Building a Bicycle and
Pedestrian Friendly Community
Thursday, January 19 by JerryFoster
Biking and walking is much more comfortable when motorist traffic is slower, plus safety is improved; lower speed reduces both the likelihood and severity of crashes. Sometimes motorists must be reminded to slow down — usually because the road design encourages them to drive too fast.
More » Comments Off on Ask for a Speed Hump — Not a Speed Bump — to (Quietly) Slow TrafficTuesday, October 11 by JerryFoster
On your next walk around the neighborhood, check out all the nuts – maybe you know a place in your yard that needs a tree? Plant the nut about an inch into the soil, and see what happens. As they say, the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the second best time is today!
Sunday, September 11 by JerryFoster
Kudos to Princeton and Mercer County for implementing a new roundabout on Rosedale (CR604) at Johnson Park Elementary!
More » Comments Off on Princeton Vision Zero Moves ForwardSaturday, November 4 by JerryFoster
The WWBPA is an all-volunteer nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that cannot endorse or oppose any candidate for political office, but we can ask them questions and report their answers to our members and the public. On October 6, each candidate for West Windsor Twp Council or Mayor was emailed a questionnaire developed by the WWBPA trustees. Thank you to the candidates who responded, here are their responses, in order received (Khamal Khanna, former Council member and Mayoral candidate, and Yingchao Zhang, Council candidate, did not respond).
WWBPA: What are your views on the needs of bicyclists, runners and walkers of all ages living in West Windsor, and what steps would you take to address these needs?
Kristin Epstein (Council candidate): “Interconnections: We have sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and paths that lead to nowhere or have large gaps. I propose creating a comprehensive detailed map of all sidewalks, bicycle lanes, paths, and trails in West Windsor Township and surrounding areas. The map should indicate surface type, width, and types of use (foot only, foot and bike, etc). With such a map, we can target the ?quick fixes? first and then integrate bicycle and pedestrian safety into all planned and proposed construction projects.”
Linda Geevers (Council member and candidate): “I support capital funding and grant applications for bike lanes, off road paths and new sidewalks in order to improve safety and encourage alternate modes of transportation. This promotes a healthier and more sustainable community. I also support the urgent need for additional funding to replace uplifted existing sidewalks due to municipal street trees. It is not only dangerous to walk on many sidewalks, but it is causing residents to walk in the roads.”
Virginia Manzari (Council candidate): “For many years I?ve advocated for sidewalks on Cranbury Road and other neighborhoods at WW Council and County Freeholder meetings. Constructing those sidewalks during the bridge closure would?ve been ideal. The most dangerous section still needs to be addressed. We should ensure we have sidewalks, bike lanes, and multi-use paths to accommodate all residents; crosswalk lights must be more visible; and sidewalks should be repaired so people don?t walk in the road when sidewalks buckle.”
Hemant Marathe (Council member and Mayoral candidate): “Safety is extremely important to me, and I?d like to see West Windsor become a zero-fatality community.? Education for all parties ? pedestrians, runners, bicyclists, and motorists ? is the first step in achieving that goal, and we should all be part of the solution.? West Windsor is a beautiful community, and I am committed to providing ample opportunities for residents to enjoy the amenities that WW has to offer, whether they walk, bike, or drive there.”
Yan Mei Wang (Mayoral candidate):”Our present road infrastructure is suitable for ?brave? bicyclists and runners only, not for residents of all ages and physical conditions. Bicycle lanes and sidewalks are fragmented; sidewalk pavements are lifted, posing a tripping hazard. I will actively seek external funding to connect up our bike lane and sidewalk networks, timely repair damaged sidewalks while selecting appropriate trees for future sidewalks, and protect our bicyclists and runners on the road with physical barriers by introducing protected bike or multi-purpose lanes to West Windsor.”
WWBPA: What are your views on the Route 571 area often referred to as ?Downtown West Windsor??
Kristin Epstein (Council candidate): “?Downtown West Windsor? improvements provide a perfect opportunity to make West Windsor more pedestrian and bicycle friendly. With County assistance, Route 571 needs widening and reconfiguration to be safer and more attractive. For example, the road needs lamp posts to illuminate the walkways and a landscaped pedestrian island to make it easier for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross safely. Additionally, more restaurants with outdoor seating, shops with outdoor displays, and community events would improve the ?hometown? feel of the area.”
Linda Geevers (Council member and candidate): “The township has to work collaboratively with Mercer County and the Alliance towards enhanced safety. Improvements include reviewing speed limits, possible medians, additional lighting for better pedestrian visibility to motorists, crosswalk enhancements and continuous sidewalks on both sides of the road. As new site plans come forth, careful consideration is needed for the entering and exiting of a property. Continuous efforts must also be made to educate drivers on the laws regarding crosswalks.”
Virginia Manzari (Council candidate): “Route 571 is often mentioned as a desired ?downtown,? and I?ve been a leading voice in its rejuvenation and improved safety for a decade. Unfortunately, 571 is a major through-way. As a county road, the speed limit isn?t likely to be lowered, which makes creating a walkable downtown on both sides difficult. We should focus on improving walkability from the train station to Windsor Plaza, Nash Park, Arts Council, High School South, and Cranbury Road.”
Hemant Marathe (Council member and Mayoral candidate): “We must work with the county to better control traffic flow and speed to provide a safe corridor to walk and bike here. It?s challenging, as the needs of drivers must be balanced with the needs of walkers and cyclists ? all of whom are trying to get to stores, the train station, etc.? Several required improvements include consistent lane structure, sidewalks, better street lighting, more visible crosswalk lighting, and better education and signage for drivers.”
Yan Mei Wang (Mayoral candidate): “Downtown should be a destination that can be accessible by residents via convenient, alternative transportation. While the Route 571 area vaguely resembles a downtown and is the embodiment of our anticipation for a downtown, it is not the described downtown, yet. The Wang administration will strive to bring diverse activities and businesses to the area as well as the necessary alternative transportation methods – community shuttle, sidewalk, and bike lane networks and make the Route 571 area our downtown.”
WWBPA: How do you feel about working with schools, police, and the Recreation Department to improve safe walking corridors in heavily used pedestrian areas?
