This week’s tantalizing spring weather has Westporters thinking about — and going — outdoors.*
Markus Marty, Jenna Petok and the Bike Westport team are more than ready.
The non-profit — whose mission is to create connected, shared streets that bring the community together — has created a list of resources, tips and ideas, for a more bikeable spring and summer.
Bike Westport also wants to make Westport more walkable. They’ve included information on walking and hiking trails too.
Popular Bike Routes
Westport village loop (~13 miles):
– Compo Beach • Downtown • Saugatuck • Train station
– Great for community rides and scenic cycling.
Compo Beach area – Flat, open roads with coastal views.
Neighborhood back roads – Quieter residential routes, ideal for families and beginner riders.
Bicycling to school, on Riverside Avenue.
Helpful Tips
– Ride early or during lower-traffic hours.
– Use lights and reflective gear.
– Plan routes using quieter side streets.
– Combine walking and biking outings for family-friendly days.
Want to help make Westport a safer, healthier and more connected community?
Click here to tell Bike Westport what you care about, and how you’d like to get involved. They are looking for volunteers in school communities, and for spring events.
*Spoiler alert: Showers are forecast for later today. With possible light snow. Ugh.
On foot and bicycles — even in a wheelchair — Westporters strolled and rode from one bridge to another this morning.
“Walk and Talk” — organized by Bike Westport, to highlight the opportunities and challenges of making Westport safer and more connected for everyone, and to publicize the “Pledge for a Walkable and Bikeable Westport“– drew candidates for office, voters, and several young people who must wait until the next decade to cast a ballot.
Plus a contingent of dogs.
Before the walk, at Jesup Green. (Photo/John Videler for Videler Photography)
All shared a common goal. All enjoyed a perfect New England morning.
All had a great, healthy time, walking, riding and talking from Jesup Green, over the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge, down Riverside Avenue and past the Cribari Bridge.
They ended at Kneads, with coffee and treats. A Wheels2U vehicle — part of the solution to Westport traffic — then ferried participants back to their vehicles.
(Some did not need it. They’d walked or biked to Jesup Green, from as far as Ellery Lane.)
And they’re off! (Photo/Dan Woog)
Markus Marty — founder and co-director of Bike Westport — set the tone with brief opening remarks.
“A walkable, bikeable Westport is essential to our health, safety and quality of life,” he said.
“Sidewalks, bike lanes and crosswalks are necessary. They make Westport safer, more natural, and an even more desirable place to live.
“Our streets belong to everyone: walkers, bikers and drivers.”
Marty endorsed a partnership between the town, state, cultural institutions, schools, community groups and neighbors.
Noting that all 3 first selectman candidates — Don O’Day, David Rosenwaks and Kevin Christie — had signed the pledge, and were taking part in the walk, Marty thanked them for saying at last week’s Sustainable Westport debate that they would devote “more resources and budgets” to efforts like these.
RTM members Peter Gold and Kristin Schneeman walk — er, ride — the talk. (Photo/Dan Woog)
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With local elections underway, and school back in session, Bike Westport is reaching out to candidates and voters.
This is, the non-profit says, “a unique moment to make a real impact for Westport residents.”
Bike Westport has met with the 3 candidates for 1st selectman — Kevin Christie, Don O’Day and David Rosenwaks. All have signed the organization’s “Pledge for a Walkable & Bikeable Westport.”
The pledge says:
WHEREAS, a walkable and bikeable Westport is essential to our community’s health, safety, economy, and quality of life, and makes our town an even more vibrant and desirable place to grow up, raise a family, work, or live as a senior, supporting residents of all ages and abilities.
