Numbering system could make Peabody trail safer

PEABODY-The Peabody Bikeway currently under construction is sure to draw quite the crowd of travelers when it opens next fall, and for City Councilor Ted Bettencourt Jr., that?s all the more reason to take extra efforts to beef up safety.With 4.6 miles of scenic trails tucked behind, in many cases, thick, wooded areas and tall buildings, Bettencourt fears that locating someone in an emergency situation could prove to be a rather difficult task.?A concern I have is safety and, specifically the ability of police, fire, and ambulance vehicles to respond to medical or other emergencies,” he said to the City Council last week. “Time being of the essence for any type of emergency, it is critical that our protective services have the ability to locate a citizen as quickly as possible.”Bettencourt made a motion to the full Council to implement a numbered system, similar to one used on state highways and rural roads, that would serve as a way to identify certain points along the trail. If people were to find themselves in an emergency situation, i.e. an asthma attack or perhaps a bicycle-related accident, those involved could reference the number system to help responders pinpoint their approximate location.The system Bettencourt proposes would place numbered signs in chronological order every 100-200 feet along the full length of the trail. Although he didn?t have any exact figures in front of him, Bettencourt said that the system would be inexpensive.?It is incumbent upon this council to do everything we can to make this bike path safe for our residents,” he said. “I believe this system will assist in that goal.”Bettencourt received the unanimous support of the Council.