Kristin Epstein (Council candidate): “Schools, police, and the Recreation Department–as well as NJ and Mercer County DOTs, businesses, and residents–must work together to improve pedestrian safety. I?ve spoken with many residents about their neighborhood concerns, especially near the train station and schools. Every neighborhood should be evaluated for improvements–such as ambient lighting, signs, flashing signals, cameras, crossing guards, and speed bumps–to ensure that safety is paramount.”
Linda Geevers (Council member and candidate): “As a Council Member, former School Board Member, Liaison to the Recreation Commission and Alliance Member, I wholeheartedly support working with these groups and to have these groups work collaboratively together. The collective knowledge of everyone?s experiences helps in identifying and prioritizing goals for safety improvements around schools, parks or shopping centers. For implementation, the Capital Budget provides direct funding for safety improvements, grants are identified for specific projects and site plans are carefully reviewed.”
Virginia Manzari (Council candidate): “Each of these groups shares a common goal, and coordination of efforts is the key to success. It begins with education ? making sure each party is aware of and understands the law with regard to crosswalks, right-of-way, etc. Then implement a coordinated effort among all stakeholders to create a long-term traffic plan at each school and other high-traffic areas to improve flow of vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic with safety as the number one goal.”
Hemant Marathe (Council member and Mayoral candidate): “As School Board President I appreciated that WW Township provided crossing guards at each school. We should encourage as many kids to walk to school as we can and provide them with the safest environment in which to walk. The safety aspect will come from educating the public and through tougher enforcement. ?As mayor I will work with schools and police to encourage non-vehicular ways of getting to school, with safety being of utmost importance.”
Yan Mei Wang (Mayoral candidate): “Currently, 1.5% of West Windsor school children walk/bike to school even though at least 10% of our students do not have school bus services; parks are mostly accessed by cars, and many local residents cannot walk safely across the street to parks; and sidewalks near the train station are fragmented. We should (1) apply for grants such as Safe Route to School grants to provide continuous sidewalks around heavily used, or anticipated to be heavily used, areas near schools, (2) implement the Walking School Bus program so children walk, and (3) increase police enforcement on traffic safety violations, such as speeding in heavily used pedestrian areas.”
WWBPA: Now that Canal Pointe Boulevard has been reconfigured, do you think other roads might benefit from a ?Road Diet? or other traffic calming measures?
Kristin Epstein (Council candidate): “The Canal Pointe Boulevard road diet has improved pedestrian, bicyclist, and motorist safety without impeding traffic flow. However, each neighborhood is unique, so we must be guided by the experts to design the most effective solution for each road. For example, the parts of South Lane that have no sidewalks or curbs would benefit from road widening and the addition of sidewalk. Bike paths separate from car lanes are ideal. But on roads with width constraints, we could explore asphalt sidewalks that pedestrians and bicyclists could share where bike lanes are infeasible.”
Linda Geevers (Council member and candidate): “Traffic calming measures are needed on Rt. 571 from Clarksville Road to the Wallace Road/Cranbury Road intersection. Additional street lights and sidewalks should be put along both sides of this road to enhance pedestrian safety. The crosswalk at Sherbrooke Drive is very wide and a median should be considered for further safety. Traffic near the Old Bear Brook Road and Alexander Road area will increase due to new development and should be closely monitored too.”
Virginia Manzari (Council candidate): “We should take a proactive approach to safety, and carefully evaluate each roadway on a case-by-case basis, as some options will work on some roads but not others. When a problem is identified, we?ll evaluate options for improvement and choose the best alternative, considering efficient and zero cost options in the form of grants, as well as policing the existing speed limit, additional speed limit signage, lowering speed limits where appropriate, and installing additional lighting.”
Hemant Marathe (Council member and Mayoral candidate): “I?m happy the Road Diet has worked well. One point we should communicate is that bike lanes on CPB are not meant for elementary-aged children to ride unsupervised. I?ve heard of two instances where a child fell in the bike lane, yet unbelievably, cars kept zipping by.? Luckily they weren?t hurt.? I?d consult with experts on which roads would benefit from a road diet, giving weight to the opinions of people directly affected by any changes.”
Yan Mei Wang (Mayoral candidate): “Before the Canal Pointe Boulevard reconfiguration, I heard opposite predictions ? some people thought it would increase congestion, while others thought it would alleviate congestion. After the reconfiguration, I gathered feedback from Canal Pointe residents; most like the road for both its smoothness and its new configuration. The congestion level, however, seems to remain the same. I await safety evaluation to further assert that the ?Road Diet? works in this case. If confirmed, ?Road Diet? can be an effective traffic calming measure in other roads.”
WWBPA: Please include any information about your candidacy, background, or other topic that you would like to share.
Kristin Epstein (Council candidate): “I am an environmentalist by training and practice. I jog and bike throughout West Windsor. When my daughter was young, I could not safely jog her to the Kindercare on Rabbit Hill Road because no sidewalks or trails were nearby. With comprehensive planning and grants, West Windsor can expand the Trolley Line Trail and add new trails through many open space parcels, to provide safe and beautiful routes to parks, schools, and businesses.”
Linda Geevers (Council member and candidate): “The Marathe-Geevers-Manzari ticket has 43 collective years on the Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board and WW-P School Board. Our team is unequivocally opposed to rezoning the Howard Hughes property for residential housing. We will retain an expert Business Development Director to attract and keep high tech firms and next gen startups to provide critical commercial ratables. We will support additional funding for sidewalk and road repairs, new sidewalks, additional street lighting and bike lanes.”
Virginia Manzari (Council candidate): “My son rides his bike just about every day throughout town to stores, parks, and friends? homes, and my husband typically bikes 20-25 miles each weekend day. Both of my kids cross 571 to get to Windsor Plaza. So I spend a lot of time worrying! But since that?s not productive, I also try to find solutions to problems and encourage their implementation. I?ve done this not just in my neighborhood, but throughout WW, too.”
Hemant Marathe (Council member and Mayoral candidate): “As a student at I.I.T. Bombay I used a bicycle to commute to class every day for five years. ?During break I would take the bike home 22 km in Bombay traffic. ?As a parent with four daughters we had six bikes in the garage at one point, and we all enjoyed riding around West Windsor.”
