To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Steven Raichlen.My wife, Barbara, and I have been seasonal residents and property owners on Chappaquiddick since 1995 and we’ve been coming to the island for 30 years.
We are writing with regards to the proposal to install a bike path on Chappaquiddick.We are strongly opposed to the idea. Here are 10 reasons why not to build a bike path on Chappaquiddick:
1. Chappaquiddick is a small island—too small in our opinion to warrant a bike path. The construction of a 12 foot wide paved bike path on such a small island with such small dirt roads will have an irreparable and irreversible impact on the environment and rural character of Chappaquiddick
2. One of the things we cherish most about Chappaquiddick is the general lack of development. The "Big Island" has many attractions--towns, restaurants, shops, and bike paths. We, like most residents, chose Chappy precisely because it does not have these features.) Yes, the dirt roads are slow and bumpy, but the inconvenience is part of the island's charm. A bike path would represent major development and there's no going back if it proves to be a bad idea.
3. In the summertime, Chappaquiddick residents grapple with congestion on the ferry. We believe that building a formal bike path will only exacerbate this congestion.
4. Most of the people who would use such a bike path are not Chappaquiddick residents. However, the residents will bear the brunt of any negative impact.
5. People who want bike paths have a choice of many gorgeous bike paths in Edgartown and on the rest of Martha's Vineyard. These areas do not have the size constraints † Chappaquiddick does. Why build on Chappaquiddick at great financial cost and ecological peril when there's a state-of-the-art bike path a half-mile away in Edgartown? 
6. All over America, our land is being covered with cement and concrete. Chappaquiddick offers something unique--and fast disappearing--untrammeled nature. Bicyclists and cyclists can enjoy our island—as they have for decades—without cutting down more trees and paving over more land.
7. Bike paths bring people and people bring trash. Last summer, I picked up more litter on Litchfield Road than I have in the previous five years. A bike path will bring more litter to Chappaquiddick. 
8. The residents of Chappaquiddick have not had an opportunity to debate the question of a bike path in a public forum, like the CIA. That should happen next summer before any major decisions are considered or made.
9. One of our neighbors, Dr. Siamak Adibi, has done a formal scientific study of the pros and cons of a bike path for Chappaquiddick.(The document is dated September 24, 2008.)In it he points out, that contrary to popular belief, bike paths don’t necessarily improve cycle safety and in many instances, actually increase the risk of a collision. To the best of my knowledge, we have never had a bike-car accident on Chappaquiddick.
10. We believe CPC and state and town funds are best used for historic preservation, open space acquisition, and affordable housing. I'm sure the high cost of a bike path many Chappaquiddickers don't want could be put to better use. 
We all believe that the best way to insure bicycle safety with the minimal impact to our tiny island is to educate cyclists to ride single file and follow simple and safe rules of the road. We don't need a bike path. The proof? We have lived just fine without one for decades.
Thank you very much for your consideration.
Steven and Barbara Raichlen
119 Litchfield Rd., Edgartown, MA 02539†