Thursday, February 25, 2010

WWBPA Meeting with Andy Clark Postponed

MEETING POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER!!!

Check back here or at http://wwbpa.org/ for information on when the meeting will be rescheduled.

On February 25, 2010 the West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance will host Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists.


7:30 p.m.
West Windsor Municipal Building
271 Clarksville Road

View Larger Map

LAB champions bicycle-friendly communities, not only for the health of cyclists, but for the wider economic benefits they bring to communities.

Please be aware that the WWBPA is hosting Mr Clarke as part of their annual meeting but is open to the public. This is an excellent opportunity for people to hear and speak with one the most influential persons in bicycle advocacy in the United States. While Mr. Clarke will also be one of the featured speakers at the NJ Bicycle Summit two days latter, this is another opportunity to for those to meet Mr. Clarke who are unable to attend the Bicycle Summit.

WWBPA will also discuss its goals for 2010 and vote for trustees. If you live in town or in the area come and see how one of the best local bicycle and pedestrian groups operate.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Op-Ed: Why a "3-foot Passing Law" could be bad for cyclists

There has been much debate here in New Jersey and across the nation about the merits of the "3-foot Passing Law." First of all, as a cyclist, being passed by an automobile by just 3 feet is simply too close and downright dangerous in nearly every circumstance (3 feet of clearance from one's shoulder is just beyond the tips of your fingers if you fully extend your left arm). However, what people might not think of is that a 3-foot law may tell drivers it's okay to pass cyclists by less then they do already.

That's right! A "3-foot Passing Law" has the potential to backfire and cause drivers that already give cyclists, 5, 8 or even 12 feet of clearance, the message that it is okay to pass cyclists with less room.

I read recently on the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals list serve of a survey done in a Florida that asked drivers how much room is considered minimally acceptable to pass a cyclist. About 13 percent replied “3 feet.” By comparison, nearly 56 percent replied from 5 to 10 feet. So the socially accepted norm is well more than 3 feet. Passing a law that says 3 feet is acceptable would seem to work against the interests of cyclists, as it would tell those people who already believe 5 to 10 feet is appropriate that 3 feet is OK.

I have also read that Joe Mizereck, the creator of the website www.3feetplease.com, no longer favors 3 feet as the standard for minimum passing distance laws when he heard that 1.5 meters or 5 feet is the standard in much of Europe.

New Jersey's Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Council has already been working on language for a bill that requires a greater passing margin and is more enforceable by using the lane itself to give law enforcement visual cues as to when a driver is passing a cyclists by less then the acceptable distance.

Knowing all this, it would seem almost counterproductive at this time for anyone to lobby for a law in New Jersey that advocates for inadequate and dangerous passing distance when motorists overtake cyclists.

Two Important Bicycle Advocacy Events This Week

THE BICYCLE SUMMIT IS SOLD OUT!!!


That's right. The first New Jersey Bicycle Summit being hosted by our friends at the New Jersey Bicycle Coalition is a complete sell-out. All 130 tickets have been sold and this event is sure to a be a rousing success.

However for all of you who wanted or just couldn't attend, don't worry, there is another landmark event happening this same week.

ALSO

MEETING POSTPONED DUE TO WEATHER!!!

On February 25, 2010 the West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance will host Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists.


7:30 p.m.
West Windsor Municipal Building
271 Clarksville Road

View Larger Map

LAB champions bicycle-friendly communities, not only for the health of cyclists, but for the wider economic benefits they bring to communities.

Please be aware that the WWBPA is hosting Mr Clarke as part of their annual meeting but is open to the public. This is an excellent opportunity for people to hear and speak with one the most influential persons in bicycle advocacy in the United States. While Mr. Clarke will also be one of the featured speakers at the NJ Bicycle Summit two days latter, this is another opportunity to for those to meet Mr. Clarke who are unable to attend the Bicycle Summit.