Yan Mei Wang (Mayoral candidate): “I?m the only candidate that has concretely acted towards improving our bicyclists? and pedestrians? lives – by designing the first protected bike lane in NJ and introducing a Walking School Bus program to West Windsor. Therefore, I?ll be the only candidate to bring her bicycle/pedestrian campaign platform into reality if elected mayor. Vote for Yan Mei Wang for her action-based bicycle/pedestrian platform.”
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Friday, October 2 by JerryFoster
Let’s re-visit the great war between the executive branch (NJDOT) and the legislative (NJ Title 39) and judiciary (NJ Supreme Court Polzo v Essex County ruling) branches with regard to bicycling on the shoulder. Everybody does it, but is it legal?
NJDOT’s excellent 2011 Bicycling Manual recommends “riding on the right side of the road or on the shoulder.” NJDOT’s circa-1996 Introduction to Bicycle Facilities notes, “Advanced bicyclists are best served by bicycle compatible streets and highways which have been designed to accommodate shared use by bicycles and motor vehicles.” Paved shoulders are considered one form of bicycle compatible roadway.
So NJDOT encourages it, but does that make it legal? NJ Title 39:4-14.1 states: “Every person riding a bicycle upon a roadway shall be granted all of the rights and shall be subject to all of the duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle.”
Wait a minute, isn’t a bicycle a vehicle? Not in NJ – human-powered devices are specifically excluded from the legal definition of vehicle in 39:1-1: “”Vehicle” means every device in, upon or by which a person or property is or may be transported upon a highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks or motorized bicycles.”
So what, it’s the same thing while riding in the shoulder, right? Not really, as the shoulder is specifically excluded from the “roadway” legal definition in 39:1-1: “”Roadway” means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.” So a cyclist riding in the shoulder would not be granted all the rights and responsibilities as the driver of a vehicle.
Aren’t we nitpicking? Motorists can’t legally drive in the shoulder anyway – cyclists can’t very well have the same rights and responsibilities as the driver of a vehicle while riding in the shoulder, as it would also be illegal.
Exactly! If a cyclist has the same rights/responsibilities to follow the rules of the road, s/he should only ride in the travel lane, not in the shoulder.
NJDOT’s lawyers, presuming to encourage only legal cycling behavior, may well point to the sentence structure of 39:4-14.1. It implies that every person riding a bicycle *outside* the roadway (e.g. on the shoulder) would not have the same rights/responsibilities as the driver of a vehicle, but that doesn’t make it illegal, since it’s not explicitly prohibited, like it is for drivers of a vehicle in 39:4-82.
Under this interpretation, it’s a cyclist’s choice whether to ride in the roadway, and be legally bound to follow all the rules of the road, or live free on the shoulder. Just think, no rules, no responsibilities – bike against traffic, blow the wrong way through stop signs, it’s all legal if you’re a cyclist on the shoulder. Under this interpretation, cyclists have an implicitly legal option to ride on the shoulder that isn’t offered to drivers of vehicles.
So which is it? Illegal or legally available w no rights/responsibilities? According to the NJ Supreme Court in Polzo v Essex County, “Bicyclists do not have special privileges on a roadway?s shoulder. Indeed, a bicycle rider is directed to ride on the furthest right hand side of the roadway, not on the roadway?s shoulder. The Motor Vehicle Code does not designate the roadway?s shoulder as a bicycle lane.”
So, as far as the law with regard to cyclists is concerned, the NJ Supremes ruled that a cyclist “is directed” to the roadway, “not on the roadway’s shoulder.”
The Polzo ruling was in 2012 – why is NJDOT still encouraging cyclists to ride on the shoulder? Shouldn’t shoulders with sufficient space be designated as bike lanes? What ever happened to the Complete Streets policy?
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Friday, September 18 by JerryFoster
In our 5th annual survey, WWBPA volunteers counted 360 bicyclists and pedestrians at 5 locations around the train station on Wednesday September 16, 2015 between 5-8pm. Last year the count was 343, but the numbers are not directly comparable, since we counted at only 3 locations last year. Comparing the same locations at the same time slots, biking and walking decreased 5% over last year. At least we had beautiful fall weather again this year.
Once again we participated in the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project, an effort to accurately and consistently measure usage and demand for bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
Our 2015 findings:
- Cranbury/Wallace/571 (Rite Aid) ? 25 bike, 112 walk
- Scott/Alexander (Arts Center) ? 26 bike, 90 walk
- Vaughn/Alexander (bus stop) ?? 19 bike, 39 walk
- Station/571 (Rep. Holt Headquarters) ? 5 bike, 6 walk
- Wallace/Alexander (WW lot) ? 11 bike, 27 walk
Total: 360 people, 86 who bike, 274 who walk
Thanks to our volunteers!
Traffic along 571 in downtown West Windsor flowed freely throughout the observation time, except for 3 minutes at 5:30pm – this is consistent with last year, which congested for 4 minutes at 6:00pm. Honks were also consistent at 11 this and last year, while the number of semi trucks rose by 2 to 7 this year. One of the honks was to encourage a right turn on red from Wallace to 571, which both the honker and honkee proceeded to do, illegally – an additional sign at the corner would aid in getting the message out. I was honked at from behind a few weeks ago while waiting on my bike at Wallace, but just pointed up at the No Turn On Red sign overhead.
Other observations:
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Friday, February 27 by JerryFoster
Let’s face it – many people perceive bicyclists as arrogant. Let’s look at one too-typical letter to the editor, where? someone leads off with the arrogance charge, and see if we can determine the causes and underlying assumptions of this perception.
This letter to the editor of The Press of Atlantic City appeared in June 2012, and reads in full:
“Arrogant bicyclists endanger us all on roads.
It’s that time of the year again. Yup, the bicyclists are out in mass, riding two abreast and showing no respect for anyone’s vehicle except their own. They choose to ride on narrow two-lane roads with very narrow shoulders, which forces them into the auto lanes and is extremely dangerous for all.
Our county, township and state have spent thousands of dollars to construct bike paths for the many cyclists out there, so why do they have to infringe on our roadways?
