From the Cape Gazette - May 26, 2024:

State transportation officials expect to have a groundbreaking in late 2024 to officially begin the last phases of the Lewes-to-Georgetown Trail. It’s the most popular trail in Delaware.

Once a contract is awarded, there will be more details where work will take place and a timeline, said Charles McLeod, DelDOT’s director of community relations.

Work on the trail, which began in 2016, has been completed to the Fisher Road-Hudson Road intersection, with a spur from Fisher Road to Stephen Hudson Park, where the Sussex County Land Trust is creating a trailhead.

So far, seven phases of the 17-mile paved trail have been completed. Four remain: Fisher Road to Harbeson Road, 7,850 feet; Harbeson Road to Gravel Hill Road, 9,250 feet; Gravel Hill Road to Park Avenue near Georgetown, 8,600 feet; and Park Avenue to Airport Road, 6,200 feet, which totals nearly six miles.

The trail links to the six-mile Junction & Breakwater Trail to Rehoboth Beach, as well as the Cape Henlopen State Park trails.

One phase from the Georgetown Little League Park to Airport Road has been completed, which was the first phase built adjacent to a working railroad tracks. The last phases leading up to Georgetown will be constructed along the tracks, with a protective fence added between the trail and tracks.

The rails have been removed as far as Harbeson on the former railroad bed of the Delaware Central Railroad track. Rails and ties were removed in a $4 million project in 2018 when it was determined that the section of the Delaware Coast Line Railroad from Cool Spring to Lewes should be decommissioned, after DelDOT determined that the cost was too high to repair the damaged 100-year-old Lewes-Rehoboth Canal railroad swing bridge. That bridge has since been removed and is a static display managed by the Lewes Junction Railroad and Bridge Association.

View Article &  photos on Cape Gazette

40 riders from Sussex and Kent counties (31 were members of Sussex Cyclists) participated in the Legislative Bike to Dover (formerly known as the Legislator’s Ride) annual ride on May 22, 2024. Riding to Dover from three start locations (37 miles from Milton led by Mike Schultz, 24 miles from Milford and 4 miles from Wyoming led by Jim Wagner), they rode a combined round trip distance of approximately 2200 miles to demonstrate appreciation of existing and support for continued bicycle friendly legislation that encourages safe and enjoyable cycling in Delaware.

They met up with approximately 16 cyclists riding from Middletown led by state Senator David Sokola, who led the combined group of over 50 cyclists for the last mile into Legislative Mall where refreshments and a short program was held recognizing the combined efforts of cyclists, the Delaware Bicycle Council, DelDOT, the State Legislature and Governor’s office.

See photos below.

Posted on Facebook by Denny Shook:

Members of Sussex Cyclist took part in in the Delaware Legislators Ride today . This group left from Milton and met another group in Milford for the ride. It was a beautiful day for a ride.

We are excited to announce the opening of a new online store featuring Sussex Cyclists polo shirts and hats!

The store is OPEN NOW THROUGH SUNDAY, JUNE 2 at midnight. Orders will ship after that. Be sure to place your orders before the store closes, as this is a limited-time offer. If we have a good response to this store, we hope to open it again later this year with additional merchandise.

Shop Our Collection

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the store directly at candace@logomotivede.com. Please note that Sussex Cyclists is not responsible for any issues related to the store or its merchandise.

Best regards,
Sussex Cyclists Social Committee

Many thanks to the Social Committee! In spite of the weather, 45 of us enjoyed the Sussex Cyclists Sunset Cruise last night. Some even asked if we could do it again!

The Bethany-Fenwick Area Chamber of Commerce recently awarded the Ocean to Bay Pack Award to the Sussex Cyclists Team for their  participation in the 2024 Ocean to Bay Bike Tour on April 27. Congratulations!

Posted on Facebook today:

Thank you to all that attended the DelDOT / Coalition for a Safer North Bethany workshop last night. We had a standing room only turnout and DelDOT seemed very pleased with the engagement.

Almost all that attended were supportive of our efforts and advocates for these important recommended changes. But NOTHING IS DONE YET.

>Please spread the word to your families, friends and all that has an interest in a LOWER SPEED LIMIT, traffic calming measures and a safer North Bethany to 1)review the proposed changes, 2)to attend the May 20th virtual Q&A meeting and 3)most importantly SUBMIT THE DELDOT SURVEY on link below. The survey takes ~2-3 minutes max after reviewing the options attached to the website. All details and charts are on link below.

DelDOT and Whitman, Requardt &Assoc have done outstanding work over past few years collecting and analyzing the pertinant data in North Bethany. The science of the DelDOT research has done for us provide irrefutable evidence for the proposed changes! The proposed separate low stress bike / pedestrian paths along Route One will be a true game changer for this area!

Our hope is to accelerate the implementation of the proposed traffic calming improvements, the lowering of the unsafe 55mph speed limit and increasing the number of RRFBs/crossing points in the 4.4 mile stretch.

Speak up. Review the options and make suggestions. DO THIS SURVEY asap!

Thank you again for your support!

(Posted by Denny Shook on Facebook)

Sussex Cyclist was well represented in today’s Maryland Coast Bike Festival . Chilly and windy but we beat the rain.

Posted on Facebook by Denny Shook

What a GREAT week of cycling. Monday had 34 riders for one ride, Wednesday had 50 riders for 3 rides and Friday had 25 riders for one ride. 109 riders covering over 100 miles in the heat, wind, then chill. What a great week, what a great club . Gonna be a GREAT season (photo credit to Mike Guida).

Wow! 51 Sussex Cyclists' rode in 5 groups today from Dogfish Head!  Maybe a Club record for May???