Collingswood Streets Hold Vigil For 90 YO Man Killed In Haddon Township

By Stella Bonaparte "Collingswood Streets: Citizens for Biking and Walking"

A vigil was held by Collingswood Streets members and other local citizens as an impromptu response to the killing of a 90 year old local man he tried to cross the street near his home. Bruno Dziedzicki was killed by the driver of a pickup- the driver was reported to be a Collingswood man. Collingswood Streets member and local bikeshare volunteer mechanic Scott Shannon suggested the vigil, the group mobilized instantly and on Wednesday night at 5:30pm 13 people and a trusty dog were present to honor Mr. Dziedzicki and all pedestrians who have been killed in NJ.

The area where the man was hit, Collings Avenue & Calvert in Haddon Township, is a short block from Route 130, the "most dangerous street for pedestrians in the state of NJ". We stood with signs that read "Pedestrian Deaths are Not Acceptable", "Town, County, State: Make NJ Roads Safe for Everyone", "Slow Down", "Get off Your Phone", "Bruno Dziedzicki Died Here", "My Friend Sean Died Here", and one sign made by a 6 year old boy read "Don’t Run People Over. It is Bad!"

A cameraman from channel 6 took some footage. As we stood there, we observed the dangerous crossing conditions at this intersection where a church advertises daily meals for the needy. Speeding motorists whipped around the corner from 130, and numerous people were spotted using cell phones while driving. Collingswood Streets does not accept pedestrian deaths as a matter of course in our town and will continue to advocate for redesign of streets to include consideration of people on foot and cyclists.

On a personal note, a boy I went to high school with died nearby while trying to cross the street- he was 16 years old. He never got to live his life. There is something wrong with our society's priorities when we allow our most vulnerable citizens- our children, elderly, and differently-abled people- to be killed because we are afraid of angering motorists or changing the status quo. We would like to see all of our local municipalities make a commitment to true equality by implementing and enforcing Complete Streets policies.


View Larger Map

Share a ride to Project E.A.R.T.H. in Basking Ridge

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of EarthDay!

Join RideWise and the Somerset County Park Commission at the Environmental Education Center (EEC)

Environmental Education Center (EEC)
190 Lord Stirling Road, Basking Ridge (Map)
Sunday, April 25,2010 10:30am–4:30pm

• Share a ride to Project E.A.R.T.H: Two families travel together in the same vehicle. To be eligible for a prize, a car should have five passengers with representatives from two or more families and a van should have at least seven passengers with representatives from two or more families. Invite your friends, colleagues, neighbors, and classmates. At least one person should be from a different family. Save money on gas, get priority parking as space allows, and be eligible to win Patriots baseball tickets while supplies last!
• Bike to Project E.A.R.T.H: The first ten families who arrive to Project E.A.R.T.H. with three or more bicycle riders biking from home to the EEC will receive one Somerset County Park Commission Leisure Pursuit Card per family.

All Project E.A.R.T.H. visitors may enter the My Green Journey contest.

Meet the Somerset Patriots Mascot – Sparkee 10:30 – 2

For more information, contact Natalia Black at RideWise at 908-704-1011 x 14 or email
Natalia@ridewise.org, or visit www.ridewise.org.

RideWise is the source for sustainable travel alternatives that improve mobility, reduce traffic congestion and decrease carbon emissions.

---
Hats off to Ridewise and Somerset County Parks for "walking the walk" by addressing transportation at an Earth Day events.

Cherry Blossom Rides (yes plural) & Bike Share all in Newark!

I had the pleasure of taking the train up to Newark and joining up with our friends from the Brick City Bike Collective this past Sunday for their Cherry Blossom Bike Tour. The ride was a smashing success with nearly 100 people in attendance, way more then anyone expected. Included in the mix was Kendra and Dave from the Morristown Pedal Pushers Blog. Elizabeth Press from Streetfilms who I invited on a last minute lark came with her camera along with some of her friends at Transportation Alternatives. We were all very glad she could make it and her Streetflims "shorty" below really captures the family friendly fun of the afternoon, despite the fact that most of the cherry blossoms were done blooming due to last week's heat.



Some of the sights along the way include Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the ever elegant Forest Hill Neighborhood, the old Tiffany Factory (smartly converted into apartments) amongst many others and of course, 4,000 cherry trees in beautiful Branch Brook Park.

With this ride such a success, I was surprised to find out that the folks at the Brick City Bike Collective had done another Cherry Blossom Ride the week before with the transportation folks at Rutgers Newark. They too brought a film crew and in the below video of the event they even talk about Rutgers Newark's new Bike Share Program! My God! Who would have thunk it!

Fill Out the Galloway Township Bike Survey

The New Jersey Department of Transportation, in partnership with the Township of Galloway, is performing a Bicycle Study in Galloway, Atlantic County. Galloway's goal is to provide bicycle connections between employment, commercial and population centers, as well as schools and recreation areas in the Township and to surrounding municipalities.

The purpose of this study is to determine the bicycle compatibility of roadways identified in the township's bicycle circulation map, perform bicycle crash analysis, develop recommendations for roadways that are not bicycle compatible, and provide a plan for implementation with prioritization. A Bicycle Master Plan for Galloway will be prepared to summarize the findings and recommendations of the study.

Local knowledge and input early in the study process is invaluable to advancing a successful effort that satisfies the needs of the community. The goal of this survey is to assist NJDOT and Galloway in identifying bicycle deficiencies and opportunities in the township.

This survey should take you approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be available online from April 6, 2010 through May 6, 2010. Information collected will be confidential and used solely for the purpose of developing the Galloway Bicycle Master Plan.

Go to the Bike Survey

Streetsblog Interviews Dan Burden

I don't normally cover stuff that other blogs are writing. I figure most of you will read it on your own and look to WalkBikeJersey for original and Jersey only content. However, this time I must make an exception.

