Jozef Silwkowski wrote;

"If those who oppose bike path simply don't want anyone else to enjoy Chappy, the say so and not hide behind such transparent arguments"

What does opposing a bike path have to do with enjoying Chappy?

That makes no sense at all.

To build a proper bike path to state and federal safety and design standards will have a major impact on that very rural Island road. It will increase the visible impact of that road way by more than 50%. More than a whole lanes width added within that right of way.

That's a big change just to get the bikes out of the way.

I've ridden on Chappy more times than I can count, solo and with one or both of my kids. Paved roads and dirt trails. No problems.

I've ridden in Boston many times and 30 years ago commuted to and from work by bike in DC with again, no problems. 

I've ridden to P-Town and back with a 12 year old child on a tandem during the height of August with not a single problem.
234 miles with about 60 of that on rail trails and the rest on roadways with traffic. We weren't even honked at once.

The only time we have been hit has been on a Vineyard bike path. The dozen or so times we have had to bail out to avoid getting hit has been on Vineyard Bike Paths.

Considering the speed limit is 25 mph and traffic is fed onto Chappy three vehicles at a time, building a bike path is more of a detriment than an asset. 

Lets face it. This path is not for the benefit of cyclists, it's for the convenience of the impatient motoring public to get the cyclists off the road and out of the way. 

Posted by David Whitmon on Thursday, 1/1/09 @ 12:24pm