I hereby pledge my support for a vision of Westport that:
CONNECTS NEIGHBORHOODS AND DESTINATIONS, including schools, parks, beaches, the Westport Library, the Farmers’ Market, Levitt Pavilion, Westport Weston Family YMCA, Westport Senior Center, Longshore Club Park, downtown, and the train station, making it safe and easy for people to walk or bike throughout our community;
ADVANCES SAFETY FOR ALL, by supporting safer street design, connected pedestrian and bicycle networks, and promoting a culture of safe biking;
HELPS REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION, by offering safe, practical alternatives to car travel for everyday trips to schools, the train station, Compo Beach, and downtown;
EMPOWERS INDEPENDENCE, enabling children, seniors, and everyday walkers and bike riders to move around town freely, confidently, and safely;
PROMOTES PUBLIC HEALTH AND FITNESS, by encouraging active transportation and outdoor lifestyles for residents of all ages and abilities;
Bike Westport co-founder Markus Marty rides with his kids.
SUPPORTS A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY, by making it easier for people to visit local shops, restaurants, events, and markets without needing to drive or park;
STRENGTHENS COMMUNITY PRIDE AND CONNECTION, by creating public spaces and roads that bring people together and celebrate Westport as a vibrant, welcoming, forward-looking town;
FOSTERS A CULTURE OF WALKING AND BIKING, through community events, education, and partnerships that encourage residents to embrace active transportation as part of daily life.
Bike Westport wants to make Westport more walkable too. (Photo/Tom Cook)
Bike Westport says that as residents assess candidates this fall, the pledge offers “a clear, community-driven framework for what Westport needs: safer, connected walking and biking routes that benefit families, seniors and the environment.”
They call this “a non-partisan issue that speaks to street safety, congestion, public health and civic pride — right when candidate platforms are being shaped.”
Bike Westport’s Jenna Petok and Markus Marty were at Saturday’s Slice of Saugatuck, with their kids. They spoke with hundreds of people, strolling throughout the neighborhood.
Bike Westport hopes that candidates for all local offices — including the Representative Town Meeting — will sign the pledge too.
One of those RTM candidates is Jenna Petok — Bike Westport’s director of strategy and community engagement.
She said that her involvement with that organization — along with her work on the Downtown Plan Implementation Committee, and her neighborhood engagement background — inspired her to run.
As founder and executive director of Bike Westport, Markus Marty wants safer roads in town for bicyclists. (Pedestrians and drivers too!)
He’s not the only one. Kings Highway Elementary School 5th graders also do.
Recently, Workshop students there began studying the town. They came up with many ideas about biking.
After meeting with Markus, and getting a map of Westport from the Planning & Zoning Department, they went to work on a plan.
Then they wrote to “06880.” They said:
We were learning about how Westport’s government operates, and discussing our great town and thinking of ways to improve it.
One of our classmates brought up the lack of bike lanes. We decided to make it our focus. We were thinking of places we could put bike lanes, the benefits, and the challenges.
Markus Marty meets with Kings Highway students.
We think bike lanes would improve our town in many ways. They would make people more healthy, especially children, they would help reduce traffic, they would help the environment, and they would bring our community together.
When it’s warm, we all enjoy biking. But many of us live off or near busy roads such as Woodside Avenue, Newtown Turnpike, and Saugatuck Avenue. Our parents don’t like us going on long bike rides by ourselves. But if Westport had bike lanes, this wouldn’t be a problem.
Bike paths and loops, suggested by KHS students …
We think bike lanes would be a big hit with all Westporters, from children to adults. They would benefit people for many reasons, including health reasons.
Bike lanes would benefit children especially, because it would be a way for kids to go meet up with friends without their parents having to drive them. This would help kids develop a sense of independence, which is a challenge for parents today because of safety.
Kids in town don’t have the same independence as they did when our parents were growing up. With the bike lanes, kids would have more freedom. All kids would benefit from the bike lanes.
… and a close-up of some suggestions.
Bike lanes wouldn’t just help bikers though. It can be infuriating to be stuck behind a biker, but with designated bike paths and routes, the frustration would be less.
Another reason is that many people use their car because biking is dangerous. If more people bike, less cars could cause less traffic.
Sure, it might not stop a whole lot of big traffic, but it could fix traffic building up at red lights. It could also help you make the light, with less cars on the road.
