Submitted by Pedal Greenwich

The Greenwich Department of Public Works announced that it’s beginning work this week on a dangerous intersection under I-95 that connects much of Byram to Byram Park, to make it more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.

The project addresses the complex connection between Delavan and Ritch avenues with Frontage Rd., where there is an I-95 on- and offramp.  DPW will widen and rework medians, upgrade crosswalks, add pedestrian signals, modify how stoplights are timed, and repave sidewalks, widening a portion to 8 feet, the accepted minimum for a “multi-use trail”.

Pedal Greenwich welcomes infrastructure improvements such as this, which tackle Greenwich’s numerous, busy, connecting corridors that are often too intimidating for anyone other than motorists to cross.  So we applaud the town for prioritizing this work and identifying the need to make it easier and safer for the residents of Byram’s neighborhoods to bike, walk, push strollers or use wheelchairs to get to the park.

This is just a first step. At Pedal Greenwich our mission is to make the town safe, friendly and connected.  We should also be connecting the great investments we have in both the Byram Pool and new housing units at Armstrong Court with a safer bike and pedestrian path.  As Chickahominy is migrating toward increased multifamily construction units, there will also be an increased number of youth and families making the case for safer passage to Byram Park, New Lebanon School, Byram Archibald Neighborhood Center and the library.

We now need to think more strategically and plan with a bigger vision.  “I am really pleased to see this project happening after a decade of deferrals and it will improve pedestrian safety and the aesthetics of the neighborhood,” says Pedal Greenwich member Lucy Von Brachel, who also lives in Byram.  “But there are definitely additional opportunities here.”

The recently-formed town Bicycle Task Force, on which Pedal Greenwich has a seat, may be a great way to start developing that more comprehensive approach.  Led by First Selectman Fred Camillo, it includes members of town staff as well as citizens.  At the same time Pedal Greenwich has organized a community bike fest for Saturday morning Sept. 25, a true team effort by community organizations, Greenwich Police, EMS and our five bike shops.  We urge everyone in town to attend and meet others who want to improve our quality of life.

If you count yourself among that number, come out and show it on Sept. 25.  Together we can evolve our milestones from small projects like the Byram intersection to embracing a vision and building a comprehensive, multi-use network for all our transit and recreational needs.

Pedal Greenwich Community Bike Fest

• Saturday, September 25, 2021
• 10:00 AM 12:30 PM
• Living Hope Community Church 38 West End Avenue Greenwich, CT, 06870