Building a Bicycle and
Pedestrian Friendly Community
Tuesday, May 12 by joegorun
May is Bike Month. GMTMA and our neighboring TMAs are doing virtual bike month, sign up and ride anywhere, even indoors, they’ll donate to local food banks: http://p1.pagewiz.net/uyjq6wc7/
Comments Off on Virtual Bike MonthThursday, April 9 by joegorun
On Sunday, April 26, 2015, at 1pm the WWBPA Student Advisors will be leading a bike ride for anyone 12 years or older beginning at the East Parking Lot along Edinburg Rd in Mercer County Park. 13 or 19 mile roundtrip options. Check in at 12:45pm. ?Bike Ride 1-3pm. Free event. No pre-registration required. Helmets and a functioning bicycle are mandatory. Organized by the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance.?Please fill out and print the waiver. Anyone under 18 must have the waiver signed by a parent or guardian.
Community Bike Ride ?4_26_2015 Flyer
Download and Print:?Community Bike Waiver April 26, 2015
Comments Off on Community Bike Ride
Wednesday, October 10 by silvia
Our final family bike ride of the season was a big hit: five dozen bicyclists of all ages stretched along the D&R Canal towpath from Turning Basin Park at Alexander Road to Brearley House in Lawrence, plus seven walkers who joined at Port Mercer Canal House. We may have caught one of the last days of summer to boot!
Many thanks to all who took part in our eight-mile ride — residents of West Windsor, Princeton, Lawrence and beyond — and to Terhune Orchards for providing apple cider and apples to quench our thirst at Brearley House.
With the help of our trio of number pickers, the WWBPA gave away a number of items in a drawing, from tools for repairing flat tires to safety gear such as lights, reflective tape and a reflective vest. Plus we all learned about the almost-finished 20-mile Lawrence Hopewell Trail, Brearley House and its New Year’s Eve bonfire night, Princeton’s sharrows and the Princeton Freewheelers. How exciting to learn that there will eventually be bike access from the D&R Canal towpath to the Princeton battlefield — another destination to explore!
This truly was a community bike ride!
We’ve enjoyed sharing new routes with all who came on our rides this year and inspiring them to head out on their own. Our other rides this year have taken us on a trip for ice cream, around historic West Windsor, to the Plainsboro Preserve and down the Trolley Line Trail.
We’d love your feedback and in particular suggestions for another summer’s worth of family rides.
Comments Off on A True Community Bike Ride
Monday, September 24 by silvia
Join the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance for its sixth annual Community Bike Ride on Oct. 6 (rain date Oct 7) as we head down the D&R Canal towpath to discover how it connects to other bicycling and walking routes.
Our eight-mile ride will leave from Turning Basin Park (Alexander Road and the canal) and head to Brearley House in Lawrence (located on the 20-mile Lawrence Hopewell Trail). We?ll stop there for refreshments and some give-aways, plus hear about the Lawrence Hopewell Trail and the East Coast Greenway before turning back.
This is the last in our series of free family-friendly bike rides for 2012. Meet at the park at 2:15 p.m.; the ride leaves at 2:30 p.m. No preregistration is necessary; just bring a bike in good working order and a helmet. Children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult.
This year, we are adding a walking option, from Port Mercer Canal House. Gather at the parking lot at 2:15 p.m. (departure time is 2:30 p.m.) for the 1.3-mile walk to Brearley House. Because of road construction, the parking lot is only accessible from Route 1, not Princeton.
The ride is so-sponsored by the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, Sustainable Lawrence and the Princeton Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee.
About two dozen people, many of them new faces, joined us on Sept. 15 for a five-mile loop from Community Park down the Trolley Line Trail to Penn-Lyle Road and past High School South back to the park. Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Comments Off on Our Trail-to-Trail Community Bike Ride (and Walk)Thursday, August 30 by silvia
Join the WWBPA for the last of our 2012 bike rides. Our goal is to help you feel comfortable getting around by bike and showing you some new routes. The next one is Sept. 15 (rain date Sept. 16th): a five-mile loop down the Trolley Line Trail and along Penn-Lyle past High School South and back to the park. Meet at the tennis courts at Community Park (North Mill Road entrance) at 2:15 p.m.; ride leaves at 2:30 p.m.
