Time running out to for your donations to NJBWC to be matched

The New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition recently announced that time is running out on their Alliance for Biking and Walking matching grant.  As of Monday, January 17th there were only 90 days left were your donations to NJBWC will be matched by funds from the Alliance for Biking and Walking.  The below message is from a recent email from the NJBWC:

The Alliance for Biking and Walking matching grant, awarded to NJBWC last year, has only 90 days to run before it ends.  Now is the time that we need those of you who have held back on joining the Coalition to go ahead and do so - and make your registrations dollars count double!

While we, and bicyclists around the state, won a significant victory with the withdrawal of the bicycle registration bill, we must continue to be vigilant.  It is quite likely that other attacks on bicycling and walking will come in the next few months.  From Washington, from Trenton, from...

Your Coalition (and we want to be sure that you think of it as "your" Coalition) needs your help to continue operations -- your membership dollars and your support. 

Join us today, either by going to our website or by sending us your check, made out to "NJBC" to NJBC, P.O. Box 843, Mahwah, NJ 07430.  Membership rates are listed on the website.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Ed. Note - This blog is not directly affiliated with the NJ Bike and Walk Coalition

This Tuesday! Bicycle Night with the Somerset Patriots

Just a reminder but this Tuesday, September 14th, the NJ Bike and Walk Coalition and the Somerset Patriots baseball team will be hosting bicycle night. For more info see my previous blog post or the Somerset Patriots Special Group Page.

Don't forget the Coalition will be a doing short 5mile ride before the game so it may be best to get there by 6pm.

I will be cycling to the event from New Brunswick at 5pm (to get there by 6pm) using the Delaware and Raritan Canal Tow Path going there and possibly for a portion of the return trip. Accordingly, a bicycle able to traverse an unpaved multi-use path with some bumpy sections will be necessary. Lights, front and rear, are an absolute must to ride with me since we will be returning late. Also, riders should be comfortable with riding on sections of busier roads even though I will try to keep them to an absolute minimum. The ride is about 8 miles each way from New Brunswick to the Stadium. I will be leaving from in front of the College Avenue Student Center at Rutgers University, sharply at 5pm. If interested please RSVP to " ajbesold at yahoo dot com ". Last minute arrivals are always welcomed but again I will be leaving at 5pm sharp!


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NJBWC Wins REI Grant to fund NJ BikeSchool

$5,000 Award Will Benefit NJ Bicycle Education

This story also comes from our friends at the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition:

The New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition has won a competitive grant from REI Inc. under their "REI Gives" grant program.

The grant will be used to fund operations for the NJBikeSchool, a free, comprehensive bicycle safety program that educates children about sharing the road safely with motor vehicles and pedestrians. This grant fills a gap in funding for transportation costs which has kept the NJBikeSchool from offering their programs thus far this summer, and will enable them to do so for the next year.

Leigh Ann Von Hagen, of the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center and a founder of NJBikeSchool said, "NJ BikeSchool is a key program of the NJ Safe Routes to School Resource Center funded by the NJ Department of Transportation. The REI grant helps us bring youth bicycle education resources into schools and camps, including trained instructors, a fleet of bikes, helmets, literature and other equipment. Without the grant to help cover transportation costs, we would not be able to provide as robust a program. We are excited about growing the NJ BikeSchool program though NJBWC."

Bikes and Baseball with the Coalition and Somerset Patriots

This comes from our friends at the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition:

America's National Pastime - Bicycling

Bicycling to a baseball game, anyway. NJBWC is organizing a ride to see the Somerset Patriots of the Atlantic League play on Cycling Night, September 14. The Patriots play at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, NJ.

The cost of a ticket will be $10 ($7 ticket and a $3 donation to NJBWC). While you could just bring your bike to the stadium with your car, we will be arranging a five-mile ride to and from the stadium on the evening -- what's the point of bringing your bike if you don't use it. Lights and helmet a must. Lights for the ride, and the helmet for the ride and any stray, flying beer bottles from the stands. Oh, it's baseball, not a Jets-Eagle game...

We need to guarantee 30 riders for the evening to participate in the "benefits" (promotion of the Coalition on the scoreboard, PA announcement, etc.) and we need to know fairly quickly. If you are interested, let us know.

Oh, one other benefit is taking part in a bicycle "parade" on the warning track prior to the game. Gee, I don't know... My road bike with skinny tires on sand... Maybe I'll pass, have a beer, and watch those with fat tires!

How was that Congressional Ride on the D&R Canal?

This past weekend around 50 people joined the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition (note the name), the East Coast Greenway Alliance, Trenton Cycling Revolution and the West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance to ride and celebrate the newly-constructed portion of the D&R Canal Path in Trenton. This portion of the Canal was lost long ago when NJDOT covered the canal to build the Freeway section of Route US 1. The new section of trail was built along side an active but rarely used freight line and around several billboards (oddly enough it was the billboards that cause more trouble than the train tracks - watch Rush Holt's comments in video).


View D&R Canal Final Link in a larger map

Joining the above groups in celebrating the completion of this trail were several elected representatives. Most notable was Congressman Rush Holt (Democrat 12th District) and Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (Democrat 23rd District - Newark / Hillside) (Grace gets extra kudos for coming down all the way from Newark and riding with us. PS - This lady can ride!!).

