Lewes bikes to work to promote the practice
To bike or not to bike, that is the question. In Lewes, the choice is increasingly becoming the former.
May is Delaware Bike Month, and to promote biking to work Lewes Mayor and City Council proclaimed May 19 as Bike to Work Day. The Lewes Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Sussex Cyclists and Lewes Cycle Sports all played a part in organizing and facilitating the trek.
Bikers met at the trailhead at the Lewes Public Library and followed the trail around the city. Adams Avenue, where city hall is located, marked the final leg of the bike-to-work trip. In addition to being a healthy activity, cycling reduces pollution, traffic, transportation costs and the need for vehicular parking. It can also increase the lifespan of cars by limiting the need to use them for smaller trips that are not as gas-efficient as longer ones.
Should one choose to drive to their destination, it’s important to share the road with bikers and to be aware of any biking activity while traveling on roadways. Lewes Cycle Sports owner Brian Kellman brought his son Calvin along for the ride; family bike rides are common throughout Lewes.
The Delaware Department of Transportation is actively working to increase bike routes in eastern Sussex County, but there are a number of highly stressful routes, like Savannah Road, that have not been improved for bicyclists. Several meetings are planned throughout the summer.
Robert Fischer, chair of the Lewes Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, thanked bikers for participating in Bike to Work Day. He emphasized attendance at a DelDOT public workshop about the Lewes bike plan and the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail. The event will be at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 15 at the Lewes Public Library.
More information about the workshop is available at deldot.gov/About/publicevents/workshops/ and additional information about Lewes bike and ped committee can be found at ci.lewes.de.us.