Streetsblog has done an excellent interview with Dan Burden, one of the "wise old men" of the bicycle and pedestrian cause. In the interview Dan talks about the new book from the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) and the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) called Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares: A Context Sensitive Approach. The interview is long but full of incredibly insightful information that anyone working to make New Jersey's streets a safer and more convenient to walk and bike should know about.

The book looks like a must have for any bike/ped advocate or street designer but it will cost you up to $37.50. Oh wait! You can download it for free too!

BCBC Announces 2010 Cherry Blossom Bike Tour

Our friends over at the Brick City Bike Collective have announced there 2010 Cherry Blossom Bike Tour in Newark’s spectacular Branch Brook Park. The ride is on Sunday April 11th, starts a 1pm and is easily accessible by NJ Transit.

For more info please be sure to check out their announcement.

I can think of no better way to see one of the worlds greatest cherry blossom collections (said to be even bigger then the more famous collection in Washington DC) then by bike!

No Fooling - Motorists Must Stop – And Stay Stopped – For Pedestrians In Crosswalks

Trenton -- Attorney General Paula T. Dow and Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer today reminded motorists that effective April 1, they must now stop - and remain stopped -- for pedestrians in the crosswalk. Prior to this legislative change, motorists were required to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

“For years, too many pedestrians have been dying in traffic accidents in New Jersey,” said Attorney General Dow. “With these changes to our law, motorists and pedestrians will no longer have to play a game of chicken when it comes to maneuvering on our roadways. The law brings new clarity that drivers must stop and remain stopped for pedestrians at intersections and crosswalks, and pedestrians, in turn, must use due care and not jaywalk or step into traffic outside of those crossing points.”

Division of Highway Traffic Safety Director Pam Fischer explained that the agency will be working with law enforcement officials to educate both motorists and pedestrians about the change in the law.

“We’re asking law enforcement officials, when interacting with motorists and pedestrians, to educate them about the change to the law, as well their respective duties and responsibilities when walking or driving,” said Director Fischer. “Our goal is to reinforce the importance of pedestrians always using crosswalks, their safety zone, and for motorists to recognize that when approaching crosswalks they must be alert for pedestrians and stop and stay stopped to allow them to cross safely.

“We recognize that we cannot change everyone’s behavior overnight; this will take sustained effort over a long period of time,” Fischer added. “However, through education and enforcement, we can change the culture and improve safety for all roadway users.”

To educate motorists about the new law, the Division has developed an oversized palm card, similar in size to a traffic ticket, that outlines the changes as well as the penalties for failing
to comply. The card will be distributed to all police departments in the state, and made available to high school driver education teachers and defensive driving program providers. The new law will also be detailed in the New Jersey Driver Manual. The public can download it from the Division’s web site, at www.njsaferoads.com.

"This new law complements our ongoing effort to enhance pedestrian safety on New Jersey's busy roadways," said New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner Jim Simpson. "Since 2006, NJDOT has completed or funded 205 pedestrian safety initiatives, and just a few months ago we adopted a Complete Streets policy that promotes safe accessibility for all who share our roads."

“Pedestrian safety is a two-way street and it is important that both drivers and those sharing the road take the necessary precautions to prevent injuries and fatalities,” said Motor Vehicle Commission Acting Chief Administrator Raymond P. Martinez. “Continued improvements to engineering, education and enforcement are the keys to enhancing safety throughout our state.”

Motorists violating the new law face a $200 fine, plus court costs, and 2 points on their license. They can also be subject to 15 days of community service and insurance surcharges. Pedestrians may also be cited under state law for failing to use due care when crossing. The law requires them to obey pedestrian signals and use crosswalks at signalized intersections as well as yield the right of way to traffic if they are not crossing within a crosswalk or at an intersection. Failure to comply with the law carries a $54 fine, plus court costs.

Fischer noted that since 2004, approximately 150 pedestrians have been killed annually in traffic-related crashes on New Jersey roadways. In 2009, after a three-year downward trend, the number of pedestrian deaths statewide increased to 157. As of March 26 of this year, 28 pedestrians have been killed in motor vehicle-related crashes statewide, as compared to 48 for the same time period last year. Additionally, since 2004, more than 30,000 pedestrians have been injured in motor-vehicle related crashes statewide.

“While the numbers are once again moving in the right direction, even one life lost is one too many,” Fischer said. “Until we achieve zero fatalities, we must educate both pedestrians and motorists about the importance of remaining alert at all times, and taking personal responsibility for their actions.”

The Division offers the following safe walking tips for pedestrians:

• Wear bright-colored, reflectorized clothing, especially at night.
• Walk on sidewalks or paths and always cross at the corner, within marked crosswalks if provided. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic and make eye contact with motorists.
• Never cross mid-block (unless within a marked crosswalk), between parked cars or by climbing over median barriers. This is not only unsafe, but against the law.
• Look left, then right and left again before crossing, and always be on the look-out for turning vehicles.
• Continue to look for vehicles while crossing, even when in marked crosswalks.
• Learn the proper use of “walk/don’t walk” signals and obey them.
• Walk and cross with others, when possible.
• Do not attempt to cross while talking or texting on a cell phone. Pedestrian inattention is a common cause of pedestrian-motor vehicle conflicts.
• Try not to walk at night or in bad weather, such as rain, snow or ice. (WalkBikeJersey's Advice: If you do need to walk, improve your visibility with a reflective vest and some type of flashing light.)
• If you drink alcohol, have someone escort you to your front door.

Pictured above from left to right: Joel Feldman, father of Casey Feldman; Attorney General Paul T. Dow and Pam Fischer, Irector of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. Click image to enlarge photo.

pedestrian web page