Category: commuting

commuting, encouragement, events, news

2024 Bike to Work Day in Newark

photo of attendees with event banner
photo of Michael Smith
BikeNewark Secretary Michael Smith ably emcees the event.

On May 17, BikeNewark partnered with the City of Newark, the University of Delaware (UD), DelDOT, and Delaware Commute Solutions to celebrate national Bike to Work Day in Newark.

About 75 people attended the hour-long, early-morning event, which has traditionally been held on the University of Delaware’s main campus. At Mentors’ Circle attendees enjoyed light breakfast items, free Bike Month t-shirts (courtesy of DelDOT and the Delaware Bicycle Council), free UD Police t-shirts, commuting and local biking info, great networking, and brief speeches by local and state officials.

photo of Matt Robinson
UD’s Director of Community Engagement Matt Robinson welcomes attendees to campus.

BikeNewark’s Secretary, Michael Smith, acted as the event’s emcee. Introduced first was Matt Robinson, UD’s Director of Community Engagement. Robinson welcomed everyone on behalf of the host institution and spoke of how important University–community partnerships are to the overall success of the city.

photo of Cori Ford
City Councilwoman Corinth Ford talks about her biking experience in Newark.

Newark City Councilwoman and bicycle advocate Corinth Ford spoke about her long history of bicycling in Newark and how much conditions have improved overall for bicyclists.

photo of Paul Baumbach
State Rep. Paul Baumbach begins his remarks with a story of his growing up in a bicycle-centric family.
photo of Dave Sokola
State Sen. Dave Sokola, who is a serious cyclist in his own right, follows Baumbach as a co-keynote speaker.

The event’s co-keynote speakers were local state legislators Rep. Paul Baumbach and Sen. Dave Sokola. Baumbach shared a story of how bicycling has been a key influence in his life. Sokola spoke about how important it has been for the city, county, BikeNewark, Bike Delaware, WILMAPCO, and DelDOT to work together to help plan and fund the improvements we’ve witnessed recently in Newark as well as in projects going forward.

City of Newark Mayor Jerry Clifton then joined City Manager Tom Coleman and BikeNewark chair Bob McBride to announce and present the annual Bicycle Friendly Community Leader Award. This year’s recipient was City staff member Joe Spadafino, the retiring city Director of Parks & Recreation.

photo of award winner Joe Spadafino and presenters
2024 Bicycle Friendly Community Leader Award recipient Joe Spadafino shows off the framed award certificate, flanked by BikeNewark’s Bob McBride, City Manager Tom Coleman, and Mayor Jerry Clifton.

Spadafino was chosen because, as head of the city’s Parks & Recreation department, he has been very influential in working with BikeNewark to develop and promote bicycling routes and trails throughout the city’s many parks and greenspaces, including guiding the Emerson Bridge project and the in-progress project that will connect the bridge to the Pomeroy Trail (Newark’s North Bikeway) with two separate trails. He continued the wonderful legacy of our city’s Parks & Rec directors, following James F. Hall and Charlie Emerson.

Bloom Energy and W. L. Gore & Associates were each represented by several employees who biked in for the event.

BikeNewark’s Mark Deshon and Michael Smith then drew names of attendees at random to win one of nine giveaways, with a combined value of $400. Gift sponsors included BikeNewark, Bike Delaware, University of Delaware, Trek, Wooden Wheels, Deer Park Tavern, and Klondike Kate’s.

To conclude the proceedings, attendees gathered at the south steps of Hullihen Hall to pose for a group photo.

group photo of Bike to Work Day attendees
A group of nearly 70 attendees gather for an event-concluding photo. See you next year!

Special thanks go to UD’s Kathy Atkinson for photographically covering the event (including all the photos shown here).

