I agree that the bike path proposed for Chappaquiddick is just another attempt to marginalize bicycles as a real alternative to the oil fired world of the automobile. By shunting bicycles off the road to contend with pedestrians, strollers, roller bladers and skateboards on a separate path, it allows the cars and trucks to continue to dominate the network of Vineyard roads. No one interested in bicycles as a serious means of transportation would think of riding along the bike paths in constant fear of cars, looking only to get into traffic on the road and not looking for the cyclist. Why would a serious cyclist want to stop at every intersection when he has every right to ride on the road like any other traveler? Also, by claiming the path as multiuse, the 15 mph cyclists are stuck trying to share the path with groups of pedestrians and other users. I think it is time the motorists learn to share the road rather than expecting the cyclists to do all the sharing. Taxpayers would save hundreds of thousands using this method rather than tearing up the landscape just to get bikes off the road. If safety is what is needed for the Chappaquiddick road, bring more bikes, get drivers to obey the 25 mph speed limit and respect the rights of all users of the public road. 
Posted by Roger Becker on Thursday, 1/1/09 @ 11:25am