Bike Advocate Seeks Sand, Brush Removal

WEST CAPE MAY – Ed Creenan of the West Cape May Environmental Commission went to his first freeholder meeting Sept. 13. 
Creenan started by saying he wanted to “talk off topic.” Several before him bid farewell to Freeholder Kristine Gabor on her final meeting before departing to Florida.
He told the board his concern was for the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians who use the once-lonely back roads of his hometown and Cape Island.
While thanking County Engineer Dale Foster and Road Supervisor Timothy Donohue “for staying in touch with the West Cape May Environmental Commission,” he said there is a problem of sweeping sand from the “tourist areas of Sunset Boulevard.”
Those who place brush and clippings on the shoulder of the road, and sand that blows onto the roadway is a collective danger and nuisance for bicyclists, Creenan said.
Acknowledging there is a “huge problem with fleet maintenance,” he said “If we could get some funds and direct the sweepers,” conditions would be safer.
While there are myriad bicyclists on Sunset Boulevard and Fourth Avenue during the height of the season, Creenan said the time has come for locals to take to the roads on their bicycles, and now they face sand and brush.
“Locals who bike now are waiting for the tourists to go away to get our roads back,” Creenan said. “I’m trying to ask for additional assistance from the road supervisor,” said Creenan. “They are doing a great job getting rid of sand, but bikes and sand don’t mix well.
Bicycle traffic has increased markedly especially on Fourth Avenue where many turn onto Stevens Street and Bayshore Road.
On those narrow roads there are no bike lane markings, and in places, he said, sand covers the white line marking the shoulder.
“We can’t get 100 citizens with brooms and brushes out there, so I beg and plead to see if there is any assistance for that,” said Creenan.
Freeholder Will Morey replied that the county is “active regarding bikeways and making “big enhancements in establishing new bike lanes.” He added that he would check with Donohue and Leslie Gimeno, planning director, “To see what we can do in the interim.”