Additional Event Photos

photo of attendees registering their attendance
Attendees sign in at the BikeNewark registration table, assisted by Karen Rosenberg and Christine Schultz.
photo of attendees at a vendor table
Attendees stop by the food and vendor tables as they arrive.
photo of Jerry Clifton and Christine Schultz
BikeNewark’s Christine Schultz listens to Newark Mayor Jerry Clifton.
photo of Kevin Monahan and daughter with bike
BikeNewark Vice Chair Kevin Monahan and his youngest daughter show off their custom ride.
photo of Bob McBride
During the event, BikeNewark Chair Bob McBride shares some of what BikeNewark is working on in the community this year.
commuting, events

2023 Bike to Work Day celebration

The four BikeNewark members standing around the event table
BikeNewark members Dave Schultz, Mark Deshon, and Jacquee Lukawski prepare for the crowd to arrive.

On May 19, BikeNewark partnered with the City of Newark, the University of Delaware (UD), DelDOT, and the Newark Bike Project to celebrate national Bike to Work Day in Newark. Bike-group captains led bike-commuting participants from six locations throughout Newark to the venue.

About 65 people attended the hour-long, early-morning event, which has traditionally been held on the University of Delaware’s main campus. At Mentors’ Circle attendees enjoyed light breakfast items, free Bike Month t-shirts (courtesy of DelDOT and the Delaware Bicycle Council), great networking, and brief speeches by local and state officials.

John Fiori sitting behind a table containing stacks of rolled t-shirts
DelDOT’s John Fiori manages the T-shirt giveaway table.
Lou Rossi speaking behind a podium
Dean of UD’s Graduate College and BikeNewark member Lou Rossi welcomes attendees to Mentors’ Circle.

BikeNewark’s Secretary, Michael Smith, acted as the event’s emcee. Introduced first was Lou Rossi, a BikeNewark member who is UD’s Dean of the Graduate College. Rossi welcomed everyone on behalf of the host institution.

Mayor Markham speaking behind a podium
City of Newark Mayor Stu Markham reads prepared remarks by City Manager Tom Coleman.

Newark City Manager Tom Coleman had been scheduled to speak next but could not attend due to a personal necessity. So, in his stead, Mayor Stu Markham, who was to follow Coleman, read some prepared remarks from the City Manager before commenting himself on the bicycle-related progress the city has seen during the past year.

Pamela Steinebach speaking behind a podium
Keynote speaker Pamela Steinebach, DelDOT’s Director of Planning, talks about projects completed and in the works.

The event’s keynote speaker was Pamela Steinebach, DelDOT’s Director of Planning. She spoke at length about all the local projects with which DelDOT has been involved during the past few years. She also talked about ongoing projects, like the I-95/SR896 interchange project, which will help further transform the city’s bicycle infrastructure.

Mike Fortner, a City of Newark planning staffer and BikeNewark member who had coordinated event planning for the Bike to Work Day event, joined Mayor Markham and BikeNewark chair Bob McBride to announce and present the annual Bicycle Friendly Community Leader Award. This year’s recipient was New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer.

Matt Meyer standing behind a podium with the others which holding the award certificate
County Executive Matt Meyer receives the 2023 Bicycle Friendly Community Leader Award. From left are City representatives Mike Fortner and Mayor Markham, Meyer, BikeNewark chair Bob McBride, and BikeNewark secretary and event emcee Michael Smith.
Matt Meyer speaking at a podium
Matt Meyer addresses the crowd after receiving the award.

Meyer was chosen because, in his leadership role with the county, he has demonstrated both a true love for bicycling and an understanding of its importance in connecting communities across the county. To this end, he made sure the county financially supported local bicycle-improvement projects, most recently the Emerson Bridge project, and has pledged funding for the new trail project that will connect the bridge to the Pomeroy Trail (Newark’s North Bikeway).

A surprised and grateful Meyer took the opportunity to laud all the groups, including BikeNewark, that are working together to improve bicycling in Newark and make cross-county connections a reality.

Other dignitaries present included State Sen. Dave Sokola, Rep. Ed Osienski, Rep. Cyndie Romer, and Newark City Councilwoman Corinth Ford.

