Chatham approves Master Bicycle Plan

The Town of Chatham recently approved a Bicycle Master Plan. This plan is part of a town effort to create a safe and enjoyable destination for bicyclists, enhance the quality of life for residents and promote alternative modes of travel. The plan was developed through a partnership between the Chatham Bikeway’s Committee and the Cape Cod Commission.

The plan outlines how the town can move forward to engineer Chatham’s infrastructure to support bicycling for recreation and transportation. Existing bicycle infrastructure and areas of concern throughout Chatham were identified and a recommended list of projects, primarily focused on safety improvements was determined. Other recommendations include improved and additional road crossings, separated multi-use paths, bike lanes and signage.

On April 30, the Chatham Board of Selectmen voted to approve three projects recommended in the plan for fiscal year 2019. These include:

• Improve curbing and add ADA compliant ramp on Crowell Road at Tip Cart Drive and the intersection with Cape Cod Rail Trail. Numerous bicycle-related crashes have been reported at this location due to the existing curb.
• Install a pull off area and Fix-It station at the Old Colony Rail Trail parking lot on Route 137.
• Identify better ways of connecting the Old Colony Rail Trail to Downtown Chatham efficiently and safely, through improved wayfinding and signage.

Chatham’s Old Colony Rail Trail (OCRT) is a destination for tourists and locals alike. Creating safer and more efficient links between the villages of Chatham, the OCRT, and other popular destinations in town is a high priority in the Chatham Bike Plan.  As part of this effort, the town is also working towards providing links to Cape Cod’s growing network of designated bicycle routes, including the Cape Cod Rail Trail.

The Cape Cod Commission is working with towns, organizations and residents across the Cape to plan for improvements to existing bicycle infrastructure and to create a Capewide network of bike routes. To learn more, please visit the Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning page.