The Bike Church(www.thebikechurch.org) of Asbury Park participated in 501(c) Trees - a holiday exhibit of Christmas trees decorated by local non-profits in Monmouth County. The Bike Church used a slightly aternative approach and made their tree/menorah out of a used Schwinn. Monday, December 29, 2008
Happy Holidays from The Bike Church in Asbury Park
The Bike Church(www.thebikechurch.org) of Asbury Park participated in 501(c) Trees - a holiday exhibit of Christmas trees decorated by local non-profits in Monmouth County. The Bike Church used a slightly aternative approach and made their tree/menorah out of a used Schwinn. 
Friday, December 19, 2008
Comment on NJ's Global Warming Plan
From the Tri State Transportation Campaign's Mobilizing the Region (MTR):
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s recently released draft Greenhouse Gas Plan shows promise of real change, provided that the recommendations survive the trip through Trenton.
Public meetings are being held in January click here for more information and to view MTR's expert opinion.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s recently released draft Greenhouse Gas Plan shows promise of real change, provided that the recommendations survive the trip through Trenton.
Public meetings are being held in January click here for more information and to view MTR's expert opinion.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
New Jersey Bicycle Fatalities Nearly Double
22 and still counting.
Compared to 12 last year, 12 in 2006, 17 in 2005, 16 in 2004, 11 in 2003 and 15 in 2002.
Most cite the rise in the cost of gas getting more people out of their cars and on to bikes. However there could be a general awakening in America and New Jersey to the potential the bicycle as a highly functional, green and lean transportation tool. Hopefully it is more of the later and not the cost of gas.
As reported in Wednesday's Daily Record, these numbers are a major concern that the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, Pam Fischer has to get more aggressive in trying to reduce. I've had the pleasure of sharing lunch with Ms. Fischer once and she seems to be a very competent and compassionate person. I'm quite sure that we at WalkBikeJersey could come up with a few ideas to help her out on our shared missing of bicycle as well as pedestrian safety.
I'll start with two:
#1 - An aggressive public safety awareness campaign about bicycling. I believe there was a radio campaign recently that reminded drivers about the rights of pedestrians and the duties of drivers around pedestrians as specified under NJ Title 39. Something similar focused on biking would be great since we are all aware that too many drivers honestly believe cyclists have no right to the road and should ride on the sidewalk if at all.
#2 - A blinky light give-away. I know that I read somewhere that the Chicago Bicycle Federation (now the Active Transportation Alliance) along with the Chicago Police did a sting operation where they pulled over cyclists who did not have lights. Instead of giving the offenders tickets, they gave them lights instead. Similar programs are done in Washington DC and San Francisco. I'm quite sure that if you looked at the numbers, many bike crashes and probably most of the fatalities happen at night because inexperienced (or lazy) cyclists did not have lights. This would seem like an easy and relatively inexpensive program to do. Decent LED light sets start at paltry $12.
Director Fischer, please let us know if we could help. Really!
Does anyone else have any ideas?
Compared to 12 last year, 12 in 2006, 17 in 2005, 16 in 2004, 11 in 2003 and 15 in 2002.
Most cite the rise in the cost of gas getting more people out of their cars and on to bikes. However there could be a general awakening in America and New Jersey to the potential the bicycle as a highly functional, green and lean transportation tool. Hopefully it is more of the later and not the cost of gas.
As reported in Wednesday's Daily Record, these numbers are a major concern that the Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, Pam Fischer has to get more aggressive in trying to reduce. I've had the pleasure of sharing lunch with Ms. Fischer once and she seems to be a very competent and compassionate person. I'm quite sure that we at WalkBikeJersey could come up with a few ideas to help her out on our shared missing of bicycle as well as pedestrian safety.
I'll start with two:
#1 - An aggressive public safety awareness campaign about bicycling. I believe there was a radio campaign recently that reminded drivers about the rights of pedestrians and the duties of drivers around pedestrians as specified under NJ Title 39. Something similar focused on biking would be great since we are all aware that too many drivers honestly believe cyclists have no right to the road and should ride on the sidewalk if at all.
