July, 2010
BWM Montclair “Last Friday” Rides aka “Critical Manners” or “Courteous Mass”
When: Fri, July 30, 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Where: Bellevue Train Station Parking Lot – Restaurant Side
Description: Are you ready for Fridays?! Meet at 6:30 at Bellevue Station for monthly Montclair “Last Friday” rides!! Ride leaves the station at 7:00 sharp! Bring lights and good spirits!!! Last Friday rides are a word of mouth (yet, here it is on our calendar and posted on our homepage!). This is a community led bike ride on the last Friday of every month. This ride is slow paced and family-friendly. Hope to see you!! Read more on
Baristanet.com
Smart Cycling Course
After a first successful LEARN TO RIDE class that was held on Saturday, July 24, Bike&Walk Montclair, Diamond Cycle, and the Montclair YMCA are partnering once again and will hold two more LEARN TO RIDE classes on July 31, 2010 and August 7, 2010.
The workshop teaches a safe, easy, effective way to learn to ride. Using the “balance first” method, instructors help get you rolling on your own.
Is your child at that age where he or she wants to ride a two-wheeler? Is your back sore from bending over to balance your child on a rolling bicycle? Have YOU been wanting to ride but never had a chance to learn? If so, this class is for you.
Participants learn the basics of balancing, starting, stopping, and steering a bike, as well as proper helmet fit and adjustment. Most people learn to ride their bike while taking the class, but even if they don’t, they will leave with an easy, hands-free, crash-free, and low-stress way to learn to ride.
When: Saturday, July 31, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
What: Learn to Ride (Kids) – 10:00am – 1:00pm
Learn to Ride (Adults) – 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Where: Meet at Diamond Cycle Parking Lot off Glen Ridge Ave. for sign-in and bike/helmet fitting. (Class will be held in a nearby lot.)
Bring: Bike, Helmet, Water, Smile! Refreshments will be available.
Registration:
Register through EventBrite
http://www.eventbrite.com/search?q=bike+walk+montclair&loc=&page=1
Cost is $25 (check or cash in person. PayPal can process credit cards online). Please make checks payable to Bike&WalkMontclair (a 501-C3 non-profit organization)
For more information, contact Dickson Lane (973) 280-9686 or dickson (at) expresslane (dot) biz
Requirements:
All cyclists must wear a helmet and have a bicycle that fits. If you need a bike, come early and Diamond Cycle will help you choose one. Bikes are available for rent or sale. Diamond Cycle will insure that your bike is ready to ride with rock hard tires. The program works best for children ages 5 and up.
NJ Bicycle & Pedestrian Resource Center
July 26, 2010
On July 19th, West Windsor Township became the second municipality in New Jersey, after Montclair, to adopt a Complete Streets Policy. See the announcement from the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance here: http://wwbpa.org/2010/07/west-windsor-believes-in-complete-streets/.
In addition, Monmouth County became the first county in the state to adopt a Complete Streets Policy as the Board of Chosen Freeholders passed Resolution 10-592 at their meeting on July 22nd.
Congratulations and a big thank you from all of us at the NJDOT Office of Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs to all of you who worked so hard to make this happen! ~Elise Bremer-Nei, NJ SRTS Program Coordinator
Bike&Walk Montclair and Daimond Cycle are partnering to hold LEARN TO RIDE classes this Saturday.
The workshop teaches a safe, easy, effective way to learn to ride. Using the “balance first” method, instructors help get you rolling on your own.
Is your child at that age where he or she wants to ride a two-wheeler? Is your back sore from bending over to balance your child on a rolling bicycle? Have YOU been wanting to ride but never had a chance to learn? If so, this class is for you.
Participants learn the basics of balancing, starting, stopping, and steering a bike, as well as proper helmet fit and adjustment. Most people learn to ride their bike while taking the class, but even if they don’t, they will leave with an easy, hands-free, crash-free, and low-stress way to learn to ride.
When: Saturday, July 24, 2010
What: Learn to Ride (Kids) – 10:00am – 1:00pm
Learn to Ride (Adults) – 2:00 – 5:00 pm
Where: Meet at Diamond Cycle Parking Lot off Glen Ridge Ave. for sign-in and bike/helmet fitting. (Class will be held in a nearby lot.)
