Everyone living within a 1/2 mile of a major trail in Delaware should be able to bike to it on a low stress route
This little bridge recently connected the formerly isolated Jefferson Farms neighborhood just north of New Castle to the Wilmington-New Castle Greenway. Before this bridge, people living right next to the greenway for the last 6 years – just yards away from some of their backyards – had to literally drive miles on State Route 9 in order to get to it. But now they can bike to it right from their front doors using local streets only.
Governor Jack Markell‘s last full day in office was last Monday. Under his leadership, Delaware spent $10s of millions on spectacular new trails – and we’re not done. Over the next few years we’re going to spend $10s of millions more. Even in much larger states like Maryland or Pennsylvania, these new trails would represent a significant commitment of taxpayer dollars. In much smaller Delaware, the magnitude of these investments is considerably more impressive. Indeed, they are the main reason that Delaware advanced in the national Bicycle Friendly State ranking for five years in a row (farther and faster than any other state, ever) and is today ranked as the #3 Bicycle Friendly State in America.
The Jefferson Farms neighborhood just north of New Castle is a great illustration, however, that even though these new and often spectacular trails are completely awesome, we still have more work to do to make them into the treasured assets they should be whenever and wherever we build them. Jefferson Farms is a large subdivision (with thousands of people) that lies directly adjacent to the the Wilmington-New Castle Greenway just north of the city of New Castle. The first phase of the Wilmington-New Castle Greenway (which was actually built way back in the summer of 2010) runs just yards from the backyards of many homes in Jefferson Farms. For the last 6 years, many people in Jefferson Farms could watch people strolling and cycling along the greenway from their backyards but the only way they themselves could join the people they saw and do the same was by driving (in the opposite direction from the greenway), exiting their subdivision onto high-speed State Route 9, driving more than 2 miles (!) on State Route 9 and then, finally, parking at a trailhead for the greenway. It was a completely absurd situation.
Now, however (and thanks to the New Castle County Department of Special Services), the residents of Jefferson Farms have their very own connection to the Wilmington-New Castle Greenway. They can bicycle right from their front doors, using slow and lightly traveled local neighborhood streets, and use the little bridge (pictured above) to jump right on the greenway. Today they can do so just for either a little exercise or to bicycle into downtown New Castle. The recently renovated and upgraded New Castle Public Library is now just a 5 to 10 minute bike ride for every kid in Jefferson Farms. The restaurants and shops of the city of New Castle are now similarly accessible for adults. But soon (hopefully next year!) all the many attractions of the Wilmington Riverfront (including the Penn Cinema, the Blue Rocks and many restaurants) will become equally accessible to the residents of Jefferson Farms, as Delaware completes the biggest cycling project in its history.
It seems like it ought to be unnecessary to say that, if we build a trail, the people living right next to it must have access to it. But, in fact, (as Jefferson Farms illustrates), it is necessary to say this. So here we go:
If we’re going to spend 10s of millions of dollars on spectacular new trails, those trails have to be accessible to people living nearby. We must make sure that everyone living or working within half a mile of a major Delaware trail – potential cyclists of every age and every ability – can bike to that nearby trail easily and safely on “low stress routes” right from their front doors.
bicycle network planning First State Trails and Pathways Plan Wilmington-New Castle Greenway
19 Responses
We can the see the trail that is literally right outside our door with illegal holes cut into it, but we are not allowed to access it. Instead we have to cross the very busy route 13 to access said trail, until a bridge that is over two miles from the trail is completed. But I don’t want to be totally ungrateful, the. Ike trails in Delaware are amazing thanks to Markell.
Melissa Calvanico Pollio, we’ve all had to be patient these last few years. But….have you seen the huge cranes down by the river?
Let’s start with paving the shoulder of North Star Rd at the bottom near Paper Mill Road
Careful, if they disagree with your comment it will be deleted.
Terence Wyszynski, we don’t delete any comments on this page. We might make an exception if somebody were to make a personal attack on an individual but that’s it.
My wrong sorry, it was on this post that someone shared. Enjoy that path. But it needs some police . On the weekends. To stop 4×4 and dirt bikes. It’s 100 yards from my house.
Yeah those 4x4s annoy people. It’s on the radar. We’ll figure something out. Have you used the new bridge yet to get to the greenway?
No usually park at the Middle school. And walk. If its not a bad pain day
Great wildlife area. See all kinds of birds and animals.
Make rt 24 in Sussex county safe for bikes
Thank you for the update. I look forward to the day when people can safely, and not circuitously, bike to work from the Pike Creek (and surrounding areas) into downtown Wilmington. Great work and progress so far…
Thank you! Governor Markell is gone but we have high hopes that Governor Carney will build on his legacy.
Can anyone tell me is the picture posted in Newark???
Bill Lovett, the picture is from Wilmington-New Castle Greenway just north of New Castle where it passes next to the Jefferson Farms subdivision.
Thank You for the info
Delaware has done a fantastic job for bikers! Lots to still be done, but Delaware sets the benchmark for the Mid-Atlantic.
I can’t wait for the Marsh Rd/I-95 interchange to be re-done. That’s the last hurdle up this way for safe Greenway access from N. Wilmington via Marsh Rd. Right now it’s dangerous with exiting 95 traffic not really stopping at the stop sign. (look left… No traffic… Go! Oops, a bike was coming from the right… Call 911)
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Starts Memorial Day Weekend.
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We have some great trails in Eastern Sussex County, but being on the roads is a nightmare. Even “Bike Route 1” along Old Landing Road, Warrington Road, etc is very dangerous. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delaware_Bicycle_Route_1
We live in the Glade Community in Rehoboth Beach. We are within 1/2 mile of the Junction Breakwater trail but do Not have a safe route to bike to it. The part of Holland Glade Road we have to use is without a berm and is up a hill that is a blind spot. The cars and other traffic drive too fast for it to be safe. Could this be considered for improvement?