News
UPDATE from New Jersey Bike Walk Coalition
2/2/12
This morning, the
Petri-Johnson-Lipinsky Amendment to restore dedicated Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School funding to the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act failed by two votes, 27 yea, 29 no. Thank you to everyone who contacted Representatives LoBiondo and Sires, asking them to support this amendment.
And a special thanks to both Representatives themselves, who voted in favor of the amendment. Mr. LoBiondo, a Republican, stood firm and voted for what makes sense for his state in the face of intense partisan pressure. He deserves our thanks and respect for this.
The vote is a major set-back for bicycling and walking and a balanced transportation system, but this fight is not yet over. Watch for further alerts on this.
In a related development, the House has also proposed ending dedicated funding for public transit and funding it with general fund dollars instead. This means one of the most reliable sources of transit funding (federal formula funds) would become one of the least reliable (general funding). Transit funding would become subject to the political process year-by-year rather than having a dedicated source.
Many of you have noted our recent comments about NJ Transit and its restrictive policies towards bicycles on its trains. However, on this issue we stand firm with public transit advocates and urge very strongly that this dedicated funding be retained. Tomorrow, the House Ways and Means Committee will vote on this.
We ask those of you who are
Representative Bill Pascrell's district, the 8th Congressional District of New Jersey, call his office at
202-225-5751 and ask to speak with someone about the surface transportation revenue bill (HR 3864) and request that he vote it down because it would end dedicated funding for public transit? This would make federal funding for public transportation unreliable and subject to Congress's whims and annual funding battles, jeopardizing quality of service in the region.
Mr. Pascrell is a member of the Ways & Means Committee and he's likely to be on our side on this, but your call will help ensure he knows this is a priority.
So, please CALL or FAX. Contact numbers are below:
Representative Pascrell:
So often, we complain that our Congress does not do enough. Now, they are as busy as can be. Unfortunately, so much of what they are doing is antithetical to those desiring to improve their communities by maximizing more effective and less polluting modes of transportation.
Let them know how you feel about this!
Jim Nicholson
Executive Director
Please spread the word about the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, send this message to a friend, or a lot of friends. And if you haven't yet become a member of the Coalition yourself, now is a great time to do it. Our voice is made louder by the larger number of our membership.
New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition
******************************************************
It is important for all of us to contact our NJ Representatives and urge them to preserve dedicated funding for bicycling and walking through Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements.
Republican: Frank LoBiondo
Democrat: Albio Sires
Whether you're a constituent in their districts or not, call today.
UPDATE from NJ Bike Walk Coalition:
If you are in New Jersey but do not live in the 2nd (LoBiondo) or 13th (Sires) district, please CALL or FAX their offices to ask for the preservation of dedicated bike/walk funding. If you are a non-constituent, but a concerned citizen of New Jersey asking a New Jersey representative to take a stand, Mr. Sires's and Mr. LoBiondo's government e-mail contact system will ask for your zip code and then tell you that these representatives do not accept email from persons living outside their districts.
So, please CALL or FAX. Contact numbers are below:
Representative LoBiondo:
Representative Sires:
Jim Nicholson
Executive Director
NJ Bike Walk Coalition
This from America Walks:
Next Thursday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will vote on the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, a bill that eliminates crucial funds for walking and biking. A US Representative from your state is on this Committee and in a key position to save dedicated funding for walking and biking.
We've made it easy for you to contact your US Representative to ask them to vote to preserve walking and biking. The red "take action" button will direct you to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership website where you can contact your US Representative, today.
The American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, the long awaited multi-year Transportation Bill, eliminates the two largest programs that fund walking and biking infrastructure-Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School. Without these programs, communities all over the country will lose resources to build the sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that make walking and biking safe and accessible in your community. We can't let that happen!
If you'd like to write a personal letter to your Representative on the Transportation Committee, tell them:
- Walking and biking make up 12 percent of all trips, but only 1.5 percent of federal funding.
- Two out of three pedestrian deaths take place on roads built with federal funding. Ensuring funds for sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways help end preventable deaths and make roads safer for everyone.
- When town centers are walking- and biking-friendly, business and economic development improves.
Thank you for all that you do to keep walking and bicycling safe and accessible.
Sincerely,
Yolanda Savage
National Campaign Director
America Walks
Tired of talking about the world’s problems? Why not hear about smart solutions? Montclair’s “It’s In Our Power” campaign, the township’s Environmental Affairs office, and Community Green present a “climate change solutions” movie that doesn’t even care if you know about climate change.
