Safe Biking on Sanibel Island

An iconic view of Sanibel, no matter where you are on Island, are  the bikers gliding effortlessly past our tropical vegetation, the sun on their shoulders and wind in their hair.

It's a very inviting vision as biking is a great exercise and a great way to see the Island.

And, Sanibel is known for its 25 miles of bike trails so many visitors have biking in mind when they come for vacation.

Despite the compelling reasons to bike and the relative safety of biking on our little tropical island; there are from time to time accidents on two wheels.

While largely safe for most visitors and residents aboard a bicycle, Sanibel surveys gathered for the year show that riders between the ages of 51 though 65 are more prone to injuries, chiefly due to falling, a report issued by the city shows. A few related injuries have been caused by car/bike run-ins, bike on bike, or a cyclist running into an object like a tree or a dog. No bicycle-related fatalities were reported through June. The typical situation for an injury, according to the city, is a lone rider or small gaggle of middle-aged bikers pedaling a path. Older bicyclists aren't always as nimble as they were as kids, city officials suggest.

What often happens is that riders in a group will swing towards one another, to hear directions, to chat, to share the elegance of the island's natural beauty. Unfortunately, some swing too far, colliding. Others fall navigating, boarding, dismounting a bike, negotiating curves and crossing paths, even checking a cell phone. Because many teens and young adults use bicycles as a means to commute or play, they are less likely to get injured, experts agree. In all, 11 riders to date in Sanibel have been injured.

Anyone considering a bike vacation should first rent. There's balance, things to practice if (you're) not used to riding.  City Manager Judie Zimomra said the community has spent nearly $1 million in recent years to smooth, widen, or otherwise make safe the miles of bike/pedestrian paths in Sanibel. She recommends practicing before rushing on to a trail that in season is as congested as Periwinkle Way. "The old saying about never forgetting how to ride a bike may not necessarily be true," she said. 

But biking is a special way to spend time on Sanibel so a few precautions and a little practice will help make it smooth and safe vacationing!