West Windsor’s bicycle and pedestrian goals
West Windsor’s Planning Board approved the new Circulation Element of the Master Plan on Dec. 15, 2021. Quite a mouthful of a title, we know! But it sets some great goals and policies to help make our township even better for walking and bicycling.
A big goal: “Create a pedestrian and bikeway system that makes walking and cycling a viable alternative to driving, and which optimizes bicyclist and pedestrian safety.”
Among the many ways it lists to accomplish this: provide accessible and convenient pedestrian and bicycle compatible links to destinations like the train station, schools, recreation facilities, shopping centers and employment centers; facilitate secure bicycle parking and storage; create an attractive wayfinding system; identify missing links in the sidewalk network; prioritize bicycle and pedestrian improvements; and work with Mercer County to incorporate bicycle and pedestrian facilities into roadway reconstruction, resurfacing and improvement projects where possible.
In a separate goal to “encourage alternate circulation modes and networks,” the document calls for interconnecting pedestrian and bicycle pathways with a particular emphasis between recreational uses and schools, and for developing a network of multi-use trails. The township also should improve pedestrian accessibility in areas where pedestrian activity is encouraged (such as near the train station, recreation areas and shopping areas) or where it is anticipated, it said.
The plan builds on the Sustainability element of the township master plan, adopted by the Planning Board on Oct. 14, 2009.
The final document has yet to be published on the Township’s website, but you can read the version that was up for a vote through the Planning Board’s Dec. 15 agenda. Only minor language changes were made at that meeting.
Now comes the hard part — turning this plan into reality. Together, we can make it happen. West Windsor is already a bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community, as designated by the League of American Bicyclists. Let’s aim for silver!