Cyclist in Bonita Springs honors old friend in fight for Bonita Estero Rail Trail

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. —

The path starts in Bonita along Old 41 and leads to what Steve Gunther sees as a new way forward.

"When I turned 40, my knees blew out, and the doctor said no more tennis," said Gunther.

Cyclists like Gunther see the sport as more than a way to stay in shape but a way to keep the memory of old friends alive.

"Jim Steiger was a really good friend of mine in Pelican Landing," said Gunther. "He started the Pelican Landing Cycling Club."

In 2017, Gunther's friend, Jim Steiger, was biking in Bonita when road debris caused him to fly off his bike. He hit his head on the pavement and died.

"He was a Marine helicopter pilot. A very small guy, very sturdy. He survived just based on his will to live, but they had to take him off life support, and he died."

Losses like this led Gunther and over 4,000 friends to advocate for the Bonita Estero Rail Trail.

The trail would run from Wiggins Pass Road along the 11.4 miles of rail corridors that are going unused through downtown Bonita Springs and Estero and would end at Estero Parkway.

"It's not just the spandex-wearing cyclists. I mean, I've got an 11-year-old grandson who I taught to ride a bike. This would give me an opportunity to bring my grandson," said Gunther.

Pushing progress along for the trail has not been easy. It's been in the works for years.

"Would you climb Mount Kilimanjaro and be 10 feet from the peak and just turn around and go back? No. No matter how hard it is, you'd keep going," said Gunther.

For Gunther, every mile forward is a chance to carry old friends with him and make cycling a little safer for the next generation.

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