The New Jersey Department of Transportation’s Bicycle & Pedestrian Resource Center (NJDOT BPRC) experienced a dynamic and eventful 2024. Supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) with funds from the Federal Highway Administration, NJDOT BPRC engaged in a variety of activities and initiatives over the past year which ranged from providing technical support to municipalities and publishing articles on the NJ Walks and Bikes blog, to researching significant subjects such as micromobility safety best practices and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on walking and bicycling. A list of highlights is provided below:
Technical Assistance
In 2024, the NJDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center published 12 NJ Walks and Bikes Blog articles for the newsletter, including:
- Unveiling Pandemic-Driven Shifts in Walking and Bicycling
- The Traffic Calming Effects of Delineated Bicycle Lanes, and other Rutgers University Micromobility Research Updates
- Advocacy in Action: Reflecting on The Street Project Screening and Discussion
- New Trails Funding Available: Active Transportation Infrastructure Investment Program
- Update: Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) is Back for Round 3: How New Jersey Can Get the Most Out of This Year’s Round
- Burlington County Awarded SS4A Grant
- Sign of the Times: The ‘Four Foot Minimum Clearance to Pass’ Sign and its Benefits
- Safety Action Plans: Get Involved and Learn More about Projects in Your County!
- Why We Say ‘Crash’ Not ‘Accident’ — And Why It Could Save Lives on Our Roadways
- Where to Donate Used Bikes in New Jersey – 2024 Update
- Collaboration between Transportation and Health Agencies: Insights from New BPRC Report
- Preventing Lithium-Ion Battery Fires: Tips for Micromobility Safety
The NJDOT BPRC conducted six NJ Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Council (BPAC) meetings with approximately 75 people in attendance at each meeting. During this year’s BPAC meetings, attendees had the opportunity to share knowledge and expand their perspectives on New Jersey’s past, present, and future needs, policies, and practices for making the state safer and healthier. In 2024, BPAC hosted 12 presentations on a broad range of topics, including:
- Walking and Cycling During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic by Hannah Younes
- Burlington County: Downtown Access for Bicyclists and Pedestrians by Mark Morley and Kendra Nelson
- Navigating Updates to the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) by Jermey Chrzan
- NJDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Assistance Program by Elise-Bremer-Nei, Bettina Zimny, and Pete Kremer
- NJ TRANSIT Bike Lockers and Shelters by Fred Storey
- NJ Bike & Walk Coalition Bike Deposits by Paul Mickiewicz
- Outside, Together: NJDEP’s 2023-2028 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) as it Relates to Trails by Mackenzie Piggott
- Applying for 2025 Federal Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside Program Funds by Julie Seaman
- NJ DCA Bicycle & Pedestrian Related Initiatives & Services by Samantha DeAndrea and Ramond Joseph
- New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Progress Report by Bettina Zimny and Tiffany Robinson
- Crash Data Availability and Best Practices across the United States by Dr. Hannah Younes
- EXPO Experimental Pop-Ups: Inspired Safe Streets, East Trenton Neighborhood by Cassidy Boulan
- Ensuring Safety in Micro-Mobility – UL Standards & Engagement by Jennifer Bradley
Staff responded to Help Desk requests submitted to bikeped@ejb.rutgers.edu or (848) 932-2899 on a range of topics, including rules and regulations concerning e-bikes and scooters; NJ Title 39; Complete Streets policy adoption; bicycle donations; and crosswalk safety. Additionally, staff provided updates for pages on the BPRC website, including updated content for the Complete Streets Policy webinar, Complete Streets Policy Compilation, and Micromobility webpages.
Education and Training
NJDOT BPRC staff led and participated in many activities which expanded New Jerseyans’ understanding of bicycle and pedestrian laws and safety best practices, both with educational events for the public and with trainings for elected officials, planners, and other transportation professionals.
- Expanded web-based educational resources on micromobility.
- Hosted a screening of The Street Project and facilitated a discussion of community advocacy efforts working towards zero roadways fatalities and serious injuries.
- Hosted a Complete Streets webinar and a Complete Streets open house where participants asked questions regarding about developing, advocating for, and adopting Complete Streets policies in their communities.
- Presented at conferences, summits, and online meetings, including:
- NJ TransAction
- NJ Society of Municipal Engineers
- NJ Safe Routes Academy/NJ Bike and Walk Summit
- Complete Streets Working Group meetings
- NJDOT Research Showcase
- NJ League of Municipalities Conference
- APA NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference
- NJ AHPERD Drivers Education Conference
- NJ Bike and Walk Coalition SAFE Network Meeting
- Micromobility 2.0 Workshop: Smarter Strategies for Safe Travel
- NJ State Transportation Innovation Council
Research
The NJDOT BPRC made significant contributions to bicycle and pedestrian safety research of significance to vulnerable road users both in New Jersey and nationally. In 2024, BPRC staff:
- Provided input and expertise as stakeholders to multiple action items in the 2020 New Jersey Strategic Highway Safety Plan (SHSP)
- Completed research and published the following journal articles:
- Released the following report as part of its 2023-2024 research program:
- Made significant progress on our 2023-2024 research topics to inform decisions and policy, including the following reports that will be published in the coming months:
- Advancing Complete Streets for Neurodivergent Individuals: A Primer
- Development of a Micromobility Guide for New Jersey
- Systemic and Systematic Installation of Safety Countermeasures for Bicyclists and Pedestrians
- Life-Saving Lighting: Implementing Streetlighting with a Focus on Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety
- Low-Cost Pedestrian Safety Measures at Intersections and Crossings: Research and Case Studies from New Jersey
NJ Complete Streets Technical Assistance
These programs, funded by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) and in partnership with NJDOT, support municipalities by providing them with the knowledge, skills and resources to develop Complete Streets-related solutions. The Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) and Sustainable Jersey provided technical assistance to Belmar, Paterson, Readington, Verona, and Belleville, including demonstration projects in Verona and Belleville. Reports for these technical assistance activities are expected to be released in 2025.