Bike and pedestrian professionals, advocates, and elected officials across the Eastern Shore, met in Easton on Friday to discuss ways to improve cycling and walking in Talbot County for residents and visitors. Organized by local residents including Bill Boicourt of Trappe, Carol Kachadoorian of Oxford, Richard Marks of Easton, and Shannon Vaughn of Bellevue, participants learned of four locations in Talbot County where changes can increase mobility and safety:
- for people cycling to Easton on Rt.33 at the Old Bloomfield Road intersection;
- for children walking and cycling to Easton Elementary on Glenwood Avenue;
- for all modes through the intersection of N. Aurora/Wrightson/N. Washington;
- for pedestrians crossing the N. Harrison Street/Goldsborough Street intersection.
Participants also discussed forming a Talbot County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Coalition, similar to those in place elsewhere in Maryland. The Coalition would work with elected officials and community members to expand and enhance the bicycling and pedestrian networks to better serve residents and support economic development through tourism.
“Talbot County is poised to build on the popularity of bicycling by residents and tourists. This group is creating momentum to move us forward to the next level,” said Cassandra Vanhooser, Director of Talbot County Economic Development & Tourism. Ron Engle an Easton Town Commissioner and Pete Lesher a Talbot County Council Member, attended and were also enthused by the presentation.
Participants will continue their work with county and town officials, with the primary goal of implementing changes in the four locations through various funding sources available from the Maryland Department of Transportation and elsewhere. The group organizers were appreciative of background information provided by Patrice Miller and Angela Rieck of Bike Talbot in their quest and efforts to extend pedestrian and bike paths in Talbot County.
The meeting was inspired by work in several other Eastern Shore communities that was highlighted at the January 2021 meeting of the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, an interagency group with representation from all Maryland regions. Some of the participants from that group attended the meeting here and then joined with others for a bike ride afterwards and see the areas targeted for safety improvements.
The Avalon Foundation hosted the meeting at its Stoltz Pavilion and Dock Street Foundation provided lunch from Piazza Italian Market.
Easton cyclist says
Safe crossing of rt 50 at dover rd and goldsboro st are desperately needed
Tom Harmon says
It would be a great improvement for Bicycles and runners training for long distances to extend rails to trail from Easton to Tilghman following the railroad route! It would be safer than riding on St Michaels road, and especially for the runners!
For Example the Swamp Rabbit Trail through Greenville, S.C. northward is a great example of a successful trail!
hanna Hines says
Great idea,
Michael Fisher says
We have many reasons to extend and expand the outdoor spaces Eastern Shore residents and guests can utilize. Biking trails have benefited many communities economically, and with our quests to Get Outside during the pandemic it has been made clear that we need more access to recreational spaces such as this. Certainly safety at intersections needs to be enhanced. It is hard enough fighting obesity and mental illnesses with our sedentary, electronic and solitary lives—Talbot needs to stay active. Our County Council should prioritize this and promote this Open Space effort.
René Fuentes says
I’m an avid bike rider. Unfortunately, I will not go on public transit roads due to the high risk. I prefer trails. Living in Easton, the current rails to trails, at it current 2.5 miles is not sufficient. Yesterday, Thursday, I hitch our bikes and my fiend and I rode to Grasonville, parked at the free lot, and completed a round trip 18 miles on the Cross Island Trail through Kent Island.
That trail attracts many tourists. We ran into a group of 20 bikers from Fredericksburg, VA. Like us, they spend some funds at local restaurants during a lunch stop. Good paved biking/walking trails is a boost for the local economy, and Talbot County is in great need of them.