I know we are supposed to share the road. But it’s not sharing the road when I and other drivers have to slow down and cross the median strip so that these clowns can talk to each other while out for their morning cruise.
If the above was not the norm, I could live with these arrogant bike riders. But most of them ride like they own the road. They actually taunt us to hit them. They run red lights, do not stop for walkers in the crossing lane, and get obnoxious when questioned about their actions.
I know that the police have more important things to do other than policing these bike riders, but something has to be done before someone is seriously injured by these cyclists’ callous actions.”
So, let’s look at the NJ laws that apply to bicycling on the road. Riding two abreast is permissible under NJ law (39:40-14.2) – “Persons riding bicycles upon a roadway may travel no more than two abreast when traffic is not impeded…”
Also, bicyclists are required to ride in what the writer calls the “auto lane” -?(39:40-14.2) “Every person operating a bicycle upon a roadway shall ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable” where 39:1-1 defines “‘Roadway’ means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, exclusive of the berm or shoulder.” The NJ Supreme Court ruled ?a bicycle rider is directed to ride on the furthest right hand side of the roadway, not on the roadway?s shoulder.?
Perhaps in ignorance of the law, the writer believes that cars belong on the road and bicyclists don’t, e.g. “auto lane,” “infringe on our roadways.”
The writer complains that cyclists use the road even though “Our county, township and state have spent thousands of dollars to construct bike paths.” Implicit is the idea that cyclists don’t belong on the road because of the mistaken notion that only motorists pay taxes for bike paths and roads, e.g. “like they own the road.”
Also implicit is the idea that a motorist’s reason for being on the road is more important than the cyclists’ “morning cruise.”
There’s selective perception that cyclists disobey the law, e.g. “They run red lights, do not stop for walkers in the crossing lane,” implying that no motorist would ever do those same things.
The effect on the writer is “when I and other drivers have to slow down and cross the median strip.”
The writer imputes negative intentions to cyclists’ actions, e.g. “showing no respect for anyone’s vehicle except their own,” “They actually taunt us to hit them,” and “get obnoxious when questioned about their actions.”
The writer notes “something has to be done before someone is seriously injured by these cyclists’ callous actions,” perhaps not realizing that it is almost certainly the cyclists themselves who will be hurt in the event of a crash, not a motorist.
Unfortunately, the sentiments expressed by the writer are all too common, and build from ignorance to at least implicitly justify violence, all for the inconvenience of having to slow down and move over to pass. In the event of “serious injury” the writer will blame the victims, since the cause is “these cyclists’ callous actions.”
Perhaps you’re thinking to yourself – “this blogger is one of those arrogant cyclists.” Since we’re looking at calling other people arrogant, for a working definition let’s use “behaving in a way that makes me think you believe you are superior.”? I’ll respectfully suggest that others’ “arrogant behavior” is highly dependent on your own social and cultural values and expectations, and that sometimes just acting equal is enough to be called arrogant – like riding a bike in the roadway. Thoughts?
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Friday, February 13 by JerryFoster
So, how much money do you save by bike commuting? Probably a lot, but let’s run the numbers.
First, the car expense – according to the AAA’s Your Driving Costs 2014 report, operating a small sedan costs $7930/year, while a SUV runs $12,446/year, including gas, maintenance, depreciation, insurance, loan interest, etc.
What about biking expenses? Elly Blue, author of Bikenomics, refers us to transportation economist Todd Littman’s 2011 research, which gives a range of $100-$300 per year for operating costs, which is comparable to AAA’s numbers, since it includes depreciated cost of the bike, etc.
Startup cost varies a lot, like the variation in the cost for driving a small sedan and a SUV. Here’s hypothetical cases for a high quality and an economical setup, based on online prices from the same national outdoor recreation equipment company:
High Quality – $2153
Economical – $543
Typical bike maintenance is easy enough to learn that many people do it themselves – fixing a flat tire, lubing a chain, adjusting brakes – a web search shows numerous how-to videos that are very instructive. Blogger James Schwartz assumed $50 per year for maintaining a $1500 commuter bike.
Clearly, bike commuting saves a lot of money if you can actually reduce the number of cars you own, since you can buy multiple high quality new bikes and gear every year for much less than the operating costs of even a small sedan. But it is very difficult in the suburbs to go car free, so what if you only have one car? Then the savings will only be based on reduced miles driven, which saves on gas, maintenance, tires and depreciation.
According to the AAA report, the operating costs (gas, maintenance, tires) for a small sedan is 16.3 cents/mile, and 23.8 cents/mile for a SUV. If your commute is 2 miles each way, like mine, then 4 miles roundtrip x? 240 working days/year equals 960 miles biked each year.
The 960 mile reduction in driving would save $156.48 (operating costs) plus $33.60 (reduced depreciation), totaling $190.08 for a small sedan, and $228.48 (operating costs) plus $48.96 for (reduced depreciation), totaling $277.44 for an SUV. This is in the range for paying for the annual bike costs, but hardly a killer incentive by itself. It will help if your employer offers you the IRS Bicycle Commuter Tax Benefit – you can be reimbursed up to $240 each year for bike commuting expenses.
Of course you might choose to use the commuter bike for other errands, such as small grocery runs, to the bank, post office, etc. Since only 15% of our trips are for commuting, that leaves a lot of other trips that could be done by bike – e.g. 40% of all trips are 2 miles or less, and if you take the bike/walk trips out of the denominator, 69% of car trips are 2 miles or less.
Of course, you’ll save more in indirect costs, for example if you substitute biking for a gym membership, that could save about $1000/year. And the potential for saving money on health care is huge, since you may be much healthier with regular activity.
Perhaps most important, it’s fun! Of course, you’ll also be saving the world by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, since car exhaust is the single largest contributor in our area to CO2 emissions.
Last, longtime WWBPA readers might notice a strong resemblance between the bike commuter pictured above and the bike lane fairy,? who hasn’t made a public appearance recently. Could this be why? Please join us at the New Jersey Bike and Walk Summit next Saturday, February 21 – we’ll keep an eye out, you never know when you might see her next.
