The subject of the shared use path on Beach Road is a topic that I have written about, drawn diagrams of, made paintings and photographs of to illustrate my point, and now it seems as though the path will be approved as the choice for Beach Road.

If that happens, my prediction is that over time, as the shared use path gets crowded, that there inevitably will be accidents, and that this can be avoided. Obviously, the Tisbury boards disagree, and we must abide by their decisions. If the SUP is installed, we can live with it, but I believe that there is a better solution.

If the Tisbury boards agree with MassDOT that the first section of the road should be sidewalks, shoulders, and travel lanes then we are assured because this is the normal way a highway or road is constructed, and they have considered traffic calming and complete streets, that this will be safe and secure.

Since the segment from Five Corners to the Tisbury Marketplace is the most problematic and dangerous part of Beach Road to navigate by bicycle, then if the second segment were done in this manner, it should also be safe. And I make the strong suggestion that this would be optimal.

If a symmetrical road, with the same standards throughout is implemented, or would be if the boards change their mind, then there would be the following benefits to the residents of Tisbury.

A sidewalk along the harbor instead of nothing there would be a tremendous asset to the town. It would encourage walking, it would also allow the four and a half foot-wide shoulders to continue all the way to the shipyard and cycling would be immensely improved.

A sidewalk if you can envision this, could essentially turn Beach Road into more of a boulevard with slow moving traffic, trees on both sides, shade over the road, the sidewalk, and the bike lanes. This would be in my opinion as an artist and designer, a far more appropriate configuration for the town of Tisbury and provide a graceful and safe entry to the town, and to the Island.

That is my argument.

Frank Brunelle
Vineyard Haven