Press Release
Sanibel Island Bicycle Club
Date: January 15, 2006
Contact: Darla Letourneau 472-1179
Mayor Carla Johnston Speaks to Sanibel Bicycle Club
There was a large turnout at the Sanibel Bicycle Club’s January potluck dinner on January 9th to hear Sanibel Mayor Carla Johnston discuss shared-use path issues of interest to the Club. President Bob Lynd introduced the mayor as a user and advocate of Sanibel’s shared use path system. “The community as a whole and the Club in particular, is lucky to have someone with such a wealth of planning and transportation expertise on City Council.” The Mayor shared with the Club her unique biking experience: She actually ran over a sacred cow while biking in India as a foreign exchange student, and she lived to tell the story.
Mayor Johnston spoke of the importance of Sanibel’s shared-use path system, both in terms of transportation and recreation. She said that the City’s commitment to the path system and its priority to the community are reflected in the City’s 2005-6 budget, which includes a record $870,000 for the path system. That commitment is also evidenced by the City’s support for the development of a comprehensive Master Plan for the Paths, with consultant expertise. Carla spoke passionately about the need to move forward on the Club’s longstanding high priority safety project—an alternative path behind the most dangerous section of Periwinkle Way, known by Club members as the “Periwinkle Bypass”.
Mayor Johnston stressed the importance of citizen group involvement in city life. She told the Club that when she teaches university public policy and communication courses she often uses the advocacy work of the Sanibel Bicycle Club, including its “yellow shirts strategy”, as an example of an effective citizen group. She also talked about the importance of public/private partnerships in our community. She highlighted as examples of this effective partnership the Dunes Association partnering with the City to move forward on the Bailey Road path; the Club’s partnership with the City to initiate a consultant-developed Master Plan for the Shared-Use Paths, along with the Club’s establishment of trails in Motion Fund; the City’s planned Rec Center partnerships with Lee County and the County School Board; and the City’s partnership with the Periwinkle Partnership for revegetation of the Periwinkle Way Corridor. She said that these partnerships give everyone a stake in working together to make these initiatives a reality, to the benefit of the whole community.
The Mayor also highlighted the April 4th city referendum to vote on whether or not to build the new Rec Center. She urged the Club members to consider the Rec Center as one of many different ways to provide recreation for people on the island.
After having quizzed the Mayor on lots of path related issues, members of the Club publicly thanked her for the regular “Memo from the Mayor” she writes for the local papers before every Council meeting. These articles have helped Club members keep up on what’s going on in Council and have made city government feel more accessible to its citizens.
The Sanibel Bicycle Club was founded in 1994 and currently has almost 250 members. Its mission is three-fold: to expand the experience and enjoyment of island biking; to become an effective lobby to improve bicycling safety and infrastructure; and to be a congenial group of bicycling enthusiasts who socialize and bike together. The Club sponsors an island group ride every Saturday morning, off-island rides, holds twice a month meetings, a monthly potluck dinner, and is active in city affairs dealing with path safety, infrastructure, planning, and funding issues. Anyone who supports the Club’s mission is welcome to join—you don’t have to be a cyclist.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Sanibel Bicycle Club or want to find out more information about the Club’s activities, call Club President, Bob Lynd (472-2905) or visit the Club’s website: www.sanibelbicycleclub.org. The Club’s address is P.O. Box 951, Sanibel, FL 33957.