Man successfully crossing the highway
Then he stumbles in the snow pile
Pedestrian in the traffic lane
Friday, February 12, 2010
Pedestrians In Peril On US 130
If you don't believe that pedestrians are not treated as second class transportation users take a look at these photos along US 130 in Burlington County. 6 lanes of almost perfectly dry road and 5 foot high piles of plowed snow covers the shoulders, curb cuts and the sometimes present sidewalk.
New issue of NJ Safe Routes Scoop available
The latest issue of the NJ Walks and Bikes newsletter is now available online at:
http://policy.rutgers.edu/VTC/bikeped/Safe_Routes_Scoop/Vol3_Issue2/
Like the NJ Walks and Bikes newsletter the Safe Routes Scoop is produced by the NJDOT through the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University.
While packed full of good information, those interested in wakling and bicycle policies may want to pay particular attention to the following articles:
http://policy.rutgers.edu/VTC/bikeped/Safe_Routes_Scoop/Vol3_Issue2/
Like the NJ Walks and Bikes newsletter the Safe Routes Scoop is produced by the NJDOT through the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University.
While packed full of good information, those interested in wakling and bicycle policies may want to pay particular attention to the following articles:
Encouraging Walking and Bicycling through School PoliciesFor those of you who may be wondering what NJDOT is doing to make bicycling and walking safer, this is an excellent source to find out more. Also don't forget the back issues of the NJ Walks & Bikes Newsletter and the Safe Routes Scoop!
Complete Streets in Montclair
New Jersey Department of Transportation Adopts a Complete Streets Policy
Resource Spotlight: Operation Lifesaver
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Governor's Transit Cuts Will Be A "Tax Increase" For NJ Transit Customers
Two announcements from Governor Christie this month send a clear message as to what his transportation priorities will be. Earlier this month the Governor stated that a gas tax increase is "off the table" and today he announced that he is cutting subsidies for NJ TRANSIT saying that the state can no longer continue to subsidize the agency "to the extent it does."
The likely result will be service cuts and fare increases, meanwhile motorists will continue to enjoy some of the lowest gasoline prices in the nation. Transit riders pay a user fee called a fare and drivers pay user fee called a gas tax. This "transit user fee increase" may sway "choice riders" to abandon public transportation while the leaving the "captive riders" waiting at the station, and absorbing a cost of living increase.
Transit is inherently tied to bicycling and walking as the combination of these modes allow people to get to places without a car. Generally areas of the state that have the largest bicycling and walking mode shares also have the highest amount of transit use.
The likely result will be service cuts and fare increases, meanwhile motorists will continue to enjoy some of the lowest gasoline prices in the nation. Transit riders pay a user fee called a fare and drivers pay user fee called a gas tax. This "transit user fee increase" may sway "choice riders" to abandon public transportation while the leaving the "captive riders" waiting at the station, and absorbing a cost of living increase.
Transit is inherently tied to bicycling and walking as the combination of these modes allow people to get to places without a car. Generally areas of the state that have the largest bicycling and walking mode shares also have the highest amount of transit use.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
POSTPONED!! - Critical Public Hearing Feb 10, Regarding ECG
This just in.
The public meeting about replacing the NJ TRANSIT Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River in the Meadowlands and possibly installing a pathway over the new bridge for the East Coast Greenway, has been postponed. Originally scheduled for this Wednesday, the meeting has been postponed due to the likelihood of heavy snow fall tomorrow. The meeting will likely be rescheduled sometime in late March. WalkBikeJersey will let you know about the new meeting time the moment we get that info into our offices.
For further discussion please see our previous post.
The public meeting about replacing the NJ TRANSIT Portal Bridge over the Hackensack River in the Meadowlands and possibly installing a pathway over the new bridge for the East Coast Greenway, has been postponed. Originally scheduled for this Wednesday, the meeting has been postponed due to the likelihood of heavy snow fall tomorrow. The meeting will likely be rescheduled sometime in late March. WalkBikeJersey will let you know about the new meeting time the moment we get that info into our offices.
For further discussion please see our previous post.
Monday, February 08, 2010
First NJ Bike Summit a near Sell Out!
If you didn't get your tickets yet, you'd better do so before you finish reading this blog post.
Rumor has it that the NJ Bicycle Summit is just about sold out of its 130 tickets with only 8 spots remaining. Also note that the deadline for registration is February 14th which is less than a week away and even if there are spaces available there will be NO "day of event" registration.
The fact that the Bicycle Coalition of New Jersey could so easily fill this inaugural event's 130 openings is a testament to the pent-up need and latent demand for better cycling infrastructure and policies in New Jersey. Politicians, take note!
I know that I speak for many when I say that I hope this event is the kick-off of a very strong, vocal and well organized bicycle AND PEDESTRIAN advocacy campaign by the Bicycle Coalition of New Jersey and by all the local groups and clubs already in existence.
Rumor has it that the NJ Bicycle Summit is just about sold out of its 130 tickets with only 8 spots remaining. Also note that the deadline for registration is February 14th which is less than a week away and even if there are spaces available there will be NO "day of event" registration.
The fact that the Bicycle Coalition of New Jersey could so easily fill this inaugural event's 130 openings is a testament to the pent-up need and latent demand for better cycling infrastructure and policies in New Jersey. Politicians, take note!
I know that I speak for many when I say that I hope this event is the kick-off of a very strong, vocal and well organized bicycle AND PEDESTRIAN advocacy campaign by the Bicycle Coalition of New Jersey and by all the local groups and clubs already in existence.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Critical Public Hearing Feb 10, Regarding ECG
UPDATE!!! - MEETING POSTPONED!
