Selectmen Discuss Cycling Safety

At their meeting Wednesday night, the town's heard from local attorney and cycling enthusiast Carl King, who asked the group to consider forming a commission to study the possibility of adding painted bike lanes to Atlantic Avenue. 

"The intent of my letters to the board, frankly, was not to have you do a global study of every street in town but to look at two or three of our main roads that are heavily used by bicyclists and have adequate widths of pavement to support bike lanes," King said, adding that the most logical choice would likely be Atlantic Avenue.

During his 15-minute presentation, King suggested that board members appoint a committee, comprised of representatives from a number of different town boards, including the Board of Health, the School Department and Traffic and Safety to look into planning the project.

"These bike lanes make the roads safer for everyone. They are safer for the cyclists and safer for motorists," King said. "The people who are at the biggest risk of being in an accident on a bicycle in Marblehead are the kids."

King said he would like to see Marblehead consider implementing the same kind of cycling safety projects that have already been completed in Boston and Salem, "because Marblehead is truly a beautiful place to ride."

Board member Judith Jacobi said her primary focus is finding a way to limit the use of cell phones by local motorists and said she had "spoken to a couple of bikers who said the paint they choose for these lanes can be slippery, especially in the bad weather."

"The fact of the matter is that we’re going to be out there riding whether you paint these lines or not - the question is whether or not it is going to be safe for us to do so," King said. "I'd rather drive on the Lynnway than drive in Marblehead."

After entertaining King's request, Select Board members unanimously referred his report to the town's Traffic Advisory in the hopes of hearing what they have to say about the issue before making a recommendation.