CHESAPEAKE BEACH, Md. — The Chesapeake Beach Town Council will consider a new ordinance to allow bicycles on the boardwalk at Boardwalk Park at Brownies Beach.
Town Council member Laura Blackwelder presented the ordinance at the Jan. 6 work session and said it came from a community member in the Walkable Community Advisory Group. The ordinance will only allow bikes with pneumatic wheels on the boardwalk in order to protect the boardwalk and keep bike speed at a minimum.
Pneumatic wheels are rubber tires with an inner tube filled with compressed air, providing a cushioned, shock-absorbing ride similar to car tires but often smaller, making them great for comfort, traction and moving over rough terrain like grass or gravel.
Blackwelder said the aim was to keep the ordinance limited in scope to allow bicyclists to enjoy the boardwalk and avoid opening it up to other wheeled vehicles. She acknowledged that there are many other questions regarding use of the boardwalk but hoped the council could do this “simple thing” to expand access for cyclists.
The council agreed that bikers on the boardwalk would yield the right of way to pedestrians. A car is responsible for avoiding pedestrians on roadways, and this would be the case for bicyclists on the boardwalk as well.
The council had few edits on the ordinance and agreed to take it up at a later meeting. That date is yet to be determined, but the next town council meeting and public hearing are scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 15.
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And what about dog walkers with long leashes? No bikes. I want to enjoy my walk and not be on the look out for bikes. Sorry –quality of life issue.
While I cannot speak specifically about the boardwalk at Brownies Beach, there has been a dramatic increase in electric motorized vehicles using the Chesapeake Beach Railway Trail. Electric scooters and electric bikes abound. These vehicles travel much faster on average than the non-motorized types. It is just a matter of time before someone or someone’s pet is injured or worse.