Barnstable to Create Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee

CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Barnstable Town Hall.

HYANNIS – The creation of a new Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee is on the agenda tonight for the Barnstable Town Council.

The panel will work to advise the town on the development of policies that support non-motorized transportation and how bikes and pedestrians can be accommodated in street, highway and open space projects.

“It’ll help us to address the continued efforts of our town to accommodate our vehicular traffic in a safe method but also our bicycles and pedestrians,” said Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells.

Ells said the committee will be important as the town develops its future infrastructure plans.

“We want to make sure that where we encourage this type of combined use that it’s safe and appropriate and that our villages and that our town as a whole are knowing of what we are doing,” he said.

Another goal will be to make sure bike and pedestrian projects that involve roadways are created in a way to maintain the character of the town’s villages and what the general public would expect and approve.

“There’s a lot of conflict out there between bicyclists and vehicles,” Ells said. “And in my observations there’s a lot of conflict between bicycles and pedestrians, especially during our peak season when bicycles aren’t supposed to be on the sidewalks.”

Duties of the committee will also include promoting bicycle and pedestrian safety and education and promoting biking and walking as a means of transportation, recreation and fitness.

The committee would be made up of five members who would be appointed by the town council. Members would serve three year terms.

By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter