Courtesy could solve canal bridge congestion

The opening of the Gordons Pond trail a year ago completed a beautiful loop linking Lewes and Rehoboth Beach. Meandering from Herring Point through salt marsh and coastal forest, the trail leads to Rehoboth and eventually connects to the popular Junction and Breakwater Trail.

The combined trail has quickly become a destination for cyclists, hikers and runners, a popular attraction enjoyed by locals as well as visitors.

Still, anything popular so quickly is likely to hit a few bumps on the road. Already this summer, new signs have gone up along the trail, reminding users of trail etiquette: keeping to the right and letting others know when they are about to be overtaken. These are basic rules of the road, but distractions are not uncommon and reminders are helpful.

But based on a recent story in the Cape Gazette, the most glaring problem is eastbound cyclists traveling the Lewes-Rehoboth Canal bridge, the most used point for entering or exiting Rehoboth. Plans call for possibly widening the northside sidewalk along the bridge so it can be used by cyclists and pedestrians traveling in both directions.

But while that idea is only in the planning stages, many cyclists coming from the trail are already staying on the north side of Rehoboth Avenue and riding against traffic on the sidewalk – right into pedestrian and bike traffic leaving Rehoboth.

The existing sidewalk is hardly wide enough for people leaving Rehoboth; it is clearly not wide enough to handle pedestrian and bicycle traffic in both directions.

With summer traffic on the wane, now is a good time to map out a better plan for the bridge. Painting a bike lane to urge cyclists to cross Rehoboth Avenue at Church Street might help, as would a sign urging people to walk bikes as they travel over the bridge into Rehoboth.

Above all, if everyone would slow down and adopt a spirit of courtesy, getting to our region’s scenic trails would be as enjoyable as riding on them.