Save $15! NJ Bike & Walk Summit pre-registration closes at midnight!

Long distance road bicyclist and Assemblywoman, Grace Spencer to attend in a surprise, last-minute addition to the Summit!

Still hemming and hawing about going to the NJ Bike and Walk Summit this weekend?  Don't wait!  Register now!  Online registration closes at midnight!
Register online and pay only $50 and avoid paying the $15 "at the door" fee.  Space is filling up fast so you better not wait anyway.  And if you are a student with a valid ID you will only pay $25 but that will rise to $40 if you wait.  It's going to rain anyway on Saturday so what else are you going to do?

Assemblywoman Grace Spencer to appear on featured panel   
A member of the New Jersey Legislature, Assemblywoman L. Grace Spencer (D) has represented the 29th Legislative District, which includes the Essex County municipalities of Belleville and a portion of Newark, since November 2007. Ms. Spencer received her BA in business management from Rutgers University and her JD from Rutgers Law School.  She specializes in liability law at the firm of Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman and Goggin. Ms. Spencer is a member of the Major Taylor Cycling Club of New Jersey.

In total, the NJ Bike & Walk Summit will have a total of 18 educational session with over 50 speakers.  To find out more, check out the Summit Schedule.  The Summit will be on Saturday February 23rd at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, a five minute walk from the New Brunswick train station.  Pre-registration closes on February 21 at midnight. Registration will be available on the morning of the summit, for an additional $15 per registrant. Register today!

NJ Bike Summit in just five days! LAB Board President to speak

The New Jersey Bike and Walk Summit, presented by the New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition is proud to announce the late addition of Hans van Naerssen, Chair of the Board of Directors of the League of American Bicyclists.  Hans is a bicycling activist, and an active bicyclist. He is also co-founder and Board Chair, Pennsylvania Walks and Bikes, and Board member and past President of the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia. He has a Governor's appointment to the PA Pedestrian and Pedalcycle Advisory Committee.  The addition of Hans to the list of speakers is a real surprise as he is will undoubtedly provide a valuable perspective on bicycle activism having experience working with all levels of government.

For all you trail users out there, the session "Building Community Support for Trails" should prove very interesting.   While the session will remind trail advocates that trails are used by groups well beyond the typical, hiker, biker, horseback rider groups, it will also be one of the few time members from all of these groups will all be in one room.  A sampling of the panel include Michael Gray and Becky Taylor of the Lawrence Hopewell Trail Corporation, Janice Elsishans, Trails Advocate for the New Jersey Horse Council , Equestrian Chairperson for the Heritage and Agricultural Association, participant in the Sussex County Trails Partnership and President of the Paulinskill Valley Trail Committee, and Wally Tunison of the Jersey Off Road Bicycle Association (JORBA)

In total, the NJ Bike & Walk Summit will have a total of 18 educational session with over 50 speakers.  To find out more, check out the Summit Schedule.  The Summit will be on Saturday February 23rd at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, a five minute walk from the New Brunswick train station.  Pre-registration closes on February 21 at midnight. Registration will be available on the morning of the summit, for an additional $15 per registrant. Register today!



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4th Annual New Jersey Bike Walk Summit Happening February 23rd

The New Jersey Bike and Walk Coalition in partnership with the Voorhees Transportation Center will be hosting the 4th Annual New Jersey Bike Walk Summit (link to preliminary agenda) on Saturday February 23rd at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Rutgers University in New Brunswick. This year there will be 20 panel sessions to choose from, including one that will discuss The Circuit and how it can affect trail development and bike mobility in New Jersey.

The NJBWC headed up by Executive Director Cyndi Steiner is diving headfirst into state bicycle and pedestrian issues. They have partnered with us as well as the Tri State Transportation Campaign, NJ Future, the Safe Routes to School Partnership and other local advocacy groups on numerous issues. Most notably they have been working with NJDOT and the State's three Metropolitan Planning Organizations on policy changes under MAP-21 and with New Jersey Transit to improve its bike on rail policies. NJBWC's statewide advocacy strengthens our local advocacy efforts in the Garden State.

