From Princeton and Plainsboro to beyond, plenty is happening to make our state friendlier for bicyclists and pedestrians.
Princeton Township is building the missing half-mile link in the Stony Brook Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Pathways and Bridges system, according to the Princeton Packet. This section will begin at the intersection of Route 206 and Hutchinson Drive and follow the property line of the JSJ Jasna Polana golf course, linking the Washington Oaks area with the Hun School of Princeton. Construction is expected to begin this winter , and the contract allows for completion in 2011.
Plainsboro is making pedestrian safety improvements and adding traffic-calming measures on Plainsboro Road between Enterprise Drive and Deer Creek Drive. This will include planted medians, sidewalk improvements and some road reconstruction, according to the Packet.
The New Jersey Bicycle Coalition, in cooperation with the New Jersey Department of Transportation , will host the first New Jersey Bicycle Summit on February 27 in Denville. State legislators and transportation policy officials will attend, as will three WWBPA trustees. Among the topics that will be discussed are ?Complete Streets? design, three-feet passing and other legislation and a set of unified short and long-term goals.
What are complete streets? This is a way to create more livable communities by improving safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, children, older citizens, non-drivers and the mobility challenged as well as those that cannot afford a car or choose to live car free. New Jersey adopted this policy in December.
More groups are being formed to push for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements. There’s now one in Cherry Hill and another in Red Bank, which also is mixing? bikes and the arts in one event.
NJDOT is making safety improvements to Route 9 in Freehold with pedestrians in mind. And Old Bridge is developing a network of paths.