To the editor:

Last week, I took advantage of the Citizen’s Forum to speak briefly at the Bristol Town Council meeting. Here is basically what I said:

I live along the East Bay Bike Path, and I have concerns about safety on the path. While Bristol is not solely responsible for safety on the bike path, Bristol is undeniably one of the main stakeholders in bike path issues.

For example, the East Bay Bike Path itself is commonly referred to as the “Bristol” Bike Path.

Bristol is one of the busier segments of the State’s bike paths. It’s also the segment with the most children, and sadly, it is the one community in 36 years which has been the site of the only bike path fatality in the state.

The past several years have seen a great increase in new users of the path, and they deserve some effort to help them safely enjoy the path along with all the other users.

Among my concerns are newer ones regarding the lack of regulation for EMBs (Electric Motorized Bikes) or ebikes. We already know that speeding on the bike path is an issue, that stop signs are often ignored, and bicyclists often neglect to signal other riders and pedestrians when passing. And we already know that some Bristol residents avoid the bike path completely because they feel it is not safe.

So Bristol has a lot invested in safety on the bike path.

Now we also have a totally different demographic using the path on EMBs that can go 30 mph or more. Some in this group are much younger and can be inexperienced and impulsive.

What can or should be done?

It seems that DEM, the agency tasked with enforcement on the bike path, is reluctant or unable to be proactive.

I am therefore hoping that the Council would consider establishing a dialog with DEM to institute some basic common sense safety measures, such as signage indicating:

• A speed limit of 20mph
• No smoking
• Ride single file
• Signal when passing slower vehicles or pedestrians
• The bike path is closed from dusk until dawn
• The DEM phone number for non-emergency issues on the path

Smoking is a particular concern. In 2008, a fire thought to be from a discarded cigarette burned many acres of the Bristol Audubon property next to the bike path. A rider on a traditional pedal bike would find it almost impossible to smoke while riding. But since operators of Class 2 EMBs can go 20 mph or more without pedaling, it’s easy to smoke, especially if the EMB is a Class 2 with motorcycle-size tires. And at least one operator of a Class 2 EMB has been seen tossing a discarded cigarette butt in the very area where the 2008 blaze occurred.

Unmentioned at the Council meeting is the likelihood of a collision on the bike path with an animal, such as a deer, especially during dusk and dawn when they are most active. As with our town streets, signs should be posted along the path at the areas where deer are most likely to pass.

It is wonderful that so many people have been introduced to the bike path, but newer users need to be informed. Until there is a better way to promote the common good, basic signage seems to be a good starting point.

The bike path is an undeniable asset to so many people. Let’s make sure that it stays that way.

Judith A. Byrnes
62 Seabreeze Lane