Edith W. Potter 
16 Pimpneymouse Lane, Edgartown, MA, 02539 508-627-4667 9/14/08 
Dear Melissa and Rob, 
Before you hear it from someone else, I want you to know that I have changed my mind about the bike path. At first I thought because of global warming, it was important to get cars off the road and encourage bicycles. However, your proposal is not what I had in mind. 
Your email was not completely accurate. The survey represented only 70% of the 200 respondents. In talking to someone who spent much of his work life, involved in surveys, I learned that in any survey the people that respond are the ones in favor. Those against are unlikely to respond. 
Two hundred responses from 500 e-mails sent out, is less than half responding and not the overwhelming majority that you reported. If you counted those people who didn’t receive your email, the people in favor would be an even smaller percentage. 
The implication of paved roads and bike paths all over Chappy is distressing. This is a rural community and it shouldn’t be turned into suburbia. I hope you saw the good editorial in the Gazette about paved roads. 
Chilmark refused state funded bike paths because they would destroy the old stone walls. The marked bike lanes on either side of the road have served them well. Sharing the road with bicycles has been accident free. 
Slowing down traffic on Chappy is a blessing and not a detriment. Most people moved here because it is a place one can slow down, retreat from the mainland’s high speed life. Slowing cars down makes the road safer, in my opinion. 
Beware of state funding, it is a double edged sword. Look at the bridge at Sweetened Water Pond on the West Tisbury Road. The State would require a similar one at Caleb’s Pond. 
Sending bikers unexpectedly out onto existing roads to avoid the wetlands is not a good idea. The last time the issue of bike paths came up, research showed that crossing a paved road or sending bikers out onto the road is the most dangerous as is driveways. 
Moving all bikers,joggers and walkers off the Chappy Road will increase the speed of vehicles, adding to the dangers of unexpected bikes. From the Katama bike path experience, there are many accidents amongst users of the path. The bike path along State Beach is constantly having collisions between different users. The same is true of Storrow Drive in Boston. 
I am not unwilling to try to find a compromise, but it must be very carefully thought out. Just remember it’s not a majority of Chappy residents who supported the path in the survey. 
Sincerely, 
Edo Potter