MUA Adds Tolls to Reservoir Walking Path

A year ago, the Brick Reservoir walking paths were forced to close for health and safety reasons. Now, the Brick Municipal Utility Authorities (MUA) announced that they will be reopening the path on March 17. This is great news for many people from Brick and surrounding towns who enjoyed walking or jogging around the scenic reservoir. Unfortunately, the MUA has decided to charge a fee for use of the walking path.

"We wish we could have kept the walking path free of charge, but it just wasn't feasible," said MUA spokesperson Avaro Wasser. "The reservoir is not like a park. It's purpose is to provide water for Brick and other municipalities. The walking path was just a bonus. Unfortunately, we need to collect usage fees to meet the rising cost of maintenance."

Wasser said that visitors will be charged based on the number of times they walk around the reservoir. "We felt this would be more fair than just paying an entry fee. The cost will be 50 cents for each circuit of the reservoir. We will also be offering punch cards that will give you 20 laps of the reservoir for only $5." The MUA will be setting up a toll booth with an attendant to sell punch cards, collect fees, and punch the cards as walkers complete laps.

The decision to charge for something that has always been free does not sit well with Brick residents Sonny Camina and his wife, Felicity. "There is no reason that we should have to pay to walk," said Mr. Camina. "The MUA is way out of line and we're not going to take this sitting  down."

Sonny and Felicity have founded a group called Walking Is Free Everywhere (WIFE). Right now the group only has about 32 members, but it is growing. "My wife and I started WIFE when my wife said that we needed to take action," said Mr. Camina. He and his wife want the MUA  to know that WIFE  is not happy. "And as we all know," said Mr. Camina, "unhappy WIFE,  unhappy  life."

"Under the direction of my wife, WIFE is currently circulating a petition seeking 1,000 signatures that will be submitted to the MUA," said Mr. Camina. "If that doesn't work, Felicity, my wife, is prepared for WIFE to take more drastic action."

"I hope the petition will be enough," said Mr. Camina. "No matter what, though, we won't give up. WIFE will organize a boycott of water that is provided by MUA. We will encourage everyone in Brick and other towns to stop using municipal water until the tolls are removed! Everyone should just buy bottled water, avoid showering, and attempt to limit toilet use! If enough people join the boycott, we believe the MUA will get the message and eliminate the fees for the walking path."

When asked about the threat of a boycott, Avaro Wasser from the MUA said, "Oh yeah, good luck with that. But people should know that the MUA is not heartless. We are already working on a system like EZ Pass where walkers can purchase an electronic bracelet that will record the tolls automatically without stopping. Then they will just be billed once a month." Wasser is hopeful the EZ Pass system will be in place by late summer.