Comments Off on Bike Commuter Journal – Cost of Bike vs Car CommutingTuesday, February 10 by JerryFoster
Made a few changes to the commuter bike in the year it’s been flogged every day 2 miles to the office and back – for reference, see last year’s post Accessorizing the Commuter Bike. You may notice a little extra reflective tape on the trunk box, for example.
There were two main issues – pain in the shoulder, caused by the straight handlebar, and pain in the neck, caused by dealing with the hydraulic disc brakes (mental pain, not physical).
Swapping the straight handlebar for a mustache bar provided the hand position that prevented shoulder pain (yep, even on a ten minute ride). Tried new grips, which didn’t help, then swapped the grips from my mountain bike to this bike – when that didn’t help it had to be the bar, because those grips are very comfortable on the mountain bike’s straight handlebar.
The next, more obviously self-inflicted issue, was that some idiot overloaded the light duty rack on grocery runs. The rack uses the fender as support, and the rivet-nut holding it to the frame pulled out (not just once, either), so the guys at the shop drilled and through bolted it to the frame – problem solved. (Also, bought a cargo bike so don’t need to overload the commuter bike anymore – an expensive fix, you might say, and my spouse would certainly agree – more in another post.)
The less obviously self-inflicted issue was dealing with the hydraulic disc brakes. One time, some idiot took off the wheel to put on the winter tires and closed the brake lever. You probably know that if you don’t have something for the brake to grab (disc, credit card, cardboard, etc.) it will not open back up, and the wheel will not go back on. Anyway, back to the shop to have the brake lines bled, and not for the 1st time.
The first time back to the shop was after a few months of winter riding and the lever went all the way to the handle without stopping much. Another time was to get the brakes to stop screeching, and to put some silicone around the fender rivets so they stopped rattling. The last straw was when some road gook got into the front brake on a ride to Hopewell, and I fought and listened to the tick from the brake all the way back to West Windsor, because there’s no way to loosen the calipers on hydraulic brakes in the field. I’d had enough – they were simply not idiot-proof enough for this idiot. The new mechanical disc brakes not only have ways to loosen them, they have dials for making adjustments and a fancy way to automatically align the calipers.? It sure sounds good.
On the sound advice from the good folks at the shop, let’s talk about bike maintenance and keeping your bike clean. If (like a certain someone) you just ride it and occasionally lube the chain (sometimes after wiping the main gook off), you will have a much harder time pedaling by the end of the year – maybe because the derailleur pulleys rust into place. Really, it’s a wonder I could pedal at all.? You might think this would encourage better bike cleaning, but instead it has me thinking about belt drives – anyone have experience to share?
Comments Off on Bike Commuter Journal – the Commuter Bike a Year LaterWednesday, January 28 by JerryFoster
After a year of bike commuting from Princeton Junction to Carnegie Center in West Windsor, I’ve learned a very important lesson – timing is everything. This morning, my timing was perfect – in two miles I was only passed by 3 cars! See the video and skip to the times in parentheses referring to each lesson.
Lesson 1 (0:00) – Start after 9am (or before 8am) to avoid serious rush hour craziness. I pedaled through the neighborhood using the sidewalk shortcut that brings you to the back driveway of RiteAid on Rt 571.
Lesson 2 (0:20) – Congestion is a bike commuter’s friend. Wait at the driveway until the cars queue up, stopped for the light at Cranbury/Wallace, then proceed through the line to the left turn lane toward the station.
Lesson 3 (1:30) – Time the train schedule, and arrive at the station when people aren’t rushing to catch the train, or have just disembarked and are rushing toward the offices along Alexander and Rt 1. This morning the station was quiet, only met one pedestrian going the other way in the tunnel.
Lesson 4 (5:00) – Follow the traffic platoon. Turning right from the station (Vaughn Drive) and riding on Alexander Road is the most stressful part of the commute, since there is not enough congestion to slow traffic – it’s a 5 lane race course. I ride in the middle of the right lane, so cars pass in the left, which is very safe and as low stress as possible, given the conditions, but still not low stress. If you wait until the burst of traffic heads west on Alexander and then follow it, you’re rewarded with as much no-traffic time as possible – this morning only 3 cars passed by on this stretch.
Lesson 5 (6:00) – Watch the gap in your mirror. When you see the next traffic platoon approaching, evaluate your options for moving to the middle turn lane to make a left into any of 3 places – 2 office driveways or Roszel Road.
Lesson 6 (6:30) – The secret sidepath. On this wet and snowy morning, I went for the first office driveway and used the connecting multi-use path to the 2nd driveway and around back through the parking lot to make the left onto Roszel.
And that’s it! Somehow nobody passed me on Roszel (8:20), which is 4 lanes but very lightly traveled even between 8-9am – again I ride in the middle of the right lane.
Please contact us at w[email protected] to share your low stress bike commuting tips.
Comments Off on Bike Commuter Journal – Lessons Learned After 1 YearSaturday, January 10 by JerryFoster
Five years after Montclair and NJDOT adopted New Jersey’s leading Complete Streets policies, this week Mercer County became the first to have all roads covered – state, county and every municipality. Congratulations to Mercer County for reaching this very important milestone toward making our communities more bicycle and pedestrian friendly!
Complete Streets policies require road improvements to support biking, walking and transit for users of all ages and abilities as the rule rather than the exception, and provide for incremental improvements without mandating retrofits.
Complete Streets benefit everyone, e.g. better safety (not just for cyclists and pedestrians, but mainly for motorists), higher property values (see walkscore.com) and improved security (more eyes on the street). Those who walk or bike feel better, are healthier and live longer – students who bike or walk to school score better on standardized tests.
Realizing these benefits will take time, as responsibility for our roads is divided between the state (for federal and state roads), counties and municipalities. Even a short trip can include roads and/or bridges under the care of many jurisdictions – for example, biking around Princeton’s Carnegie Lake involves traversing 3 counties and 5 municipalities, plus a state and maybe even a federal road.
What does a Complete Street look like? It depends – Complete Streets are not cookie-cutter. All of these pictures might be considered examples in some sense, while each may have additional possibilities to make them even more complete.
