In November I wrote a letter to the editor applauding an editorial about land-use planning and suggestions on how to make Rehoboth Beach more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists. I argued the case for a free circulator bus as a way to reduce car traffic in town while also making walking and cycling more desirable. Since then, two events have occurred that encourage me to revisit the topic. One of them was a column by the Gazette food critic. But more on that later.
First, my family took a ski vacation to Breckenridge, Colo. While there, our rental car sat unused from the day we arrived until the day we left. Breckenridge has a network of free bus routes covering the town.
The buses go to the slopes, to all the downtown shops and restaurants, to the grocery store, and to the large parking lot on the edge of town. The buses run every 20 minutes. As a result, we never thought about driving or having to look for parking. Their free bus system made the town work. There were lots of people but relatively few cars.
Second, we came home to a pile of mail including several issues of the Cape Gazette. One of them contained Mr. Yesbek's article about the closing of Lula Brazil. He correctly chastised those folks who hated to see it go, but also admitted they were often reluctant to go downtown, pay for parking, and perhaps walk some distance just to eat there. I agree with Mr. Yesbek...you can't have it both ways. However, I also agree that Rehoboth during the season is indeed crowded with cars. Finding a parking space is a challenge, but finding one near your destination is basically a miracle.
Consider a family coming to town one evening to spend time on the Boardwalk and have a nice meal out. Sounds simple, but it may require them to park near the Boardwalk, return to their car, drive to the restaurant, and park again. You're now talking two miracles! How many people think through this scenario and conclude "never mind, it's too crowded" and go to a restaurant on the highway that has ample parking?
I repeat my suggestion that a well-designed free circulator bus system would reduce traffic on our streets and enhance downtown commerce. It could even become a signature feature of Rehoboth, along with the Bandstand, the Boardwalk, and Rehoboth Avenue itself.
A byproduct would be to encourage walking when folks realize that if the weather or their destination changes, they can just hop a bus. Bicyclists would notice a pleasant reduction in car traffic with which to do battle.
People who work at the restaurants, hotels, and shops downtown would no doubt welcome a reliable means of transportation that eliminates the expense and difficulty of finding parking. My plea is that our Rehoboth Beach Board of Commissioners at least talk to their counterparts in Breckenridge or Park City, Utah. How did they get started? How much does it cost? How do they pay for it? What lessons learned would they share?
Bruce Kauffman
Rehoboth Beach
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