May is National Bike Month.
There’s no better time to ride to school, work or the train station. It’s not too hot or cold. The foliage is fantastic. What’s not to like?
Well, in Westport: a lack of bike lanes. Inconsistent maintenance of the ones that do exist. And everywhere: dangerous, distracted and difficult drivers.
Bike Westport thinks we can do better.
Bike Westport executive director Markus Marty (right) makes the mornng commute to Kings Highway Elementary School and Earthplace Preschool with Miles (6 years old) and Ellis (4). Selma (19 months) rides with her dad.
The non-profit organization is not a “bike club.” They don’t sponsor rides (beyond organizing elementary school get-to-class efforts).
They’re an advocacy group. Their mission is to build a community of people who want more, safer and better biking; work with town and state governments on infrastructure improvements connecting schools, downtown, beaches and the train stations; and educate riders and drivers on safe practices and laws.
And though their name says “Bike,” they want to make Westport better for all: riders, pedestrians and drivers.
Bike Westport director Jenna Petok crosses Post Road West with her son Elis (5), on their way to Kings Highway Elementary. The organization advocates for safety for pedestrians and drivers, as well as bikers.
In the 2 years since it was founded, Bike Westport has shed its training wheels. It’s not racing in the Tour de France yet — but that’s not the goal.
Founder and executive director Markus Marty, and director of strategy and community engagement Jenna Petok just want Westport to be more bikeable. And more friendly to bikers.
Their definition of “bikers” includes all ages and all abilities, all over town.
Markus has young children. The local school is Kings Highway Elementary — reachable (though not yet easily) by bike from their Stony Point home. Petok’s kids are there too.
Recently, KHS 5th graders drew maps of possible bike paths. They also wrote letters to 1st Selectwoman Jen Tooker and Department of Public Works director Pete Ratkiewich.
Kings Highway 5th graders suggested bike paths to their school, and loops to downtown, the beaches and other sites.
Bike Westport has met with both leaders. Markus and Jenna have also sat with other elected officials, and transit advocates in Westport, Fairfield and Norwalk.
With local elections ahead for first selectperson, and various commissions and the RTM, the advocates hope to make biking a campaign topic. They’d like to hear candidates’ positions — and learn how they’d follow through.
Markus has no patience for people who say — of nearly every major thoroughfare in Westport — “It’s a state road. We can’t do anything about it.”
“The state will react, if the town requests something,” he says. “But it needs to be a priority in Town Hall.”
Markus and Jenna note that the town’s Safety Action Plan is completed. Now is the time to apply for grants, to turn the document into reality.
Bike Westport is focusing town-wide, but also targeting specific areas for attention. What good is biking to the train, they ask, if there is nowhere convenient to store your bike? (The current racks are in an out-of-the-way, nearly inaccessible location.)
They’re also working with the Parks & Recreation Department, to identify a site for a bike rack at Compo Beach
To celebrate Bike Month, Bike Westport will participate in the May 24 Parks & Rec “Celebrate Summer” event at Compo Beach. They’ll offer tuneups and repairs, and a “bike rodeo” obstacle course.
On May 27, the group will join — on bikes, of course — the Memorial Day parade.
Safe biking in Westport “is too important not to have a town committee working on it,” Markus says, “we’ve been working with advocates and RTM members on a committee that addresses biking, walking and mass transit solutions.”
(Bike Westport is eager to work with anyone who can help: residents and town officials; regular bike riders, and those too fearful to take to the roads. They’re looking for volunteer help in marketing and communications, plus a community events manager and webmaster. They also hope to hire a part-time advocacy consultant. Click here for job descriptions. If interested, email info@bikewestport.org, or call (203) 293-0093. For more info on Bike Westport, click here.)
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A 5th grader asked this question. The answer, Bike Westport hopes, is: yes.