“carbon nation” will be shown at the Montclair Public Library, 50 So. Fullerton Avenue, at 6:30 P.M. on Thursday, January 26. All events at the Library are free.
Immediately after the film, a brief special presentation by a home energy expert will offer simple solutions for saving energy and money, followed by an open public discussion.
“carbon nation” is an optimistic, solutions-based film that demonstrates how tackling climate change can boost our economy, increase national and energy security, promote health, and protect a clean environment. The film highlights a range of clean energy technologies that are taking root in the U.S., including wind, solar, geothermal, bioenergy, combined heat and power, new generation electric vehicles, as well as a range of cost-effective energy efficiency measures.
It turns out that there is already a good consensus, among a large and varied group of Americans, that using less energy and developing renewable energy sources are great ideas. We are not nearly as divided on climate and clean energy issues as many media accounts would have us
believe, particularly when the focus of discussion is on finding innovative solutions to the growing energy demands of our country and
the world.
Montclair has been designated a “Climate Showcase Community” by the US EPA; the “It’s In Our Power” campaign is helping residents to take easy steps to use less energy, save money, and consequently reduce our emissions that contribute to climate change.
We have heard about the problems; now it is time for action on the solutions! Bring a friend who is interested in discovering the best new
opportunities we face. Come to “carbon nation” and help decide what we can do as individuals, and as a community.
For years, “Eco” Ed Schwartz of Green Living Solutions has advised people on home energy efficiency and sustainable improvements, so
homeowners save money and energy, make their living space more comfortable and healthy, and lower their carbon footprint. His
presentation after the film will provide solutions, and answer any questions.
Join us for the movie, the presentation, and a vigorous public discussion. This is one of a series of free Green Films put on by
Montclair’s office of Environmental Affairs, and CommunityGreen.org. For more information, please call (973) 509-5721, or email
grussell@montclairnjusa.org <mailto:grussell@montclairnjusa.org> .
Gray Russell
Environmental Coordinator
Office of Environmental Affairs
Township of Montclair
205 Claremont Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042
tel.: (973) 509-5721
fax: (973) 509-9589
grussell@montclairnjusa.org
Bike & Walk Monclair is offering it’s first ever Bike Maintenance class. The class is open to the public. It will take place on Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 12:00-3:00 at the Firehouse on Pine Street. Please click here to learn more and to sign up for this class.
Maintaning and repairing your bicycle is an important aspect of any rider’s perspective. This class will take some of the mystery and angst out of that. It is a basic, hands-on workshop that presents what every cyclist needs to know about bike maintenance.
Class is divided into four parts:
1) Pre-ride checks
2) Ride repairs
3) Winterizing your bike
4) Opening the season
The workshop will last three hours. All participants should bring their bike, and a basic tool kit (allen wrenches to fit the nuts and bolts on the bike, a phillips screwdriver). Rags and tire patch kits will be provided, as will an air pump. Please wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty. This is a hands-on class.
Questions or concerns may be directed to Dickson Lane (973)280-9686 or to info@bikewalkmontlcair.org. Parking is available.
Click on the link to sign up for this class: Bike Maintenance Class
Bike&Walk Montclair member and environmental leader, Pat Kenschaft, sends us this information bout the upcoming Community-wide Swap on January 28th.
She says, “A crucial step in preserving our environment is reusing things as long as they are usable, so we don’t use the water, energy, and resources required in making new things.”
Do you have lots of stuff around your home that you don’t use and want to
get rid of? Or how about a coat you received this holiday season that doesn’t fit or a book that you know (just between us) you’ll never read – donate your new or gently used things to the Hillside Winter Swap.
Or maybe you didn’t get those pants or that game you were hoping for. Come
browse the Hillside Swap for great finds. The Swap will take place on Saturday, January 28th, with drop off of donations on Friday, January 27th.
As always, the swap is free and open to everyone. All the information is
below.
THE 16TH FREE COMMUNITY-WIDE SWAP
Saturday, January 28th from 9:00 to 11:00
SWAP ITEMS:
Adult’s & Children’s Clothing
- Coats & jackets
- Sweaters & sweatshirts
- Pants
- Shirts & blouses
- Skirts & dresses
- Shoes & sandals
Sports Equipment
- Soccer balls, cleats & shin guards
- Rollerblades and rollerskates
- Mitts, balls & bats
- Hockey gear
- Lacrosse gear
- NO bikes or skis
Baby’s equipment
- Strollers, highchairs
- Baby swings, bouncy seats
- Portacribs, exersaucers
- NO carseats, boosterseats, potties or full-sized cribs
Also
- DVD’s, videos, CD’s, adult & kids books (NO computer manuals or text books)
- New toys & unopened (or taped shut) games & puzzles
- NO computers or printers
The Deal:
● Everything will be FREE. Come and take whatever you want!
