Monday, December 27, 2010

Sharrows for Princeton Borough and Township

We've been working hard all summer and through the fall to introduce the concept of sharrows in the Princeton community (as volunteer committee members, this means working in our spare time in the evenings and on the weekends, which is why it's been such a long time since we've posted).

In sum, sharrows is a shared lane marking that looks like the image below.  It's a traffic control device to assist motorists and bicyclists to share the road safely.  It was included in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, a publication of all traffic standards produced by the US Department of Transportation.

The articles below summarize the presentations made to the Princeton Borough Council and Township Committee.  Please feel free to reach out to your Council or Committee member to advocate sharrows!  A copy of the report and letter to the Princetons' municipal governments, along with a map of where sharrows may be implemented.  Cheers!


Dec 8, 2010 Daily Princetonian article
Dec 15, 2010, Town Topics Article
Dec 22, 2010, Town Topics Article (second half of the article following Bernie Miller's retirement).


Princeton Sidewalk and Pathway Map

The WWBPA has posted a Map of Princeton's sidewalk and pathways.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Click HERE to download a 4-page "Family Bike Safety" pamphlet

October is "International Walk (Bike) to School Month"

Click here to download an eye-catching calendar/poster.
This is a PDF file suitable for printing on tabloid-size (11x17) paper.

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

National Conference of State Legislatures Traffic Safety Legislation Tracking Database

You can search 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Legislation by state, topic, keyword, Year, status or primary sponsor. The National Conference of State Legislatures works in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to bring you up to date, real time information about traffic safety bills that have been introduced in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.



Database located here: http://www.ncsl.org/?TABID=13599

Monday, April 12, 2010

LHT Launches New Website

Interactive Mapping, Detailed Segment Descriptions Available

(LAWRENCEVILLE, April 12, 2010) The Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) has unveiled a new

website that helps bicyclists and pedestrians learn more about the multipurpose trail that runs

through Lawrence and Hopewell Townships in Mercer County.

The new website at www.lhtrail.org was designed by Novita Issue Communications and

includes timely LHT updates, intense graphics, route maps and segment-by-segment

breakdowns.

“We worked to create a better, more user-friendly internet site that will help residents find their

way around the LHT with greater ease,” said Eleanor V. Horne, LHT Co-President.

“LHT users can now enjoy interactive features, detailed information and route maps at the new

website,” said Becky Taylor, LHT Co-President. “It offers specific, high-resolution mapping

and guidance to help maximize trail experiences.”

According to Horne and Taylor, bicyclists and pedestrians can locate coordinates, directions,

parking, rest-rooms, restaurants, scenic distinctions and other points of interest along the LHT

route. They can also discover the best ways to commute to school or work.

“We believe the new LHT website is simple to navigate and loaded with the tools individuals

and families will need to get the most out of the trail,” said Horne.

“It’s an exciting time for us,” said Taylor. “As the LHT grows, we need to maximize access for

the public and our new website goes a long way toward meeting that goal.”

Visit the LHT at www.lhtrail.org

###

Job Opportunity: Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association (TMA)

The Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association (TMA) is seeking an Executive Director responsible for managing the operations of the TMA and providing visionary leadership. Greater Mercer TMA is a non profit, public private partnership dedicated to improving mobility and providing transportation choices in and around Mercer County, NJ. Established in 1984, the association consists of large and small employers, local governments, authorities and state agencies who share a commitment to providing sustainable transportation options that benefit commuters, businesses, senior citizens, the environment and thus the health and well being of all those who live and work in the region.

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

--overseeing/managing the activities of the fifteen person staff;

--strategic planning, long and short term, in the area of TDM ; program development based on the goals of the organization; implementation of the programs;

--fundraising/networking with private entities, governmental entities, individuals;

--membership development;

--public relations and marketing, public speaking; using all media to communicate message/mission of TMA;

--management of finances, including annual budget development;

--provide ongoing connection with and support to the Board of Trustees who act as ambassadors of the TMA mission in the community.

Skills: communications - new media ,as well as traditional media; interpersonal and public speaking; management and supervisory; organizational and implementation; strategic planning; knowledge and understanding of transportation policies and issues.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree and a minimum of five years management and/or transportation planning experience required; advanced degree in public policy/transportation planning/business administration/management - desirable. Marketing/public relations experience helpful.

Send resume and cover letter by April 16, 2010 to selectioncommittee@gmtma.org or mail to Selection Committee; Greater Mercer TMA, 15 Roszel Rd. Suite 101; Princeton, NJ 08540. No phone calls.

More about GMTMA is available at www.gmtma.org

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Google Maps Make Biking Easier

Google will add features to Google Maps for bicyclists to help them plan trips and ride trails.  Article in the Chicago Tribune, [here].

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Get Some Pedal Assist: Electric Boost for Bicyclists

Need some pedal assist to get up Alexander or Washington Roads when you're pedaling around Princeton?  Read this NYT article.

Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.: 2010 Benchmarking Report

Bicycling and Walking in the U.S.: 2010 Benchmarking Report is an essential resource and tool for government officials, advocates, and those working to promote bicycling and walking. The Benchmarking Project is an on-going effort to collect and analyze data on bicycling and walking in all 50 states and the 51 largest U.S. cities.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

interactive "bikeability" map for Mercer County - need your input

At the request of Mercer County and the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) has developed an interactive "bikeability" map for Mercer County to show how comfortable roadways are for cyclists, and to tap collective local knowledge about 'desirable' cycling routes in Mercer County.


The DVRPC hope you will take 'desirable' in both senses. That is, they want to see 'user-submitted bike routes' that are already great to ride on, as well as routes that you wish were better to ride on if it were not for some problem with them. They hope for two results from this project. One is a finished map for cyclists to plan routes that have been scouted by others. For this, they would like your comments to help us improve our bikeability dataset. The other is information that Mercer County and other roadway jurisdictions can use to identify and prioritize improvements that will make more routes bicycle-friendly. Aside from designating priority routes, you can make a variety of other comments, and also -- importantly for our prioritization -- rate other users' submissions.

As you can imagine, making a map will be a lot faster and easier than making improvements, which may require alternatives analysis, engineering design, environmental impact review, and, most difficult in these economic times, a lot of money. However, the routes you prioritize and the issues you identify can help shape those long-term decision-making processes.

We hope that the interactive map is user friendly (but please spend some time with the map before you start commenting -- click on and off legend items, navigate around, etc.) and self-explanatory (please read through all the tabs on the introductory splash screen!). The comment period will close on Friday, March 12, after which we will be modifying our bikeability dataset based on your comments and moving forward with a County Bike Master Plan that considers your suggested routes.

Thanks in advance for taking time to enter comments or evaluate comments left by others. And please forward this message to others whom you think would have good comments to share. Here's the link to the map:  http://www.dvrpc.org/bikemercer/ 

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

New Jersey Walks and Bikes

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, here:

Walks and Bikes, Vol 3.

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.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Surprise,surprise, homes in "walkable" neighborhoods are valued higher

An interesting article in the New York Times, Street Corners vs. Cul de sacs, that cites a study by CEOs for Cities, which concludes that homes in more walkable neighborhoods have higher value.

There is also an interesting website listed in the article, www.walkscore.com, that allows you to check out your walk score! Check it out!