#2 - A blinky light give-away. I know that I read somewhere that the Chicago Bicycle Federation (now the Active Transportation Alliance) along with the Chicago Police did a sting operation where they pulled over cyclists who did not have lights. Instead of giving the offenders tickets, they gave them lights instead. Similar programs are done in Washington DC and San Francisco. I'm quite sure that if you looked at the numbers, many bike crashes and probably most of the fatalities happen at night because inexperienced (or lazy) cyclists did not have lights. This would seem like an easy and relatively inexpensive program to do. Decent LED light sets start at paltry $12.
Director Fischer, please let us know if we could help. Really!
Does anyone else have any ideas?
Rutgers' John Pucher Strikes Again!
For those of you who don't know, Prof. John Pucher is probably the most well known and widely published scholars on bicycle and pedestrian issues in the English language. His specialty is comparative analysis between nations of the beneficial economic impacts of walking and biking (often along with transit). When he is involved in the publishing of a paper on the topic, the entire bike/ped world stops and listens.
And he lives right here! In Jersey no less!
His latest is no exception. Working with four other colleges the last paper is titled, "Walking, Cycling, and Obesity Rates in Europe, North America, and Australia" has recently been published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health.
The results in a nutshell: "Countries with the highest levels of active transportation generally had the lowest obesity rates." In fact the paper shows that "Active transportation is inversely related to obesity in these countries."
And he lives right here! In Jersey no less!
The results in a nutshell: "Countries with the highest levels of active transportation generally had the lowest obesity rates." In fact the paper shows that "Active transportation is inversely related to obesity in these countries."
So essentially the more a people walk, bike and take transit to work the less likely they are to be fat. Seems like a simple enough concept but this report is pretty strong evidence that this is indeed the truth.
It's been getting some pretty good nation press too.
Oh and he goes by "Car Free John." It is a name which he really lives up to since he doesn't own a car and walks, bikes and takes transit for nearly all his trips. However, he has been know to mooch a ride off of friends once in a while. Hey! No one's perfect!
It's been getting some pretty good nation press too.
Oh and he goes by "Car Free John." It is a name which he really lives up to since he doesn't own a car and walks, bikes and takes transit for nearly all his trips. However, he has been know to mooch a ride off of friends once in a while. Hey! No one's perfect!
Extra Deadly / Dangerous Week for Peds & Bikes
This has been an exceptionally deadly week for pedestrians on New Jersey's roads. A total of 6 Deaths! Most disgusting is the first story about how thieves used a stolen car to rundown and kill an 87yo man for his hard earned money. The rest aren't any better (if they ever could).
Garfield man dies from head injuries in hit-and-run robbery
Jersey Journal • Friday, December 12, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6nyvhh
Rahway woman, 92, struck Monday by SUV backing out of driveway dies
Home News Tribune • Wednesday, December 17, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/496nnu
Pedestrian dies in Morristown hit-and-run crash, driver charged
The Star-Ledger • Sunday, December 14, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/5o84kz
Woman hit by school bus in Lacey dies
Asbury Park Press • Wednesday, December 17, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/3ktwoj
North Plainfield police trying to ID accident victim
The Star-Ledger • Friday, December 12, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/5hht92
Galloway Township woman killed by car while walking along Moss Mill Road
The Press of Atlantic City • Friday, December 12, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/4z7c7f
Man is seriously injured in hit-and-run in Newark
The Star-Ledger • Sunday, December 14, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6oj7nw
Disabled Man and His Dog Victims of Hit and Run
NBC News 10 Philadelphia • Monday, December 15, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/4su3bj
Egg Harbor Township Car hits bicyclist along Zion Road (1st article)
&
Pedestrians hit in crosswalk (2nd article)
The Press of Atlantic City • Monday, December 15, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/5xnbrt
Pedestrian hit in Chatham
Daily Record • Saturday, December 13, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/3qmzz8
And BTW. All stories have been gathered by the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center and are released via email listserve at least once a week in their New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian News Digest. It's a great resource for those who want to stay abreast of all that is bike/ped in New Jersey (along with our blog of course) and signing up is very easy.
To give you an idea the latest digest covers the past six days, had 42 articles / links, 31 of which are New Jersey only stories. Nearly every digest is as comprehensive.