See if you can pick out which picture shows which Mercer County municipality – Trenton, Hamilton, Ewing, Hopewell Township, Pennington, Hopewell Boro, Princeton, Lawrence, West Windsor, East Windsor, Hightstown and Robbinsville.
Monday, November 24 by JerryFoster
What would you do? You’re walking at night, from the station to home north of Clarksville – up Scott Ave, through school grounds and the parking lot to the intersection of Clarksville and Hawk Drive.
There’s no marked crosswalk, but there is a streetlight. Or, you could go to the painted crosswalk at the opposite edge of school grounds, but there is no street light and no way to manually activate the blinking crosswalk lights that are set on a timer for the students.
Also, you’d then have to walk back to Hawk Drive to continue home.
What would you do? Cross under the street light without a painted crosswalk or at the painted crosswalk without light? See the picture for an approximation of the differences.
Please join us at the Twp Council meeting tonight, Monday November 24, 2014, to ask for an improved painted crossing with a streetlight, pedestrian-activated warning lights and turning on the existing speed display signs at all times, not just during school times.
Comments Off on Safer Pedestrian Crossing of Clarksville at HawkFriday, September 19 by JerryFoster
Consider the following scenario – you’re stopped in traffic by a long line of cars waiting for the light – this being New Jersey, you move up the shoulder, where there’s plenty of room. Unfortunately, a car turning left through a gap in the waiting cars hits you – who gets the ticket?
Would it be any different if you were riding a bike up the shoulder? Who would get the ticket then?
What if you were riding your bike in a bike lane instead of a shoulder – now who gets the ticket?
The motorist or cyclist on the shoulder would get the ticket, since shoulders are not for traveling – the cyclist in a bike lane would “only” be injured, not ticketed, since s/he has legal right of way.
This scenario is based on a real life incident in Chatham, where a cyclist on the shoulder was hospitalized and ticketed for unsafely passing cars on the right when he crashed into a car turning left into a drugstore driveway. As the Polzo v Essex County ruling confirmed, “a bicycle rider is directed to ride on the furthest right hand side of the roadway, not on the roadway?s shoulder.”
So cycling in the travel lane or a bike lane provides legal right of way, but what about safe operating conditions?
The NJ Supreme Court ruled that travel lanes and shoulders do not need to be maintained for safe cycling – “Public entities do not have the ability or resources to remove all dangers peculiar to bicycles.” “Roadways generally are intended for and used by operators of vehicles.” “A ‘vehicle’ is defined as ‘every device in, upon or by which a person or property is or may be transported upon a highway, excepting devices moved by human power or used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks or motorized bicycles.’?
Bike lanes offer safe operating conditions – “A public entity?s designation of a portion of the roadway as a bicycle lane would alter the generally intended use of that part of the road and would require the public entity to maintain it in a reasonably safe manner for those purposes.”
So here’s the score:
The court provided NJ cyclists with another option to gain safe operating conditions for specific roadway or shoulder segments – notify the maintaining entity (state, county or municipality) that you routinely cycle on a specific road or shoulder. “Plaintiff offered no evidence that the shoulder of Parsonage Hill Road was designated as a bicycle lane or routinely used as one.” “We need not address here the standard of care that might apply under the Torts Claims Act if a roadway?s shoulder were routinely used as a bicycle lane and the public entity responsible for the maintenance of that roadway was on notice of that use.”
Will adoption of a Complete Streets policy provide a future court sufficient evidence of intended use by cyclists? If so, cyclists would enjoy a better standard of care for travel lanes, though perhaps not as good as for bike lanes.
2 Comments »
Friday, September 12 by JerryFoster
Now our 4th annual survey, WWBPA volunteers counted 343 bicyclists and pedestrians at 3 locations around the train station on Wednesday September 10, 2014 between 5-8pm. Last year the count was 334, but the numbers are not directly comparable, since we counted at 5 locations last year. Comparing the same locations at the same times, biking and walking increased 24% over last year (which had decreased 18% from the year earlier). The weather cooperated this year, only 80 degrees and mostly sunny, in contrast to last year’s hot (90 degrees) and humid day.
Once again we participated in the National Bicycle and Pedestrian Documentation Project, an effort to accurately and consistently measure usage and demand for bicycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
Our 2014 findings:
- Cranbury/Wallace/571 (Rite Aid) ? 28 bike, 113 walk
- Scott/Alexander (Arts Center) ? 34 bike, 106 walk, 2 others
- Vaughn/Alexander (bus stop) ?? 18 bike, 42 walk
Total: 343 people, 80 who bike, 261 who walk, 2 on motorized wheelchairs or skateboards
Thanks to our volunteers!
Traffic along 571 in downtown West Windsor flowed freely except from 6:00-6:04pm, likely due to 2 different trains from NYC arriving within 5 minutes of each other.
Other observations:
Friday, August 29 by JerryFoster
The NJ Supreme Court ruled in 2012 re the county?s potential liability for surface defects on the shoulder that a cyclist was riding on when she crashed and subsequently died (Polzo v Essex County). The ruling generated concern that cyclists riding on the shoulder may be treated differently by the legal system than those in a bike lane, but after reading the ruling carefully, I believe that concern is unfounded.
The court found:
1. The depression caused the tragic fatality.
2. ?The Motor Vehicle Code provides that a ?roadway? is the portion of highway generally used for vehicular travel; the ?shoulder? borders the roadway and is for emergency use; and ?vehicles? are not bicycles. Bicyclists are directed to ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable. While they may be inclined to ride on the shoulder, they have no special privileges if they do.?
3. ?Public entities do not have the ability or resources to remove all dangers specific to bicycles.?
The ruling is clear to this point ? cyclists riding on the road or shoulder may not expect a standard of care specific to bicycles. Cyclists may be dismayed by the NJ Motor Vehicle Code, but there is equality between the roadway and shoulder? re the standard of care. “No special privileges” does not mean “at your own risk.”
They then examined if the actual depression was a dangerous condition under the Tort Claim Act, noting “Under the TCA, a dangerous condition means a condition that creates a substantial risk of injury when such property is used with due care in a manner in which it is reasonably foreseeable that it will be used.”