WWBPA will also discuss its goals for 2010 and vote for trustees. If you live in town or in the area come and see how one of the best local bicycle and pedestrian groups operate.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

East Windsor Bicyclist Killed From Behind - Snow-Impairment May Be A Contributing Factors

As report by John and our friends at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia:

According to NJ.com a bicyclist was killed after being struck from behind on Dutch Neck Road in East Windsor Township, Mercer County NJ on Tuesday. The Driver, a 55 year-old woman, has been charged with Vehicular Homicide as she was allegedly driving under the influence of prescription drugs.

But that may not be the only contributing factor. An earlier article quoted a police officer saying that Dutch Neck Rd has an adequate shoulder has although the StreetView shows a 3-4 foot shoulder on the westbound side where the crash occurred. A commenter on the same article noted that the while shoulder was plowed "most of the snow was throw(n) from the main part of the road onto the shoulder so in some parts, there was only maybe a foot of shoulder lane that was not covered in snow."


View 2010 Bicycle Crashes in a larger map

What Will $6 Million Buy For Camden

Yesterday Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood announced the recipients of TIGER grants and for perhaps the first time in the transportation world ever freight rail, transit and bicycle pedestrian projects far outpaced awards for highway projects which received only about 10% of the available funds.

Camden and Philadelphia were recipients of a 23 million dollar package of trail and bike lane projects known as GREAT PA/NJ of that more than 6 million will go to 3 projects in Camden. They are:
  • Bike Lanes on Pearl St From the Bridge to the waterfront promenade
  • Bike Lanes for Martin Luther King Boulevard from Cooper Hospital to the Adventure Aquarium
  • A Bicycle Boulevard on Pine Street from Cooper River Park to the Adventure Aquarium and waterfront promenade



View GREAT PA/NJ Projects in a larger map

Monday, February 15, 2010

Op-Ed: NJ Legislature - Parking Trumps Pedestrian Safety

It's amazing what the New Jersey Legislature is capable of doing if you're not watching them close enough.

Unbeknownst to some of the closest followers of all things bicycle and pedestrian in New Jersey (yeah, that includes me), the Legislature quietly passed Senate Bill 1082 (A1775). This law gives municipalities the authority to reduce the distance where it is illegal to park in front of STOP signs and on either side of crosswalks, if the municipality passes an ordinance allowing them the authority to do so.

According to language straight out of the bill itself "The purpose of this bill (law) is to address parking shortages." Never is there a mention how this bill might compromise New Jersey's already shaky pedestrian safety record or that of traffic safety as a whole.

Prior to this new law, the standard distances all across New Jersey were that it was illegal to park 50 feet in front of a STOP sign and 25 feet on either side of a crosswalk. This was done for good reason. To stop for a STOP sign or for a pedestrian in a crosswalk, one needs to see the STOP sign or pedestrian. At a time in the past, distances of 50 and 25 feet were made into law because they were thought to be the minimum safe parking distances to create a sight line by which drivers would be able to see a STOP sign or pedestrian and to be able to react to them.

Now the new law does prohibit changing these standards in school zones and requires best engineering judgment. Still, reducing these sight lines anywhere will undoubtedly have a some negative effect on pedestrian and traffic safety. And it wouldn't be unfathomable to imagine that best engineering judgment could be compromised when local politicians are being pressured to create more parking spaces. Plus a loss of a standard statewide practice has the potential to create even greater confusion as to where it is legally permissible to park a car.

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.




















Man successfully crossing the highway




















Then he stumbles in the snow pile



















Pedestrian in the traffic lane

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:
Encouraging Walking and Bicycling through School Policies
Complete Streets in Montclair
New Jersey Department of Transportation Adopts a Complete Streets Policy
Resource Spotlight: Operation Lifesaver
For 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!

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.

Tuesday, February 9, 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.

Monday, February 8, 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.

Friday, February 5, 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.

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 3, 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)





View Philadelphia Regional Trails in a larger map

Monday, February 1, 2010

Interesting Statute of the Month - No Highway Off-ramps Near Schools

UPDATE! (2/2/10) - Zoe at the Tri-State Transportation Campaign commented below that this law is referred to as the "Terrell James' Law." I was curious about that and pulled up what I believe is the final bill language that created the statute below.