Our last ride will be Oct. 6 (rain date Oct. 7). Our sixth annual Community Bike Ride (plus walk) is an 8-mile round trip down the D&R Canal to Brearley House and the new Lawrence Hopewell Trail, and back. Come learn about this new 20-mile route! Meet at 2:15 p.m. at Turning Basin Park parking lot (Alexander Road and the towpath); the ride leaves at 2:30 p.m. Walkers, meet at Port Mercer parking lot, 4278 Quakerbridge Road, for a 2.5-mile loop, also at 2:15 p.m.
No preregistration is necessary for either ride; just bring a bike in good working order and a helmet. The ride itself is free. Children under 13 should be accompanied by an adult. We will adjust routes as needed because of road construction. Check back on our website or Facebook page for final details.
Our August ride was to Plainsboro Preserve. Nearly 20 people took part. The kids loved the bugs; the adults discovered the point jutting into the lake. Some of us rode from Community Park, and others met the group at Town Center Elementary School.
Heading to the Plainsboro Preserve
Tuesday, February 7 by JerryFoster
The WWBPA’s mission is “To promote bicycling and walking in West Windsor Township and neighboring communities,” and this past week we’ve worked with residents of Plainsboro and Hopewell Boro to encourage them to become more bicycle and pedestrian friendly.
On February 1, WWBPA trustees met with Plainsboro residents, a township official and interested WWBPA members at the Plainsboro Library to discuss the issues. Topics included biking on the road vs. paths, the upcoming closings of the Rt 1 circle at Washington and the jughandle at Harrison, bike commuters to the Forrestal campus, biking and walking connections to West Windsor on the PSE&G right of way and Cranbury Road, biking and walking to school and many others. Various ideas were presented on how best to encourage biking and walking, including a having a bike rodeo at the annual Founders Day event and organizing a community bike ride.
On February 6 at the Hopewell Borough Council meeting, a resident advocate invited bicyclists from the area to support bike lanes on CR 518. A dozen bicyclists, including a WWBPA trustee and 2 members, showed up to support? the bike lanes as well as a Complete Streets resolution for the borough and for Mercer County. Representatives from New Jersey Bike Walk Coalition,? Princeton Free Wheelers, Lawrence Hopewell Trail, New Jersey Bike Exchange and the Battle Against Hunger Ride also spoke in support. We hope to see Hopewell Borough adopt the next Complete Streets resolution in Mercer County!
5 Comments »Monday, October 17 by JerryFoster
43 people enjoyed a? nice ride on a beautiful fall day, a little over 5 miles round trip from Community Park to McCaffrey’s and back. Thanks to everyone who participated, including our WWBPA trustees, student advisers and volunteers who planned, led and directed the bicyclists, and even handed out a few bandaids, and special thanks to McCaffrey’s for donating the refreshments!
The fall colors were out in full force (see our facebook page for more pictures) and we enjoyed the Trolley Line Trail as well as the bike lanes on Rabbit Hill Road and Bennington Street.? Also appreciated were new high visibility crosswalks at Davenport and Southfield Road by the shopping center. We also saw a policeman patrolling the Trolley Line Trail on motorcycle.
The group included all? ages, from those enjoying a ride in a trailer to us older kids (at heart), and split into 3 smaller groups pretty quickly – the fast group led by the speedy student advisers, a middle pack of family members, while the last group comprised those with the smallest bicyclists.
We got a number of positive comments, including a request to do this more often. With the new bike lanes on Village and Penn Lyle, we have more routes to choose from, thanks to the township and county.
Click for slide show by Mark Shallcross
Comments Off on Community Bike Ride a Sunny SuccessThursday, October 6 by silvia
We’re holding our fifth annual community bike ride on Sunday, Oct. 16. This family-friendly ride is ideal for those who haven’t been on a bike in a while, want to get their kids comfortable on low-traffic roads or want to find a backroad route through town.
We will be leaving at 11 a.m. from the WaterWorks parking lot in Community Park and biking to Southfield Shopping Center (home of McCaffrey’s) via the Trolley Line Trail, bike lanes and residential roads. No Route 571! We’ll take a break before heading back, for a total distance of less than seven miles.
The ride is free, and no preregistration is required. But a helmet is a must! Every participant should sign a waiver form and all minors must bring a waiver signed by a parent.? Children under 12 should be accompanied by an adult. Here’s what you need: bike ride waiver form 2011
Roads will be open to traffic so follow all rules of the road, including stopping at the stop sign on the Trolley Line Trail before turning right onto Rabbit Hill Road.
