MATTAPOISETT — The Mattapoisett Choose Board has denied a request by the Reservation Golf Membership to shut a gate that may prohibit entry to the Reservation Highway bike path entrance, citing issues for public security.
At a gathering on Tuesday, Sept. 13, the board of the Reservation Golf Membership requested that the city shut the gate because of the security dangers that include bicycle riders touring via an lively golf course. Closing the gate would additionally stop individuals from parking within the membership’s non-public car parking zone.
In accordance with Choose Board member Tyler Macallister, the gate should stay open to permit emergency autos to entry the bike path if somebody utilizing the trail is injured or wants help.
“Slowly however absolutely, we’ll get to a decision for this, however I believe that closing the gate might be our least best choice,” stated Macallister.
Reservation Golf Course Treasurer Paul Coutinho stated that whereas “[the bike path] is nice for Mattapoisett,” it got here with unexpected penalties for the golf membership.
In July, the latest portion of the bike path that leads from Neck Highway to Reservation Highway was opened, permitting bikers to cross the Mattapoisett River.
Coutinho said that since that a part of the trail opened, many bicyclists from out of city are touring down Reservation Highway at reckless speeds, placing themselves at risk of being hit by errant golf balls.
“We don’t wish to be perceived as ‘the golfers are the unhealthy guys,’” stated Coutinho. “There’s extra to what’s occurring than only one or two bikes.”
He added that guests from as distant as Worcester, South Boston and Fall River are driving up the highway and utilizing the membership’s non-public parking.
Macallister stated that though the gate is not going to be closed, bikers that go down Reservation Highway are doing so at their very own danger and could also be hit by golf balls.
The city will work with the Mattapoisett Police Division to put in momentary flashing indicators on Reservation Highway to tell out-of-town bikers that there isn’t any parking out there alongside the highway.
“We’re attempting to get individuals to not drive or park down there. That’s the primary objective,” stated Macallister. “The second objective is clearly to scale back the quantity of bicycling down the highway.”
Macallister defined that whereas locals may learn or hear about points with biking down Reservation Highway, out-of-towners will profit from signage.
“With the bike path usually, it’s going to take some rising pains to attempt to determine how we will deal with the inflow of people that will use it,” stated Macallister.