Garfield man dies from head injuries in hit-and-run robbery
Jersey Journal • Friday, December 12, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6nyvhh
Rahway woman, 92, struck Monday by SUV backing out of driveway dies
Home News Tribune • Wednesday, December 17, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/496nnu
Pedestrian dies in Morristown hit-and-run crash, driver charged
The Star-Ledger • Sunday, December 14, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/5o84kz
Woman hit by school bus in Lacey dies
Asbury Park Press • Wednesday, December 17, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/3ktwoj
North Plainfield police trying to ID accident victim
The Star-Ledger • Friday, December 12, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/5hht92
Galloway Township woman killed by car while walking along Moss Mill Road
The Press of Atlantic City • Friday, December 12, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/4z7c7f
Man is seriously injured in hit-and-run in Newark
The Star-Ledger • Sunday, December 14, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/6oj7nw
Disabled Man and His Dog Victims of Hit and Run
NBC News 10 Philadelphia • Monday, December 15, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/4su3bj
Egg Harbor Township Car hits bicyclist along Zion Road (1st article)
&
Pedestrians hit in crosswalk (2nd article)
The Press of Atlantic City • Monday, December 15, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/5xnbrt
Pedestrian hit in Chatham
Daily Record • Saturday, December 13, 2008
http://tinyurl.com/3qmzz8
And BTW. All stories have been gathered by the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center and are released via email listserve at least once a week in their New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian News Digest. It's a great resource for those who want to stay abreast of all that is bike/ped in New Jersey (along with our blog of course) and signing up is very easy.
To give you an idea the latest digest covers the past six days, had 42 articles / links, 31 of which are New Jersey only stories. Nearly every digest is as comprehensive.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Cycling 'could help boost (Scottish) economy'
On a much happier note, The Scotsman reports that "Scotland's economy could benefit by up to £4 billion each year if we cycled as much as people in parts of continental Europe."
£4,000,000,000 = $6,120,000,000
Holy economic stimulus Barack!
What other reason do you need to bike.
The report "Towards a Healthier Economy" is from Transform Scotland Trust.
£4,000,000,000 = $6,120,000,000
Holy economic stimulus Barack!
What other reason do you need to bike.
The report "Towards a Healthier Economy" is from Transform Scotland Trust.
What's the difference between Assault by Auto and Careless Driving?
If I told you that a driver got charged with Careless Driving after killing a cyclist and another was charged with Assault by Auto for hitting, but not killing a pedestrian you might think I had my facts mixed up. Unfortunately that is not the case.
The (Bergen) Record reported on December 6th about a case where a plumber was unloading his truck and was seriously injured after he was hit by a driver who then fled the scene. The surprisingly, all too rare but seemingly appropriate charge of Assault by Auto was issued against that driver.
In the more tragic case of the cyclists killed by a driver, it currently seems that justice may be going astray. The Record this time twice reported the case of Camille Savoy who latter died and was memorialized by fellow cyclists. In this case it seems that Savoy, an experienced and cautious cyclists, was hit and killed by a driver as he road close to the white line that demarcates the shoulder in a manner many are calling totally legal. How this only could only be Careless Driving is a question many want answered (read the extensive coverage, including photos of the scene, read the last 10 posts on this very good blog).
This is again another good reason for a "Safe Passing Law" preferably one that requires motorists to pass cyclists by "half the width of the lane."
The (Bergen) Record reported on December 6th about a case where a plumber was unloading his truck and was seriously injured after he was hit by a driver who then fled the scene. The surprisingly, all too rare but seemingly appropriate charge of Assault by Auto was issued against that driver.
In the more tragic case of the cyclists killed by a driver, it currently seems that justice may be going astray. The Record this time twice reported the case of Camille Savoy who latter died and was memorialized by fellow cyclists. In this case it seems that Savoy, an experienced and cautious cyclists, was hit and killed by a driver as he road close to the white line that demarcates the shoulder in a manner many are calling totally legal. How this only could only be Careless Driving is a question many want answered (read the extensive coverage, including photos of the scene, read the last 10 posts on this very good blog).
This is again another good reason for a "Safe Passing Law" preferably one that requires motorists to pass cyclists by "half the width of the lane."
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