Lewes committee takes step toward bike ambassador program
The Lewes Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee narrowly threw its support behind the development of a bike ambassador program, although there is still a long road ahead to work out the details.
The vote at the committee’s Nov. 28 meeting was 3-2.
Committee members Mary Roth and Chip Davis voted against the measure, for different reasons.
“I don’t think enough research has been done,” Roth said. “I’ve talked to people around the country. [Ambassador programs] are not easy; many have failed. I think it’s a much longer, strategic development of a program.”
Davis said an ambassador program would not address the city’s biggest need.
“There is a problem with enforcement in town, and the ambassadors are not going to be charged with that,” Davis said. “The lack of enforcement for bicycles, pedestrians and vehicles is a grave concern.”
The committee has discussed the concept of a volunteer bike ambassador program that would be based on education, not enforcement.
“Bikers need to understand the rules of the road,” said Deputy Mayor Khalil Saliba.
Acting Assistant City Manager and Parks and Marina Manager Janet Reeves listed some examples of bike ambassador programs in other cities.
“They’re all quite similar,” she said. “It’s providing information. It’s educating. It’s outreach.”
The committee also unanimously approved spending up to $4,500 from its current budget to print more paper bike maps ahead of the 2024 summer season. The committee said it had 10,000 copies printed this year.
“I wonder how long those maps stay in people’s pockets before they get put in the trash can?” asked committee member Sumner Crosby.
But the committee agreed there is still a need for a map cyclists can hold in their hands.
The new maps will include an updated QR code that will take people to a redesigned electronic map to help cyclists better navigate around the city.
Bill Shull has been covering Lewes for the Cape Gazette since 2023. He comes to the world of print journalism after 40 years in TV news. Bill has worked in his hometown of Philadelphia, as well as Atlanta and Washington, D.C. He came to Lewes in 2014 to help launch WRDE-TV. Bill served as WRDE’s news director for more than eight years, working in Lewes and Milton. He is a 1986 graduate of Penn State University. Bill is an avid aviation and wildlife photographer, and a big Penn State football, Eagles, Phillies and PGA Tour golf fan. Bill, his wife Jill and their rescue cat, Lucky, live in Rehoboth Beach.
