I recently came across a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that says, “Don’t go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path…and leave a trail”. Those words ring true for Healthy Adams Bicycle/Pedestrian, Inc. (HABPI) as we look ahead to what’s in store for 2026.
We recently kicked off a feasibility study to develop a path along Boyds School Road between Old Harrisburg Road and Biglerville Road. Boyds School Road is home to two schools, a county office complex, and several neighborhoods. It also serves as a bypass for many motorists on the north side of Gettysburg. Unfortunately, there are no sidewalks or bike lanes which forces pedestrians, cyclists, and those using mobility devices to share narrow lanes and even narrower shoulders with vehicles traveling at posted speeds of 35–45 mph. That’s what HABPI is trying to change. Where there is no path, we hope to leave a trail.
In this case, the trail will be an off-road, shared-use path along Boyds School Road. It will connect with the existing North Gettysburg Trail, creating a safe route all the way to the north edge of Gettysburg. The study will include several public meetings, stakeholder interviews, a meeting with property owners along the proposed path, and a web-based survey. We expect the study to be completed by April of this year. To learn more about this project, visit HABPI.org.
We’ll also continue to work in partnership with the Borough of Gettysburg to build the next section of the Gettysburg Inner Loop (GIL). The GIL is a network of roads, alleys, and off-road trails that enables safe cycling around the borough. The latest section is being developed along Racehorse Alley between Washington and Buford streets on the north side of the borough. Currently, grant funding is being sought for final engineering and construction of this segment.
HABPI continues to advocate for local municipalities to include walking and biking infrastructure into new development projects. Including the infrastructure when the new project is being built is much easier and more cost-effective than trying to build it later. And it facilitates the eventual creation of a network of connected sidewalks, paths, and trails. This can best be accomplished if the local land development ordinances have provisions that require the developer to include the infrastructure in situations where it is appropriate. This year, Straban Township is reviewing their ordinances, and we will be advocating for this biking and walking infrastructure provision.
In December of last year, we said goodbye to our board president and long-time board member Sarah Kipp who departed for a new job in Oregon. In January of this year, we welcomed two new members to the HABPI board. John Hartzell is an Adams County native who also volunteers on the Straban Township Planning Commission, the Dollars for Scholars Board of Directors, and as an Adams County Master Watershed Steward. Chris Berger teaches and coaches in the Upper Adams School District. He also serves on the Gettysburg Borough Council and on the board of the Gettysburg Municipal Authority. The new board officers consist of Eric Meyer, President; John Kessler, VP; Max Bramel, Treasurer; and Dennis Hickethier, Secretary.
And finally, HABPI is planning to host our 11th Annual Ride for Trails bike ride in the fall of this year. This is our big fundraiser event and typically attracts over 100 riders and dozens of sponsors. Stay tuned for more information about this event in the coming months.
Bio: Eric Meyer is President of HABPI and a retired engineer who rediscovered his love of biking more than 25 years ago.
Would love to see the Boyd’s school road project come to fruition. It would make for a much safer environment for students and the community.