PBAC News:CP South Master Plan Open House and Celebrate Trails

Princeton outdoor enthusiasts!

Please read below for some upcoming events that will be of interest!

First, a new Master Plan for Community Park South is being developed.  There will be an Open House this Thursday, March 30 from 4-7pm at Witherspoon Hall, 400 Witherspoon St to solicit public input. The Open House format allows attendees to arrive at any time during the meeting.  English and Spanish flyers for the Open House are attached. 

 

Please also check out the following link for ongoing project information and complete the digital survey, which is available in both English and Spanish.

https://princeton.civilspace.io/en/projects/community-park-south-master-plan

 

Second, "Celebrate Trails Day" takes place on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22nd, and there are two local events registered!

"Celebrate Trails Day" was started by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy in 2013. The celebration
encourages people across the country to get outside and enjoy the nation's exceptional trails
and trail systems.

 -    The Friends of Herrontown Woods and the Princeton Public Library are hosting their 2nd annual day of exploration and learning in nature with hikes and events scheduled in Herrontown Woods from 9-3.   For a full listing of events and to sign up for hikes, visit  https://www.herrontownwoods.org/events/earth-day-2023.  Biking to the event is encouraged, and PBAC will be there to provide free valet bike parking!

 -    The Lawrence Hopewell Trail (LHT) is hosting their monthly walk on April 22 for Celebrate Trails Day. The walk will cover a distance of about 2 miles roundtrip through scenic Carson Road Woods.  For more details, visit https://lhtrail.org/walkingclub/

Learn more about "Celebrate Trails Day" and pledge to participate in the celebration for a chance to win prizes from Rails-to-Trails sponsors.  https://www.railstotrails.org/experience-trails/celebrate-trails/

Happy Spring!

- Princeton Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee

Five Things Ped & Bike you need to know

In this post:

1. Dark? Bike lights on!

2. Riding on the sidewalk: is it allowed?

3. Rules of the Roundabout

4. Dinky update

5. Master Plan: contribute your ideas

It's dark out there: Be safe, be seen.

You don't have to dress up like a Christmas tree, but there's a good reason why NJ law says your bike lights must be on when you ride in the dark.

Stills from this 10-second movie: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl17B5vAVK4/

Bicycle riding on sidewalks: is it allowed?

Under New Jersey law, riding on the sidewalk is not illegal. 

However, please be respectful of pedestrians and give them right of way.

Princeton does have a few sidewalks where riding your (e)bike, (e)scooter or board is illegal under local ordinance; these are marked in red in the map below, and will soon be marked on the sidewalks themselves so you don't have to memorize the map.

Rules of the Roundabout

Now that Princeton has several roundabouts, you may be interested in this Town Topics piece that contains a primer on how to navigate one. Bicycle riders are expected to follow the same rules as car drivers. Pedestrians cross at the crosswalks that are slightly distanced from the roundabout for added safety.

Dinky Upgrade

NJ Transit has published a report on its study of the Princeton Transitway. They have selected the concept plan featuring light rail between the existing stations, a walk and bike path alongside, and a bus route into town. The Town Topics has details. The report itself can be downloaded here (PDF).

Master Plan update

Results from the master plan survey displayed at the recent community meeting show that Princeton residents appreciate the town's walkability, and put high priority on walking and biking safety.

The community meeting was also an opportunity for residents to input our ideas on housing, mobility, open space and other issues. If you missed the meeting, you can still send your thoughts to Justin Lesko, jlesko@princetonnj.gov.

Happy Holidays from PBAC!

Events around World Car Free Day

On World Car Free Day, September 22, people enjoy their city or town as it can be without cars in locations all over the world. Some cities offer free public transit. Here's what's happening around Princeton.

In a nod to Car Free Week, Princeton's first Fancy Women Bike Ride took place on Sunday September 18. Thirty women and girls dressed festively for this ride around Princeton (some brought their cool dads), showing that you can ride in friendship and in ordinary clothes. During the ride, the cry was heard: "We need bike lanes!"

