Sussex Cyclists honored as one of top clubs in U.S. United States

Sussex Cyclists, the Region 2 Club of the Year, is a relatively new and small club operating primarily in the Cape Region. It was cited for its initiative to address safety concerns of a large number of seasonal workers and community members who use the bicycle as their primary means of transportation.

Sussex Cyclists President Tony Pezone said for the past three seasons the club, along with assistance from other organizations and local businesses, has set up bicycle safety checkpoints along Route 1 during the summer months. He said the program was set up as an outreach to the more than 2,000 foreign students who come to the resort area to work who ride bikes.

Sussex Cyclists, along with the Delaware Department of Transportation, began by setting up what became known as pit stops along Route 1. With the added assistance of the Delaware Safe Kids Program and Delaware State Police Troop 7, the pit-stop program placed stations along Route 1 and Rehoboth Avenue during June and July to assist cyclists. Aimed at local and seasonal cyclists of all ages, volunteers running the program have given away hundreds of bikes, light sets and helmets.

Volunteers have also performed minor bicycle repairs such as fitting and adjusting brake pads and inflating and patching tires.

Sussex Cyclists has been actively promoting bicycle safety to seasonal cyclists for more than five years, according to advocacy chairman Michael Tyler. “We began by holding meeting sessions at Rehoboth Elementary School and later at Ocean Atlantic real estate office,” he said. “But we were frustrated because we reached only a handful of foreign students in the resort area. I suggested we bring the safety message to the cyclists where they ride, primarily Route 1, where we could provide needed safety equipment and materials and reach more students.”

The effort paid off. “We reached hundreds of area cyclists and with the help of club member volunteers and DelDOT we set up shop on Route 1,” Tyler said.

As the program progressed, signs were made in five different languages to alert cyclists that a checkpoint was ahead. Bike safety brochures have been distributed in Spanish, Polish, Russian Romanian and English, which explain the rules of the road.

“It apparently has worked because we had the lowest number of cycling incidents last year than any previous season since we began,” Tyler said.

He noted that the effort also helped create cycling awareness among motorists who saw the tent stations and often showed support for the effort by giving the thumbs up sign or even stopping to request helmets for their workers, children or grandchildren.

The League’s Club of the Year program, now in its fourth year, recognizes outstanding clubs throughout the United States for their hard work and dedication as well as for encouraging cycling and providing a forum for their communities to ride.

Other winners include: Narragansett Bay Wheelman, Rhode Island; Richmond Are Bicycle Association, Virginia; Silver Wheels Cycling Club, Ohio; Twin Cities Bicycling Club, Minnesota; Colorado Springs Cycling Club, Colorado; Conejos Valley Cyclist, California;

Sussex Cyclists is a group of men and women cyclists of various ages, skills and endurance levels mostly from southeastern Sussex County. The club provides group-riding opportunities, teaches safe cycling and advocates safe facilities for cycling. Weekend and summer visitors often take part in club rides. For information about Sussex Cyclists or a membership form visit the web site at sussexcyclists.org. For more information on the award visit www.bikeleague.org