For further information see this post.
The below message comes directly from Michael Oliva, the Mid-Atlantic Trail Coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance. I can't make this one but I hope some of you from Northern Jersey can show your support.
-Andy B.
ECG Proposed Route Using New Portal Rail Bridge (Click to enlarge)
ECG Proposed Route - Close Up (Click to enlarge)
Public Notice (Click to enlarge)
For further information see this post.
The below message comes directly from Michael Oliva, the Mid-Atlantic Trail Coordinator for the East Coast Greenway Alliance. I can't make this one but I hope some of you from Northern Jersey can show your support.
-Andy B.
Dear Friends:
The East Coast Greenway, the developing 3000-mile bike route connecting cities from Maine to Florida, has long seen the Meadowlands crossing as the most difficult nut to crack along the entire route. But for the first time, we see a possible opening.
NJ Transit is building 2 new rail bridges across the Hackensack River (a “north” span and a “south” span adjacent to the current Portal Bridge, which will be put out of commission), and taking 2.5 acres of parkland from Hudson County to build a new rail facility. By law, they must give back to the County. State law mandates that NJ Transit must compensate Hudson County by providing one of the following: either (1) double the acreage being taken, (2) double the dollar value of the taken land, or (3) a combination of replacement land and financial compensation. We want that mitigation to take the form of 2 miles of ECG trail in Hudson County, including a bike & ped path on the new southern Hackensack River bridge, to bring the ECG off-road from Belleville Turnpike in Kearny to West Side Avenue in Jersey City, adjacent to Hudson Generating Station (see attached maps). Two miles of trail, in a 20’ wide corridor, comes to 5 acres: that’s double the area of the land being taken, meeting the letter of the law.
But to accomplish this, we need your help. On Wednesday, February 10, from 6 to 8:30 pm, there will be a critical public hearing at Secaucus Public Library (1379 Paterson Plank Rd; map here). We urge your attendance. If there is a strong show of support for a bike-ped facility, we can get NJDEP and Hudson County on our side, creating a full-court press on NJ Transit. Public support is imperative; without it, success is unlikely.
In the 18 years since the East Coast Greenway was conceived, this is the best opportunity we've seen to build part of the ECG across the Meadowlands. Can we count on your support? Please contact mike@greenway.org if you have questions, or to let us know that you'll be there.
Thank you!
Dennis, Mike & Eric
East Coast Greenway Alliance
ECG Proposed Route Using New Portal Rail Bridge (Click to enlarge)
ECG Proposed Route - Close Up (Click to enlarge)
Public Notice (Click to enlarge)Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Deadline tommorrow for comments on Scudder Falls Bridge
As report by John and our friends at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia:
Comments to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission on this issue are due tomorrow, February 4th. Send the Commission an email letter stating your support for a bicycle/pedestrian pathway being included in the final design of the Bridge.
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran an indepth story and editorial today about the I-95 Scudder Falls Bridge and how a bicycle/pedestrian walkway that is being considered by the Bridge Commission may not get included because it is "prohibitively expensive." The Commission is rationalizing that 9 motor vehicle lanes (up from the current 4), 2 lanes for buses and 2 12-wide shoulders are necessary and a given that they will be built, but a bicycle/pedestrian path "is a cost issue" and may not be get included in the final design.
Obviously,we at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia don't agree and are pleased that the Inquirer Editorial Board is with us! The cost of a bicycle/pedestrian pathway is well below the threshold of what the feds consider "unreasonable", and there are other important positive benefits to having providing bicycle/pedestrian access that outweigh costs. Accommodating all users in transportation projects is federal and state policy, and one that this Commission should adhere to. The Commission should be designing a bridge with a 50-75 year life span for a future of more bicycling and walking and not pretend that it doesn't have a role to play in making the region more sustainable. As the Inquirer said today, "it would be an absurd planning decision to build a new bridge that made no room for cyclists and hikers to cross between two historic canal trails."
BCGP Final Comments (pdf)
Comments to the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission on this issue are due tomorrow, February 4th. Send the Commission an email letter stating your support for a bicycle/pedestrian pathway being included in the final design of the Bridge.
The Philadelphia Inquirer ran an indepth story and editorial today about the I-95 Scudder Falls Bridge and how a bicycle/pedestrian walkway that is being considered by the Bridge Commission may not get included because it is "prohibitively expensive." The Commission is rationalizing that 9 motor vehicle lanes (up from the current 4), 2 lanes for buses and 2 12-wide shoulders are necessary and a given that they will be built, but a bicycle/pedestrian path "is a cost issue" and may not be get included in the final design.
Obviously,we at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia don't agree and are pleased that the Inquirer Editorial Board is with us! The cost of a bicycle/pedestrian pathway is well below the threshold of what the feds consider "unreasonable", and there are other important positive benefits to having providing bicycle/pedestrian access that outweigh costs. Accommodating all users in transportation projects is federal and state policy, and one that this Commission should adhere to. The Commission should be designing a bridge with a 50-75 year life span for a future of more bicycling and walking and not pretend that it doesn't have a role to play in making the region more sustainable. As the Inquirer said today, "it would be an absurd planning decision to build a new bridge that made no room for cyclists and hikers to cross between two historic canal trails."
BCGP Final Comments (pdf)
View Philadelphia Regional Trails in a larger map
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