[Organizer Jessica Wilson and a young rider are seen leading the ride on Wiggins Street. Photo by Justin Lesko]

Girls in Gear, which aims to teach girls "life skills through bike skills" is offering an eight-week course at the Riverside School starting September 25. 

Princeton University's Tiger Transit, which is free and open to the public, will soon introduce new electric buses on all routes.

Sustainable Princeton's ECOmmuter Fest is on Friday, September 30.

Talk to owners of e-bikes, then test ride one. Yes, there are e-cars as well. The PHS Bike Club is offering tune-ups and light repair.

Car parking is limited, so please walk or bike to the event if you can. Park your bike with PBAC's free Bike Valet and score an additional ticket to the raffle!

Princeton "bicibus"

Princeton now has a "bicibus", a very special school bus formed by a group of children and parents who bicycle to school together, with more joining on the way. All it took was one parent who was inspired by a video of a bicibus in Barcelona. "Princeton needs a bicibus. So I started one."

 

Read more about the Princeton bicibus here.

A Streetfilms video on the Barcelona bicibus is here.

The Kidical Mass movement – "A child-friendly city is good for people of all ages" – started in Germany but has gone global, with rides organized as often as once a week to once a year, usually timed with World Car Free Day on September 22.

Weigh in: Replacement for Dinky

New Jersey Transit unveiled last week the options it is considering to upgrade the service between Princeton, Princeton Junction, and West Windsor.

Thanks to your prior feedback, they acknowledge "significant interest in ped/bike connections along the corridor". Three of the four proposals include a separated bicycle and pedestrian trail that will also connect to the towpath on the Delaware and Raritan Canal.

Voice your opinion on the proposed alternatives through this Transitway Survey;

ask questions or leave a longer comment through the public comment form.

Learn more about the project at https://www.njtransit.com/princetontransitway/

The NJ Transit presentation is available as PDF here.

There is a good overview by Walkable Princeton.

A few points that may not be obvious at first glance:

- Alternative 1 has two-way bus rapid transit (BRT) using both lanes of the roadway, and the light rail (LRT) shuttling back and forth on a single rail.

- A BRT system gives right of way to the bus, e.g. via a dedicated lane or "transit signal priority" which modifies the timing of traffic lights in order to minimise delays for the bus. This is what makes it "rapid".

Help to Welcome Riders from the East Coast Greenway Alliance Ride

The East Coast Greenway riders will arrive in Princeton this Saturday, August 28th!  The funds they raise will go toward improving the trail in NJ, PA and NY.

400 cyclists will be arriving on the Palmer Square Green from 6-8pm where you'll find dueling pianos!  A Witherspoon Jackson location at 300 Witherspoon, will host food trucks and tents from 4-8pm.  A list of businesses to be confirmed, will include those of North Witherspoon, Leigh Avenue, as well as others interested in the event that are not on to Palmer Square.

On Sunday morning about 8:30am Mayor Freda will thank the 400 riders, the East Coast Greenway Alliance, and all those who helped and supported the event.

East Coast Greenway Alliance and its production partner, Global Impact Productions are still seeking volunteers to make the event successful. You can volunteer to help by heading to the sign-up page here.

For more details about the ride check out more details here and the day-by-day schedule from NYC to PHL here.

Street Safety and Transit Survey

Because you walk, bike, 
drive, or take the bus in town,


YOU know better than anyone 
what works, what does not.

Help us make it safe & easy
to get around 
in Princeton

Tell us:
   Where do you feel unsafe?
   What makes it hard to get around?
   How could we make it better?

Take a 5-question survey!
– Online at bit.ly/PrincetonMobilitySurvey
– OR by in-person interview (Spanish interpreter available)
   Send WhatsApp / Signal / text to (609) 933-5108 for appointment

Pass it on

Help us hear from everyone:

- young people, including those who don't (yet) drive

- seniors, who are among the most vulnerable on the road

- those who have difficulty accessing the online survey

- visitors to Princeton

- anyone else?

This survey is a collaboration between the Public Transit Advisory Committee, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, and the Vision Zero Task Force; it is intended to inform our work to make it SAFE and EASY to move about in Princeton.