulder is finally in place and in use.

Why it's not striped and signed as a bike lane makes little sense to me. But that being the case, conditions for cyclists are immensely improved and even running and walking there — activities that were akin to playing Russian Roulette in the past — aren't so bad either. Now if only residents would keep their landscaping trimmed back and refrain from placing refuse piles and other obstacles in the lanes, things would be even better. Just a thought, but were it marked as a bike lane, creating such obstacles would be prohibited.

Something I've made mention of in the past and that continues to be unaddressed is the fact that Lee County does not have an organized bike and/or pedestrian advocacy effort. In the past, there've been short-lived endeavors, usually born of one or another specific issue at hand. Unfortunately, none have resulted in an organization being formed that sustained. The closest thing to that happening that I can recall was when the owners of Benjamin Schwinn headed up an organization called Bikeways Lee County some 20 years ago. In fact, Harold Benjamin, who owned and operated the store with his sons, was one of the first to advocate for building a linear path along Ten Mile Canal.

Most recently, the Lee County Department of Transportation's policy of not providing bike lanes has rekindled interest among many cyclists. A core few appear to be on the verge of organizing, but so far it hasn't happened.

If you think it would make a difference in helping improve our area's bike/ ped environment by having an ongoing advocacy effort that's organized so it can be quickly mobilized and can keep pressure on elected officials and key government departments and agencies, I'd like to put you in touch with the folks currently involved. Please send me an e-mail or call me and I'll do so.

Bike/Ped Happenings

I'd like to again remind anyone who's interested in bike and pedestrian matters from a variety of perspectives to consider attending this year's ProBike/ProWalk Florida Conference in St Petersburg from Oct. 21-23. You can visit the Web site at www.probikeprowalkflorida.com or contact me for more information.

Finally, runners should know that the Fort Myers Police Department is holding the first-ever "Cops and Joggers 5K" in downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, Oct. 25. Proceeds will benefit the Fallen Officer Memorial fund; sponsors are still being sought. You can go to www.fortmyerspolice. com for race information and sponsorship opportunities.

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

Where is the Blueway Mobile?

>>Saturday, Sept. 27 at the Randell Research Center on Pine Island for the 100th Anniversary of Three National Wildlife Refuges