Registration fee for the Summit is $50 online, $65 at the door. For more information on the NJ Bike and Walk Summit go here. The Bloustein School is just a 5 minute walk from the NJ TRANSIT New Brunswick Station at the corner of Livingston Ave and New St.

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Rutgers Releases New Jersey's 2011 Pedestrian Safety Tracking Report

Today the Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center of New Jersey released 2011 Pedestrian Safety Tracking Report. The primary purpose of the report is to track crashes and analyze patterns including hot spots where multiple crashes have taken place. 2011 New Jersey Pedestrian Safety Tracking Report Final For a more detailed description of the report go to the New Jersey Walks and Bikes Blog.

Next NJ BPAC Meeting on Thursday, June 9th

The next meeting of the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Council will be held next week and hosted by the Voorhees Transportation Center at the Bloustein School of Rutgers University.

When:    Thursday, June 9th at 10:00 am
Where:   Edward J. Bloustein School

               33 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, 08901

               Room 261

This is a public meeting and all interested parties are welcome to attend.

Select parts of the tentative draft meeting agenda are as follows:

I. New Jersey’s #5 ranking from the League of American Bicyclists
Debbie Kingsland/Bill Feldman

II. Subcommittee Discussion – Charles Brown
i. Legislative subcommittee
ii. Safety & Education subcommittee
iii. Design subcommittee

III. 5 to Ride Campaign – Stuart C. Gruskin Foundation
Presentation by Nancy Gruskin of the Stuart C. Gruskin Foundation

IV. Briefing: VTC New Website Overview - Jim Van Schoick

V. Briefing: Safe Routes to School
Leigh Ann Von Hagen

VI. Briefing: “For the Good of New Jersey”
Charles Brown/Jim Van Schoick

VII. Open floor / discussion period / 2 Minute Updates

VIII. Final remarks

VTC announces new Safe Routes Scoop

Below is copy of the announcement released earlier today from the folks at the Voorhees Transportation Center regarding the latest edition of the Safe Routes Scoop.  This edition has some excellent information regarding engineering practices that effect all types of bike and pedestrians projects and not just those that directly involve Safe Routes to School projects. As such it's a must read for all bike/ped advocates particularly those just starting out. - Ed.

The latest issue of the Safe Routes Scoop is now available. Read the newsletter at:

http://policy.rutgers.edu/VTC/bikeped/Safe_Routes_Scoop/Vol4_Issue2/index.html

The Safe Routes Scoop, a newsletter for the New Jersey Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, will keep you informed about SRTS news, events, local programs, and available resources. Use this newsletter to promote SRTS and to update your members and partners on projects and opportunities.

If you want to provide feedback on this issue of Safe Routes Scoop or if you know of a Safe Routes to School program or a Safe Routes to School champion you would like to tell us about, please click the "Do You Like This Newsletter" link at the top of the Safe Routes Scoop home page.

Feel free to forward this newsletter to other interested parties.

To receive an email notice about future issues or to be added to our NJ Safe Routes to Schoolsrts@rci.rutgers.edu and ask to be added to the subscriber list. listserv, please email your request to
Questions or comments? Contact us at srts@rci.rutgers.edu or visit http://policy.rutgers.edu/vtc/srts

Sorry for any cross-posting.

Thank you!

New Jersey Safe Routes to School Resource Center
Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center
Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
Rutgers University
33 Livingston Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Telephone: (732) 932-6812
Fax: (732) 932-3714
Visit the New Jersey Safe Routes to School Resource Center at http://policy.rutgers.edu/vtc/srts

*SOLD OUT* Complete Streets Summit *SOLD OUT*

The Complete Streets Summit scheduled for next week has proven to be a major hit and is entirely booked out! (It can't really be "sold out" since its a free event) I've been told by the good folks at VTC that they have had to turn away many interested parties as they try to see if there is any way they can accommodate more attendees.