● You do not have to donate anything to take things.
● To make this work, we need donations of any of the above items. If you
are making donations, everything must be in very good condition. This means it looks like something you would put on yourself or your own child, or want your child to play with.
● Drop off all donations on Friday, January 27th between 3:40 and 6:30 at
Hillside in the gym. (If you cannot drop off at that time, please email
Jane Marcus to try to make other arrangements. _janeson094@aol.com_
(mailto:janeson094@aol.com) .)
● We CANNOT ACCEPT: games or puzzles unless in original wrapping and
still sealed (or taped closed), or carseats, potties, full-sized cribs, skis,
bikes, computers, printers, text books and computer manuals.
● If you can volunteer to help on Friday or Saturday, or if you have
questions about the swap, please email Jane Marcus at _janeson094@aol.com_
(mailto:janeson094@aol.com) . Hillside School is at 54 Orange Road in Montclair.
(If dropping off donations between 3:40 and 4:00, please enter on St.
Lukes Place.)
Marty Epstein, of Marty’s Reliable Cycles, just sent us this info about the 2012 Gran Fondo NJ.
The festival weekend: September 7 – 9, 2012 – the last big ride of the summer…
The Routes – four routes offering increasing levels of challenge:
- Gran Fondo (100+ Miles, 7,800’ of climbing, five Rest Stops, four timed hill climbs)
- Medio Fondo (~60 miles, 4,800’ of climbing, three Rest Stops, two timed hill climbs)
- Piccolo Fondo (~40 miles, 3,200’ of climbing, one Rest Stop, one timed hill climb)
- Breve Fondo (~20 miles, 1,400’ of climbing, one Rest Stop)
All routes start and finish in Morristown, NJ, and overlap with the Gran Fondo Route as much as practical – Weekend training rides all summer long previewing the routes.
The Weekend Festivities:
- Friday Night Film festival
- 4K Run
- Fun Run/Doggie Dash
- Community Garden Tours
- Kids Fondo
- Community Theater Entertainment
- Saturday morning Historic Bike Tour of Morris County
- Fondo Weekend Dining Discounts at select local eateries
- Fondo Weekend Hotel Discounts at select local hotels
- Sunday Speeches and Event Opening Ceremonies
- Ribbon Cutting and Ceremonial “Lap around the Green” by the Event Grand Marshal
- Breve, Piccolo, Medio and Gran Fondo rides
- Day-long Expo at Start/Finish
- Post-ride BBQ and locavore feast
- King of the Mountains, Queen of the Mountains and Team Awards ceremonies
Here is a link to a video of 2011 GranFondoNJ: http://vimeo.com/30232723
Link…
http://www.active.com/cycling/morristown-nj/gran-fondo-nj-2012-fz47
Video: Eat, Play, Live…Better Montclair
Listen to Montclair residents offer their own ideas on what could make our community healthier in this Partners for Health video on Eat, Play, Live…Better Montclair.
Video: Bike&Walk Montclair’s Story
Listen to the story of Bike&Walk Montclair in this Partners for Health interview of BWM President Laura Torchio.
Are Complete Streets Incomplete?
Gary Toth, Project for Public Spaces: Placemaking Blog, November 17, 2011
Gary Toth, Senior Director of Transportation Initiatives with the Project for Public Spaces, argues that in order for Complete Streets policies to be complete they need to move beyond just making space for cyclists, public transportation vehicles and riders, and pedestrians and design and operate roadways with all users in mind.
“Save The Date: 10th Annual Tour De Montclair 20 May 2012.”
John Lee, Black Tie And Flip Flops Blog: Discoveries, Musings and Passions of a Californian Lost in the Garden State, December 17, 2011
May 20, 2012 is the official date for the 10th Annual Tour de Montclair and what better way to gear up for the event but by making a New Year’s resolution to bike and walk more of course.
Read Montclair local John Lee’s latest post on the upcoming 10th Annual Tour de Montclair and view his slide show of Great Bikes of Montclair.
