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Bike-friendly concepts OK’d by City Council

City Council Thursday night took a step toward making Williamsport a more pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly city.

It voted on first reading on three matters related to making bicycle riding safer and a part of the integrated network of paths throughout the city.

First, council modified the city vehicle code to accommodate bicyclists.

Second, it amended an article in a zoning ordinance to add street design done in a way that may included, depending on funding, elements for pedestrians and those on bikes.

Third, any decision to design streets will include engineer consultation from urban bicycle design guides that make the city more walkable and bicycle-friendly.

The council also approved a resolution for the city bicycle map, following a public hearing, a map that lists streets where safe pathways are and those that are planned for development, including those providing better and safer connection to the Susquehanna River Walk.

“It set a direction,” said David Stone, chairman of the city bicycle committee, of what council has done with its votes.

Two years ago after Stone and his wife took a bicycle vacation to Portland, Oregon, Stone returned, spoke with Mayor Gabriel J. Campana and agreed to be appointed chairman of the bicycle committee.

What is occurring in the city is potentially to be included in a larger Mega Trail concept, a series of bicycle paths from Lake Ontario, along the Genessee River in New York, to the Pine Creek Trail and the eventual extension of the Susquehanna River Walk to Jersey Shore and to areas east to Muncy and Montgomery and south to the Chesapeake Bay, said Jerry S. Walls, volunteer and chairman of the board of the Susquehanna Greenway Partnership.

The partnership is working to revitalize rivertowns, of which Williamsport is designated, to make them more walkable and bikeable for a wider age range of individuals, especially youth and young adults who are looking for these type of amenities in places such as Lycoming County and its county seat.

Besides the health and recreational benefits of promoting and development bicycle-friendly communities, there is an economic element, Walls noted.

These individuals will want places to stay, while on these bicycle trail trips, and that bodes well for the hotels, restaurants, and specialty retailers in the city, he said.

Mark Murawski, county transportation planner, told council there also are benefits such as adding to tourism opportunities, such as trails getting individuals closer to places and parks listed as part of the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Councilman Don Noviello, a member of the public safety committee, noted the importance of bicycle safety training and coordinating that with the city police and public, especially as these developments are put into place and more bicyclists become a part of the city scene.

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