The WWBPA partnered with the Princeton Joint Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to promote nighttime visibility recently, at St. Paul’s? church in Princeton. We were able to take advantage of their excellent audio/visual facilities in the basement meeting room, with about 15 people attending.
Thanks to our Princeton partners and to our volunteers, especially Lenora,
one of our members, who gave the safety presentation in Spanish, and was very good at engaging the audience. Thanks also to the Hunterdon Area Resources for Transportation (HART) Transportation Management Association, who developed the base of our bilingual presentation.
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WWBPA trustees and volunteers were at St. Anthony’s of Padua church in Hightstown on Sunday to promote the need for bicyclists and pedestrians to be seen at night. Thanks to a generous donation by the West Windsor Policemen’s Benevolent Association, we were able to offer lights, reflective visibility gear (from vests to simple reflective tape) and helmets for below cost. Thanks to everyone who participated, and to the PBA!
These events are important to get people who walk and/or ride their bikes to work in the dark to be more visible to motorists, and therefore safer. The event was very well attended, and more are planned. If you’d like us to come to your organization, please contact us at [email protected].
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Help us promote nighttime visibility among “invisible” cyclists and others.
We will be at St. Anthony’s of Padua in Hightstown at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 20 and at St. Paul’s in Princeton at 7 p.m. Monday Nov. 28. At each event, we will give a short presentation in Spanish (and English)? that also includes some basic “rules of the road.” We’ll then offer visibility and safety items such as reflective vests, lights and helmets for half price, funded in part by a generous donation from the West Windsor Policemen’s Benevolent Association. We need people who can help with the presentation as well as Spanish and non-Spanish speakers to help fit helmets, model vests and otherwise encourage “invisible” cyclists to be more visible to motorists at night.
As daylight hours get shorter, a letter from a friend of the WWBPA couldn’t be more timely.
She writes:
“I have been taking my husband to the station and picking him up five days a week for many years.? We travel down Alexander Road to Scott Avenue, making a right on Wallace, then a left into the station driveway.? I am on Scott Avenue four times per day.? In recent years, it has become a challenge to weave around the pedestrians who prefer to walk in the street rather than use the sidewalk.
We believe the traffic — cars AND walkers/bicyclists –?has increased significantly in recent years and, despite the pedestrian improvements such as painted walkways, the risk of a vehicle/pedestrian and/or bike?accident is growing.
Please USE THE SIDEWALK on Scott Avenue — rather than walking (or?running) on the paved street — and USE THE NEW?CROSSWALKS instead of jay-walking diagonally?across the streets to and from the station.
Follow common-sense rules of road-sharing and safety, such as “stop and look both ways before crossing” and “don’t assume the motorist sees you.” And don‘t wear all dark clothing when riding a bike at night.”
And a message from the WWBPA: One way to be more visible is to wear a reflective vest. The WWBPA sells them for just $10. Come see us at the farmers’ market.
Why might walkers on Scott Avenue prefer to walk in the road rather than on the sidewalk? Please comment with your views.
It’s that time of year again: Dark when you leave for work, dark when you get home — or both. And everyone seems to be wearing a dark coat.
Whether walking or bicycling, make sure you catch the attention of motorists well before they’re next to you. Where’s that blinking rear bicycle light? A front light? How about a reflective vest? You can’t overdo it (and lights are the law). The same goes if you’re walking. Wearing light colors (or having a bit of reflective material on your shoes) isn’t enough.
Don’t think you need to go that far? Notice how quickly (or not) you notice a cyclist or pedestrian when you’re in a car.
Not sure where to buy a safety vest? The WWBPA sells them for $10, and also has a great deal on entry-level front and rear lights. Drop us an email.
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.
The WWBPA partnered with the Princeton Joint Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to promote nighttime visibility recently, at St. Paul’s? church in Princeton. We were able to take advantage of their excellent audio/visual facilities in the basement meeting room, with about 15 people attending.
WWBPA trustees and volunteers were at St. Anthony’s of Padua church in Hightstown on Sunday to promote the need for bicyclists and pedestrians to be seen at night. Thanks to a generous donation by the West Windsor Policemen’s Benevolent Association, we were able to offer lights, reflective visibility gear (from vests to simple reflective tape) and helmets for below cost. Thanks to everyone who participated, and to the PBA!
It’s that time of year again: Dark when you leave for work, dark when you get home — or both. And everyone seems to be wearing a dark coat.