Greenburgh Insider: Bicycle Sundays tomorrow--celebrating our 50th year.

One of my proudest accomplishments was proposing to the county that they close the Bronx River Parkway for cyclists in 1974. Celebrating our 50th anniversary this year. I served on former County Executive Del Bello's Bikeway Task Force.

I got my start in public service by serving as the chair of the Task Force for Bikeways in Westchester in 1973 (when I was still in school). In 1974 I served as a member of former County Executive Al Del Bello's Bikeway Committee. I recommended that the county close the Bronx River Parkway for cyclists - an initiative the County Executive enthusiastically supported. It's been 50 years of fun on the parkway and I can't wait to get on my bicycle as I do every year and enjoy this fantastic program. 

In 1973, when I was chair of the County Task Force for Bikeways, I was a big pain. I kept calling legislators at night and on weekends asking the county to fund the first bikeway in Westchester (Bronx River Parkway bike path). I wrote letters, spoke at meetings. Organized petitions.  Persuaded newspapers to write editorials. One day the Minority Leader of the Board of Legislators asked me to agree to a deal: the Board of Legislators would fund the bikeway if I agreed not to show up at Board of Legislators meetings for six months. I did!  And the bikeway was funded. We're continuing to make Greenburgh and Westchester a more bicycle/pedestrian friendly community. In recent years Greenburgh has overseen the funding and building of almost 12 miles of new sidewalks. More to come.

PAUL FEINER
Greenburgh Town Supervisor