The Sanibel Bicycle Club - Pedaling in Paradise

(Article from the Florida Bicycle Association Messenger - Fall 2006)

Sanibel Island is a place best known for its sand, seashells, lush tropical vegetation and wildlife, and countless birds.  But lately you’re likely to spot packs of smiling cyclists roaming the island in identical bright yellow riding jerseys.

The club was founded in 1994 by a small group of Sanibel Island residents interested in promoting bicycling and creating opportunities to ride and socialize with other like-minded folks.  Twelve years later, the club is still going strong and has grown to almost 300 members.  

Sanibel—A Unique Cycling Environment

Through the first half of the 1900’s, Sanibel Island was naturalist’s paradise, a quiet place with few people, reached only by ferry or private plane.  To protect the island from overdevelopment following the opening of the Sanibel causeway/bridge in the mid 1960’s, island residents founded Sanibel’s city government in 1974. The City of Sanibel declared itself a sanctuary island and adopted a Vision Statement and restricted development plan to make sure all future endeavors on the island protect its natural environment and abundant wildlife.

The island’s first bike path system was born in the mid-70’s. Starting with a single mile, funded by $10,000 of privately-raised seed money, the path system has grown to a 23 mile network of shared-use paths. 

Broad community and city government support for the path system has been a hallmark of Sanibel since the beginning, making it one of the earliest examples in the U.S. of a city-supported path system.

Sanibel considers its path system one of the “crown jewels” of the island, alongside its beaches, nature and wildlife.  The path system is an important quality of life attraction for the island’s 6000 permanent residents, and a major draw for the many visitors who come to the island every year.  

Reaching all parts of the island, the path system serves as a recreational resource as well as an every-day transportation alternative for on-island commuting or running errands, helping to ease traffic congestion during busy months of the peak tourist season.  As it winds through the island’s lush tropical setting, the path system allows users to experience first hand Sanibel’s unique natural environment.

The Sanibel Bicycle Club

Members of the Sanibel Bicycle Club are a diverse group.  They include permanent, year-round residents of the Sanibel area, as well as seasonal visitors from all over the country.   Says club President Patti Sousa, “We welcome members at all levels of cycling skill and experience, from hard-core to casual to beginners.  We even have members who don’t ride, but join the club to express support for our advocacy goals or to participate in the club’s non-riding social activities.”

The club’s activities are guided by its three-part Mission:

 Pedaling: To promote enjoyment of bicycling for recreation, transportation and health.

 Partying: To provide an opportunity for bicycle enthusiasts to socialize together.

 Pushing: To advocate for improvement of the safety and infrastructure of the Sanibel Shared-use Path System. In support of this goal, the club submits an Annual Report to the City on the state of the path system, recommending short and long term needs for repairs and expansion, and pointing out safety issues.

The club regularly provides volunteer labor to repaint path warning signs throughout the system.  It has periodically contributed monies from its budget to help fund path-side amenities. In 2005, the club raised $25,000 to help the City pay for the first phase of a professionally-done Comprehensive Master Plan that will guide future development of Sanibel’s Shared-use Path System.