They might have stayed with the logic that cyclists riding on the shoulder have no special privileges, because the law says shoulders are not part of the roadway, and only roadways are generally intended to be used by bicycles under the law (to the extent bicycles are an intended use even though they’re not vehicles).
But no, they said:
4. ?Plaintiff offered no evidence that the shoulder was routinely used as a bicycle lane, which might implicate a different standard of care.?
So a shoulder that is ?routinely used as a bicycle lane? might be expected to be held to a ?different standard of care,? though presumably not to the extent as to ?remove all dangers specific to bicycles.?
Since evidence of routine use may determine generally intended purpose and trigger a different standard of care, concern re a distinction between shoulders and bike lanes is unnecessary, in my not-a-lawyer view.
Perhaps the plaintiff?s lawyer should have introduced NJDOT standards for bicycle compatible shoulders as evidence of intended purpose, but in any case Essex County now has a Complete Streets policy that clarifies that bicycling is an intended purpose for county roads.
While cyclists are rightly concerned about the NJ Motor Vehicle Code, the suit was primarily about tort claims, which used the MVC only to determine intended purpose, and even finding none with regard to shoulders, ignored it in favor of a standard of evidence of routine use.
7 Comments »
Thursday, July 31 by JerryFoster
Fireflies photo by Chris Egnoto (used with permission)
Welcome back guest blogger Don Pillsbury sharing some of his cycling incidents and a great picture?courtesy of his friend.
There are many benefits from cycling. Personally, what I have learned most from regularly riding my bike is the art of improvising. No matter how well you plan, it is inevitable, at some point; you will encounter a situation that requires you to ?make do.? Such is the time my headlight inexplicably gave out. (Fortunately it was the peak of firefly season and the iridescent insects guided my way along the D&R Canal Towpath ? it is one of my most cherished memories.)
Or riding?along and having the crank/pedal fall off. (I had read about a one-legged cyclist and decided to see what it is like.) Or like getting to the office and discovering the set of clothes you distinctly remember leaving there before hand were not to be found. (That situation took some creativity.)
You can only pack a set amount of tools, spare parts, gear, and equipment.
After that, it?s a matter of keep calm and ride on ? with creativity and humor.
Thank you Don! If you would like to write about your experience in a guest post, please email [email protected].
Comments Off on Bike Commuter Journal ? The Art of ImprovisingMonday, June 23 by JerryFoster
Please welcome back guest contributor Don Pillsbury.
Don?t I need to be a ?Jock? to ride my bike to work?
When co-workers see me riding my bike to work, they often assume I?ve always been some sort of athletic super hero. And while riding does occasionally simulate the sensation of ?flying,? I?m no Superman. I?ve never participated in any organized sport (well, except for the office volleyball league) and I don?t follow any professional teams. People familiar with my younger years are always surprised to hear about my cycling adventures.
As I meet other bike commuters, that pattern seems oddly common. A co-worker, who commutes 12 miles throughout the year, in all sorts of weather, said she hated gym class in school ? she was always the last one selected for any activity. This same person became indignant when asked about her commute being exercise. To her, it was about saving money. A friend, who also commutes 12 miles year round, doesn?t mention his cycling during a routine annual exam with his physician and is then shocked when the doctor suggests the need for exercise ? despite his trim physique.
For the bike commuters I meet, cycling isn?t exercise it?s just a means of getting to their destination.
One other trait I?ve noticed: the complete lack of remorse about eating whatever they want.
What is your background? If you commute with your bike, some or a lot, please let me know whether you consider yourself athletic or not. I can be reached at: [email protected].
Thanks Don! If you’d like to write a guest post, pls email [email protected].
Comments Off on Bike Commuter Journal – It’s Not About ExerciseMonday, June 16 by JerryFoster
Please welcome WW resident Jake Herway, who’s launching an exciting new addition to the area’s cycling tourist industry, NJ Bike Tours. He’s also helping The Farm Roll scenic bike tour, coming up Sunday, June 22, proceeds to benefit our friends at the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed.? Here’s his story:
“Now a resident of West Windsor, I grew up riding through the picturesque landscapes of Europe, savoring the rich history, unique architecture, and European patisserie’s and cuisine. New Jersey was the last, dead last, place I expected to rival that experience. I was wrong.
NJ bike tours started when I discovered a hidden gem in the back roads of a state I assumed was nothing but?concrete, electric wires, and grime. Hidden to millions who visit, live in, or avoid New Jersey is a?rich history, beautiful farm country, stunning?views, and fresh, delicious food that create an energizing?cycling adventure. My goal with NJ bike tours is to share the beauty, fun, and discovery of a hidden Garden State, only a few pedal strokes off the beaten path.”
Friday, June 13 by JerryFoster
Please welcome Brian Clissold as our guest commuter this week, a trustee of the WWBPA and a resident of East Windsor. A version of this post appeared on his blog, Roadmaestro. Brian, what’s your secret?
Here it is?wait for it?.wait for it???CONSISTENCY!!
Yep, that?s it. That?s my big piece of advice for folks who want to commute by bike. Just like any other lifestyle change, it?s the act of doing it over and over, until it becomes routine, that makes it part of your life.
Now, it?s not that easy. ?Sticking with it? is all rainbows and unicorns. What it really means is getting into the routine the night before, or even the week before, by packing clothes, packing lunches, mid-morning snacks (I always get hungry by 10 am when I commute), baby wipes, figuring out the timing, the logistics of parking, when you?re going to apply make up (if that?s necessary), bicycle maintenance, and what to do with all the extra cash you?ll be saving by not buying gas. Whew! It doesn?t sound so easy after all. If you?re content with just learning this concept and can figure out the details, you can be done reading now and go for a bike ride. If you need some more tips, read on.
My ride is just long enough that I prefer to ride in bike clothes rather than my work clothes. So, Sunday night I try to make sure I have enough bike clothes clean for the week. I also make sure I have a day or two of work clothes. The weekend is also when I do any touch up maintenance: pump up the tires, lube the chain, make any minor adjustments, etc. Lights get charged and fresh batteries as needed.
Each night I pack my bike bag (one rear pannier, or a bag that mounts to a rear rack on my bike) with the next day?s work clothes, hair goop, a towel, my headphones, reading material for the train. Much of this stuff just stays in the bag. I also bring in my thermos and water bottle from my bike, and make the coffee so it starts automatically in the morning.