1 Comment »Monday, October 4 by silvia
Nearly three dozen residents joined the WWBPA for its fourth annual community bike ride, a family-friendly affair that attracted everyone from kids to a 68-year-old grandfather. This year’s route took us three miles from Chamberlin Park to Mercer County Park, where we stopped for refreshments, and then back again. The route highlighted the bike lanes that can pretty much take us from park to park (though it would be great to add missing sidewalk links for those who feel uncomfortable on the road). In addition to helping some participants properly fit their helmets and filling their tires, we gave away a number of goodies, from share the road bumper stickers (also good for school notebooks!) to a reflective safety vest.
Click for a slide show of photos from the ride.
Comments Off on Park-To-ParkFriday, September 24 by sandy
Join us for a fun community bike ride at 2 p.m. Saturday, October 2 (rain date is October 3) from Chamberlin Park (Slayback Drive and Woodmere Way, off?South Mill Road) to Mercer County Park (east entrance, on Edinburg Road).
Individuals and families are welcome to participate. The ride is free, but helmets are required and will be available for purchase at the start of the ride. The ride is an easy six miles (round trip).
Enjoy a cool drink and light refreshments at Mercer County Park and take part in our free drawing of bicycle and safety gear before heading back to Chamberlin Park.
Route:
From Chamberlin Park, we will take Woodmere Way to South Mill Road, continuing on Edinburg Road, which will take us directly to the park. Bike lanes exist for almost the entire route. There are gaps in the sidewalks along the route and the roads will NOT be closed to traffic. Participants must be comfortable riding on the road and must follow the rules of the road. Children under fourteen must be accompanied by an adult. Please complete and sign the linked waiver form.
If you have any questions, please e-mail [email protected].
Links to previous rides
2009
2008
2007
Sunday, September 27 by silvia
Winners of the free drawing at the WWBPA's Community Bike Ride
More than 60 bicyclists, including a few youngsters towed by parents, joined the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance for its third annual Community Bike Ride on Saturday, September 26. We beat the rain by several hours as we rode from WaterWorks to Grover Middle School and back.
It was fabulous to see so many people enjoying themselves using the Township?s bike lanes and co-existing with cars on the road.
Many thanks to West Windsor police for assisting at key intersections, McCaffrey?s for providing food at our rest stop and to AlJon?s for donating a certificate for a free pizza as part of our free drawing for all participants. Many others won bike-related equipment provided by the WWBPA, including David Aderhold, the WW-P school district?s assistant superintendent for pupil services and planning, who won a safety vest. In keeping with the WWBPA?s efforts to encourage more walking and biking, Cheryl Kastrenakes from Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association talked about how to start a walking school bus to get kids to school (they don?t have to run every day!). See gmtma.org or wwbpa.org for more information.
Heading to Grover Middle School
Back to Community park after the break
More Community Bike Ride Photos >>
Comments Off on What a ride!Saturday, September 19 by silvia
Items we'll be giving away
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance?s third annual Community Bike Ride takes place at 2 p.m. Saturday, September 26. In addition to our free, family-friendly ride from WaterWorks to Grover Middle School and back, we will offer pre-ride safety tips beginning at 1:30 p.m. (Come anytime between then and the start of the ride.) We?ll run through the ABC Quick Check, ensure helmets are fitted properly, learn hand signals and practice two skill drills: dodging obstacles on the road and making left turns.
Registration will also open then.
As an added bonus, we will have a free drawing open to all participants at Grover that will include a WWBPA T-shirt, a WWBPA map, a safety vest, ankle bands, a bike light and a bike helmet.
Don?t forget to fill out the waiver form!
Comments Off on Community Bike Ride ExtrasThursday, August 27 by sandy
The WWBPA’s third annual family-friendly Community Bike Ride takes place at 2 pm on Saturday, Sept. 26. This year, our route will take us from just outside WaterWorks in Community Park to Grover Middle School (for refreshments courtesy of McCaffrey’s) and back. Total distance is less than eight miles.
The route will follow Slayback Drive, Edinburg Road and Village Road East. Roads will not be closed to traffic. Depending on age and ability, riders can either use the street or the sidewalk. Riders are responsible for their own safety and the WWBPA is not liable for any injuries.
The ride is free, and there are no advance sign-ups. All children must be accompanied by a parent or other adult. Helmets are required for all riders.
All minors must have signed permission forms.
Please click here for a Release and Waiver Form.
Come early for pre-ride safety checks and tips!
Monthly 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.
December 5 — Weekly walking group at Community Park
December 12 — Weekly walking group at Community Park
December 14 — monthly meeting
December 19 — Weekly walking group at Community Park
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