Last month we took a long weekend vacation to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. I had been to Rehoboth many times but this time I discovered the best way to experience it. We brought our bikes along and exclusively rode or walked everywhere. The first full day there we rode the Junction and Breakwater Trail from our hotel over to Lewes. There we explored the town, bought a couple of books from Biblion and had lunch at Agave. Then we rode our bikes back through Cape Henlopen State Park – free admission for cyclists and pedestrians. The Park is known for its WWII era bunkers and watchtowers, and is now a nature preserve home to many bird species. The cycling infrastructure in the Lewes and Rehoboth areas is great. Most people are there for vacation and so there is a culture built around cycling and pedestrian movement. Only once did we have trouble finding bike parking and had to walk a couple of blocks further to our breakfast destination. Car drivers are very courteous to you, to the point that many adults feel comfortable riding helmet-less and allowing their young kids to ride along.
Cycling infrastructure where I live is almost non-existent, but improving. Rehoboth reminded me how great planning can improve the experience for all types of mobility, bikes cars or otherwise, and I’ve been invigorated to get more involved in my local infrastructure.