Mike Ward of the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization stands next to maps he made of proposed bike and pedestrian paths in Milford. .
Bikers found things they didn’t like about proposed Milford biking and pedestrian paths, and walkers found things they liked.
Sue Lindale, an avid biker who rides dozens of miles a day, liked the overall plan.
“But there are some parts that aren’t practical for road cycling,” she said. “Some of the plan restricts the roads and narrows them, which means when we ride on the road we’re going to be holding up a whole line of traffic.”
Combining bike and walking lanes means bikers riding 20 mph will be moving fast compared to the average pedestrian, so bikers often move into a road for safety.
“That’s a problem,” Lindale said.
South Walnut Street resident Kevin Mullican studied the maps at Tuesday’s workshop and said he felt the plans covered everything.
“I walk a lot, so it’s nice they are filling in the sidewalks,” Mullican said.
Bike paths’ future
Lindale and Mullican were two of the dozens of people who attended a city workshop held to get public input on routes that are years from becoming reality.
This was the second public input meeting with city representatives and the Dover/Kent County Metropolitan Planning Organization.
The primary focus was bike and pedestrian paths to enhance safety along the North Rehoboth Boulevard and North Walnut Street corridor.
“Over the past 70 years we have become more car centric. We automatically assume if we have a car we own the road,” said Helen Wiles, of the planning organization.
“For some people walking and bicycling is their only form of transportation and they have to try to borrow a piece of the road to get from point A to point B.”
To make transportation safer in Milford, the study recommends better sidewalk connectivity, intersection improvements and designated bike paths.
Transportation Planner Malcolm Jacob said the planning organization collaborated with I.G. Burton, KSI, Purdue and the Milford School District and High School to identify areas of concern.
“Everyone wants to make sure this has positive outcomes,” Jacob said.
The final report and plan documents would be used to develop construction plans for future city and state capital projects.
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Milford and the planning organization will take public input from the study to further develop a plan that will eventually be shown to City Council.
Once approved by the city, the planning organization will recommend the project to the Delaware Department of Transportation.
“There is no timeline for the project,” said City Planner Rob Pierce.
This study is one of several that could potentially morph into official plans with DelDOT.
Other studies include an intersection at 10th Street, a bike path on Marshall Street and bike lanes from South East Second Street to Watergate Boulevard South.
Maps depicting these goals can be found on cityofmilford.com.
Comments or questions should be directed to Pierce at (302) 424-8395 or [email protected].
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