Beach to Bayou - July/August 2017

Off the Road, Along the Beach

Another segment is being added to the popular beachfront walking/biking path, with plans in the works to make Hancock's coast road even more appealing to cyclists and pedestrians.
 - story by Laurie Johnson

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​Bicyclists and strollers will soon have another half-mile of coastline to enjoy on Hancock County’s popular beachfront walking/biking path. 
 
On June 7, a ground-breaking ceremony signaled the official beginning of a $3- to $4-million project to extend the beach pedestrian and bike pathway from Lakeshore Drive to the Point Cadet by the Silver Slipper Casino.  When the project is completed this fall, the county will boast nearly five miles of the paved off-the-road pathway.   
 
The grant funding for the project was secured for the county by the volunteers of the Hancock Chamber Greenways and Byways Committee. 

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The groundbreaking. Allison Anderson 5th from right.

​Allison Anderson of Unabridged Architecture is a longtime member of the Greenways and Scenic Byways Committee.  She says that the new section of pathway helps move forward the committee’s long-range goals of offering a quality-of-life amenity for locals and creating a major visitor attraction.
 
Anderson says that when the new stretch is complete, only two gaps in the off-road trail will exist between the Bay Bridge and Bayou Caddy — a total distance of nearly nine miles.
 
One of those gaps is between the east side of Buccaneer State Park and Lakeshore Road, a distance of 2.25 miles.  There’s only seawall there, with no beach to act as a bed for the concrete pathway.  The Greenways committee is working toward eventually finding funding for an inland side segment of the path.  Currently, pedestrians and bicyclists share the road with motor vehicles.
 
The other gap, about 1.15 miles, is between the east end of the paved pathway at the Washington Street Pier and the foot of the Bay Bridge, at Beach Boulevard and Highway 90.  Although a sidewalk extends through that segment that passes through the heart of Old Town Bay St. Louis, building a dedicated bike path isn’t possible because of the seawall and high-density traffic and parking.  But Anderson says that the committee has come up with an innovative way to improve cyclist safety in that section.  
 
Anderson says the committee is applying for a grant with Transportation of America to fund a cultural signage project along that gap.  The signage will actually be in the form of permanent pavement markings designed to raise awareness with motorists about sharing the road.  These “road medallions” will be eye-catching and attractive, too, since they’ll be designed by local artists. 
 
“This is the road we’ve got, so we’re going to have to make it work,” says Anderson.  “And this pavement marking system will allow us to do raise awareness with motorists in a very artistic manner.” 

Several of the Bay Rollers on a ride. Myron Labat, second from left.

​In 2014, local cycling enthusiast Myron Labat formed a group called the Bay Roller Cycling Club.  Members of the 11-member group of amateur cyclists are sharing their love of cycling and giving back to the community at the same time.
 
Labat reports the group secured sponsorships from Hancock Bank, Keesler Federal Credit Union and Coast Electric Power Association to help their fund projects like the Christmas Bicycle Drive. Last year, the Bay Rollers donated 110 bicycles and helmets to local elementary school students.
 
In addition, members educate the recipients on how to operate bicycles around town safely. Kids learn the basic rules of the road and are taught not to get on the roads without an adult rider.  Labat says they also encourage parents to continue bicycle safety education as they ride together.
 
Both Anderson and Labat want people to know that Mississippi law requires that motorists leave three feet of space between bicycles and their vehicle.  Bike paths create a dedicated space for cyclists, but riders can use the roadways as long as they do so responsibly and safely. Signs are needed in many areas to remind everyone to share the road.
 
For those new to using bike paths, it’s important to know how to coexist safely with cars. Bicycles are allowed to take up the whole bike path lane and should always follow the roadway rules, just like a car.
 
Riders should never be on sidewalks dedicated for pedestrians.  Cyclists should follow the same path of travel as cars; biking directly into oncoming traffic is a huge safety risk for the cyclist and motorists.
 
Labat says recreational athletes who enjoy cycling come to Bay St. Louis, Waveland and Lakeshore from across the U.S. because there are low speed roads with relatively low traffic. And the views are fantastic.
 
He notes, “If you have a beach cruiser and your intention is not to go very fast, the bike path is perfect for that.”
 
But road bikes are designed for speed, and Labat says cyclists on those bikes will want to share the road outside of the bike path and can do so safely and responsibly according to state law. 
 
Labat says anyone can join their group by finding them on Facebook or contacting him directly at mblabat1@gmail.com.  “There’s an old saying that you can’t be mad riding a bicycle.”
 
For more information about biking safety, see the website for the League of American Bicyclists.  

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