Drivers also don’t have to worry about hitting any bikers that are on the road when there is a specified bike lane.
Multiple other reasons are environmentally focused. One of these is that there are way, WAY less gas emissions than when people are riding in automobiles.
Also, if you are holding onto a bike’s handlebars, it is hard to throw your trash on the ground, so cycling also decreases littering!
Two questions, from Kings Highway students.
Bikes can also go on off road paths, which can be very scenic and enjoyable. These paths are more friendly to the environment, and are also smaller and more natural, leading to less resources expended, more enjoyment, and much less damage to the earth. People would also appreciate nature more, leading to less actions without thinking of outcomes, like littering.
Because of this, bikes are wholly better than cars in terms of keeping our world healthy, and are also enjoyable for parents and kids alike. So, bicycle lanes are important to create for many reasons.
The bike lanes would also impact the whole community. The lanes would bring people together, and neighbors could meet up and ride to schools and other locations together.
One possible way to make this happen is we could create bike buses. They are a type of bike train led by an adult, this would make it possible for lots of students to ride together and it would minimize the danger for the bikers.
A May, 2024 bike event at Kings Highway Elementary School.
The bike lanes would also make it possible for more people, especially families with children, to bike. If more bikers were on the road it would make drivers more aware that it is not only them on the road. This would make the number of accidents for both bikers and drivers decrease, therefore benefiting a large group of Westporters.
We have read a great deal of your past posts and writings on the subject of biking in Westport. We realize that students are an important part of Westport’s future.
We all agree that bike lanes are an important part of many successful communities. Westport does not have access to this luxury. If we had bike lanes all of Westport would benefit.
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.)
(“06880” reports often on Westport’s transportation issues — roads, rails, water, whatever. If you enjoy this hyper-local blog, please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
A 5th grader asked this question. The answer, Bike Westport hopes, is: yes.
Okay, now we know summer is just around the corner.
The Westport Woman’s Club has announced the dates for the Yankee Doodle Fair.
The century-old tradition returns Fathers Day weekend. From Thursday, June 13 through Sunday, June 16, the grounds and parking lot on Imperial Avenue will transform from a staid club into a carnival, for “kids” of all ages.
Profits support charities throughout Fairfield County, need-based scholarships to Staples High School students, and the Woman’s Club food closet.
Among the rides: a carousel, Flying Dumbo, Dizzy Dragon, Frog Hopper, Scrambler, Cliff Hanger, Zero Gravity and Expo Wheel. Unlimited ride wristbands make things easy (and inexpensive).
The youngest fairgoers will enjoy sand art and snowflake painting.
Entertainment includes rock and country/bluegrass bands. There are raffle prizes and a “take a chance” tent.
Plus of course a food court with hamburgers, hot dogs, Greek food, Good Humor ice cream, baked goods — and beer and wine.
Proceeds help support a wide array of Fairfield County charities, need-based scholarships for Staples High School students, and the WWC food closet.
Yankee Doodle Fair sponsors include Belta’s Farm Legacy, Ellen Hooker, Rich Dean Boxing & Fitness, Salon Paul Michael, Sam Sloat Coins, Westport National Bank, Continuum Card, National Express, Izzo’s Landscapes, JMG Insurance, Principal Wealth Partners, Toni Mickiewicz-William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty.
Effective immediately — well, at its next (June 3) meeting anyway — Planning & Zoning Commission sessions will begin at 6 p.m. The previous start time was 7.
P&Z Chair Paul Lebowitz says: “After many late night meetings, the Commission decided to start one hour, earlier with the hope of completing our meetings earlier.
“Our goal is to allow for more convenient opportunities for public participation, and also ensure a more focused and productive discussion between the applicants and Commission members.”
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Many Westporters love Earthplace, for its property, programs, and friendly, inclusive vibe.
Many other Westporters have never heard of it. Or if they have, they haven’t checked it out.
The non-profit science, conservation and education center, tucked into Westport’s northwest corner off Stony Brook Road, has an extensive menu of summer offerings. Click here for the program guide, listing drop-in activities, teen programs, and family and adult events.
