New Bicycle Parking Regulation

[bikecoalition]

The new bicycle parking regulation in the Borough is very unfair for bicyclists. I posted my thoughts on the WalkBikeJersey Blog, which is a news source for bicycle and pedestrian issues in the state and is run by bicycle and pedestrian advocates.

walkbikejersey.blogspot.com/2009/12/freeholds-anti-bike-parking-policy.html

The ordinance identifies bicycles as a nuisance. Bicycles are a clean, healthy and viable form of transportation that can reduce the burden of parking for short trips. 8 parked bicycles take up the same amount of real estate as one parked car.

I have visited Freehold several times to access the Monmouth Heritage Trail. I can imagine a nightmare scenario of police ticketing out of town visitors who lock their bicycle to a signpost to eat lunch somewhere.

What the borough should be doing is embracing bicycles:

1 - Repeal the bike parking ordinance.

2 - Continue the purchase of bike racks for the downtown area. The borough should consider these bike parking best practices when buying and siting bike racks.

www.bicyclecoalition.org/files/Bike%20Parking%20Racks%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

3 - Develop a bicycle and pedestrian master plan for the borough. NJ DOT will do this upon request for free. This plan will also help prioritize bike routes for improvement and identify the state and federal funding sources to pay for them.

4 - Develop a new ordinance that requires bicycle parking for all new commercial and parking projects.

5 - Connect the Monmouth Heritage Trail to downtown with bike lanes and signage.

6 - Enforce all traffic laws consistently, this includes bicycle scofflaws and motorists that harass bicyclists.

7 - Develop a bicycle education program in the schools, again federal and state planning and financial assistance is available through NJ DOT.

8 - Once these elements are in place apply for bicycle friendly community status with the League of American Bicyclists which recognizes these positive efforts.

bicyclefriendlycommunity.org

[lisas84]

You mention a potential scenario on the Monmouth Heritage Trail. Do they have bike racks placed strategically on it for people to enjoy a respite?

You have some great ideas here. Looking long-term your number 8 is truly wonderful.

[casualreader]

Bike Coalition Dude:

You are absolutely right about this bicycle issue. The bike ordinance is a thinly veiled attempt to further harass the brown people of Freehold.

As I read the APP article the borough changed the date of implementation and agreed to more bicycle racks only after they were challenged by Latino groups.

I am sure those same groups will be carefully monitoring the ordinance to see how it is implemented and who is effected. Can you spell -- L A W S U I T???

The better approach is the one you suggest. Develop bike lanes, put up more bicycle racks {They should be all over the town}, and ask developers to install bicycle racks as a condition of approval for new businesses {like they do for cars}.

Casually Biking Into Your Heart

[freeholdbiker]

I too am very embarrassed for my hometown, Freehold. All over the world, cities and towns are striving to make their communities less auto-centric. Freehold is going in the opposite direction by discouraging and disparaging bicycle use.

Great suggestion Bicycle Coalition guy. We need more forward thinking people like you in this state.

[bikepedlt]

Bicyclecoalition is spot on. Not only does he accurately sum up the Freehold ordinance, he provides viable solutions and alternatives to a much more sustainable approach. It would benefit Freehold to take his suggestions seriously.

[admin]

Dec 29, 2009 10:27:43 GMT -5 bikecoalition said:

The new bicycle parking regulation in the Borough is very unfair for bicyclists. I posted my thoughts on the WalkBikeJersey Blog, which is a news source for bicycle and pedestrian issues in the state and is run by bicycle and pedestrian advocates.

walkbikejersey.blogspot.com/2009/12/freeholds-anti-bike-parking-policy.html

The ordinance identifies bicycles as a nuisance. Bicycles are a clean, healthy and viable form of transportation that can reduce the burden of parking for short trips. 8 parked bicycles take up the same amount of real estate as one parked car.

I have visited Freehold several times to access the Monmouth Heritage Trail. I can imagine a nightmare scenario of police ticketing out of town visitors who lock their bicycle to a signpost to eat lunch somewhere.

What the borough should be doing is embracing bicycles:

1 - Repeal the bike parking ordinance.

2 - Continue the purchase of bike racks for the downtown area. The borough should consider these bike parking best practices when buying and siting bike racks.

www.bicyclecoalition.org/files/Bike%20Parking%20Racks%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf

3 - Develop a bicycle and pedestrian master plan for the borough. NJ DOT will do this upon request for free. This plan will also help prioritize bike routes for improvement and identify the state and federal funding sources to pay for them.

4 - Develop a new ordinance that requires bicycle parking for all new commercial and parking projects.

5 - Connect the Monmouth Heritage Trail to downtown with bike lanes and signage.

6 - Enforce all traffic laws consistently, this includes bicycle scofflaws and motorists that harass bicyclists.

7 - Develop a bicycle education program in the schools, again federal and state planning and financial assistance is available through NJ DOT.

8 - Once these elements are in place apply for bicycle friendly community status with the League of American Bicyclists which recognizes these positive efforts.

bicyclefriendlycommunity.org

bikecoalition,

Thank you very much for taking the time to post here. As I mentioned previously, I went to a council meeting in order to advocate for looking at the bike issues through a recreational stance. Your ideas backed that up and you articulated and outlined better ideas than I did- just what I was hoping to see.

While I mentioned the local Henry Hudson Trail and the rails to trails groups that can support and assist those efforts, I had no even thought about the Monmouth Heritage Trail. That is a very good asset that includes a tourist attraction to the town.

AS Lisa mentioned, your item number 8 is a very good goal. It pushes us into looking at bike riding and as an asset. Making this town more bike friendly is a win/win for everybody and can only enhance the borough. .

[admin]

I think I erred. I was thinking of some thing else pertaining to the Monmouth Heritage Trail. Upon doing a google search, it comes back as the Henry Hudson Trail.

I was thinking of this, which comes nowhere near the borough.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey_Coastal_Heritage_Trail_Route

www.nps.gov/archive/neje/home.htm

[bikecoalition]

Hey, great responses. I am a bicycle advocate by profession but our organization is based in Philadelphia and for various reasons our influence does not go beyond Burlington and Mercer Counties.

bicyclecoalition.org

However I would strongly suggest that people look into supporting the NJ Bicycle Coalition. It's a new organization that wishes to represent cyclists statewide and they will be hosting a statewide Bicycle Summit in February. njbike.org/

The Monmouth Heritage Trail is shaping up to be a major regional destination. Eventually it will be connected with the Henry Hudson Trail at the Matawan Train Station. This will be the final link in a seamless trail from Sandy Hook to Freehold. With direct ferry and rail connections to car-free New Yorkers, towns along the trail should begin thinking about the potential economic benefits.