Letter: Thanks for the Railroad Station Bike Racks!

To the editor:

Good News for Darien Commuters for a Change!

Commuters arriving on their motorcycles or bikes at the Darien and Noroton Heights train stations this [Monday] morning were delighted to find that extra space had been provided and new parking racks had been installed over the weekend. (See Darien Patch's article here.)

I enclose a picture that is worth a thousand words and includes as a focal point my handsome blue Vespa in its new space.

Upon investigation, I found that these welcome improvements are a result of a Boy Scout of America Eagle Scout Project by Nicholas Cohen, the Boy Scouts of Troop 35 in Darien and many volunteers -- with the help of the Public Works department of the Town of Darien.

Commuting to the train station on two wheels has advantages for everyone, as it reduces the carbon footprint and traffic congestion. The new installation benefits all of us and encourages motor vehicle users to downsize to a more efficient mode of transportation.

Also, in the past, the lack of sufficient space has sometimes led to conflicts of interest between the motorized and the non-motorized two-wheel constituents. This is not unlike skiers and snowboarders who share the same love of the great outdoors but need to make arrangements to avoid close encounters.

The new bike racks immediately remedy this problem. They also benefit the motorists who tend to arrive late and had previously been forced to navigate around bikes, mopeds and motorcycles in a hurry. This was a growing problem given the erratic schedule of Metro North and the ever heavier traffic in town.

Congratulations to a job well done, Nicholas, and thank you and the Boy Scouts from Troop 35 for their intelligent and hard work! An outstanding Eagle Project among hundreds of others completed by the scouts of Troop 35 and 53 over the last hundred years, all benefitting the Town of Darien.