Loading
Bicycle riders in Lee County want to drivers to know they have the same rights to the road as cars do.
But in their effort to raise awareness, cyclists are quick to remind you how many bicycle riders have been killed or injured by careless drivers.
Is it any surprise that area bike shops and other businesses aren't keen on spreading that message?
Bert Hamilton, an avid cyclist and the president and CEO of Harvey Software in Fort Myers, prefers a much more positive approach. To do that, he launched an online blog dedicated to cycling safety (http://SWFBicycling.blogspot.com).
For starters, Hamilton has researched the causes of accidents involving cars and bicyclists, and he discovered that half of them were the bicyclists' fault. So instead of blaming automobile drivers for all the accidents, his blog will seek to educate both cyclists and auto drivers about existing laws.
For example, Hamilton is distributing bumper stickers reminding drivers to give cyclists three feet of space when passing because it's the law. The Lee County Sheriff's Office recently started putting the stickers on squad cars. At a recent triathlon on Captiva Island, Hamilton distributed 500 shirts with that message.
Hamilton says he's gotten good response from area bike shops and others who prefer a positive spin. “I'm a capitalist, no two ways around it. I didn't like the process of trying to sell from a negative point of view,” says Hamilton. “It never works.”
Your free article limit has been reached this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited digital access to our award-winning business news.
Join thousands of executives who rely on us for insights spanning Tampa Bay to Naples.
