Arguments Against the Proposed Bike Path
I.  Not Needed:
      A.  Comparatively little traffic on Chappy.
      B.  No police records of bike/car collisions on Chappy.
      C.  Low speed limit.
      D.  Road underutilized 9 mos. of the year.
      E.  Bike paths create their own safety issues.
      F.  There is no need on Chappy to keep a volume of traffic moving.
      G.  Delays caused by bike and pedestrian traffic inconsequential compared to wait for ferry. 

II.  Will Change Character of the Chappaquiddick Road:
     A.  Will be the equivalent of adding an additional lane of traffic to the road.  In many places, separation  
           from road will be minimal and insufficient to allow more than a grass or sand strip.
      B.  Will not be in keeping with rural feel of Chappy (Suburbanization)
      C.  Excavation of terrain will be required. 
           1.  Artificial retaining walls.           2.  Filling of low spots. 
           3.  Bridges.                  4.  Destruction and replacement of screening brush and private landscaping. 
      D.  Many hikers and cyclists enjoy the rural road, rather than being confined to a path. 

III.  Environmental Impact:
      A.  Require cutting of trees and unique wild flora of Chappy.      
      B.  Impact wetlands along the roadside.
      C.  More pavement will cause more run-off, erosion etc.  
      D.  A north side path will impact Mytoi Gardens.  

IV.  Less Safe Than Using/Sharing the Road:
      A.  Separate path has its own traffic pattern which confuses the normal flow of traffic on road.
            1. Bikes, jogging, skateboarding, walking traffic.  2.  Driveway and secondary road intersections            .           3.  Bikes entering and leaving path.          4.  False sense of security leads to reduced awareness.
      B.  Mixed use is unsafe because of speed difference between pedestrians, joggers and cyclists.   
            Most bike accidents in Edgartown happen along roads where a bike path is available.
      C.  Neither asphalt nor crushed stone version will completely remove cyclists, rollerbladers, and 
            strollers from road and add one more complexity to the traffic patterns.  
      D.  Unpaved version not supported by highway department.   Will likely become unusable for road          
            speed cyclists.
      E.  May result in heavier use of other Chappy roads by cyclists. 
      F.  Reducing speed on the road has been shown to have the greatest impact on pedestrian and bicycle
            safety.  Moving hikers and bikers off the road will encourage speeding cars.
      G.  Where crossing dirt roads and driveways, path will accumulate sand and present hazards for
            cyclists.

V.   Costs/Priorities:
      A.  Estimated to cost millions of dollars.  Many recreational facilities like beaches and hiking trails
            already exist at no increased costs to the taxpayer.  
      B.  Maintenance, such as sweeping, plowing and repairing pot holes, cracks and upheavals will be a 
            continuing burden on taxpayers.
      C.  Higher traffic areas used by Chappy bikers in town center should be addressed if funds are
            available.   The Martha's Vineyard Commission has identified high volume problem areas entering
            Edgartown.