News Flash: "GOP lawmakers spin funding tall tales" about the need to eliminate TE funding

If you haven't heard, there are some Republican Congressmen and Senators who are claiming that Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding, the primary source for bicycle and pedestrian project from the federal government, is driving the US Government broke and causing our nation's bridges and roadways to crumble (read here). 

Well fortunately, the good folks at the League of American Bicyclists have done an excellent job of refuting those claims.  To backing up the League's arguments, Jay Walljasper of the Huffington Post wrote a great piece claiming that federal money on bicycle and pedestrian projects is money well spent. 

Well now there's even more!  An October 31st article by Joan Lowy of the Associated Press essential shreds any remaining credibility of the GOP claims that the TE program is full of wasteful spending.  She even goes as far to say in the title that "GOP lawmakers spin funding tall tales."  You can read the article in full here.

Also check out the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federations well articulated response to the revelations found in the AP article.  In their response, MOBikePedFed makes the the very astute observation:

The fact check is unusual — every supposedly horrible example of Transportation Enhancements spending is completely debunked. Each example turns out to be either grossly exaggerated or completely misleading. That’s not surprising, because Transportation Enhancements is the single largest source of funding for bicycle and pedestrian funding in the U.S. today, and those projects are important, popular, and much needed.

There are more than enough very good, very needed, projects to crowd out bad projects — and it looks like that is exactly what happened to many of the examples opponents have cited. They were bad and so they were turned down for funding entirely. That’s a sign of a system that is working — but it hasn’t stopped opponents from clogging the media airwaves and the public discourse with these fabricated examples. 

Enhancements funding is used effectively and fills an important need in communities large and small, and ranging from urban to suburban to rural. Bicycle and pedestrian projects are inexpensive, cost-effective, popular with citizens, and well used. We always have plenty of money to build a new freeway through town or add an extra lane so that semi-trucks can get there a few minutes faster. And you’re telling us we can’t put in a sidewalk and a crosswalk on the state highway going through town, so that grandma can get from her home to the grocery store safely?

It's great to read of the TE program and the spending of some of that money on much needed bicycle and pedestrian projects getting so much support. But there is something that you can do.  People for Bikes, an initiative of Bikes Belong, has put together this petition for us all to sign.  Take a minute or two to fill it out!

Bike/Ped News you aught'a use - 10/26/11

Officials to consider safety measures for Wayne rail crossing where 2 teens were killed
The Star-Ledger ● Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Bicyclist charged with driving wrong way in Clinton Township
Hunterdon County Democrat ● Monday, October 24, 2011

High Hopes for the (Jersey City) Harsimus Embankment
The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy ● Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Chatham Borough awarded 'Complete Street' grant
(Will use $7,500 grant to develop Complete Streets plan)   
Independent Press ● Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Poll - Debate Over New Roadway Markings on Bergen Street Set to Resume Tomorrow.
What's Your Opinion?
(NIMIBYism at it worst threatens Lawrence Complete Streets policy)
Lawrencville Patch ● Monday, October 17, 2011

Aftermath Of Hit-And-Run Tragedy: Town Must Get Tough On Safe Access
Lawrencville Patch ● Wednesday, October 12, 2011

NJDOT installing 5K feet of sidewalk along Atlantic County highway
New Jersey Newsroom ● Tuesday, October 18, 2011

All Aboard the Walking School Bus
The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation Blog ● Thursday, October 20, 2011 


National

City Bike Plan Is Accused of a Neighborhood Bias
(Leaders in poorer neighborhoods upset that more bike lanes NOT coming to their parts of town) Chicago News Cooperative via The New York Times ● Saturday, October 15, 2011

Audio: Interview with League of American Bicyclists President, Andy Clarke
TheOutSpoken Cyclist ● Saturday, October 15, 2011

VideoTrailReviews.com - Like Streetfilms for NJ Mt. Biking

I just stumbled across this excellent website, VideoTrailReviews.com which gives web viewers exactly what the title advertises; great video reviews of the mountain bike trails on the East Coast but mostly here in New Jersey.  Manny Lugo, the creator of the website and most of the short films on the site, focuses primarily on hot spots for mountain biking but there are some exceptions.

