Recently, I rode my bike on our decaying bike path from Florence onto Hadley’s and Amherst’s well maintained paths. The surface of our path is mostly cracks and bumps, while our neighbor’s are smooth. I’ve learned that a new vendor for Valley Bike has been found after the previous one went bankrupt. Northampton preferred that vendor as opposed to even considering a local electric bike franchiser. The population of Northampton is a steady 30,000, while the budget grows and grows, yet the roads and the bike paths deteriorate. Will it take a serious injury or worse for a speeding electric bike on our worn-out roads to get needed attention?

Bill Arnold

Florence