Deb Orton, president of Friends of BERT, welcomed riders and energized the crowd with an update on the progress toward building the Bonita Estero Rail Trail. She thanked leaders in Estero, Bonita Springs, and Collier County for their financial pledges and reminded us that we see a pathway to securing the land.  Deb urged everyone to keep the pressure on —thank your leaders, encourage their continued support, and help us cross the finish line by March 2026!

A record-breaking 450 cyclists—plus two adventurous longboarders—rolled out from the Trek Bike Shop of Estero at Coconut Point Mall for 15- and 30-mile routes through Bonita Springs and Estero. Apart from a flat tire or two, the ride was smooth sailing.

Post-ride, we celebrated with great music, delicious food, and plenty of good vibes. Donations are still coming in, but we’re on track to top last year’s fundraising total. Click HERE to make a donation or a pledge.

This ride supports the Friends of BERT, an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) dedicated to bringing the 14.9-mile Bonita Estero Rail Trail to life. Our mission is to build community support and advocate for this paved, multi-use path from Bonita Beach Road to Alico Road.

Click HERE to join us if you haven’t already.

A huge shout-out to all our sponsors for their very generous support—and heartfelt thanks to the team at Trek Bike Shop of Estero, our Presenting Sponsor, for making this event wildly successful.

And finally, an extra-special thank you to our 50+ volunteers—ride leaders and sweepers, check-in crews, setup and cleanup teams, and food servers. Your energy, teamwork, and big hearts made this event a huge success. We couldn’t have done it without you!