Pathways “ambassadors” are headed to school zones and Path 22 this summer

If your kid bikes to school, or you are just trying to get across town without a close call, Teton County could soon have a new, friendly layer of eyes on the pathways. A staff report for the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board lays out Friends of Pathways’ Pathways Ambassador Program: 10 volunteer “ambassadors” on e-bikes, plus a lead ambassador, doing safety outreach from May to October. See: JHTTB Staff Report, Pathways Ambassador Program FOP.

The plan targets eight hot spots, with special attention to school start and release times and big events. That includes West Jackson school-zone intersections (Gregory Lane, High School Road, South Highway 89), Garaman Park and the Highway 89/Broadway corridor, downtown and East Jackson (including construction zones), Path 22 from the Y to Stilson (Emily’s Pond, Wilson Bridge, R-Park), Wilson and the Stilson Transit Center, Teton Village and the Aspens, north of town by the Visitor Center and Elk Refuge pathway, and south of town toward Rafter J, Melody Ranch and Hoback Junction.

What they will actually do is a mix of “be visible” and “be helpful”: riding, staffing mobile hub tents, posting at crosswalks, giving directions, and handing out small rewards (gift cards, bike lights, bells, stickers) for courteous behavior. Ambassadors are also expected to contact law enforcement for problems like illegal vehicle use on pathways or reckless behavior, with support lined up from the Jackson Police Department and Teton County Sheriff’s Office.

Two details parents may care about: each of the 10 volunteers gets a one-time $1,500 stipend for at least 168 hours over six months (about 7 hours a week), and the program plans to lease 10 e-bikes at $250/month each, with maintenance included. The report says they are open to revisiting whether buying bikes would make more sense once they have real-world experience.