Community Preservation Committee,
 
I am writing in support of the proposed bike path on Chappy, having been a seasonal resident for nearly 30 years now.  A couple of “close calls” experienced by my daughters while biking on Chappy as youngsters resulted in their abandoning interest in using bikes since.  They continue to jog on occasion and have remarked on the risks that still exist with traffic, particularly the larger trucks and vans of non-resident workers that have increasingly populated the roads year round.  Jogging on foot they are at least able to move onto the shoulder when necessary, something not safely done riding a bike.
 
The concept of bike paths came up during the DCPC deliberations some years back and opposition seemed to come from those wishing to discourage visitors to Chappy in general.  It was an exclusionary view of those who would prefer the Island left to them alone and it ignored the relative safety that bike paths would afford.  Ironically such paths could help remove much of the car traffic during busy seasonal periods and should change the pace of overall transits as a result.  The claim that bikes on the roads, rather than on paths, slows traffic is death defying logic that is disproved by every impatient, careless driver that swerves across lanes at speed to pass bikers on the straight-aways and in the curves alike.
 
I am hopeful that current interest in promoting increased bike use and safety will progress with your support.  Thank you for your consideration of that prospect.
 
Steve Wardwell
7 Armstrong Lane, Chappaquiddick
108 Pegan Lane, Dover