Traffic flow in the area has risen dramatically in the last five years, and locals question the safety of riding on the shoulder while droves of tourist vehicles speed by. The lack of pathways has only added to the traffic problem on the island, as people are now forced to drive for even simple tasks that could be managed on foot or by bicycle.
The goal of these pathways is to provide locals and tourists walking and bicycling access throughout the towns on Hatteras Island without fear of being struck by a vehicle. These pathways would reduce congestion, promote healthy and active lifestyles, increase mobility for the young and those without vehicles, and enhance the economic activity of the island. Previous studies have shown that within one year the economic impact of cyclists is far greater than the initial costs of bicycle facilities.
To determine the most effective routes for such pathways, committees were created in all of the Hatteras Island villages to establish conceptual plans. These plans were drawn up using general, citizen-developed guidelines to ensure the positive affect of the pathways. These included the desire for paths to remain on the NCDOT right-of-way and start and end at specific destinations.
The pathways would be installed in phases covering a period of approximately seven years to meet the funding and engineering needs on a rolling basis. Preliminary work would need to be done to maintain and repair existing drainage systems, as well as create an engineering and drainage survey for the pathways themselves. Post- construction maintenance would be handled with an adopt-a-pathway program, where citizens, businesses and organizations would be enlisted to keep the paths swept, pick up trash, and trim the edges.