I found the videography and editing to be superb and pretty much on par with the more famous Streetfilms.  While this is in part due to the amazing capabilities of the small, new helmet mounted cameras, it is also obvious the Manny knows how to get the most out of this and the rest of his equipment.  The "rider's eye" shots are very well composed and really capture the essence, pure speed and thrill of biking sweet New Jersey singletrack.  You really feel like your on the bike, threading your way through the trees!  Plus, his highly professional post production and choice of background music make for great fast pace entertainment.  Before you know it, the two to three minute videos are quickly over and you are left wanting more or better yet, wanting to get out on the bike even if it is 2am in the morning!

Here are two examples of Manny's work at VideoTrailReviews.com:

Six Mile Run Reservoir, NJ from VideoTrailReviews.Com on Vimeo.

Saddle River Pathway - NJ from VideoTrailReviews.Com on Vimeo.

AARP Targets Pedestrian Safety on the Deadly Black Horse Pike

South Jersey Seniors urge Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ2) to Co-Sponsor the Safe and Complete Streets Act,using the poor design and horrific pedestrian crash toll on the Black Horse Pike (US 322) in Atlantic County to make their case.

Folk Engineered, Newark charter school kids participate in Oregon Manifest

Late last month Folk Engineered, New Jersey's only bicycle makers, made the long trip Portland to participate in Oregon Manifest.  Billed as "A competition to design and build the ultimate modern utility bicycle," the event attracts the nation's and the world's best bicycle artisans such as perennial bike show winner Tony Pereira and industry icon Chris King and is Cielo Bicycles.  Being true to their unwritten mission to give back to the City of Newark that is their home, Ryan and Marie teamed up with some of the kids from the Discovery Charter School to produce their utilitarian entry.     

Source: Oregon Manifest.

While they did not win, just being invited to the competition is quite an honor in itself.  Making it all the way out to Portland, Oregon with the participating students and a beautiful bike in tow, surely had to be all the reward they needed.  Ryan and Marie, who are married, always have a glow about them as it is clear that they have found their callings in building beautifully crafted bicycles in Newark and sharing their passions and talents with the kids of the Brick City whether at the the Discovery School or at the newly opened Newark Bike Exchange (more on that soon on WBJ).

For more about Folk Engineered's entry with many more pictures (and a number of their other projects) see the following links (1, 2).

Our cycling caps are off to Folk Engineered and the kids of the Discover Charter School for representing Newark and all of New Jersey at this highly regarded bicycle industry event.

Why were 3 Wayne boys crossing Rt 46 on a train trestle?

Simple!  There is absolutely no other way for the kids to walk or bike between the area neighborhoods and towns.

If you haven't heard, over the weekend two boys were hit and killed by an NJ TRANSIT train and another injured as he jumped off the trestle bridge to avoid getting hit (Read the informative and well written article from The Star-Ledger).  This tragedy happened at where I 80, NJ 23 and US 46 all intersect.  This interchange is locally know as the "Spaghetti Bowl" due to its seemingly endless and dizzying expanse of twisting, turning off-ramps and clover leaves.  Unfortunately this interchange was built in an era when no consideration was given to the needs of pedestrians or bicyclists looking to travel between the surrounding neighborhoods.  Even more unfortunate, at least one of the possible alternative crossings was given a major renovation within the past 15 years with nary a consideration given for anything other that the efficient flow of motor vehicle traffic.