According to a NJDOT Press Release from February 7, 2006, the "Terrell James' Law" was (would be) named "in memory of an 8-year-old who was killed in a tragic 1997 accident that occurred on a Newark playground located between two highway ramps."
__________________________________________________________________

I was doing some research again and I came across this interesting little tidbit. The law is only a little more than two years old but it is an interesting bit of legislation particularly for you folks concerned about Safe Routes to School issues. Also, if you follow the link below there is a bit more to this legislation than this one statute.
27:7-44.12 New entry or exit ramp, construction within 1,000 feet of school; prohibited; exceptions.

4. a. A new entry or exit ramp shall not be constructed as part of a highway project if a school is located or is being constructed within 1,000 feet of the proposed location of the entry or exit ramp, unless, during the planning and design of the project, the department determines that the construction is required and that there is no feasible or prudent alternative.

b.Prior to making the determination required pursuant to subsection a. of this section, the department shall, as part of its community outreach efforts to identify a preferred alternative design for the highway project, notify the local board of education in whose district the school is located or being constructed, and in the case of a school being constructed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the authority, or in the case of a nonpublic school, the board thereof, the Department of Education and the members of the Legislature representing the district in which the school is located or being constructed, that the department is considering the construction of an entry or exit ramp within 1,000 feet of the school. The preferred alternative design for the highway project shall not be selected until the members of the Legislature notified pursuant to this subsection have been afforded the opportunity to submit comments to the department. If the department subsequently determines that the construction of the entry or exit ramp is required and that there is no feasible or prudent alternative, pedestrian safety issues shall be included as part of the environmental review undertaken by the department pursuant to State and federal laws, rules and regulations. When the public forum is held as part of the environmental review of the proposed highway project, the department shall present its plan for any entry or exit ramp and the safety measures, consistent with the recommendations of the study required pursuant to section 7 of this act, that are to be included in the highway project.

c.An entry or exit ramp for a highway shall not be reconstructed if a school is located or being constructed within 1,000 feet of the location of the ramp unless the department shall take steps to minimize the public safety hazards of the reconstructed ramp, consistent with the recommendations contained in the study required pursuant to section 7 of this act.

L.2007, c.308, s.4.

Op-Ed: New Mercer County Bike Map Looking for Comments

First I must say that this map is a great start with wonderful potential. It would be great to have maps such as these for every county in New Jersey.

However, the new Mercer County Bikeability Map, while an "OK" start leaves much to be desired. Too many (but no where near a majority) roadways that are relatively safe to ride on are considered "Unfavorable" while others that I would never ride on (and I'm a very bold and experienced rider) are given "Excellent" ratings. Unfortunately I have personally found this to be an all too common problem with many bicycle suitability maps pubilished for New Jersey counties.

Now admittedly, this is a work in progress with the DVRPC, who put this map together, looking for comments to improve the map. I hope New Jersey cyclists that are familiar with Mercer County's roadways go to town on this map and plaster it full of comments to improve it. It is definately a product that has potential and I support the DVRPC for putting it together.

Mercer County's Interactive Bike Map

As report by John and our friends at the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia:

Last week the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission launched the Mercer County Regional Bike Map overlayed on a Google Map. This map is intended to be a resource for Mercer County residents and bicyclists to help them plan bicycle-friendly routes to ride, and also to help planners identify priority bicycle corridors and facilities to be considered in the future.

http://www.dvrpc.org/asp/bikemercer/

For the next month or so DVRPC and Mercer County would like your input on priority bicycle routes, and your opinions on the routes submitted by others, as well as any knowledge you have about the bikeability ratings shown here: are they too high, too low, or do they not reflect a specific local issue that you know about? Comments will help improve the bikeability scores shown on the site. Proposed routes and comments will be accepted until Friday, March 12th.