Alternative Transportation in Parks & Public Lands Study

Stakeholders’ Questions

August 6, 2008

1. How familiar are you with this project?

SBC is quite familiar with the project. Our group is very interested in alternative transportation on Sanibel in a general sense, and we are also frequent users of the Refuge. As a result, the Alt. Transportation Study has been on our radar screen as a potentially positive development for Sanibel.

2. How would you describe this project?

We believe the Study project is well designed in that it seems to have an objective, professional protocol and it seems like it is engaging a broad, multi-faceted swath of the community in gathering information. It is also timely, given events that are happening that influence travel to the island……., for example: the recent completion of the new causeway/bridge, and the recent run-up in the cost of gasoline.

3. How much support and awareness of the refuge is in the community? In your group? Is it viewed as a vital element of Sanibel Island?

Sanibel residents are highly aware of the Refuge and view it as one of the community’s “crown jewels”. Members of Sanibel Bicycle Club share that view, and may be even more appreciative of the Refuge, as we often bike along Wildlife Drive. Early Saturday morning, we often run our Club ride through Ding Darling.

4. Is transportation to and from the island as well as to, from and within the refuge a significant item of concern in the community? With your group? If so, how significant?

Our observation is the residents of Sanibel seems to be concerned about transportation on and off the island, mostly from the standpoint of “too much traffic congestion” and inconvenience from traffic jams during season. Not much concern about travel in and through the Refuge, per se. The community’s solution seems to be to somehow reduce the number of cars coming onto the island by making Sanibel “less of an attraction”. There is a feeling that things would be just fine if we could just stop “those outsiders” from coming here……even though most folks realize that tourism and visitors feed the Island’s economy. Also, when the spring season is over, most folks don’t think much about it.

Many of SBC’s members view things a bit differently. Our view of Sanibel’s transportation infrastructure is a bit broader and includes the Island’s path system, which we have concerns about. These concerns center on making sure the path system is well maintained, safe, and sufficient to the needs of residents and visitors. We put a lot of our energy into advocacy for path needs, and the City by and large is sympathetic. However, the City’s priorities are a lot broader and of course the road & streets are generally their first priority.

5. How do you and your group perceive the local balance of the environment, human activity and transportation? How do you think the community perceives the local balance of the environment, human activity and transportation?

The community of Sanibel has a very heightened sensitivity about the balance of development versus the environment. However, the community’s focus is mostly on “development” as defined by buildings and roads and motor vehicle traffic, and to some extent on human carrying capacity of beaches, etc. There is not as much focus on how “human powered transportation” can help the mix.

Because of its preoccupation with cycling, SBC tends to see that having more people on bikes and having a more bike friendly environment and infrastructure, would be an improvement.

6. How do we protect the natural environment with the increase of human activity?

We should do everything we can to steer the human activity into avenues that are less harmful to the environment. Use bikes instead of cars for daily commuting and errands. Encourage visitors to get out of cars and on bikes or on foot to experience Sanibel and the Refuge “up close and personal”.

7. What should be the transportation goals of the refuge and the city?

Discourage use of fossil fuel and encourage human powered transportation. Make sure the infrastructure and rules entice this behavior rather than discourage it. Make sure the island’s infrastructure (e.g. the path system) allows maximum connectivity between the places people live/stay and the places they want to go.

8. Is there a need for alternatives to the way residents and visitors travel within the refuge and the city?

SBC would say yes….there is a need for new alternatives and new ideas. We would make two points:

· Sanibel is already blessed with a terrific resource in its existing path system, which was groundbreaking and state of the art when it was originally built in the ‘60’s & ‘70’s. However, like other forms of infrastructure, the path system needs to be maintained and updated to remain functional and to meet the changing needs of the community and their increasingly active lifestyles.

The City is working on a new Shared-Use Path Master Plan that will be a guide for future maintenance and development. However, the big question will be how do we fund that work in a world of tight budgets and other pressing needs.

· There are other ideas that could advance the cause of easing the burden of traffic on Sanibel and also enabling Refuge visitors to maximize enjoyment of their visit. We have outlined our thoughts on these ideas in a separate talk sheet that has been sent to you.

9. Are you and your group open to all transportation options (alternatives) in the refuge and on the island? Do you think the community is open to all transportation options (alternatives) in the refuge and on the island?

SBC is definitely open to all ideas and options. However, our group would judge new ideas against the standard: how will new ideas & options impact the safety and functionality of the shared-use path system. The greater community has shown in the past that certain ideas are not well received, especially those that are viewed as creating an increased attraction that will drawn new/more visitors and create more congestion.

10. Is there a transportation option (alternative) that you or your group perceives to not be palatable? Is there a transportation option (alternative) that the community perceives to not be palatable? What is the greatest challenge to transportation solutions at the refuge and on the island?

In the past, there has been major controversy about allowing Segways to use the shared-use paths. Some people love them and some people have great concerns. There is no evidence that this issue is going away.

SBC has taken a position neither for nor against Segways per se, but we feel that in its current state the shared-use path system cannot safely handle adding Segways to the list of approve uses. (The biggest problem is path width. Many sections of the path system are simply too narrow.)

Given the controversy over Segways, it is conceivable that other types of motorized applications for the path system would be rejected by the community. In addition, we would expect expanded use of motor scooters and electric mini-cars on the island’s streets to be resisted by the community.

Finally, some people might also object to mass transit solutions if they perceive them as adding to the congestion or increasing visitor counts.

11. What would encourage people to use other modes than automobiles?

Safer paths, or perceived safer paths. Better, more direct connectivity between origin and destination points. Clear directional signage along the path system.

12. Are you involved in any statewide, county, city, etc. planning efforts that might impact this planning effort?

SBC is very active within Sanibel, communicating closely with the City Council, City Manager, Director of Public Works and Planning Director regarding path system needs as we see them. At present, we are providing input to the Planning Director on the City’s new Shared Use Path Master Plan.

SBC also advocates with Lee County to support bike safety and infrastructure matters. On the state level, we are members of Florida Bicycle Association, and on the national level we are members of League of American Bicyclists.

13. How has energy costs influenced the need for alternative transportation options?

Frankly, the price of gasoline does not seem to be much of factor on a local level, due to the relatively small distances involved in intra-island trips and the affluence of many residents and visitors. We see more pressure for alternative transportation options coming from concerns about air pollution, noise and traffic congestion.

14. What do you think it will take for this project to be successful?

Success will require getting the local citizenry to get past their parochial perspective and see the big picture on a number of things. It will take creating a holistic understanding of the needs and how solutions can address them.

15. Have you been involved in any past transportation or planning efforts on Sanibel?

SBC has been actively involved with the City for years, as outlined above, advocating for the path system.

16. Do you have any questions?

Two questions:

• How will the process work from here on out? What are the major steps/milestones. What is the timetable?

• How can SBC be involved to help this effort?