The Harwich Bike Committee is grappling with a significant leadership and membership void as it prepares for the upcoming summer season, operating with a skeleton crew that is currently looking for local residents to fill vacant seats. During its April meeting, acting chair Paul Gazai presided over a diminished board of only three identified members, acknowledging the committee’s current fragility. I'm not a chairperson. I said I would run the meeting. Let's be clear. We need to address that. There's no question, Gazai said, noting that several former members have either left the committee or are temporarily unavailable. The struggle for quorum and consistent leadership comes at a time when the town is shifting toward more professionalized government structures under the Charter Commission’s recent reforms, which have granted the Town Administrator broader hiring authority while mandating that new taxpayer-funded positions face Town Meeting scrutiny.

To drum up interest and improve trail safety, the committee discussed launching a monthly column in the Chronicle running from June through September. One unidentified member suggested the column could serve as a vital outreach tool, providing pictorial and written information about local trails. While the member is still waiting for a response from the newspaper’s editor, they emphasized the need for a non-legal channel to address safety concerns that fall outside local jurisdiction. I realized that the actual law to govern the movement of a bicycle is really not under this level at all, the member said. But I still think that if we get approval... we can speak to the issue even in a non-legal way, but as a safety issue and a concern.

The committee’s ability to influence trail behavior is currently limited by state-level regulations, particularly regarding the proliferation of e-bikes. A proposed joint meeting with Brewster and Chatham to discuss regional e-bike rules has been shelved indefinitely due to scheduling conflicts and the realization that local boards cannot override state statutes. Until the state changes things as far as e-bikes, it's probably best to let that discussion lie at this point, Gazai remarked. There's nothing that we can do here that can change that. Rich Seagull added that a previous attempt to coordinate with the neighboring towns was hampered by logistical hurdles, asking, Wasn't there some kind of vacation issue between the three?

Beyond legal constraints, the committee is facing a total lack of a formal budget, a situation that aligns with the town's broader cliff edge fiscal environment and the $980,000 budget gap created by rising school assessments. Historically, the committee has relied on the Department of Public Works (DPW) or private donations to fund basic needs like trail brochures. Fred Rice questioned the lack of financial autonomy, asking, Does the committee have budgets? I mean, we don't have a budget, do we? Why not? Gazai credited DPW Director Lincoln Hooper for his past support, noting, We're fortunate that the DPW paid out of their budget to pay for brochures. Link's a good guy.

Safety concerns on the trails have shifted toward the physical damage caused by motorized vehicles and a lack of consistent trail etiquette. Rice noted that he frequently sees electric bikes and motor-driven vehicles in conservation areas while walking his dog. Other members pointed out that kids riding dirt bikes off-trail have created deep ruts near Exit 124. Gazai highlighted a personal priority: implementing consistent signage to encourage the Stay Right, Pass Left rule. My personal thing is trying to get information to bikers so that the biker says 'on your left,' Gazai said. If it's not consistent, it doesn't work.

The committee is also pushing for immediate maintenance on trail infrastructure before the retirement of the DPW Director and ahead of major reconstruction projects slated for 2027 and 2028. Members identified worn-out bicycle symbols at road crossings, specifically at Headwaters, as a pressing safety issue. Motion Made by [U. Member] to contact the DPW regarding repainting trail symbols. Paul Gazai accepted the action item to contact Lincoln Hooper while he is still in service. This maintenance is viewed as a bridge to the more comprehensive modernization of the Old Colony Rail Trail (OCRT) intersections at Oak Street and Route 124, which are included in future capital plans. Gazai noted that while root pruning was completed last year to smooth out bumps, the Safe Routes to School project remains an ongoing infrastructure priority.

Recruitment remains the committee's primary hurdle to achieving these goals. Rice suggested placing notices seeking new members inside the map boxes located at the Rotary and along the Rail Trail to capture the attention of regular users. However, Gazai reminded the board that according to town policy, members must be full-time Harwich residents, excluding the town's significant summer population from formal committee service. The committee intends to work with town offices to ensure any recruitment drive follows the proper hierarchy of town government, potentially directing inquiries through the Select Board’s office to maintain professional standards during this period of administrative transition.

Looking for creative ways to fund future projects, one member presented a bandana from Australia that featured a printed trail map as a potential fundraising item for the Lower Cape region. While the idea was met with interest, the committee recalled past fundraising attempts that were blocked by insurance requirements and administrative red tape. Gazai suggested that Vice Chair Allan, who was absent from the meeting, might be the best person to navigate such a project given his professional expertise. The one to do this would be Allan because he knows how to go about doing these things, Rice agreed.