There’s a summer camp for grades 3-8, and leadership training for 14- and 15-year-olds. Click here for camp offerings.
Taylor Swift joined over 50 Kings Highway Elementary School students on Wednesday, for their first-ever Rise ‘n’ Ride.
Well, at least “Shake It Off” played through a speaker.
Youngsters rode loops around the PJ Romano track. Westport Police representatives Gregory Gunter and Rachel Hall — the KHS School Safety Officer — talked about the importance of always wearing a helmet.
The event was a collaboration with Bike Westport, whose goal is to promote safer cycling and walking in Westport.
Principal Tracey Carbone called it “an incredible and energizing way to start the day. This might be the start of a new tradition at KHS.”
Bike Westport co-founder Markus Marty — a KHS parent — said, “There is nothing more joyful than seeing children’s happy faces, enjoying their independence pedaling on their own.”
Officer Gregory Gunter, and the Kings Highway bike riders.
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Multi-talented Andrew Wilk discussed his career in the arts on Wednesday, at a Y’s Men of Westport and Weston-hosted Library event.
Former Y’s Men president John Brandt interviewed his fellow Westporter. The former executive producer and director of “Live From Lincoln Center” — and much more — discussed the wide variety of music, theater, dance and solo performances he captured, over a 30-year span.
Bedside Reading is “a luxury amenity program that places books by the bedsides in 5 -star hotels and boutique properties.”
Serendipity Labs is neither. It’s a co-working space on Post Road West, just over the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen Bridge.
But Beside Reading has partnered with Serendipity Labs, for a “Books & Cocktails” event June 11 (5 to 7 p.m.), featurinng authors Jeanne McWilliams Blasberg, Stacey L. Tucker and Philip Myles Dane. Jane Ubell-Meyer, founder of Bedside Reading and book columnist for luxury lifestyle magazines and websites will host.
There’s also an oracle/tarot card reading. The event is open to the public. Reservations are necessary (click here), and books will be available for sale.
Every elementary school kid in town, it seemed, raced onto PJ Romano Field yesterday morning, for the annual Day of Champions.
Their parents were there too. All were decked out in costumes — just one part of the offbeat, fun and very important competition.
A small part of the large Day of Champions crowd.
In just a few years, the Day of Champions has become one of Westport’s favorite traditions.
Jordan Schur’s GOATS team.
The event raised over $150,000 for Experience Camps, the Westport-based network of activities for children who have lost parents or siblings.
This boy named Will, his twin sister (not pictured) and younger sister lost their dad in 2022. Will gave an inspiring speech, about the importance of Experience Camps in his life.
So who was the big winner, when all the games were over?
Experience Camps, for sure.
Crushin’ it, at the Day of Champions. (All photos/Dan Woog)
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A few yards away from Winslow Park — and just a few hours later — Bernadette Peters wowed a sold-out Westport Country Playhouse crowd.
The Tony Award-winning stage, film, television and recording star gave shout-outs to the historic Playhouse (where she has performed before), as she offered unique interpretations of beloved Broadway songs by Stephen Sondheim, Rodgers & Hammerstein and others.
Her haunting “Send in the Clowns” was a special highlight.
Peters referenced the Dog Festival, when she talked about co-founding Broadway Barks with Mary Tyler Moore. Unfortunately, she said, she didn’t make it over to the park; she was doing her sound check.
It was a warm, wonderful evening. And one more sign that the Westport Country Playhouse’s 93rd year will be one of its best ever.
Bernadette Peters (Photo/Dan Woog)
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The Westport Sunrise Rotary Club joined Saturday’s international Day of Service.
Working with Westport’s Department of Human Services, volunteers cleaned up a Westport yard that needed help. They filled 30 large lawn and leaf bags — a small act that made a big difference.
Sunrise Rotarians (from left to right): Bob Galan, Bruce Fritz, Rob Hauck, Bruce Paul and Ted Freeman.
