Cyclists riding on sidewalks in downtown Fort Myers, where it is prohibited, have raised safety concerns for pedestrians, residents, and city officials.
Signs in the area clearly mark zones where cycling on sidewalks is banned, but not everyone is following the rules. Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson said, "We rely on people to comply, and unfortunately, they don't."
The ordinance prohibiting cycling on sidewalks in certain areas dates back to 2001. These zones include much of the downtown core streets, such as parts of First Street, Bay Street, Broadway, and Main Street, as well as the northern side of West First Street extending to McGregor Boulevard.
Officer Brian Perera, who has patrolled downtown on a bike for three years, said, "For the most part, we have a pretty good community, and they understand the rules. But we do have some cyclists that just don't understand."
Perera and Officer Richard Simonetti work to ensure sidewalk safety, especially in areas where narrow paths between restaurant tables leave little room for pedestrians. Perera explained, "I try to give everybody a verbal warning at first. Habitual offenders, I would have to stop and, unfortunately, give a citation to." Violators face a $25 fine.
Despite the ordinance, Fort Myers Police Department records show one citation issued in 2025 and none so far this year as of April 6. Officers often focus on educating cyclists unfamiliar with the rules. "Some people are not from town," Perera said. "We try to explain some of them and educate them on the ordinance and what it spells out so that we can all be on the same page, because our main priority is safety."
Cyclists like Toni Peck prefer bike lanes over sidewalks, citing safety concerns. "One of the unique things about being in a bike lane is that we have interactions with driveways. And so motorists need to take a little extra caution as they're approaching the exit of a parking lot or an area so that they don't interact with both cyclists and pedestrians, both on the sidewalk and in the bike lane," Peck said.
For those legally riding on sidewalks outside the restricted zones, Peck advised, "You have to call out that you're passing that pedestrian."
As officers continue their efforts to keep sidewalks safe, Perera reminded cyclists, "Just be mindful, you know, like I said, there are rules."
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
