Select Board Appoints Members to Several Volunteer Boards & Committees

Three candidates for a single vacancy on the Bicycle Advisory Committee shared some constructive and creative perspectives during interviews with the Select Board at a recent meeting.

Richard Baughman (the eventual appointee), Christina Carvey, and Curt Dudley-Marling, all experienced cyclists, offered a number of thoughts related to safe travel.

“My real interest is creating safe spaces for less experienced recreational riders who are reluctant to ride because they don’t feel safe,” Dudley-Marling said. He also prioritized accessible spaces for riders with disabilities.

Asked by Select Board member Shawn Hanegan what they would consider a utopian vision for local bike connectivity, answers ranged from safety and increased participation to alternate routes to busy streets, bicycle lanes separated by barriers, and access to trails.

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Carvey, who applauded the committee’s work with the safe-routes-to-school program, liked the idea of improving access on some trails to accommodate bicycles, providing riders more access to a wooded environment. She also said the town needs more places where bikes can be secured.

In answer to a question from Board member Margot Fleischman about opportunities for older cyclists, everyone acknowledged the challenge posed by heavily-traveled streets. Dudley-Marling mentioned age-restricted bike trails and noted that there alternate types of bicycles for the elderly.

Board Chair Emily Mitchell asked how the candidates could build relationships, correct misconceptions, and change behaviors “so streets can be shared equitably?”

In Rhode Island, Baughman said, pedestrians and runners head toward cyclists on bikeways; those on foot can safely step aside to avoid emergency situations they can see developing. He also called for more signs on Minuteman Bikeway with behavioral guidelines.

Baughman added, “Some drivers don’t want to share the road, that’s just an ongoing issue. I’m not sure what solutions might be besides bike lanes and wider shoulders.”

“I try to be a respectful cyclist,” Carvey said, urging riders to “make yourself as visible as possible. You can’t control what other people are thinking. There’s a group of people that doesn’t think cyclists should be on the road. I don’t see a good answer other than being a defensive rider.”

It’s important to use a bell or otherwise advise pedestrians when passing them, she continued. “Reducing speed as you are passing somebody is common sense.” One source of frustration is runners who wear earbuds, she added.

Dudley-Marling stated that “bicycle courtesy on the trails is horrible. A lot of pedestrians seem puzzled or angry when you tell them you are passing on their left. They don’t understand it’s for their safety.” He proposed “bike ambassadors who could model behavior,” but what’s really needed, he said, is “a culture change. It’s going to take a long time.”

The Select Board also voted to promote Tom Flannery from associate member to full member of the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The associate vacancy was filled by Karl Winkler by a 4-1 vote. Fleischman noted that Winkler is a member of another quasi-judicial committee, the Historic District Commission.

“I don’t want to create a situation for the Board of Appeals where they might not have enough members to vote,” she said. Hanegan said that there are often circumstances where members have to recuse themselves because of a conflict of interest, and that’s one reason why there are alternate members.

The board also appointed Stephanie Keep and Alethea Yates to the Historic Preservation Commission. Keep owns the historic Fitch Tavern on The Great Road. She said she is conscious of the town’s changing demographics and wants to ensure a continuing appreciation of local history. She also would like to see more residents take advantage of the Job Lane House.

Yates, a former member of the commission, also served as president, executive director, and archivist of the Bedford Historical Society. She said she is working on an update of Abram English Brown’s 19th-century Bedford history book.

Mike Rosenberg can be reached at [email protected], or 781-983-1763

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