Here is a video that Paige of the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition did of the opening speeches given by the present elected representatives.




Here are some pictures of the ride to the Battle Monument in Trenton from the Brearley House in Lawrenceville, including the new section of trail. Also don't forget to check out the video of the new trail made by John at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia.

NJB&WC President Jim Nicholson shakes Congressman Rush Holt's
hand for a job well done by the Congressman in helping complete the trail.

Riders along a well established section of D&R Canal Towpath.

Cyclists ride down the ramp to the bridge over US Route 1.

Cyclists enjoy the new section of trail in Trenton.

Another view along the new section of trail.

Cyclists arrive at the beautiful Trenton Battle Monument.


Riders return back to the Bearley House by crossing the canal to continue on the trail.

UPDATED: Ride with your Congressional Representative - NJ Bike Coalition modifies name and focus

UPDATE - Link to Congressional Ride Flier.

The New Jersey Bicycle Coalition has modified its name to the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition. This name change reflects the willingness of the board of directors to fully "embrace" the walking advocacy movement. We here at WalkBikeJersey wholehearted support the now NJBWC in their move to cover walking issues as well, for these three simple reasons:

1 - Those that identify themselves as "bicyclists" are unfortunately, still a small minority of roadway users.

2 - By comparison, everyone is a pedestrian at some part of their day so now the NJBWC can justifiably say they represent the needs of ALL New Jerseyans.

3 - Often walking and bicycle access issues are one and the same if not identical. By creating proper access for one group, often the needs of the other are taken care of as well.

We here at WalkBikeJersey think that NJBWC's move to incorporated pedestrian advocacy into their mission is a wise and effective move that is sure to create political dividends in the future.


Also, the NJBWC along with East Coast Greenway Alliance, Trenton Cycling Revolution and the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance have announce a ride at 9:30 on Saturday August 14th celebrating cycling and walking in New Jersey by riding the recently completed and final section of the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath through Trenton. A good portion of New Jersey's congressional delegation has been invited so there is a good chance that you could be riding elbow to elbow with some of New Jersey's most important political leaders.


View Brearley House in a larger map
Start of the Congressional Ride at the Brearley House on Meadow Rd off Princeton Pike.

Billed as a "family ride," it begins at the Brearley House, located in Lawrenceville, NJ, on Meadow Road which is just off Princeton Pike and the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath. Traveling almost entirely "off-road" the ride will go 7 miles down into Trenton along the towpath, to the Washington Battle Monument and back. Lunch will be served afterward back at the Brearley House around noon so RSVP (info@njbike.org) if you would like to come.

More info about the event will be posted as soon as it becomes available online.

Attendees Needed!! The Alliance for Biking and Walking, Winning Campaigns Training in Edison NJ

The Alliance for Biking & Walking, Winning Campaigns Training to be hosted by the New Jersey Bicycle Coalition is in danger of being canceled if minimum number of participants (25) is not met. The Alliance for Biking & Walking is only hosting 6 of these Winning Campaigns Trainings in the US this year. The host site in Edison NJ is within a 5 minute walk of the Edison Train Station which is on the NE Corridor line.

Obviously, the New Jersey Bicycle Coalition is very worried that this event will have to be canceled which would be a setback for the young organization. This is an excellent training opportunity for any person involved in the Livable Streets movement, even those that may not be directly bike/ped oriented. In fact, I've been told that much of what is taught in the training session can apply to any type of community activism and that all groups are welcomed to sign up.

Finally, if attendees are members of the Alliance for Biking & Walking they can sign up for the discounted rate of $75 vs $125 (if not a member of the Alliance, join the NJBC for $15 to pay a total of $90). However interested persons will have to act very soon since these early bird rates will go up by tomorrow May 4th.

For more information see the relevant links below.

New Jersey Bicycle Coalition Winning Campaigns Webpage
http://www.njbike.org/winning-campaigns.html

Alliance for Biking & WalkingWinning Campaigns Trainings Webpage for Edison.
http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/site/EventRegistration-Overview/2578/

NJ Bicycle Coalition's 1st Annual General Meeting

From Jim at the New Jersey Bicycle Coalition:

We'd like to remind you about the New Jersey Bicycle Coalition's first Annual General Meeting, being held this Thursday, 29 April 2010. The location is the Community Room at REI in East Hanover and the meeting will run from 7 pm until 9 pm. Directions to REI can be found here.

The REI facility holds approximately 40 people and we have almost 200 members, so space might be limited. I really don't think that all 200 of you will show up but if all of you do, 40 or so will attend the meeting and remaining 160 will just have to go shopping downstairs at REI. I'm sure that REI would not be too broken up about that!

With no Coalition elections in play at the AGM, we would like to use it as an opportuntity for you to get to know your Board and give us your views on how the organization should progress over the coming year.

One very exciting thing to share with you is that the Alliance for Biking and Walking has awarded NJBC with a $25,000 matching grant (meaning we need to raise $25,000 over the next year to get the Alliance's $25,000). Our primary aim is to hire an Executive Director within the next six months to help move NJBC forward.

Below you will find a preliminary agenda for the meeting, and some proposed discussion points. If you are planning to attend, please let us know so we have an idea of how many members to expect on Thursday.

Jim