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Community Corner

Maplewood Bike Path Underway

Slowly but surely, the trail is being blazed by the Parks Department.

You might have noticed those eye-catching person-riding-a-bike figures painted on some Maplewood roads lately, or the round green signs.

They are the beginnings of the Maplewood Bikeway Network Plan. Started in May, the township called the initiative a “great step forward,” and one that reflects the desire of a lot of residents to do more bicycling. From health and wellness to inexpensive recreation and the obvious advantages of having another form of transportation, the path is inexpensive and is expected to be used heavily.

Township Committeeman Gerard Ryan told Patch that the path is still very much in the beginning stages and they are looking at it taking a “long time to completion,” but as work progresses, the town will add more bike racks and signs.

Find out what's happening in Maplewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Some tweaks may be made, but the minimal impact of the trail allows for the township to continue to gauge reaction and study the trail’s safety and affect on traffic. Ryan reports that residents seem to like the trail so far and the signs that go with it. Cycling has increased dramatically in Maplewood over the past two months.

Going forward, the town will continue with outreach to residents with bike safety classes at the schools or the swimming pool as a way to make biking safer for young children. They are working with an informal committee to examine what changes may need to be made.

Find out what's happening in Maplewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The plan for the path was passed in January 2011.

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