Walking, biking and running can support heart health, reduce stress and make physical activity part of everyday life. When communities also provide safe, connected places for people to move, these healthy choices become more accessible to residents and visitors of different ages and abilities.
For Naples Pathways Coalition, creating a healthier Naples means combining individual action with long-term investments in pedestrian and bicycle safety, connected pathways and active transportation.
How Walking and Biking Support Heart Health
Regular physical activity can help lower the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also support healthy blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, reduce anxiety and contribute to better sleep.
Walking and biking are approachable ways to add movement to daily life. Depending on a person’s health and ability, that might include:
- Taking a morning walk
- Biking to a nearby destination
- Walking with a friend or neighbor
- Riding as a family
- Running on a paved pathway
- Choosing an active trip instead of a short drive
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults work toward at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week. However, some movement is better than none, and activity can be divided into smaller periods throughout the week. Learn more from the CDC’s physical activity guidance.
People with chronic health conditions or concerns about beginning a new exercise routine should consult an appropriate healthcare professional.
Healthy Choices Depend on Safe Places to Move
Encouraging people to walk or bike is only part of the solution. People also need routes that are safe, comfortable and connected.
Missing sidewalks, high vehicle speeds, difficult crossings and disconnected bicycle facilities can make active transportation feel impractical or unsafe. A person may be willing to walk to a nearby park, restaurant or business, but that willingness matters little if there is no safe way to reach it.
Infrastructure that may support walking, biking and running includes:
- Continuous sidewalks
- Separated multiuse pathways
- Connected bicycle facilities
- Clearly marked crossings
- Accessible curb ramps
- Appropriate lighting
- Safe connections among neighborhoods and destinations
The right improvements depend on the location, roadway conditions and needs of the people using the route.
Why Connected Pathways Matter
An isolated pathway may provide a place for recreation, but a connected pathway network can offer more ways to reach everyday destinations.
Connected routes can help people travel among neighborhoods, parks, schools, businesses and community spaces. They may also provide alternatives to walking or biking beside high-speed vehicle traffic.
Naples Pathways Coalition’s long-term vision is to help create connected pathways in Southwest Florida that support:
- Safer opportunities for walking and biking
- Running paths in Collier County
- Recreational access for residents and visitors
- Active transportation between appropriate destinations
- Greater community connectivity
- More transportation choices
These are long-term goals. The availability of each benefit depends on the location, design and completion of individual pathway segments.
Active Communities Can Be More Connected Communities
Walking and biking can also create opportunities for social connection.
An evening walk may lead to a conversation with a neighbor. A family bike ride can create time together outdoors. A community event can introduce residents to local routes, safety resources and other people who enjoy being active.
Infrastructure alone does not create a strong community. It can, however, provide shared spaces where people interact, participate and feel more connected to the places they live.
The Paradise Coast Trail and a More Connected Future
The Paradise Coast Trail is Naples Pathways Coalition’s long-term vision for a network of more than 100 miles of paved, separated pathways throughout Collier County.
The planned network is intended to create more safe places to walk, run and bike while connecting communities and destinations across the region.
What Is Open Today?
The first seven-mile section of the Paradise Coast Trail opened along the Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension in July 2026. It provides a paved pathway for walking, biking and running. Learn more about the first open section of the Paradise Coast Trail.
What Is Still Planned?
Most of the broader Paradise Coast Trail network remains a future vision. Additional sections will depend on planning, studies, funding, design, permitting, government approvals and construction.
The entire proposed network is not currently open or connected. Naples Pathways Coalition continues to advocate for its development while working with public agencies, community partners and supporters.
Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Requires Shared Responsibility
Pathways and safer street designs are important, but infrastructure cannot address every risk.
Drivers, bicyclists, runners and pedestrians all have a role in creating safer streets. Helpful practices include:
- Staying alert and avoiding distractions
- Following traffic laws and posted signs
- Watching carefully at intersections and driveways
- Using bicycle lights and visible clothing
- Wearing a properly fitted bicycle helmet
- Communicating before passing other trail users
- Choosing lower-stress routes when available
- Treating every person on the road with patience and respect
Naples Pathways Coalition supports pedestrian and bicycle safety through public education, advocacy and collaboration with community partners.
Simple Ways to Add More Movement to Your Day
Adding activity does not always require a formal workout. Small, repeatable choices can make movement a more natural part of daily life.
Consider starting with one of these ideas:
- Walk or bike for a short trip when a safe route is available.
- Invite a friend or family member to take an evening walk.
- Explore a local pathway or lower-stress route.
- Schedule movement as you would any other appointment.
- Put your phone away while walking, biking or driving.
- Attend a community walking or bicycling event.
- Support projects that create more safe places to walk and bike.
Choose activities and routes that fit your health, experience and comfort level.
Bike Brunch & Walk: A Naples Tradition
Naples Pathways Coalition’s annual Bike Brunch & Walk brings walkers, cyclists, families and community supporters together for a morning of movement and connection.
The 20th Annual Bike Brunch & Walk referenced in the original article took place at Cambier Park on March 1, 2026. Because that event has passed, its registration link should not be used as the primary call to action in this evergreen article.
Visit Naples Pathways Coalition’s [events page] to find information about upcoming Bike Brunch activities and other opportunities to participate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can walking and biking support heart health?
Regular physical activity can lower the risk of heart disease and stroke while supporting blood pressure, cholesterol, sleep and mental health. Individual benefits vary based on health, ability, frequency and intensity.
Do I need to complete long workouts to benefit?
No. Physical activity can be divided into smaller periods throughout the day or week. The CDC notes that adults who sit less and complete any amount of moderate or vigorous physical activity can gain some health benefits.
Where can I walk or bike in Naples?
Available options include neighborhood sidewalks, parks, bicycle facilities and completed multiuse pathways. Consult Naples Pathways Coalition’s trail maps and local government resources before choosing a route. Conditions and connections can change.
Is the Paradise Coast Trail complete?
No. The first seven-mile section is open along the Vanderbilt Beach Road Extension, but most of the planned 100-plus-mile network remains in development.
What does Naples Pathways Coalition do?
Naples Pathways Coalition advocates for safer walking and biking, supports pedestrian and bicycle safety education and advances the long-term development of connected pathways throughout Collier County.
How can I support safer places to walk and bike?
You can become a member, volunteer, donate, attend an event, follow trail updates and participate in local transportation-planning discussions.
In the News
An earlier version of this commentary by Michelle Avola-Brown, Executive Director of Naples Pathways Coalition, appeared in Life in Naples on February 1, 2026.
Read the original Life in Naples article.
Help Create a Healthier, More Connected Naples
A healthier community is shaped by both personal choices and the places people have available to move.
Every walk, run and bike ride can contribute to a more active lifestyle. Every new connection, safety improvement and act of community support can help create a Collier County where more people can move with confidence.
Explore the Paradise Coast Trail, learn more about Naples Pathways Coalition’s mission or support safer walking and biking by becoming a member, volunteering or making a donation.
