South Point Residents Irked County Rejected Bike Lane Idea

South Point Residents Irked County Rejected Bike Lane Idea
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BERLIN – Just a mile from Mary Johnson-Willis’ South Point home, a state-of-the-art bridge provides pedestrians and cyclists with a safe way to get to Assateague Island.

And she can’t reach it.

Johnson-Willis and several residents of the South Point area say it’s too dangerous to walk or bike down their road to reach Route 611 and its bridge to Assateague. They’re frustrated that they live so close to an area promoted to cyclists and pedestrians for its natural beauty and yet have to get in a car and drive there if they don’t want to worry about their safety.

“We’re trapped,” she said. “We can’t go out to get to Assateague.”

Johnson-Willis sent a letter to the Worcester County Commissioners in August asking them to consider building a bike lane or shoulder along South Point Road. She created a diagram of the neighborhood, marked the blind turns on South Point Road and had copies printed on foam board for each of the commissioners. She also mapped each of the developments within the South Point region and compiled relevant figures.

She didn’t receive a reply, however, and was surprised to find out the commissioners voted Oct. 18 not to pursue a bike lane but to install a few “Share the Road” signs in response to her request.

“I was ready to come and plead my case,” she said, adding that she’d even started having her neighbors sign a petition in support of a bike lane.

According to county staff, the request, like the majority of those the county receives, was simply handled administratively.

“In this case, Ms. Johnson-Willis’s request for the addition of a dedicated bike lane on South Point Road was reviewed by Public Works staff who recommended ‘Share the Road’ signs be installed as have been successful in other areas of the county,” said Kelly Shannahan, Worcester County’s assistant chief administrative officer. “The commissioners agreed with the staff recommendation and the matter was therefore resolved.”

In his recommendation that the county install cautionary signs, Public Works Director John Tustin said creating a bike lane would cost upwards of $100,000.

“Extra right-of-way may need to be acquired to accommodate this request,” he wrote in his report to the commissioners. “There would also be additional costs associated with this project which would include environmental permitting, storm water concerns, relocating signs, installing new driveway pipes and reconstruction of roadside ditches, extending crossroad pipes, stabilizing bike paths, along with the appropriate stencils and painting.”

Johnson-Willis is cognizant of the fact that building a bike lane or shoulder along South Point Road could prove costly. While a bike lane along the entire 3.5-mile stretch of road would be ideal, she’d be thrilled if even part of it was improved.

“If funding isn’t available, let’s just start with the first mile,” she said, adding that the area was home to nearly 500 people and represented a substantial amount of tax revenue to the county.

South Point resident Mia Schreier says there’s currently no safe place for people to walk or bike along the road. While residents of the neighborhood know to be on the lookout for those who do attempt it, tourists heading for the area golf courses don’t.

“They’re not aware that people use it as a footpath,” she said.

Schreier says she’s seen drivers slam on the brakes and swerve to avoid walkers and bicyclists as well as to avoid oncoming vehicles they encounter when trying to pass pedestrians.

“The road is very narrow and windy,” she said.

Resident Mary Esender agreed.

“Some people will go way out around you and it’s quite frightening because sometimes they do it on a curve,” she said.

Esender rarely walks or bikes through the neighborhood.

“It feels dangerous,” she said, adding that she typically goes to the park instead.

Both Schreier and Johnson-Willis say that while they don’t consider South Point Road safe to traverse on foot, it is a beautiful area.

“There are views that are incredible,” Schreier said. “It could easily be networked into going over to Assateague.”

Johnson-Willis would love to see the area made safe for bicyclists and advertised as a scenic route for them.

“There were 7,000 people in the Seagull Century,” she said. “It’s part of our tourism. Worcester County could have a feather in its cap.”

About The Author: Charlene Sharpe

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Charlene Sharpe has been with The Dispatch since 2014. A graduate of Stephen Decatur High School and the University of Richmond, she spent seven years with the Delmarva Media Group before joining the team at The Dispatch.