By Erin Thompson
The site of Earl Rissler’s newest bicycle shop is no coincidence.
Rissler, owner of Big Earl’s Bike Shop at 8552 Old Turnpike Road, Mifflinburg, has opened another shop in Lewisburg — near the other end of Union County’s proposed Rails to Trails project.
While his business would probably have expanded to Lewisburg anyway, he said, part of the reason was the project being taken on by the Lewisburg Area Recreation Authority.
“Over half of our customer base is in Lewisburg,” Rissler said Tuesday from his Lewisburg shop at 199 North Derr Drive.
The Lewisburg shop is doing more sales and repairs, but when the Rails to Trails project is completed, Rissler expects to get more rentals in both locations.
His shop rents bikes for an average of $25 to $30 per day, but when the trail is open, half-day rentals will be offered.
The first phase — the trail from Mifflinburg to Lewisburg — of the project is expected to be completed by 2011, according to Kevin Drewenchi, executive director of LARA.
Drewenchi said the project has been progressing smoothly recently and that the project may go out to bid by early or mid-summer. The bidding will be for the surface of the trail, signs, crossing, parking areas and rest areas.
LARA is looking for ways the 8½-mile trail can cross Route 15 in Lewisburg. When completed, the trail will run from Montandon to Mifflinburg.
Possibilities include building a tunnel under Route 15 or creating a crossing for the trail.
“We’re very hopeful that construction will start in 2010 and that we will have the first phase completed by 2011,” Drewenchi said.
“This will offer a great opportunity for people to walk or bike with their families,” Drewenchi said.
Drewenchi expects the project will help a number of local businesses aside from Earl’s Bike Shop.
“In general, all restaurants, coffee shops and hotels will see an increase in business, whether they buy gasoline or stop at the local bike shop,” Drewenchi said.
LARA will review designs today and will ask for feedback from the community at a future public meeting.
LARA’s next public meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. March 25 at the East Buffalo Township municipal building.
n E-mail comments to ethompson@dailyitem.com
