Committee continues efforts to modernize biking and walking infrastructure

Congestion on the roadways, biker and pedestrian safety, are all concerns for BPAC, who are spearheading the effort to bring Salisbury into the future.

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee meets monthly to discuss ways to improve the infrastructure of the city to make it more friendly to bikers and pedestrians.

The committee has a long way to go and many goals to meet.  Improved signage, more bike lanes, and installing more sidewalks.

In recent months and years, Salisbury has already seen the effects of the committee, effects you may not realize, like bike lanes connecting SU to downtown.

"I've seen bike lanes cropping up across the university, as well," said Alexander Pope, a BPAC member.  "We've got some really great rail trail stuff in the mix that looking to make better use of that railroad line to try to make that a more walkable and bikeable space."

Salisbury's bike plan is right up there with the most aggressive in the state, almost rivaling Montgomery County in amount spent per resident according to the committee.  Though there's still work to be done they can see the positive impacts this project will have.

"Property values go up, quality of life goes up, and you can reduce the amount of parking that you need, and overall it's just better for the city," said BPAC chair Jeremy Kirkendall.

Another bonus for more bikability is easier low cost travel for low income residents, or a reduction in cars on the road.

The city saw an estimated increase of 3,000 residents between 2010 and 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.  As the city grows the need to alleviate congestion will be increasingly obvious.

"Not have to worry about parking, have to worry about gas, maintenance on their cars.  It's just easier to ride their bikes, and with populations tending to move toward the cities, everything is becoming a bit more dense, traffic is getting worse everywhere," said Kirkendall.

About $3 million is going to be invested in this project over the next five years.