Alternative Transportation Ideas for visitors to Sanibel

and the J. N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Preserve

Submitted by: Sanibel Bicycle Club

1. Encourage day-trip visitors to park off-island (or on one of the causeway islands) and use bicycles to reach Sanibel and Ding Darling.

2. Improve bicycle access between Sanibel and the mainland.

· Place designated bike lanes or improved breakdown lanes along Summerlin Road and McGregor Boulevard to facilitate bicycle travel to the Sanibel Causeway.

· Refine the Causeway breakdown lanes to insure a continuous, safe passage of bicycles across all bridges and causeways. This should include the toll booth area, where cyclists are currently forced to merge with vehicles in the traffic lanes. Consider replacing the current breakdown lanes with designated bike lanes.

3. Create a “trailhead” where Sanibel visitors can be directed to park and then use bicycles to get around the island rather than drive.

This could be achieved rather easily by selecting an existing parking lot on Sanibel near the causeway and designating it as a “trailhead” for the island. This would require: a) clearly and formally labeling the designated lot as a “trailhead” and directing visitors to it; and b) installing an island directional map showing roads and pathways that would help guide visitors on their way.

Two possible locations would seem to be candidates for serving as a trailhead:

· An obvious candidate is the parking lot next to the Sanibel-Captiva Visitors Center on Causeway Boulevard, which is ideally located at the entrance to the island.

· Another is the current “Roadside Park” facility on Periwinkle Way near Donax Street, which is adjacent to the shared-use path and close to major road intersections that lead to different parts of the island.

4. Upgrade and maintain Sanibel’s shared-use path system so it can serve as an effective alternative to vehicular transportation on the island.

Many visitors to the J. N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge are vacationers who are staying on Sanibel for an extended period, housed in hotels, resorts and condos and also visiting island residents. These visitors are particularly good candidates for using non-motorized transportation to visit the Refuge and also to get around the island for shopping, dining and other recreational activities. Consequently, the shared-use path system should be a major part of any alternative transportation planning.

The City of Sanibel is currently in the process of developing a new Master Plan for the shared-use path system that will guide maintenance and future development of the Island’s path system. That new Master Plan should be be looked to as an idea source for making sure the shared-use path system can operate to its maximum potential.

Some specific areas that should be examined are:

Making sure there are paths in place to connect residents and visitors with the facilities they need to reach. Sanibel already has an extensive path system, but there are some gaps in the system. As one example, the complex of municipal buildings along Dunlop Road (City Hall, Police Department, BIG Arts, & Library) is a major destination for many islanders but is currently not served by a shared-use path.

Making sure that existing paths are in shape to safely handle the traffic that uses them. This includes factors such as path width, paving condition, vegetation encroachment, visibility at intersections, safety signage, etc. As an example, the Rabbit Road path could be a major artery for moving visitors from the beach area to the Wildlife Refuge, but it is currently too narrow to carry much traffic.

Providing directional signage to facilitate path traffic. Since Sanibel’s path users are often visitors who are unfamiliar with the island, path directional signage could be very helpful. At the present time there is almost no directional signage on the path system.

5. Encourage more visitors to explore the Wildlife Preserve by bicycle.

· Promote the idea that the best way to see the Wildlife Preserve is up-close and personal on a bicycle, not from an automobile.

· Consider setting a specific goal for the percentage of Wildlife Preserve visitors who tour the facility by bicycle. The goal should be a significant advance over the current baseline situation. There should be a corresponding plan of action to accomplish the increase in bike visitors, looking closely at the experience of other national parks and refuges.

· One of the factors currently inhibiting visitors from biking through the Wildlife Preserve is the 8-9 mile distance required to do a complete loop from the Visitor Center west on Wildlife Drive and returning on the San-Cap Road. For many visitors, especially families with children, this distance can be too much to handle. Currently, the only alternative visitors have from biking the entire loop is to return on the Indigo Trail.

Creating a two-way bike lane on Wildlife Drive would solve this problem. A two-way bike lane would allow visitors to tour the facility by bicycle and return to the Visitors Center when they reach the limit of their endurance. This lane could be created inexpensively by painting lane markings on the road surface, and it would still allow for one-way motor vehicle traffic.

· Another factor currently inhibiting visitors from cycling through the Wildlife Preserve is the rough condition of the paving on Wildlife Drive. When it was first put down, the paving was smooth and comfortable for bicycles. However, after 6+ years of weathering, the surface is no longer pleasant for cycling, and many bikers avoid riding there for this reason.

· Biking through the Wildlife Preserve could also be made more inviting by placing a “rest stop” toward the middle or far end of Wildlife Drive with amenities such as shade cover, water fountain, and toilet facilities. These facilities may not be important for visitors in cars, who pass through more quickly, but for bikers they can be very important.

· Establish a bike rental facility at the Visitors Center near the entrance to Wildlife Drive. (The current Ding Darling Bike Rental at Tarpon Bay is too far removed from the point where most visitors start their exploration of Ding Darling.)

6. Establish a remote parking facility and reception point on the mainland where visitors can leave their cars and use bikes or some form of low-pollution mass transit (such as trams) to visit the island.

If trams are used, visitors should be able to enter and leave the trams at strategically located points along the route so they can visit Sanibel shops and restaurants before or after their visit to Ding Darling. If possible, trams should be equipped with bike racks.

Contact:

Tom Sharbaugh

President, Sanibel Bicycle Club

1062 Sea Hawk Lane

Sanibel, FL 33957

E-mail: sharbaugh67@comcast.net

Phone: Sanibel residence: 239-395-0469

Summer residence: 630-443-9466