Lewes working to expand bike parking

Lewes Mayor and City Council are working to rack up points from the robust biking community in the area.

During a Jan. 9 meeting, elected officials were presented with recommendations from the bicycle and pedestrianadvisory committee regarding additional bike parking. Committee member Chip Davis reviewed two locations selected by the group.

“If you build it, they will come,” Davis said, referencing the 1989 film “Field of Dreams.” “And we built these beautiful trails and the bikes have come; they’re here, and they’re going to keep on coming.”

The first location discussed was along Second Street, in front of Half Full. A double-sided rack is currently there, but the recommendation suggested adding an additional two-sided rack and a single-sided rack to the area. The proposal would eliminate a metered parking spot that generated $1,200 in revenue across 1,241 transactions last year. There was a brief discussion about maximizing the space in the area, but it was noted that cars turning right onto Second Street from Neils Alley already encounter a tight turning radius. 

Councilman Tim Ritzert feared there would be a safety hazard with the placement of additional racks during events when Second Street becomes a pedestrian mall. Lewes Police Chief Thomas Spell said that despite the road being closed to vehicles, people are still primarily on the sidewalks during those times. 

Officials debated the proposed location and wondered if there was anywhere else in the area that could host additional racks. Mary Vessels Park was brought up, but Davis said while that is a beautiful park, there is not room for a rack outside of what’s already there. Other locations were tossed around, but ultimately the spot in front of Half Full received unanimous approval from mayor and city council.

While bicyclists will have more options along Second Street, a proposal to install a rack along Market Street in front of Hotel Rodney and the Rose & Crown restaurant was rejected. The area sees delivery trucks loading and unloading, which is why parking in the area is prohibited. Part of the reason the committee opted to push for a rack there was to avoid bicyclists traveling the opposite way on the one-way Second Street.

Cathy Berl, general manager of Hotel Rodney, voiced concerns about the safety of the bicyclists coming into close contact with large trucks. Citing the St. Peter’s Art Show and parking of emergency vehicles during the Christmas parade, Berl said she believes there is already a lot of action in the area.

“I support bike racks; I just don’t think that is a safe place to put bikes,” Berl said.

Mayor and city council rejected the proposed location unanimously, but said they hope to renew discussions with M&T Bank about its parking lot. Officials are supportive of more bike racks, but want to find safe locations.

The next meeting of the bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee is Tuesday, Jan. 24.