BURLINGTON, Vt. -
The Burlington City Council approved finding money to make changes, small and big, to the city's bike path.
Now the various funding measures will go before voters this November.
One measure is a 1/2 cent property tax increase which would bring in about $160,000 a year to fund maintenance and some improvements. Another idea is to issue a bond from a special business district in the city. That bond could raise some $2-million for the bike path.
Supporters say the path attracts tens of thousands of people each year, many of whom are tourists who pump millions of dollars in the local economy.
While supporters would like to see all seven-miles of the path reconstructed, for now the plan is to update one-mile of the 25-year old path.
"We're really starting to see some really bad crashes and people getting hurt," says Chapin Spencer, Local Motion executive director.
Spencer has been working with the city to fix the trail, which he considers dangerous, in poor shape, and too narrow in spots. The new one-mile stretch would have a new foundation, be wider, and safer.
"We need to build it to modern standards," says Spencer. "If we're going to have this beautiful resource we need to take care of it."
For regular riders, any improvement is overdue.
"It's a nice secluded place where you can get a workout in. It's pretty important to me," says Elisabeth Morrill.
Morrill says because the path is breaking up in parts, she has to walk her bike.
"You can flip the bike very easily with hills like this so it would be awesome if it got fixed," says Morrill.