Also yesterday: the Staples wrestlers’ car wash, at the Shell station across from Winslow Park (and the well-attended Dog Festival).
Many high school teams raise funds this way.
But not many do it with the grapplers’ style: They all wore their singlets.
At least, they started out that way.
(Photo/Jennifer Rosen)
PS: This is not the only way the wrestlers help the community. They’re well known for taking on a variety of heavy labor tasks, like moving furniture or hauling rocks. Whatever people pay goes right back to their program.
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Meanwhile, some folks are not contributing to their community.
Cindy Blount send this photo …
… and writes: “Walking my dog in Winslow park on Saturday, I was astounded to find a number of dog poop bags left on the side of the trails in the woods.
“I picked them up. How about a reminder to dog owners to either drop them in the trash cans provided at the park, or take them home and toss them?”
It is astonishing that people will take the time to clean up after their dog — perhaps because someone is watching — but can’t be bothered to carry it a few more minutes, or yards, to a trash can.
I’ve written about this before. It doesn’t seem to make a difference.
Also yesterday: the Sound Cyclists Bicycle Club’s Bloomin’ Metric event.
There were 4 rides — 25, 40, 75 and 100 kilometers — starting and ending at Sherwood Island State Park.
Attendees enjoyed food trucks, bike inspections and vendors.
Among the booths: Bike Westport.
Markus Marty, a founder of the local group — which advocates for safer streets throughout town, for riders, pedestrians and drivers — brought his “smoothie blender bike.”
He gave out free smoothies, to raise awareness of the cause.
Well, Markus, notes, “they weren’t completely free. People had to work for them.”
How? As the photo below shows, the smoothie blender worked not on electricity, but on people pedal power.
Which made the drink even more enjoyable.
(Photo/Markus Marty)
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There hasn’t been a lot of sun for the past few days (weeks) (months).
But when there is, this green frog (rana clamitans, according to Morgan Veltri of Gilbertie’s Herbs & Garden Center enjoys it.
And — while posing for our “Westport … Naturally” feature — also blends in well with the surroundings.
And finally … on this date in 1873, Levi Strauss and Jacob Davis receive a U.S. patent for blue jeans with copper rivets. Strauss went on to form a company to manufacture them, which is why today they are called “Levis,” and not “Jacobs.”
(Another week of Roundups begins. “06880” keeps you up to date on everything happening in town — and we do it 24/7/365. Please click here to support our work. Thank you!)
Markus Marty grew up in Switzerland. From age 4 on, he biked everywhere. He spent 15 years in New York, and rode somewhere every day of the year.
After moving to Westport in 2020, he was stunned to find biking here more difficult than New York.
The other day, Markus and I chatted onstage at the Westport Library. We talked about Bike Westport — the non-profit he helped found to make bicycling (and walking) better and safer all over town.
We discussed other quality of life issues too. I learned a lot, about both transportation and Markus.
Adam Ganser is an architect and urban planner. He runs a not-for-profit in New York, focusing on parks and open space. For 10 years, he was vice president of planning and design for the High Line.
He and his family moved part-time to Westport 2 1/2 years ago. An avid cyclist, he was surprised to feel less safe on a bike here than in the city.
Filmmaker/photographer Markus Marty grew up in Switzerland, where from age 4 on he biked everywhere. He spent 15 years in New York, and rode somewhere every day of the year.
He and his family came to Westport in 2020. Recently, on Meet Your Teacher Day, he took his 5-year-old on a bike trailer to Kings Highway School.
Planning to ride with his child every day, Markus asked a staff member where the bike rack was. “She looked at me for a long time,” he says. “She had no idea.”
Markus Marty, with 5-year-old Miles and 3-year-old Ellis, ready for the commute from Saugatuck to Kings Highway Elementary and Earthplace preschool. (Photo/Greta Schmauzer)
The 2 men — introduced by mutual friends — quickly bonded over their shared passion for bicycles.
They also realized that Westport is not exactly bike-friendly.
In many ways in fact, it is bike-hostile.
