Report: Make City Bike Friendly, Add Nature Trail

CAPE MAY – The Cape May Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee delivered a report to Cape May City Council July 2, with short, medium and long-term recommendations. William Murray, a former council member, serves as committee chair. 
Proposed New Nature Trail
The presentation began with a proposal for a nature trail, named the Mt. Vernon Trail. The trail would start at the end of Mt. Vernon Avenue near Second Street, and move to a connection point with the existing Nature Conservancy Trail at Fifth Avenue. This trail would then continue south to Cape May Point State Park and the Cape May Lighthouse. The trail would be pedestrian-only, no bicycles allowed.
The committee offered its proposals for the trail. They argued that it would support eco-tourism, promote physical activity and provide a safe route to the lighthouse. Tying their ideas to the existing concern over the parking problem in the city, the committee also promoted the proposed trail as a move which would enable people to go to the state park without using cars, reducing congestion and the need for parking spaces. 
Committee Ideas
Following their pitch for the trail, the committee moved to a series of points, which have grown out of months of meetings. The list was presented by committee member James Moffatt. 
Short-term
There were seven short-term points, which the committee hoped the city would turn to quickly. Those included a focus on specific streets and intersections.
The report calls for reducing the speed limit on Elmira Street and installing a four-way stop at Broad Street. Another four-way stop was recommended for the intersection of Columbia Avenue and Franklin Street.
Throughout the report, the committee pushed for “continental-style crosswalks,” also known as zebra-striped crosswalks, which are designed to make the crosswalk more visible to oncoming cars. This section of the report called for such a crosswalk at Elmira and Venice streets.
The committee asked for better signage on Washington, Lafayette, and Perry streets, along with painted share-the-road arrows on several streets, most immediately on Elmira from Creek to Beach.
The short-term point concluded with a call for banning tent sales on the Promenade until 10:30 a.m., a greater push by the city to get the county “Safe Route to School” project moving faster, and additional bicycle racks at several locations. 
Medium-term
There were 11 medium-term points. Those ranged from enhancing the bike lanes on Beach Avenue to the creation of a bike and pedestrian pathway across Kiwanis Park to the Physick Estate.
More areas were added to the list for recommended speed reductions, share-the-road arrows, and continental crosswalks.
The report calls for a bike lane westbound on Columbia Avenue, repainting of lane markings on New Jersey and Pittsburgh avenues, and greater attention to safety issues at the entrances and exits from the planned Lafayette Street Park.
In the medium-term, the committee asked the city to move all craft shows off the Promenade. 
Long-term
In the long-term, the report suggests that the city turn Elmira Street into a “bicycle-friendly” gateway into and out of Cape May.
Jackson Street was a focus of the long-term goal with a call for a one-way bike lane from the Washington Street Mall to Beach Avenue, as well as a possible roundabout at the intersection of Broad and Jackson streets.
Having already called for limits on Promenade tent sales, followed by a suggested ban on Promenade craft sales, the committee called for bicycle lanes in the areas of expansion and expanded hours for riding bicycles on the Promenade.
The report ended by advocating that the city consider hiring a safety officer. 
Challenges
Overall, the report discussed ways to make the city safer and more attractive to residents and visitors who want to be freed from dependence on cars. The challenge is to find ways which allows non-motorized forms of travel to share space safely with cars without adding to the automobile congestion which plagues the city each summer.
The committee is one of many the city has established to bring citizen expertise and involvement to a consideration of issues. What this report also made clear is that the city will soon face the task of how to mesh and prioritize the proposals coming from committees, some of which have overlapping areas of concern.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.