Bethany Beach Mayor Carol Olmstead took some in the town off guard when she raised the issue of a year-round ban on bicycles on the town’s boardwalk at the town council’s October meeting. The town has long allowed cyclists to ride on the boardwalk during fall, winter and spring, and during the summer from 6 to 9 a.m., before the bulk of the beach-going populace arrives.
But Olmstead said she had received at least one citizen complaint about the danger posed by the practice and had herself witness several near accidents that had caused her to bring the idea of a full ban before the council, though there have yet to be any recorded injuries from pedestrian-cyclist collisions. She further cited an increase in walking as exercise and in use of the narrow boardwalk for that purpose.
The council had opted to formally place language regarding the issue on the agenda for their Nov. 16 meeting, rather than consider Olmstead’s loosely-worded topic from their October agenda as a first reading of an ordinance. But the second appearance of the issue raised some comments from citizens who oppose the idea.
“You’re impinging on my rights to enjoy myself at the beach,” commented resident Phil Boesch, who had earlier in the evening chastised the council for considering a beach smoking ban. “I was up there riding at mid-day two or three days ago, and there were 15 people there, including me,” Boesch noted, adding that a Nov. 15 ride at 7 a.m. had left him among just seven people on the boardwalk and that his January rides generally find a single person there with him.
“I came to Bethany Beach to be near the beach and boardwalk. You’re gradually eroding all the amenities I came here for,” he said, pointing out that full enforcement of such a ban would require a police presence on the boardwalk 365 days each year. “I think it’s a crazy idea,” he said.
Other residents pointed out that the ordinance change would affect not only those visiting the town in the summertime but also disproportionately affect year-round residents who might otherwise avoid the boardwalk area during the summer.
Even those who want to avoid bicyclists on the boardwalk had plenty of options, pointed out Council Member Bob Parsons. “There are 21 other hours people could walk if they don’t want to be there with the bicycles,” he said of the existing three-hour window in the summer.
Council Member Joseph Healy referenced a letter from resident John Himmelberg, who, concerned about the suggested ban, had recommended a compromise: extending limited hours for bicycles on the boardwalk to between May 1 and Oct. 31, in recognition of a lengthening summer season. That, Healy said, would still allow small children to ride bicycles in the comparative safety of the boardwalk and all cyclists to ride in January.
Town Solicitor Terence Jaywork endorsed that compromise, further suggesting that limiting cycling hours to between 6 and 8 a.m., instead of until 9 a.m., would reduce conflicts with pedestrians.
Council Member Steve Wode stated that he simply wouldn’t vote for the ordinance as proposed.
With that opposition stated, Council Member Tracy Mulligan also recommended the council look at changes to the proposed ordinance and consider it for a new first reading in December. Consensus was with that idea, as Olmstead emphasized the council’s willingness to continue to consider input on the issue.