The mission of the City of Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee is to advocate for a safe and inviting environment for bicycling and walking whether for transportation or recreation, and to encourage citizens to consider walking and bicycling as reasonable alternate modes of transportation. The Committee’s work promotes healthy lifestyles and a more vibrant economy in Bath and the Bath region. It intends to fulfill this mission through the full implementation of the City of Bath’s Complete Streets Policy, through education on traffic safety, and by changes to infrastructure as spelled out in the most recent Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which was approved by the Bath City Council on March 8, 2018.

For a list of current committee members, please visit the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee page on the Bath Maine City Website.

History

In 2009, an ad hoc committee Bike and Pedestrian Committee was formed at the initiative of Jim Upham, City Planner, with funding from Maine DOT through the Midcoast Council of Governments. It was charged with evaluating the conditions for cycling and walking in Bath and to make recommendations for enhancing the opportunities for, and the safety of, both activities.

Based on the committee’s findings, the City of Bath, Maine Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, March 2011 was prepared by Katrina Van Dusen, a consultant to the committee, approved by the committee and presented to City Council. Subsequently, the City Council of Bath by order established the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee at its regular monthly meeting on May 5, 2011. At the same time, it appointed seven members to the committee and tasked it with the following:

• Overseeing the implementation of the 2011 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan; Updating the plan as needed;
• Advising the Public Works, Planning, Police, and Recreation Departments;
• Recommending capital improvement projects to be submitted to the City Manager for possible inclusion in the City’s Annual Capital Improvement Plan;
• Advising the Planning Board, as appropriate on Comprehensive Plan revisions and on their reviews of development projects;
• Working with representatives of Regional School Unit 1 to accomplish the goal of developing a healthy lifestyle for RSU 1 students;
• Working with other communities and municipalities to pursue regional bicycling and walking goals;
• Identifying and pursuing outside funding activities to meet the priorities stated in the Plan; and
• Undertaking community outreach and education.

Since 2011, the committee has been the steadfast champion of the implementation action items in the 2011 plan, as well as a steward of the interests of bikers and walkers who live in the city.

In March of 2019, the Committee Updated and the Bath City Council Approved the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.