Bike only access to Chincoteague NWR at risk... Please read

[beebesdad]

Greetings all,

This is my first post on this forum after following it for quite some time. For those of you who have visited Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia, I would like you to consider advocating on behalf of cyclists who use the beach access there. The US Fish and Wildlife Service is working on a plan to relocate the public beach on Assateague.  The catch is that the proposed plan will eliminate the current bicycle/pedestrian only path that accesses the beach about a half mile north of the beach where there is car parking available. The proposal will maintain a bike path, but access the beach right where everyone who drives has access. Obviously, the "bike beach" will no longer be as peaceful and out of the way as it currently is...

If you have a minute, please contact:

Tom Bonetti, refuge planner at northeastplanning@fws.gov
please put "Chincoteague" in subject line

Sample email:

Mr. Bonetti,

I am writing today to ask that you please  maintain the current hiker/biker beach access path and location into the plan for relocating the public beach at Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge.  The current path and access off the Wildlife Loop serves the cycling and hiking community in a safe and enjoyable way.  Please keep that access intact!

Sincerely,



Than you all for your time,

Chris Clark


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[BrianW]

That is a nice little beach there at the walk/bike in section. I'll send a note when I get home from traveling.

Of course , the next big hurricane could wipe it out anyway.

[donald.stewart.92]

I was there this summer. The bike beach is still there. I went during the pony swim roundup week. The north ponies are taken from the corral down the beach.

We cycled from the Wildlife Loop parking lot to the beach at 5:00am. The Loop road was closed to traffic. It’s about 1 1/2 miles to the beach path. Get to the lot early because the spaces fill up fast. Bring lots of bug spray.

It was dreamlike watching the ponies gallop in the surf mists.

I cycled there on a couple of days. There’s a pit toilet at the beach. Watch out!  The gate closing off the road was letting cars in on 2 days. Cars aren’t allowed on the Loop until 3pm.