View Location of Wayne double fatal NJ TRANSIT crash in a larger map

If you take a close look at the above map I prepared, you can see that there are no practical routes for miles around for non-motorized road users looking to travel north or south over both I 80 and US 46 anywhere near the NJ 23 corridor. 
Every roadway nearby that crosses both highways requires running a gauntlet of "meat grinder," high-speed off and on-ramps.  When faced with these "non-choices," the NJ TRANSIT rail corridor is probably in all reality the safest option even though it is illegal and wrought with its own hazards.

This reality has not been lost on a number of local area residents who commented on the above mentioned The Star-Ledger article:

Bottomline says:

Well for all of you who don’t understand. Yes it is dumb to be on tracks. If you know the area, that is the only direct route between the two towns, without crossing 2 major highways. (Rt.23&Rt.46). As a kid I grew up in this area, everyone knows it’s a commuter line and the chance of a train being on there at 9pm is almost unheard of. For these two boys their luck ran out. But now maybe the local gov. might put in a foot bridge for people instead of trying to dodge traffic or cross the rail road bridge. People are always seen trying to cross the highways right there. They do it so often that the grass on the side of the highway is worn out. R.I.P.

Lorraine 895 says:

I totally agree that a foot bridge is needed, since the only other way to cross the highway is go walk down to McBride or Browertown roads, and they are nearly a mile apart (if not more) on the town streets. So not just teenagers, but anyone who wishes to cross RT 46 has two choices, the rail bridge or play 'dodge the cars" on RT 46.

Finally videodummy says:

Prayers and condolences for the families. I know this area very well, and used these tracks to cross Rt.46 as a teen-ager. We knew it was wrong, but it the only way to get across the busy highway which is just as unforgiving.

This was not a case of "playing on the tracks after dark", these 3 boys were all with-in 10 minutes of their homes in a section where all three towns comes together.  The only way to get from where they were to where they were going was to either play dodge the cars on the highway, or take the trestle over it.  They were good kids put in a position of weighing right from wrong against the odds of being struck by car on the high-way.
 
Residents in the 3 adjoining towns have all pleaded for a walk-over bridge for many years to no avail. So many walk the tracks...many because they have jobs at the Willowbrook Mall and other retail establishments in the area, some because they have friends on the side of the highway.  Just the fact that 1 boy was able to jump off the trestle and save himself from being run over or crushed by the train was a miracle.  The fact that the DOT highway safety commission, and the town council boards continue to turn they're backs on this issue compounds the tragedy.

Camden County Bicycle and Multi-Use Trail Master Plan Meeting

The Camden County Bicycle and Multi-Use Trail Master Plan will identify both on-road bike routes and off-road trail locations that together will create an interconnected trail network from Winslow and Waterford to Camden and Pennsauken and all municipalities in between. The plan is being completed in four phases, and public input is requested.

A public meeting on the plan will be held on Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

7:00pm – 8:30pm
Gloucester Township
Court Room/Senior Drop In Center
1575 Hider Lane
Laurel Springs, NJ 08021

The Plan is considered a companion to the Camden County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plan in that it makes maximum use of the greenways identified in that plan for future off-road trails thereby providing residents with access to publicly owned green space.

Phase I of the Plan, covering ten central Camden County municipalities, has been completed, while Phase II, involving an additional 13 municipalities is nearing completion. Phases III and IV will be completed simultaneously over the next eighteen months by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission. Once all phases are completed, they will be presented to the Camden County Planning Board for incorporation into the County’s Master Plan.

During the development of each phase of the Plan, the input of local municipal officials and the public has been, and is being, encouraged. Project Teams consisting of one or more locally appointed individuals have been formed to guide the process offering insight into local points of interest, trail/route impediments, and possible solutions to those impediments.














The 13 towns in the current phase of the project, Phase II, include: Audubon, Barrington, Bellmawr, Brooklawn, Gloucester Township, Haddon Township, Haddonfield, Haddon Heights, Lawnside, Magnolia, Mt. Ephraim, Runnemede and Tavistock

Camden County Bikeway Trail Plan Phase II draft