HOH receives grant to improve biking, walking infrastructure

Photo: Peter L. McGuire

BIKES ONLY  —  Healthy Oxford Hills has received part of a $2.4 million grant to raise awareness and improve cycling and walking infrastructure – like this bike lane on Beal Street in Norway – across Oxford County.

REGION — Oxford Hills is one of dozens of communities around the state that have received funds from a $2.4 million federal Community Transformation Grant to increase cycling and pedestrian awareness and infrastructure.

HOH is receiving $180,000 from the grant and partnering with three other communities in Oxford County –  Bethel, Rumford-Mexico and Sacopee Valley.

A smaller portion of the grant will be used to facilitate greater EBT use at farmers markets in Oxford Hills.

Carl Costanzi, Oxford County Let's Go! coordinator, says the campaign is aimed at promoting "active community environments," a concept gaining traction in public health circles.

Active community environments means "providing the ability of the community to be physically active ... including recreation and active transportation," Costanzi explains.

With the grant, HOH intends to examine the existing state of cycling and pedestrian environments in the four communities and work with municipalities to make improvements. 

According to Costanzi, there is plenty of room for improvement, particularly in terms of awareness.

A cyclist himself, Costanzi says drivers sometimes don't know the rules of the road that apply to cyclists – the primary objective is to raise awareness for drivers and hopefully create more cycle and pedestrian-friendly communities with signage and new bike lanes.

Personally, Costanzi would enjoy seeing a bike lane running all the way down Route 26, but how much energy is put into projects will ultimately be up to the community.

Costanzi says a program coordinator will be working to explain the benefits of active communities to  municipal and community leaders, starting with a conference planned for spring.

Creating active communities is about more than health and wellness, Costanzi explains –  it has real economic effects.

"We know it's a real need in this community," Costanzi says. "Not just for health, but for the economy ... it's increased tourism but it's also the perception of the community – a business will be more likely to come here if they see it's this cool, vibrant, active community."

Costanzi hopes that the program will encourage municipalities to begin including active community concepts in future planning.

He hopes that if the idea catches on, bike lanes, walking paths and sidewalks will start sprouting up in communities across Oxford County.