To conclude the proceedings, attendees gathered at the south steps of Hullihen Hall to pose for a group photo. Special thanks go to UD’s Kathy Atkinson for photographically covering the event.

The whole group of adults and children standing on the steps of one of the U of D buildings, and a dog sits in a parked cargo bike
A group of more than 50 attendees gather for an event-concluding photo. See you next year!

Additional Event Photos

James Wilson and Sen. Dave Sokola talking with others in the background
Bike Delaware’s Executive Director James Wilson engages in a conversation with Sen. Dave Sokola.
The two men talking with others in the background.
State Rep. Ed Osienski talks biking with event coordinator and BikeNewark member Mike Fortner.
Karl Hassler and or Stu Markham talking with others in the background
BikeNewark treasurer Karl Hassler (right) discusses something with Newark Mayor Stu Markham.
three members of BikeNewark chat at the event
BikeNewark members Brian Bahnson, Barb Hughes, and Lou Rossi share a jovial moment together.
A mom and two young girls standing in front of the event table
These two young girls rode in with their mom.
Tim Filasky standing behind a staff bike with a rack and signs
Tim Filasky, City of Newark Director of Public Works & Water Resources, shows off one of the City’s fleet of staff bikes.
commuting, encouragement, enforcement, engineering, infrastructure, news, projects, safety, transportation

Delaware Ave. cycletrack completed

On Thursday, November 10, 2022, DelDOT officially opened to bicycle traffic the completed two-way protected bikeway (a.k.a. cycletrack) on Delaware Avenue. Eight days later on November 18, dignitaries came together for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony.

> See ribbon-cutting article in the Newark Post

diagram of DelDOT-sourced illustration
DelDOT diagram of the two-way protected bikeway infrastructure on Delaware Avenue
photo of paint treatment in conflict zone
Solid green surface treatment in conflict zones

This brought to a close a nearly $8 million project that was first thought about in the 1990s, included as a recommendation in the 2014 Newark Bicycle Plan, and advocated for by BikeNewark’s predecessor entity in 2014.

> See excerpt from June 2014 partnership meeting minutes (PDF)

Protective beveled concrete curbing separating bikeway from vehicle travel lane

The primary motivation for such a project was to provide a safe, legal way for bicyclists to move westbound through Newark’s downtown area. Previously, the only legal way for bicyclists to get from Library Avenue or Kirkwood Highway to South Main Street, West Main Street, or New London Road was to use Cleveland Avenue or East Main Street—both higher-stress options for cyclists, even with the recent improvements to those two major streets.

Bicycle-specific traffic signals in both directions along bikeway

Amenities for bicyclists along Delaware Avenue that were included in this project:

photo of bike signal meaning sign
Bike-signal sign explaining red, yellow, flashing yellow, and green signals
  • a two-way protected bikeway from Orchard Road to the Pomeroy Trail, separated from the traffic lane by a 3-inch-high beveled concrete barrier
  • one-way elevated bike paths on either side of the road from the Pomeroy Trail to Library Avenue
  • separate bicycle-specific traffic signals in both directions
  • green surface paint through intersections and at conflict points (e.g., driveways)
  • bike boxes at the eastern and western ends of the project (Delaware Avenue / Library Avenue intersection and the Amstel Avenue / South Main Street intersection)
photo of bike box on Del. Ave. at Library Ave.
Bike box at Library Avenue intersection

This completion of this project finishes the final segment of the Central Loop Bikeway, the hub of the Newark Bikeways low-stress bicycle network. Wayfinding signage for the Delaware Avenue portion of the Central Loop will be added in 2023.

> See related Newark Post article
> See project history article
> See DelDOT project safety flyer (PDF)

Thanks to these partner organizations—Bike Delaware, DelDOT, the City of Newark, and the Wilmington Area Planning Council—for their support and involvement in the conception and construction of this infrastructure, pretty much a unique feature in Delaware.

commuting, education, encouragement, environment, events

Bike Month events: 2022

May is Bike Month graphic

May is National Bike Month, and that means there are a lot of events taking place in the Newark area, many of which BikeNewark is either organizing, participating in, or helping promote in some way.

