‘There are safer ways to get around’

Cyclist leading effort to install directional signs for ‘scenic’ bike route along Route 7

NEW MILFORD — Lifelong cyclist Tom O’Brien is leading an effort intended to promote and encourage safety for bicycle riders, and educate drivers to be aware of cyclists sharing the roads.

O’Brien, 63, a New Milford resident, is visiting every town along the Connecticut portion of the Route 7 bike route. His goal is to supply turn signs for the entire portion of the route, which takes riders primarily along back roads.

He expects to finish the project — which spans 84 miles, encompasses 12 towns and includes 226 signs, before the summer.

While the signs aren’t mandatory, O’Brien said they bring publicity to the route, which he describes as “scenic” and “bucolic.”

“We’re going to promote the fact that there’s alternatives to riding on busy Route 7. We’re trying to show people that there are safer ways to get around,” said O’Brien, a volunteer with Housatonic Heritage, a nonprofit affiliated with the National Park Service. “I’m confident that the more people will ride on those roads, the more drivers will see them and they’ll be accustomed to be on the lookout for a slow moving (bicycle rider).”

The mapped-out route, which is also called the Western New England Greenway, became a federally designated U.S. bicycle route in 2015. The green and white signs painted with the No. 7 and the letters “WNEG” are intended to help navigate cyclists along the route.

The U.S. Bicycle Route System is an interstate bicycle travel network featuring historic, cultural and scenic sites. When complete, it will total 50,000 miles. To date, there are about 19,000 miles that have been connected, O’Brien said.

The Western New England Greenway passes through a dozen towns including Norwalk and Westport. O’Brien has already facilitated the installation of signs in Falls Village, Kent, New Milford, Brookfield and Bethel.

The routes were mapped out by volunteers, then each of the towns provided written approval for their portion. The state Department of Transportation then submitted an application to the American

Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials to have the route designated as a U.S. bicycle route.

The signs being installed are the official U.S. bike route sign.

“The only addition we made is we got to put the No. 7 on these signs,” he said.

O’Brien works directly with town leaders to make sure the signs are installed.

In order to get the route approved in each town, O’Brien met with the first selectman or mayor.

“Pretty much in every case they were excited to be a part of it ... the support has been incredible,” he said.

There are 41 signs in New Milford alone.

“It’s another example of how New Milford is the largest town (by square mile) in the state and it’s also the largest town by signage in the state,” O’Brien said.

The Greenway also includes Massachusetts and Vermont — but those states haven’t had the signs installed yet.

“Our goal is to be finished before summer so that basically the route is signed before peak bike riding season,” said O’Brien, adding the mild winter so far has helped expedite the project.

Housatonic Heritage secured the funding for the signs from multiple sources. The amount will not be determined until the fall.

“Though it’s too early to know the final costs, funding for the Western New England Greenway signs (fabrication and installation) is provided by the individual municipalities through which the cycling route runs, by the many volunteers who identify signpost locations and deliver materials to town highway departments, and through the support of the Upper Housatonic Valley National Heritage Area for the purchase of the sign materials,” said Dan Bolognani, executive director of Housatonic Heritage.

O’Brien said aside from safety and driver education, another goal of the new bicycle routes is to promote tourism.

“These routes were designed for long distance by travelers, which brings an economic development component with it because people who are traveling by bikes — they stop and they stay in motels oftentimes,” he said. “They spend a ton of money in restaurants.”