WILMAPCO - Winter 2024

Winter 2024
Quarterly newsletter of the Wilmington Area Planning Council TRANSPORTER
Newark Updates Bike Plan
to Become an Even Better Destination for Cyclists
The League of American Bicyclists promoted the City of Newark from a Bronze to a Silver- level Bicycle Friendly Community in 2023. Now the community is aiming for Gold by updating its 2014 Bicycle Plan through a partnership between Newark, BikeNewark, and WILMAPCO in collaboration with the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), the University of Delaware, and other stakeholders.
To achieve the higher rating, the League of American Bicyclists recommended increasing Newark’s focus on safety and equity, reducing residential speed limits, expanding school education programs, increasing secure bike parking, encouraging local businesses to promote cycling, and exploring public bike-share.
Equity, safety, and sustainability have emerged as early themes from our community outreach. According to the U.S. Census, 10% of Newark households have no vehicle available and 17% of Newark commuters rely on walking, bicycling, and transit — all populations that depend on
safe and convenient bicycling and walking infrastructure.
Planners are seeking ideas from a broad range of stakeholders to ensure that recommendations reflect the community’s diverse population. Better connected land use and end- of-trip facilities like bike parking will also be evaluated. The update will incorporate recent plans, including the Newark Transportation Improvement District and broader plans to connect Newark to Newport and the C&D Canal.
The 2024 Newark Bicycle Plan builds upon an impressive 10 years of implementation progress for the original plan. Major accomplishments have included new or improved facilities on Elkton Road, Delaware Avenue, Casho Mill Road, Cleveland Avenue, Main Street, and Apple Road. A new bicycle/pedestrian bridge over I-95 will soon be complete. In addition, Newark is nearing low-stress network of routes.
To learn more, visit www.wilmapco.org/bikenewark.