Page 12 - LIN M-J-J-2023 web-low

to get to school?
How do you want
#BikeJoy

CONNECTION
CONNECTION

That's the question that
starts every weekday in the
Wells-Bean household.
Our boys, aged two and nearly four,
can choose between a long-tail cargo bike,
a three-wheeled box bike, or our minivan.
Without fail, they decide to go by bike.

by Andy Wells-Bean, Naples Pathways Coalition Member As the executive director of Naples Pathways Coalition, a non-
by Michelle Avola-Brown, Executive Director, Naples Pathways Coalition profit organization that has been making it safer to bike and walk
since 2005, I love to hear stories like this. It's exciting that Andy has
e are lucky that protected bike
found a safe way to bike his kids to school each day and that their
paths connect our neighborhood
family is one of the fortunate ones who get to ride on a pathway.
Wand the boys' school fairly well.
I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, and despite the frigid
Two miles of the three-mile trip are along
temperatures for several months a year, I loved having miles and
the well-trafficked Cocohatchee Canal Path.
miles of trails to walk, ride, and rollerblade. I was utterly shocked
Despite cyclists, joggers, and scooters, we
when we moved to sunny Southwest Florida and discovered how
see dozens of birds, turtles, gators, rabbits,
few miles of multiuse pathways and trails there are. It was even more
squirrels, and the occasional armadillo. The
baffling to realize they weren't even connected! Naples is remarkable
boys snack, chat and enjoy the wind in their hair. They love
in many ways, but safe walking and biking trails are a significant gap.
pointing out landmarks along the way, "Good morning, bagel
Naples Pathways Coalition introduced the vision for the Paradise
shop! Good morning, hair salon!"
Coast Trail in 2018, gaining broad support and enthusiasm. It will
The daily routine of biking to school has given them the
be a 70 mile, 10 to 12 foot wide, paved and separated pathway
impression that you should be able to get anywhere by bike.
connecting the Gordon River Greenway to the Rich King Greenway
And perhaps you should! However, Collier County has relatively
and the new Paradise Coast Sports Complex, then extend to Bonita
few miles of protected bike paths, and few are connected. Even
Springs, Collier Seminole State Park, Ave Maria, and Immokalee.
where the protected pathways ostensibly intersect, like at Oakes
From there, more connections to numerous communities within and
and Immokalee, you have to manage a dodgy crossing of some
beyond Collier County will be made.
narrow sidewalk, nine lanes of traffic, and a dirt path to get from
We finished the Feasibility Study, the first important step to
one to the other.
completion, last summer, and several segments of the trail have work
Despite these challenges, the sidewalks and paths I frequent
scheduled over the next five or six years. To get the trail built sooner so we
are very popular. People make do. I pass a vast range of parents,
can all safely bike or walk to important destinations like Andy and his
service and retail workers, medical professionals, tourists, and
family, we need each county commissioner to prioritize constructing this
retirees using the sidewalks and paths to get from A to B.
pathway system. Please contact your county commissioner and ask them
A few months ago, we were on the way to school and ended
to build the Paradise Coast Trail as soon as possible.
up waiting at a crosswalk near an elementary school alongside
www.colliercountyfl.gov/government/board-of-county-commissioners
another family. The dad gave a kid a piggyback ride, and the
Collier County has the resources to build this trail. The community
mom carried his backpack. They didn't speak much English
has identified trails as an important but missing need. The safety of our
but liked our bike setup and asked to take a picture. I saw them
citizens who need or want to travel on foot or bike is essential.
again the following week - both parents on bikes, with the boy
For more information and to get involved, please visit
in a kid's seat on the back. They all had smiles from ear to ear.
www.NaplesPathways.org/PCTrail
You gotta love those #BikeJoy connections!

12 Life in Naples | May/June/July 2023