Following the 2022 completion of the Emerson (bike/ped) Bridge, the City is moving forward with plans to have DelDOT construct two off-road paved trails, one through Kershaw Park and the other through Olan Thomas Park, which will connect the bridge with the Pomeroy Trail.
The project began in January 2023 with a meeting of engineering representatives from Pennoni Associates, City staff, and members of BikeNewark to discuss design project issues and parameters.
Along with generous funding from New Castle County, project funding had been earmarked in the City’s 2023 budget. It is anticipated that this project will be completed in 2026.
This project has long been in BikeNewark’s plans for connecting the bridge to its North Bikeway and adding wayfinding signage north and east through Curtis Mill Park and along Old Paper Mill Road, thus completing the Northeast Bikeway segment of the Newark Bikeways low-stress network.
A group of more than 50 registered their attendance at this year’s Bike to Work Day event.
BikeNewark member Kristen Cribb acts as our event emcee this year.
Despite threatening weather on May 16, BikeNewark partnered with the City of Newark, the University of Delaware (UD), DelDOT, Delaware Commute Solutions, and Newark Bike Project to celebrate national Bike to Work Day in Newark.
More than 50 people registered for and 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), commuting and local biking info, great networking, and brief speeches by local and state officials.
Newly-elected Newark Mayor Travis McDermott shares about city progress at his first Bike to Work Day event.
BikeNewark member, Kristen Cribb, acted as the event’s emcee. Introduced first was UD’s Dean of the Graduate College and BikeNewark member Lou Rossi. Rossi is a fanatical bicycle commuter, thus well suited to have spoken at this event. Rossi welcomed everyone on behalf of the host institution.
Having been elected as Newark’s new city mayor less than six weeks earlier, Mayor Travis McDermott, spoke about the many ways the City of Newark has improved conditions for bicyclists over the past few years.
Delaware State Rep. Cyndie Romer gives a nice analysis of why we should promote bicycling.
Next at the podium was State Rep. Cyndie Romer, who represents a good chunk of the Newark area. She gave a wonderful advertisement for bicycling and, in particular, bicycling in Newark.
Keynote speaker New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry address the event attendees.
The event’s keynote speaker was New Castle County Executive Marcus Henry, a UD alumnus who was elected in November to fill the vacancy left by now–Delaware Governor Matt Meyer. Henry talked about the importance of local and county cooperation, particularly with regard to projects that enhance multimodal transportation.
BikeNewark chair Bob McBride then announced and presented the annual Bicycle Friendly Community Leader Award. This year’s recipient was longtime Delaware State Senator Dave Sokola, who represents part of Newark and areas to the city’s northeast. Standing with Rep. Romer, Sokola was surprised to hear his name called to receive this award. No one else was, though, as he has been such an integral player in the advancement of all things related to bicycling within the Delaware legislature and locally here in Newark.
A surprised Sen. Dave Sokola happily receives this year’s Bicycle Friendly Community Leader Award from BikeNewark chair Bob McBride for his many years of local support for bicycling.
BikeNewark’s Mark Deshon and Kristen Cribb then drew names of lucky attendees at random to win one of ten giveaways, with a combined value of $450. Gift sponsors included BikeNewark, Bike Delaware, University of Delaware, and Wooden Wheels.
Additional Event Photos
UD-administration representative and BikeNewark member Lou Rossi and BikeNewark Treasurer Karl Hassler enjoy some refreshment in front of the DelDOT tent, manned by John Fiori and Paul Moser.Bike Delaware’s James Wilson (right) engages Sen. Dave Sokola in a transportation chat.
At BikeNewark’s partnership meeting on December 19th, election results were announced for the four members who will serve as BikeNewark’s board officers in 2025–26, with 41% of last year’s membership having voted.
Bob McBride, Chair
BikeNewark Chair Bob McBride was re-elected to lead the partnership for a fourth two-year term, having received 13 of the 17 votes cast. Dave Schultz received the other four votes. Bob grew up in Newark and retired here after a long career at a private school in Pennsylvania. In the past, he has been a member of the White Clay Bicycle Club. In addition to leading BikeNewark, he currently serves on the Nonprofit Enhancement Committee of The Newark Partnership and as Secretary to the Board of Directors of The Newark Partnership, representing the nonprofit organizations of Newark community. Bob is an avid recreational bicyclist and bird-watcher.
