I attended Lewes Mayor and City Council’s Dec. 8 workshop at which the path within the Mariner’s Retreat development was discussed. This was included and described as a multipurpose path for public use in the required conditions for approval of the development by the city in May 2016. Much public fanfare was made of this as a public benefit for connectivity and recreational use to sell the development in light of significant public opposition to destroying much of the Fourth Street Forest it replaced.
Somewhat later (and unbeknownst to the public), the developer showed the multipurpose path in his plans as 5 feet wide. At the Dec. 8 workshop, city personnel suggested 5 feet was inadequate for a multipurpose path/trail, which should be 8 to 10 feet wide based upon national safety guidelines. That the developer built it only 5 feet wide and the city failed to insist on at least 8 feet is unfortunate, and it broke the agreement that had been made public. That’s where we are. The agreement between the city and the developer was for a multipurpose path, which includes bicycles. For the past few years, bicyclists have been using it. I have used it about 200 times, being careful and considerate, and never finding it unsafe. I’d add that it’s a lightly traveled path.
I’ve seen another person on it only about one in eight or 10 times I’ve used it. Walkers have always been happy to see me on my bike, and I’ve been as considerate of their safety as my own. It may be relatively safe as a multipurpose path, especially considering the light traffic. I imagine the national safety guidelines are with medium- to heavy-traffic paths in mind.
Now the Mariner’s Retreat developer/HOA has posted signs saying one may no longer bicycle through the path, that it’s a walking path only. This also is contrary to the agreement. Even if the path is not widened, bicyclists will still ride through. I asked at the workshop if either the city or the HOA could enforce the signs. The answer I got was no. So the signs should be removed. People will continue to ride their bikes through Mariner’s Retreat. Why? Because that was the agreement.
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