Building a Bicycle and
Pedestrian Friendly Community
Wednesday, May 24 by silvia
How far is it from the tip of the Trolley Line Trail at Rabbit Hill Road down to Mercer Lake and Caspersen Rowing Center? New signs along the Trolley Line Trail and beyond will tell you — and show you the way.
More » Comments Off on WWBPA adds new walk/bike signs in West WindsorMonday, May 15 by silvia
It’s once again time for the WWBPA’s annual Learn to Bike class for kids.
This popular event is scheduled for Saturday, June 3.
Children should be at least 5 years old. Please bring a working bicycle that fits your child, a helmet (or buy one from the WWBPA for $12), and this completed waiver form. Then leave the teaching to us.
More » 2 Comments »Sunday, May 7 by silvia
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance will join organizations around the world in the Ride of Silence on Wednesday, May 17.
The Ride of Silence honors all those cyclists who have been injured – or worse, killed – while pedaling. In West Windsor, we honor in particular Aarav Shah, who was killed while bicycling across the country last summer. He would have been a junior at WW-P High School North this year.
More » Comments Off on Join West Windsor’s Ride of Silence on May 17Monday, April 24 by silvia
The D&R Canal State Park will be repairing the Millstone Aqueduct Bridge over the D&R Canal in Plainsboro (see red circle on map) beginning the week of April 24.
Access to the D&R Canal towpath from the D&R Canal parking lot off Mapleton Road will be prohibited during active weekday repairs. There will be a detour that uses the berm path to Harrison Street and then reconnects with the towpath there.
More » Comments Off on Bridge work begins by the D&R Canal towpath near Mapleton RoadThursday, 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, December 20 by silvia
West Windsor has just been awarded three grants totaling $688,000 from Governor Murphy that will help make West Windsor even better for those who walk, bike and scoot.
Together with three grants awarded early this year, West Windsor has received $1.33 million from the state for new multi-use paths, new sidewalks, and other bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
More » Comments Off on West Windsor wins 3 more state grants for biking and walkingTuesday, October 4 by silvia
On October 30, 1938, a rising star named Orson Welles made history with his “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast. This fake “news bulletin” depicted a Martian invasion of Earth, causing real-life panic. The aliens’ landing site? The historic community of Grovers Mill, right here in West Windsor.
Explore this history and related local points of interest with a free 7-mile bicycle ride on Saturday, Oct. 22, with the WWBPA and the Historical Society of West Windsor. You can get more information here. And consider decorating your bike … or coming dressed as a Martian!
Friday, September 30 by silvia
A bike ride in Community Park was a fun way for a dozen third-grade Brownies to kick off a new year in Girl Scouts. With help from several WWBPA board members, the girls and some of their parents learned about bicycle safety before eagerly mounting their bikes.
We reviewed the ABC quick check that you should always do before a bike ride, proper helmet fit, hand signals, trail etiquette, and road rules before heading out on our bikes. We also briefed parents on the NJ Safe Passing Law.
The WWBPA can help your scout troop, neighborhood or school group learn to be better bicyclists. Email [email protected] if you’re interested in a bicycle safety talk and escorted ride. Parents are welcome to attend with their children.
Comments Off on WWBPA teams up with WW Girl ScoutsWednesday, August 3 by silvia
Gas prices got you down? Are you concerned about your carbon footprint? Or are you looking for a way to get more exercise? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, consider substituting some trips by car with some by bike.
Here are some of our favorite tips:
More » 1 Comment »Tuesday, July 5 by silvia
For those who enjoy walking or bicycling along the D&R Canal towpath by the Delaware River, there’s now one more way to cross between New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
More » Comments Off on A new bike/walk crossing over the Delaware RiverThursday, May 19 by silvia
Saturday is ebike information and demonstration day at the West Windsor Farmers Market.
As part of National Bike Month, the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance is bringing together ebike owners to answer your question and satisfy your curiosity about the many types and styles of electric bikes. Plus Princeton eBikes will be on hand with electric bikes for you to test-ride for a few minutes.
More » Comments Off on Test-ride an electric bike at the WW Farmers Market on SaturdayMonday, May 9 by silvia
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance will once again host a Ride of Silence as part of National Bike Week.
Now in its 20th year, the Ride of Silence is an international movement to honor all those cyclists who have been injured – or worse, killed – while pedaling. All rides around the world begin at 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday, May 18, weather permitting.
More » 1 Comment »Sunday, May 1 by silvia
This beautiful new walking and biking map of West Windsor shows all bike lanes, sidewalk, trails and paths – and yes, cut-through sidewalks between neighborhoods — in the township.
