Officials working to make half-mile stretch of Thun Trail safer | Berks Regional News

CUMRU TWP., Pa. – There is a clear up this Saturday on a stretch of the Thun Path in Cumru Township.

Officers try to make that a part of the path safer, after a bike owner was shot in December.

Organizers say they’ve had a lot curiosity, they’ve needed to flip volunteers away. However there’s nonetheless lots of work forward.

After a bike owner was shot final December on the Thun Path close to the West Shore Bypass, the Schuylkill River Greenways introduced massive adjustments to the half-mile stretch to make it safer.

“I believe it is superior, we want it to get extra individuals out right here to make use of it, will probably be quite a bit safer,” mentioned Chip Hoffman, a bike owner who makes use of the Thun Path usually.

“One of the simplest ways to maintain a path secure is to maintain it busy and to maintain lots of people on it and whenever you maintain it welcoming and alluring and busy and a spot you need to go to lots of people will come and it turns into secure,” mentioned Elaine Paul Schaeffer, Government Director of Schuylkill River Greenways.

These adjustments embody upgrades reminiscent of putting in safety cameras, fixing lights, including new indicators, and making the path extra user-friendly.

“And that is the purpose right here and that is what individuals need to do, take a stroll on it, and the extra those that try this the safer will probably be,” Schaeffer mentioned.

However these upgrades aren’t low cost. They will value greater than $100,000, and up to now, they’ve had an awesome response.

So many individuals need to pitch in to assist make the path safer, together with Berks County District Legal professional John Adams. He’s going to take nearly $50,000 from the county’s drug forfeiture fund to assist pay for the safety digicam system that will likely be alongside the path.

“Lots of people use this to go as much as Neversink and we sort of second guess it, like ought to we? however we should not must nevertheless it’s about time I assume,” mentioned Hoffman.

Some say it is about time for individuals to care about this path and step as much as assist.

If you would like extra details about the marketing campaign otherwise you’d like to assist, simply go to the Schuylkill River Greenways website.