Markus and Adam are young and energetic. They love much about their new town. Now they want to make it even better.
They are both idealistic and realistic. They are not zealots. But they also are doing whatever they can to raise awareness, advocate, and get things done.
Along with Peter Gold — a Representative Town Meeting member, Westport Transit District director and a cyclist, and an integral first member — Markus created BikeWestport. Adam has no formal affiliation, but offers support and advice.
The non-profit’s mission is to build “a community of people who desire more, safer and better cycling and walking options in Westport”; work with town and state governments to improve bicycling infrastructure and connect neighborhoods to areas like downtown, Saugatuck, Longshore, the beaches and schools, and educate riders and drivers on safe biking practices and laws.
It’s a big mission. It’s crucially important, to the quality of life of every Westporter.
But a journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.
Or one turn of a pedal.
As relative newcomers, with years of experience on bikes in crowded city streets, Markus and Adam are surprised that many residents are “scared to leave their property without a car. Kids won’t ride a bike, or walk to schools.”
There are good reasons: a lack of sidewalk, narrow streets, dangerous drivers.
Markus Marty and his kids ride wherever they can. Here they’ve walked their bikes across the Saugatuck River pedestrian railroad bridge and are on Ferry Lane East, headed to Compo Beach.
Despite a broad movement — across the nation, and the world — to encourage environmentally sound modes of transportation, Westport is heading the opposite way.
“It’s nobody’s fault,” Adam notes. “But everyone has an anecdote about why they’re scared.”
Because of those concerns, he says “we have a huge opportunity. Residents want to bike to school, the library, the train station. We have to strike while the iron is hot.
“This town is so well regarded. It’s a great location. People are passionate about the library, schools, beaches. They’re all relatively close. What’s missing is a way for people to get to them without a car.”
Beckett Lohs bikes to Saugatuck Elementary School.
In July, the RTM approved an appropriation for a $562,500 “Safe Streets for All Action Plan.” The goal is to identify the most significant safety concerns, and devise strategies to address them.
Adam and Markus want bicycle and pedestrian issues to be not only part of the study, but priorities.
That has not been true in the past. The recent Downtown Plan Implementation Committee discussion mentioned bikes in passing; they seem more like an afterthought than a central part of the project.
The Bike Westport team (from left): Imke Lohs, Adam Ganser, Markus Marty.
Markus — who grew up cycling in Switzerland, then continued every day, in all weather in New York (a typical ride was from his Upper West Side apartment down to the pool at Chelsea Piers) — says, “I’ve never been as inactive as I am in the suburbs.”
His 5- and 3-year-olds both ride bikes. (The one due later this month will too, he promises.)
To ensure their safety — and encourage others to ride too — he and Adam are learning how this town works. And a bit about its transportation history, too.
“So many people say ‘it can’t be done,'” Adam notes. “‘You can’t use eminent domain for sidewalks.’ ‘You can’t widen the roads.'” They’re out to prove it can be done.
They hear, “These roads were made for horses and wagons.” Markus counters, “Europe is even older. They don’t have wide roads. But the smallest ones have room for sidewalks and bike lanes.”
BikeWestport is not just about kids and fit adults riding bicycles. With the advent and affordability of e-bikes, Markus says, people of any age can ride up a hill, or in a suit to the train station, without breaking a sweat.
Markus and Adam have already met with police officials and parents to discuss “bike buses” (group rides to school).
Westport Police officer Craig Bergamo leads a safe biking class at Saugatuck Elementary School. (Photo/Imke Lohs)
Still ahead: a survey. Continued advocacy around the issue. Ensuring that any discussion about traffic safety includes not just drivers, but bicyclists and pedestrians too.
“If the ideas are good, you can always get to ‘yes,'” Markus says.
He welcomes all comments, ideas, and offers of help. Click here for the BikeWestport website. To contact them, email info@bikewestport.org.
(There is potential for a bike store in Saugatuck too — complete with e-bikes. Any bike repair or technician person interested in being part of the venture should email info@bikewestport.org too.)
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