Michael Smith, Vice-Chair
BikeNewark member and 2023–24 Treasurer Michael Smith has been elected as our new Vice-Chair, having received 12 votes. He succeeds Kevin Monahan, who received 2 votes; relatively new member Jonathan “JT” Fleming also received 2 votes. Michael works as Executive Director for the environmental nonprofit Powering Our Future, based out of Pike Creek. Last fall he ran, albeit unsuccessfully, for a seat in Delaware’s House of Representatives. Michael has been a huge fan of cycling throughout his entire life and has not missed a single stage of the Tour de France (watching, that is) for the past 14 years. He is also a member of The Newark Partnership and the Newark branch of the NAACP.
Karl Hassler, Treasurer
Running unopposed, Karl Hassler was re-elected for his fourth two-year term as Treasurer. He has served for several years on BikeNewark’s Engineering Committee and this year will take the reins as committee chair. He was a key player on the ad hoc Organizational Committee back in 2016 as well as with the 2020 updating of BikeNewark’s bylaws. A retiree from the University of Delaware, Karl has also been a member of the White Clay Bicycle Club. He enjoys bike trips while traveling the country. He’d remind you that if you can’t support BikeNewark with your time, you can always donate to help enhance our efforts.
Jacquee Lukawski, Secretary
Another relatively new BikeNewark member, Jacquee Lukawski will be joining the BikeNewark board as Secretary, succeeding Michael Smith. She received 12 votes; Jonathan “JT” Fleming received three votes, and Michael Smith two. Jacquee got back into riding about three years ago, after the positive influence of coworkers at the University of Delaware (UD). She works in UD’s College of Engineering, serving as Graduate Academic Advisor for the Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering and has held multiple roles in nonprofit boards over the past five years. She enjoys the annual Bike to Work Day and on that same evening competes in the “Commuter Challenge” category of the Wilmington Grand Prix weekend’s Monkey Hill Time Trial to raise money for Urban Bike Project.
Bob McBride, Michael Smith, Karl Hassler, and Jacquee Lukawski will each be serving during 2025–2026, consistent with BikeNewark’s bylaws. Board member elections are held at the end of even years; board members must be Individual Members of BikeNewark, as defined in the partnership’s bylaws. The partnership thanks Kevin Monahan for his service during the previous two years.
Note: Our partnership meetings are open to the public and typically are held on the third Thursday of the month, alternating monthly between 4:30 p.m. hybrid (in person and Zoom) at the STAR Tower and 7:00 p.m. Zoom only. Want to help? Get involved!
One of four information kiosks to be installed in Newark parks along Newark Bikeways routes
Recently, the City installed three of four planned information kiosks, paid for through grants secured by BikeNewark, in city parks as a guide supplement to BikeNewark’s low-stress network wayfinding signage. Each kiosk contains our Bikeways map and a city Area Recreation Amenities resource map.
Partnering with the City of Newark Department of Parks & Recreation, BikeNewark produced the resource map (shown below), which highlights area parks, noting specific park amenities with an overlay of the Newark Bikeways low-stress network, as well as many off-road trails.
Kiosks have been installed in Phillips Park along the James F. Hall Trail (where the Southwest Bikeway meets the Central Loop), at the junction of the Hall and Pomeroy Trails (Central Loop), and in Olan Thomas Park along the Pomeroy Trail (North Bikeway). The fourth kiosks will be installed in Hillside Park (West Bikeway).
One of the kiosk locations is Olan Thomas Park, along the Pomeroy Trail, part of the North Bikeway.
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.
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.
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.
State Rep. Paul Baumbach begins his remarks with a story of his growing up in a bicycle-centric family.
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.
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.
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
Attendees sign in at the BikeNewark registration table, assisted by Karen Rosenberg and Christine Schultz.Attendees stop by the food and vendor tables as they arrive.BikeNewark’s Christine Schultz listens to Newark Mayor Jerry Clifton.BikeNewark Vice Chair Kevin Monahan and his youngest daughter show off their custom ride.During the event, BikeNewark Chair Bob McBride shares some of what BikeNewark is working on in the community this year.
BikeNewark 