Cyclist takes Sarasota Florida to task

Back in January the death of a college student cyclist caused a writer to lash out:

As a fellow student, and frequent bike rider, I am outraged. I am furious that while a city closes its sidewalks to build multimillion-dollar condos, it leaves its pedestrians and bicyclists to fend for themselves.

It would seem only common sense to provide safe passage around such construction.

I am furious that the infrequent bike lanes, if they are usable, are narrow and often obscured by debris. I am furious that utility poles, which bicyclists must dodge, are located directly in the middle of the sidewalks along U.S. 41 and other streets.

Um, it seems this city won't make any list of cycling friendly US cities, doesn't it. ;-D

However, all is not lost!

City Transit has Bike racks on its busses!

There IS a County Bicycle/Pedestrian/Trail Advisory Committee.

Sarasota has a Cycling Club. ( Though the nearest Cycling Trails of note are in the St. Petersburg, Largo, and Tampa regions.  A State Cycling Map can be had here. )

You can even report issues related to needed routine preventative maintenance including the edging, sweeping, and structural repair of bike paths or trails on county maintained roads, here.

For financially strapped and ecofriendly students alike, a bike is sometimes the most popular, if not only mode of transportation. While bicyclists must obey traffic laws and take certain precautions, drivers, too, must be aware that others share the road.

Good points.

The city of Sarasota needs to step up to the plate and protect its citizens. Instead of being known as an affluent beach town, why not be known as one of the most pedestrian- and bicyclist-friendly cities in a state that has the highest percentage of bicycle-related fatalities?

Residents, who regularly utilize the busy and dangerous roads, cannot afford to wait.

Alexandra DiSclafani

In my wandering around the city website I had hoped to see more info on cycling in the city, but was disappointed.

The City Manager, Michael McNees, has a 9 month old Blog on Blogger, but a search for the terms Bicycle, Bicycling, and Bike Trails sadly turned up no results.

HERALD-TRIBUNE.COM ( 1/25 ): Bicyclists treated with too little regard.

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