By Shawnee Baldwin February 6, 2024
Have you ever discovered something that you didn’t know, you didn’t know? I did, when I attended my first BikeWalk Glastonbury meeting at Smith School and later joined the Bicycle Advisory Group. I had no idea the amount of pre-planning that goes into installing trails, pathways, and sidewalks. And I am a heavy user of all three. Have you had a chance to enjoy the Addison Bog pathway from Smith School to Bell Street? Or the meandering pathway along the Salmon Brook River that runs between Western Boulevard and House Street? Or taken advantage of the new sidewalks along Eastern and Western Boulevard? They have made walking so much safer and enjoyable.
Walking and biking are good for the environment as they reduce fossil fuel use and shrink our carbon footprint. They are also good for our health: moving our bodies, breathing in air filtered by trees, restoring our sanity before or after work, generating new ideas with a walking meditation. Glastonbury has an extensive list of sidewalk requests so there is clearly an interest in getting places on foot or on a bike.
These projects, once installed and taken for granted, do not spring up overnight. A variety of town agencies, officials, and volunteers cooperate and collaborate to shepherd these projects from start to finish and determine the what, where, and priority of the need. And there is a lengthy timeline for change to be implemented.
What permits are necessary? What homeowners or state property owners have to be approached for a right of way or a possible property purchase? What materials will be used? What kind of contractor is needed? What is the length of that contract? Where will equipment be centralized for the project? What environmental and wetland studies have to be performed? What plants will be installed when the project is done? What surveys need to be done? What blueprints need to be drawn up to visualize a project? What residents need to be consulted? What traffic will be interrupted during construction? What kind of weather will impede installation? Who funds the benches and the bike repair stations? What regulations need to be consulted so a sidewalk is in compliance? What needs to be added to make a pathway or sidewalk or even a parking lot accessible for all levels of mobility? Where should bike racks be installed? What kind of signage is needed? What is needed to start a Mountain Bike Club through the schools or other agency?
Who installs and maintains these peaceful pathways that invite us deeper into nature and back to ourselves?
My eyes have been opened to a network of mostly invisible and anonymous people who work behind the scenes to keep Glastonbury mobile and help us to connect to each other. This network provides safe routes to walk your dog, take a stroll during your lunch hour, get to work on time and in one piece, get your steps in on that Fitbit and actually keep your New Year’s resolution to get in shape! We are working on creating mountain bike trails in Addison Bog and a kid section to practice mountain bike skills, and implement bike safety classes in the schools – be on the lookout for a Bike to School Day in May. We are also making sure safety measures are in place for the long-anticipated trail over the Putnam Bridge, installing a bike repair station there, and planning a grand opening for the spring. We are also working to improve our score on a Bicycle Friendly Community Report Card where we currently have a Bronze Award.
I now know something I didn’t know before. That knowledge has increased my appreciation for the variety of puzzle pieces that make up the transportation network, the many town agencies involved, and the passionate people that keep this town moving. Join us and help us assemble the whole puzzle.
BikeWalk Glastonbury’s next meeting is Monday, March 11 at 7:00 in room 1210 (purple section). We can be reached at info@bikewalkglastonbury.org, on the website www.bikewalkglastonburyorg, or Facebook. Letters and donations to support their transit projects can go to P.O. Box 625, Glastonbury, CT 06033-0625
The TALK Environmental Action group seeks to promote conversations about the environment and climate change in our community. If you have a related topic which you are passionate about, please send your ideas and suggestions for future articles to: prez@talk-action.org. All articles are archived on the Talk website http://talk-action.org