While it is unfortunate that there is not enough room for everyone to attend, it is great news to hear that this topic has proven to be so popular with local officials from around New Jersey. All those in attendance are sure to get a great lesson on the topic from Michael Ronkin and the other experts talking at the Summit.

Compiling Questions on Complete Streets and Liability

This question comes directly from Ranjit Walia at the Voorhees Transportation Center via the NJ BikePed Listserve. Send your answers directly to him as I'm sure he could use a number of examples.

Have you ever been told you can't improve your streets by providing more bicycle, pedestrian, traffic calming, or other type facilities because of concerns about liability? This is your chance to help us put together a list that we will be compiling for attorneys who will be working with us on how to address the concerns people have about liability and Complete Streets and debunk misconceptions on the topic. Please send me an e-mail to share your questions and/or examples of liability issues you have confronted. If you could provide the following information it would be appreciated:

What was it you proposed/discussed?
Who told you that it was a liability issue? (attorney, engineer, planner, etc.)
What exactly was the liability they associated with it?

If you have any other questions on liability as it relates to Complete Streets please feel free to submit those as well. Look forward to seeing everyone's responses!


Ranjit Walia AICP
Senior Research Specialist
Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center
33 Livingston Avenue, Rm 446
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
phone: 732-932-6812 xt. 771
fax: 732-932-3714

The latest issue of NJ Walks and Bikes now available

From the good folks at the the Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University with funding provided by NJDOT:


The latest issue of New Jersey Walks and Bikes, a newsletter for anyone
interested in bicycle and pedestrian issues, is now available.

Read the newsletter at:
http://policy.rutgers.edu/VTC/bikeped/Walks_and_Bikes/Vol4_Issue1/index.html

New Jersey Walks and Bikes will keep you informed about issues, policies,
resources, and case studies dealing with the bicycling and walking
environment in New Jersey.

Register now for the NJ Complete Streets Summit!

The below message comes from Peter Bilton and the other good folks working hard at the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University. This event is geared toward municipal and county officials so make sure local representatives know about it and get them to attend!

You should also know that Michael Ronkin, the keynote speaker, is with little doubt one of the leading experts in the field of Complete Streets, and bicycle and pedestrian planning and accommodation. Don't miss out on an opportunity to here one of the best in the world speak on this topic... and for free, no less!

Register now for the NJ Complete Streets Summit! (Or go to http://tinyurl.com/cssummit.) This is a free event.

NJ Complete Streets Summit
Friday, October 22, 2010
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM (Registration begins at 8:30 AM)
Rutgers Student Center
126 College Ave.
New Brunswick, NJ

The New Jersey Department of Transportation and the Voorhees Transportation Center, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration, are pleased to announce the NJ Complete Streets Summit, cosponsored by the NJ Chapter of the American Planning Association and the Metropolitan Section of the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

The Department of Transportation recently adopted a Complete Streets Policy, and would like to spread the word about this program, encouraging more counties and municipalities to adopt their own policies. The summit will educate engineers, planners, and elected officials about Complete Streets, its benefits and costs, and how to overcome barriers to implementing a Complete Streets policy. Topics will include an introduction to Complete Streets, policies and supporting processes, design and planning, cost and funding, and liability.

Michael Ronkin, an internationally-recognized consultant and speaker on innovative, practical street design, will be the keynote speaker. Assemblywoman Grace Spencer (invited) and NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson will give welcoming remarks.

Complete Streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all users - pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities. Instituting a complete streets policy ensures that agencies routinely design and maintain the entire right of way to enable safe access for anyone who may use it. Having a Complete Streets policy can benefit a community in many ways, including making their grant applications for state funding more competitive. A Complete Streets program is also eligible for points toward Sustainable Jersey certification and can help a municipality meet its obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Register here for this exciting Summit by October 8th! The event is free and space is limited. AICP and ITE credits are pending.

For more information, please see the attached flyer. You can also contact us at bikeped@rci.rutgers.edu or (732) 932-6812 ext. 586.

Hope to see you there,
Peter Bilton
Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey