SAVE THE GAS, EXPLORE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ON TWO WHEELS

Back in the early 1980s, Southwest Florida was about as bike unfriendly as an area could get. Bike lanes, paved shoulders and shared sidepaths weren’t what traffic engineers cared about — they just needed traffic lanes to keep up with the double digit rate of population growth, so that’s what they built. But things have changed.

FLORIDA WEEKLY STAFF
09/14/2022 05:59 AM

SAVE THE GAS, EXPLORE SOUTHWEST FLORIDA ON TWO WHEELS — *Magical colors come out at sunrise and sunset, a great backdrop for pedaling.*

Today, Southwest Florida boasts four bicycle-friendly cities according to the League of American Bicyclists — Naples, Cape Coral, Sanibel and Venice. That’s more than a quarter of the bike-friendly communities in all of Florida.

“Our network of pathways and bike lanes has expanded quite dramatically, especially in the past five to 10 years,” says Dan Moser, a longtime bicycle/pedestrian advocate and traffic safety professional.

So, strap on that helmet, jump in the saddle and help yourself to the more than 1,300 miles of bike lanes, paved shoulders, side paths and sidewalks in Southwest Florida. After all, the sun always shines, the wind’s always at your back and the terrain is as flat as a pointless conversation.

Park at the beach and take a walk. COURTESY PHOTO

And there’s something for everyone.

Cruising

For the cruiser set — those bikes built for a leisurely ride to the beach — there are miles of bike lanes on Sanibel Island. Cruise to brunch at the Over Easy Café or pedal out to shoot photos of migrating birds or ever-present alligators in the J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling National Wildlife Refuge. In Naples, pedal down to Gulf Shore Boulevard from the Naples Pier and gawk at the exquisitely appointed mansions along the Gulf of Mexico. Up north, in Punta Gorda, grab a yellow loaner cruiser (it’s free) and check out this quaint city on beautiful Charlotte Harbor.

Fitness

If you’re riding for fitness, there are many bike routes that are both scenic and challenging. Cape Coral, in Lee County, replaced many of its four-lane roads with one driving lane and oversized bike lanes. Over in Fort Myers, transportation engineers have added miles of new side paths on both Daniels Parkway and Colonial Boulevard.

In Naples, the Gordon River Greenway is a system of north-south trails extending through the county. It weaves through mangroves with a view of the Gordon River.

Adventure

Tired of the drone of tires on asphalt? Pump up your heart rate at one of the area’s mountain bike trails (OK, a Florida mountain is a 10-foot rise, but the trails are challenging and tons of fun). Caloosahatchee Regional Park in Lee County offers about 10 miles that are more suited to the intermediate-level rider. The trails are well marked and the have enough twists and turns to keep even the expert trail rider interested. In Collier, the Pepper Ranch Preserve boast 4.5 miles of mountain bike trails with more coming as the Mountain Bike Volunteer Group pushes to build more trails.

Speed

For the really skilled rider who doesn’t mind pedaling 20-30 miles, or even more, at paces up to 25 mph (that’s Tour de France speed), several bike shops and riding clubs offer organized group rides. If fast is your bag, Naples Cyclery runs group rides nearly every day. In Lee County, the Caloosa Riders Bicycle Club holds group rides at various paces nearly every day. And up in Charlotte County, the Peace River Riders Bicycle Club and the Charlotte County Cyclists hold a number of group rides and special events. Check club websites for details.