In the morning, I shower, pack my pannier the rest of the way with my lunch, put on my bike clothes, fill my thermos and water bottle, turn on the lights, and head out. Once I reach the train station, I put my bike in its locker, go into the station and change into my work clothes, and get on the train. I take my stuff with me to the office so I can hang my clothes to dry. Also, I change back into my bike clothes in the train bathroom on the way home so I can get right on the bike and get home.
So this is kind of a lot of work, but I?ve been doing this long enough now that it is more of a nuisance to change out of the routine than to stick with it. The rare days that I have to drive to work really throw me off now, both in terms of the routine and also in my mindset. Driving is such a headache!
I should definitely add that my routine is supported by my amazing wife Abbi, who helps me out in a variety of ways, such as putting away leftovers in single serve containers to make it easy to toss them in, doing laundry, and being generally supportive! Thanks Hunny!!
There are a million tips for bike commuters, especially for newbies. I highly recommend spending some time on the blog, bikecommuters.com There is lots of good stuff there, from equipment reviews to riding tips for bad weather.
Go pack your stuff and start to make riding to work part of your daily, weekly, and monthly routine. It is an amazing lifestyle choice!!
Thanks Brian – if you’d like to share your bike commuting stories, please email [email protected].
Comments Off on Bike Commuter Journal – Secret to SuccessFriday, June 6 by JerryFoster
Please welcome Jenny Goodman as this week’s guest commuter, and contact [email protected] to share your experiences.
OK, after the long, long, winter, it?s going to be 60 degrees and no rain, I picked up my son?s friend and dropped them both off at school, the 606 bus leaves at 8:12, so I have 15 minutes to get my bike shorts, t-shirt, bike shoes, helmet and gloves and get over to the bus stop. You see I am somewhat of a wimp. I don?t ride when it?s cold (and this morning it?s 35 degrees), in the rain, or in the snow.
I made it. The bike goes on the front of the NJ Transit bus in a really cool, super-easy-to-maneuver bike rack. While I have a few panic attacks as we go over some wicked potholes, hoping my bike won?t get thrown off the rack and smashed by the bus, my stop comes up with everything still intact. My work is about a ? mile from the stop, so I bike over looking like a dork with my jeans tucked into my white socks.
My bike is a steel 1980 Reynolds 531 double-butted Puch that has Campanolo pedals with toe straps with over 10,000 miles on it. (Though truth be told, I don?t even tighten up the toe straps, nor have cleats anymore.) Talk about retro. The fork was also 531 but was crushed when I flipped over the hood of a car pulling out of the Hightstown McDonalds in 1993. We got it fixed and painted by Andreas Cuevas (that might mean something to somebody out there). And it has beautiful lugs.
Work is finally over and I set out on my first ride of the season, April 1. I have a great commute from Ewing to Princeton on the Princeton Pike, which has a great shoulder almost the whole way. Not too long and not too short, about 11 miles one way. The only bad part is fighting for position on the bridge over Stony Brook. Pretty hairy. Yeah, I know, there is a separate bike lane you can ride on, but between the frost heaves and the mud and gravel at the bottom of a turn coming off the bridge, I?d rather take my chances. The first ride home of the season is so pleasant. First I pass Halo Farms with its plastic herd of dairy cows. No joke, you should go see them. Through the parking lot of the Trenton?s Farmer?s Market, dodging a thousand pieces of glass, past the ?Win, Place, and Smoke? shop, then on to the open road.
I thought I would feel worse than this for the first ride of the season. A previous blogger (and neighbor of mine) says NJ is like Holland, nice and flat. Well, that?s true I guess, but not on your first ride of the season, especially up the hill into Princeton past the Battlefield Park. Coming into town is my favorite part of bike commuting – being passed by some cars in a hurry and then proceeding to pass them back while they wait in traffic at a stop sign or light. And now that Nassau Street has sharrows, I feel so legit giving myself enough room so I don?t get slammed by a car door opening up. I make it home in one piece (again). And tomorrow looks like it will be nice for another ride home.
Jenny Goodman has been bike commuting off and on (on nice days) for about 25 years. She is entitled to be a wimp, having ridden with her husband across North America, from Alaska to Montana, from Portugal to Switzerland, Maine to New Brunswick, and from NJ to Canada twice in the wind, snow, sleet, rain, blazing sun, and bugs (including a swarm of huge grasshoppers in Saskatchewan).
A version of this post appeared in On the Move, the blog for the Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association.
Comments Off on Bike Commuter Journal – Bus, Bike and BackMonthly meetings are held at 7 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month via Zoom. We will eventually resume meeting in the West Windsor Municipal Building. Email us at [email protected] if you would like the Zoom code.
Find us at the West Windsor Farmers Market (Vaughn Drive parking lot) from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every other Saturday from May through Halloween.
August 22 — Weekly walking group at Community Park
August 29 — Weekly walking group at Community Park
September 2 — at the farmers market
September 5 — Weekly walking group at Community Park
September 12 — Weekly walking group at Community Park
September 14 — monthly meeting
September 16 — at the farmers market
September 19 — Weekly walking group at Community Park
September 26 — Weekly walking group at Community Park
September 30 — at the farmers market and bike drive to benefit Bike Exchange
October 12 — monthly meeting
October 14 — at the farmers market
October 28 — at the farmers market
November 9 — monthly meeting
December 14 — monthly meeting
Ongoing – Register your bike with the WW Police Department for free
Volunteer Opportunities – Sign up to give back to the community
Recent Infrastructure
Proposals and Actions
In support of a walking and biking path along the Dinky tracks (sent separately to many elected officials)
A call for rapid-flashing beacons for the intersection of Penn-Lyle and Canoe Brook
Clarksville Road bridge recommendations (and response from NJDOT project consultants)
Recommendations for improvements around the Princeton Junction train station
Suggested locations for rapid-flashing pedestrian beacons
Suggestions for bicycle and pedestrian improvements
Freeholders Clarksville Road Crossing at Hawk Drive
Cranbury Road Improvements