Whatever you choose, you are encouraged to get out on your bike during this month-long observance and try some of the trails and signed routes right here in Newark and/or bike beyond to nearby state or county venues.

Here’s the rundown.

Tuesday, May 3
Bike Delaware’s “Everyone Gets Home” Summit
Legislative Mall, Dover, Del.
See the schedule and learn how to register (free) by clicking on “Register” at BikeDE.org.

Wednesday, May 4 (National Bike to School Day)
Bike to School Day – John R. Downes Elementary School
Casho Mill Road, Newark, Del.
For info, see BikeNewark.org/events/b2sd.

Friday, May 6 (CANCELLED DUE TO RAIN)
First Friday Ride
Hillside Park in Newark, Del.
5:45 p.m.
This 4.4-mile slow ride in and around Newark is meant to be a social ride that showcases some of the city’s most rideable streets and trails. See BikeNewark.org/firstfridayrides for more info, including ride route.

Wednesday, May 18
Ride of Silence – Wilmington
2700 Pennsylvania Avenue, University of Delaware, Wilmington, Del.
7:00 p.m.
For info and to register, see White Clay Bicycle Club group event.

Thursday, May 19
BikeNewark partnership business meeting (virtual)
4:00–5:00 p.m.
If You’re interested in attending, please contact BikeNewark@gmail.com by May 18.

Friday, May 20 (National Bike to Work Day)
Bike to Work Day Celebration in Newark
Mentors’ Circle, University of Delaware, Newark, Del.
7:30–8:30 a.m.
For info on this free event, see BikeNewark.org/events/b2wd.

Saturday, May 21
White Clay Creek State Park Trail Etiquette Day
WCCSP Possum Hill parking lot (off Paper Mill Road), Newark, Del.
For info, please contact Laura.Lee@delaware.gov.

commuting, infrastructure, news, projects, safety, transportation

Phase 2 signage completed

photo of signage at the corner of Amstel Ave. and South Main St.
Westbound on Amstel Ave. at South Main St.

Just before the new year, the City of Newark completed installation of wayfinding signage for the West Bikeway segment of the Newark Bikeways low-stress network.

photo of view in the railroad tunnel looking west
Westbound entry to Hillside Park from the railroad tunnel

This work came on the heels of the opening of the long-awaited Hillside Park, built on the former grounds of the University of Delaware’s Rodney residence halls complex.

photo of signage in Hillside Park looking toward Dallam Rd.
Westbound Hillside Park sign looking onto Dallam Rd.

As a result of this work, bicyclists can take a low-stress route from Orchard Road on the Central Loop westward to Casho Mill Road—down Amstel Ave., through the railroad tunnel, Hillside Park, and the Oaklands and Nottingham Green neighborhoods.

photo of signage at end of West Bikeway
Terminus of the West Bikeway at Casho Mill Rd.

On Casho Mill Road, just south of the end of the bikeway segment is John R. Downes Elementary School. This segment should be widely used by elementary school children who can bike to/from school through the neighborhoods it bisects. Buffered bike lanes on Casho Mill Road will help keep young bicyclists safe on the short ride to/from Lafayette Road.

photo of destination signage eastbound on Dallam Rd.
Destination signage eastbound on Dallam Rd.

Eastbound (i.e., toward the city center and Central Loop Bikeway), signage includes directional symbols or destination information.

graphic map of the West Bikeway
Map of the West Bikeway segment

Thanks goes to Delaware Greenways for its generous grant to BikeNewark, which partially funded our “phase 2” signage—for the North, Northwest, and West Bikeways segments—as well as to the White Clay Bicycle Club for its monetary support, and to the City of Newark for installing the signage.