Bring on the bicycles!

New advocacy group to foster better local bike culture

By SANDY LONG

PORT JERVIS, NY AND MILFORD, PA — They plan to start off with new aesthetically pleasing bike racks in Port Jervis and Milford. But that’s not where they intend to stop. Members of the Port Jervis/Milford Bike Coalition want to see their communities and the surrounding region begin transforming into more bicycle-friendly places.

“We want to promote bicycling in all of its forms,” explained founder Bernard Bomba. “My vision is to establish a group of cyclists and other interested people who will work together to promote and protect the rights of bicyclists and advocate for initiatives that will make cycling in our area safer, more convenient and more enjoyable.”

Bomba wants to create a local bicycle culture similar to that found in places like Portland, OR, San Francisco and Davis, CA, Portland, ME and Princeton, NJ. “These are cultures that respect and value bicyclists, not only as people engaged in sport or recreation, but more importantly as people who ride bikes for transportation, commuting to work, shopping for groceries—people for whom bicycling is an integral part of their everyday lives,” said Bomba. “Too often, bicyclists are viewed as intruders or trespassers on the automobile-dominated public roadways.”

In bike terms, the hub of the wheel, and the newly formed coalition, is centered in Port Jervis and Milford. The spokes, or outreach, will encompass a 20-mile radius. Members are from the tri-state region, and they hope that other communities will follow suit and ultimately link their own efforts to those initiated by the coalition.

In addition to downtown racks, members would like to see racks placed at town libraries, grocery stores, schools and more. “There is a tremendous need for safe and secure bicycle parking throughout our area,” said Bomba. “All bike parking is not created equal; the old fashioned bike racks do not allow cyclists to secure their bikes properly. The newer designs work much better, and some of them are quite beautiful and can actually enhance the street aesthetic (see www.bikeparking.com/welleseries/index.html for examples).

The group is also planning to work with state departments of transportation and local municipalities to improve and better maintain the bike routes that run through the area. “We’d like the shoulders to be swept of debris and gravel regularly; in some cases, the shoulders need to be widened and storm drains repaired and marked. A well-marked bicycle-specific lane could be created to link Port Jervis and Milford,” Bomba said.

Coalition member Scott Smith commutes by bike roughly 28 miles daily. Member David Greenbaum treks from Shohola to the Bluestone Gallery in Milford. And member Warren Chase and his wife enjoy bike-tripping from their home in Milford to the farmers market in Port Jervis during the summer. All of them would benefit by better roadways, parking opportunities and motorist education for improved safety. And all are big fans of the fitness afforded by their cycling. “I’m 68 and I feel great,” said member Herb Meyerson.

The coalition is encouraging young people to get involved, too. In support of youth biking, the group plans to promote safety by offering educational programs, including those targeted to educating drivers of automobiles, as well as adult cyclists and young cyclists about safely co-existing on area roadways. The coalition supports the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and would like to see such a program here. Member Roger Kalin advocates for taking steps to make it possible for children to ride their bikes to school as in the past.

Ultimately, the group would like to see Port Jervis and Milford apply for recognition as Bicycle Friendly Communities ( see www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/about.htm ), which encourages bicycling as a simple way of improving public health. Some benefits of increased community cycling include reduced traffic demands, improved air quality and greater physical fitness. Bicycle-friendly towns are often seen as places with a high quality of life, which can translate into increased property values, business growth and increased tourism. “The benefits to the community economically, i.e. tourism, recreation and enhancement of the overall reputation of the town, are quite compelling,” Bomba said.

Also in the works are community rides and several possible bike-related special events. “We hope to sponsor and organize, with the help of our communities, consciousness-raising bicycle events such as a Tour de Port Jervis/Milford, or a bicycle festival to celebrate the bicycle as the most beautiful and efficient machine ever invented,” said Bomba. For starters, the coalition reminds riders that May 11 begins National Bike to Work Week and May 15 is Bike to Work Day.

Already the local biking horizon is brighter. The new 37-mile McDade Trail, which passes through the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, is nearing completion, and the National Park Service is considering adding shuttle service to bring riders and their bikes back after completing the trip.

The coalition was formed just over a month ago, and is encouraging any interested individuals to become involved. For more information, email pjbicycle@gmail.com.