Bring: Bike, Helmet, Water, Smile! Refreshments will be available.
Registration:
Register through EventBrite
Cost is $25 (check or cash in person. PayPal can process credit cards online). Please make checks payable to Bike&WalkMontclair (a 501-C3 non-profit organization)
For more information, contact Dickson Lane (973) 280-9686 or dickson (at) expresslane (dot) biz
Requirements:
All cyclists must wear a helmet and have a bicycle that fits. If you need a bike, come early and Diamond Cycle will help you choose one. Bikes are available for rent or sale. Diamond Cycle will insure that your bike is ready to ride with rock hard tires. The program works best for children ages 5 and up. **Additional Learn to Ride classes are scheduled for Saturday, July 31 and Saturday, August 7
From New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition Newsletter
Volume 2, Number 11, July 12, 2010
Another Cyclist Killed on New Jersey’s Roads
Just last week, NJBC sent a letter to the editor of the Bergen Record, asking “Where is Camille’s Law?”, noting that while New York State is moving well along the path of creating a three-foot safe passing law, called “Merrill’s Law”, New Jersey’s version of the same legislation is stuck in committee. A copy of the letter is reprinted below.
Now, it has happened again! Another cyclist has been killed, this time in Gloucester County. Robert Schwinn, of Vineland, was struck down on a wide shoulder of Route 555 on July 1 at 7:23 AM, in the vicinity of Weymouth Road. Mr. Schwinn was wearing a helmet at reflective vest at time he was overtaken from behind, struck, and killed, according to authorities.
We cannot wait any longer! Cyclists, pedestrians, unprotected users of our roads are being struck by distracted, negligent or worse vehicle drivers, with no real consequences to those drivers. Yet the consequences – the deaths and horrific injuries – to those struck are real enough. It is ironic that these most recent cycling deaths are being noted in blogs and publications as far afield as Los Angeles but are not making as much news right here in New Jersey. And are not even on the radar of our legislature.
NJBC is not waiting any longer! And we need your help as we begin a campaign to get New Jersey’s 3 Foot Safe Passing Law out of committee, passed by both houses and signed by Governor Christie. Not someday, but in the next legislative session.
For more info on the 3 foot passing legislation and how to get involved, please visit NJ Bicycle Coalition or attend this week’s Bike&Walk Montclair meeting and meet NJBC President, Jim Nicholson.
It’s Official! Montclair is a Transit Village
Baristanet, July 9, 2010
Montclair is a Transit Village, thanks to its efforts to create walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods near a public transportation center, which in the process also helps ease road congestion, according to NJ’s Department of Transportation.
The designation allows the town to apply for a $100,000 grant that supports Transit Village planning efforts.
Read the Baristanet article here.
Read the Montclair Times article here.
Montclair July 4 Parade
Sunday, July 5, 2010
Temperatures reached nearly 100 degrees (F) on the day of the parade. Thank goodness for the pedicab soaker and generous neighbors with hoses! About 20 participants “marched” with Bike&Walk Montclair in Montclair’s July 4 Parade (on July 5!). “When I say ‘Bike Lane’, you say, ‘Now!’” Check out the photos here.
Some stories:
The Jersey Tomato Press, 7/6/10
Steve Marano, Friends of the Lenape trail Coordinator, is leading an all volunteer effort to re-blaze the 34 year old Lenape trail which runs 130 miles and cuts through the heart of Montclair, meanders through beautiful countryside and out of the way places in Montclair and the rest of NJ. Montclair writer, Laurie Albanese, shares her adventures about taking a hike with Steve Marano and Lori Loebelsohn, member of Bike & Walk Montclair, on the brand new website, the Patch. Bike & Walk Montclair supports Steve’s efforts to make this trail more functional and user friendly. Friends of the Lenape trail seek volunteers to help mark the trail. Please contact Steve Marano if you would like to help. Read the rest of the article here and learn more about the Lenape trail here