Created by the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance together with Greater Mercer Transportation Management Association, this 22-inch x 24-inch map will inspire you and your family to explore more of the township on foot and by bicycle.
More » Comments Off on A new West Windsor walking and biking mapWednesday, December 22 by silvia
Thanks to PSE&G (which owns the land) and a nudge from the township, the Trolley Line Trail — the trail under the power lines — now extends to Village Road West instead of ending at Penn-Lyle Road. That means you can walk, jog, scoot or bike more than 3 miles from the northern end at Rabbit Hill Road without ever needing to be on the road (except when crossing at intersections, of course).
More » Comments Off on The Trolley Line Trail just got almost a half-mile longerFriday, November 2 by silvia
This quick survey, from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, is your chance to speak up about biking conditions getting to the Princeton Junction train station (and other transit stops you use):
Do you use your bike to get to a transit station? Would you be more likely to bike to the transit station you use if it was more easily accessible for bicyclists or had better bike parking? DVRPC wants your input!
DVRPC, the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, SEPTA, NJ Transit, PATCO, and Open Plans are collaborating to determine where investments in bicycle accessibility are most needed. Available online, a new map-based survey allows commuters to select the transit station they use and share their ideas on how transit stations can better accommodate bicyclists.
The survey, available at biketotransit.shareabouts.org, will continue accepting public input until December 1, 2012. The results of the survey will help to shape recommendations for investment in bike improvements at our region’s transit stations. For more information on DVRPC’s Office of Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning, click here.
Comments Off on Online Survey Seeks Transit Users’ Input on Bicycle Accessibility
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
Friday, June 29 by silvia
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance kicked off its series of casual summer bike rides with an easy ride for ice cream at Rite Aid with 25 people cycling through West Windsor neighborhoods (and no Route 571) on Saturday.
The riders, who included a five-year-old on a tag-along with his dad, a seven-year-old with a new bike and an eight-year-old new to town, left Community Park and went past the tennis courts on Hendrickson, through the arboretum and across Clarksville at the Norchester crosswalk. The stream of cyclists on Norchester shocked a pair of teens in a car! A little-known cut-though brought them to Ride Aid and ice cream — 1 1/2 miles from their starting point. A bonus: now some families know how to reach Community Park from the station (using the path by Schlumberger to reach the corner of Route 571 and Wallace Road).
The next ride will be an 11-mile loop of historic West Windsor on Saturday, July 28. We’ll meet at 9 a.m. at the kiosk that describes the route at the corner of South Mill Road and Village Road East, next to the World War II memorial. The ride will be led by Paul Ligeti, who designed and signposted the route for his Eagle Scout project.
You may know that the Martians “landed” in Grover’s Mill, but did you know West Windsor has two stops on the Underground Railroad? Or that Woodrow Wilson would bike from Princeton to walk around Grover?s Mill Pond? Join us!
Monday, June 18 by silvia
The West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance is launching its series of casual summer bike rides around the community with an easy ride for ice cream at Rite Aid through West Windsor neighborhoods (and no Route 571) on Saturday, June 23.
We will gather by the tennis courts at Community Park (near the North Mill Road entrance) at 2:45 p.m. and begin our ride at 3 p.m. We’ll go past the tennis courts on Hendrickson and use the crosswalk to Norchester on Clarksville. Then we’ll show you a little-known cut-though; just remember to yield to any walkers we meet.
The route is less than 1 ? miles each way, so perfect for younger riders. (Too short? Ride to the ride!)
Helmets are required and children under 13 must be accompanied by an adult. Remember to ride safely and follow the rules of the road.
The ride is free, but bring money for ice cream or other snack. The rain date is Sunday, June 24. There is no need to preregister.
Watch for details about more rides!
Comments Off on Ride For Ice CreamTuesday, January 17 by silvia
When Trenton Times columnist Mea Kaemmerlen wrote about West Windsor being designated New Jersey’s first bicycle-friendly community, she threw out a challenge to her town of Plainsboro: Catch up.
We heard it, as did some Plainsboro residents. So please join us and your neighbors at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 1 at the Plainsboro Library to discuss your ideas for better biking and walking in the community.
Where do you and your family want to ride or bike, and what would make it easier? The WWBPA wants to partner with people who live, work, or even go to school in Plainsboro. Together we’ll explore some ways to make Plainsboro a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly community.
Please help us spread the word to your friends and neighbors. Hope to see you there!
Comments Off on Join Us in PlainsboroMonthly 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