Hundreds participate in the 9th annual Iron Joe Turkey ride

NAPLES, Fla. – Hundreds of cyclists gathered Sunday for the 9th annual Iron Joe Turkey ride. However, this year’s ride came with a very important message about safety.

Organizers said the roads can be extremely dangerous, especially for cyclists.

Less than a year ago, cyclist Stan Lipp said he was side-swiped by a truck on a Collier County Road.

“As I was halfway past him, he pulled back in onto the sidewalk fully, hit me, knocked me into the wall,” said Lipp.

According to our partners at The News-Press, at least 22 bicyclists and pedestrians have been killed on Lee County roads in 2014.

The executive director for Naples Pathways Coalition (NPC), Beth Brainard said Florida is the number one in fatalities and crashes for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Brainard said this year they dedicated the ride to cyclists who were killed while biking. “Every day you read in the news, another person has been hit, another person has been killed.”

Brainard said one of the biggest issues is drivers only look out for other drivers.

NPC has formed a committee that is working on a road safety report. The group will present that report to county commissioners by mid-January.

“Our goal is to eliminate cycling accidents in Southwest Florida,” said Don Rupprecht, the chair of the cycling accident prevention committee.