Post by admin on Mar 5, 2010 16:42:40 GMT -5
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2010-03-03/Front_Page/Freehold_may_ask_DOT_for_bicycle_safety_review.html
Freehold may ask DOT for bicycle safety review
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Councilman John Newman is trying to make Freehold Borough a friendlier place for bicyclists.
With that goal in mind, Newman brought the idea of having the state Department of Transportation (DOT) come to town to help plan safe walkways for pedestrians and safe passages for individuals who ride bicycles.
He discussed the issue at a recent Borough Council meeting.
“I reached out to the DOT and they informed me that they will provide an engineer to come here and evaluate our town and help to make it more pedestrianfriendly and bicycle-friendly,” Newman said.
There will not be a cost to Freehold Borough for the DOT review.
Newman discussed what he said are the benefits of a town with more bicycle riders, including the fact that bicycles are used for recreation, for fitness, to help a community stay “green,” to increase the quality of life and to save money.
Mayor Michael Wilson supported the idea of a DOT review.
Newman said the DOT wants a resolution of support from the council. The resolution would include a commitment to make a good faith effort to implement the recommendations of the department’s review.
Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina said he would like to meet with a representative of the DOT before moving ahead with the review.
Newman provided council members with material from the DOT’s Local Bicycle/ Pedestrian Planning Assistance Program, which states that in order to make New Jersey a better place to bicycle and walk, “It is essential that infrastructure improvements be undertaken to create safe access for these modes.”
The material states that the DOT has retained the services of several consultants with expertise in local bicycle and pedestrian planning.
The services are available to provide technical assistance to counties and municipalities with a desire to undertake various planning activities for the “non-motorized” modes, according to the materials.
The materials also state that the study must have a public outreach aspect, including continuing involvement by official representatives of the county and the municipality as well as local citizens.
Freehold may ask DOT for bicycle safety review
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO Staff Writer
FREEHOLD — Councilman John Newman is trying to make Freehold Borough a friendlier place for bicyclists.
With that goal in mind, Newman brought the idea of having the state Department of Transportation (DOT) come to town to help plan safe walkways for pedestrians and safe passages for individuals who ride bicycles.
He discussed the issue at a recent Borough Council meeting.
“I reached out to the DOT and they informed me that they will provide an engineer to come here and evaluate our town and help to make it more pedestrianfriendly and bicycle-friendly,” Newman said.
There will not be a cost to Freehold Borough for the DOT review.
Newman discussed what he said are the benefits of a town with more bicycle riders, including the fact that bicycles are used for recreation, for fitness, to help a community stay “green,” to increase the quality of life and to save money.
Mayor Michael Wilson supported the idea of a DOT review.
Newman said the DOT wants a resolution of support from the council. The resolution would include a commitment to make a good faith effort to implement the recommendations of the department’s review.
Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina said he would like to meet with a representative of the DOT before moving ahead with the review.
Newman provided council members with material from the DOT’s Local Bicycle/ Pedestrian Planning Assistance Program, which states that in order to make New Jersey a better place to bicycle and walk, “It is essential that infrastructure improvements be undertaken to create safe access for these modes.”
The material states that the DOT has retained the services of several consultants with expertise in local bicycle and pedestrian planning.
The services are available to provide technical assistance to counties and municipalities with a desire to undertake various planning activities for the “non-motorized” modes, according to the materials.
The materials also state that the study must have a public outreach aspect, including continuing involvement by official representatives of the county and the municipality as well as local citizens.