Dear Selectmen:
I have been a summer resident of Chappy since 1955. I am an avid bicyclist and, when needed, a strong bike lane advocate. I commute 130 blocks to work in NYC by bike and am a member of Transportation Alternatives and Inwwod Washington Height Liveable Streets. I played a role in successfully urging NYC to include segregated bike lanes in its new Rapid Bus plans for the Eastside of NYC. As a child, I learned to ride a bike on Chappy, and, for many years of my adulthood, a bike was my sole means of transportation. 
Notwithstanding my experience, I write to you in strong opposition to the proposed bike path on Chappy. I believe that a segregated bike path is not necessary on Chappy, and the negative aesthetic effect on a fragile island will heavily outweigh any minimal benefit. I have ridden my bike safely on the roads of Chappy for years, thanks to the unique conditions, including the limited 3 car traffic flow allowed by the ferry, generally observed slow speed limit, and relatively short distance from one end of the island to the other. Sharing the roads of Chappy is an enjoyable and safe endeavor, much like biking the beautiful roads of Europe. I refer you to my earlier letters on the subject. 
After much consideration and debate, a majority of the Chappy residents voiced opposition to a bike path proposal and those concerns were communicated to the Selectmen. We have just learned, however, that the Chappy Path Committee (CPC), unable to garner a consensus in support, has skirted the majority in opposition by retaining a design team, through NE University, to design and propose a bike path to the Town. We are also advised that there is a scheduled public meeting before the Planning Board concerning the CPC design proposal for a bike path on Chappaquiddick. 
Obviously, I am concerned that a public hearing is being held in the middle of the winter on a design for a bike path which the majority of the Chappy community has previously found to be neither necessary nor desirable. As I am not able to make it to the meeting, please accept this email as my formal opposition to both the proposed path and the manner in which it is being pursued. 
Thank you for my consideration. 
Sincerely, 
Bradford D. Conover 
Conover Law Offices 
75 Rockefeller Plaza, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10019