The Lewes Bike and Pedestrian Committee met last week, and it seems that most of the committee members are in favor of establishing bike lanes on Cedar Street. Cedar Street is a state road controlled by DelDOT just like Cape Henlopen Drive and Savannah Road, while Bay Avenue is a municipal road.
The current extremely hazardous situation along Cedar Street during summer months is of grave concern for cyclists, pedestrians and motorists who all have a difficult time navigating along Cedar Street with cars parked in the bike lanes blocking visibility, and forcing cyclists and pedestrians to maneuver in and out of traffic.
The recent Lewes Beach survey revealed about 12 to 14 feet of state-owned land on the bay side of the Cedar Street bike lanes. This area is clearly marked with survey stakes and is ideally suited for designated parallel parking, preferably permit parking. Diagonal parking is extremely dangerous since motorists lose visibility when backing out of a parking space.
The painted yellow corners in the bike lanes on Cedar Street at each state-named street intersection do not help since the visibility is blocked by cars parked in the bike lane, shrubbery, fences and other obstructions on state land.
Bay Avenue is currently designated as a two-way bike road; however, it is even more confusing and dangerous because Bay Avenue is one-way eastbound for motorists with stop signs at each state street intersection. However, there are no stop signs for cyclists traveling westbound, creating a serious problem for both cyclists and motorists turning right onto Bay Avenue.
Cedar Street bike lanes and designated parallel parking on Cedar Street on state property will solve numerous problems including but not limited to:
• Create safe bike lanes on both sides of Cedar Street for cyclists and pedestrians.
• Greatly diminish blind spots and establish improved visibility corridors for motorists.
• Designated parking spaces will be controlled and enforceable.
• Permit parking will generate income for the City of Lewes.
• Establish controlled carrying capacity for overcrowded Lewes Beach.
• Further endorse our bike-friendly community. Please get involved.
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