NJ Walks and Bikes Blog

Whether due to health benefits, environmental factors, or financial reasons, more people are becoming bicycle commuters. In fact, cycling has grown in popularity as a primary means of transportation throughout the past decade. The US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) reports that there were nearly twice as many bicycle commuters in 2009 than 2000. In New Jersey alone, between 2007 and 2011, the number of people who rode their bike to work increased by 16.59% [i]. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) has recognized these trends throughout the state, and has been working with municipalities to provide residents with opportunities to use alternative modes of transportation. Similarly, they have also provided assistance to municipalities in the form of bicycle and pedestrian planning; these municipalities include some of the state’s higher education facilities such as Richard Stockton College in Galloway Township and Stevens Institute of Technology in the City of Hoboken. Additionally, New Jersey’s eight TMA’s provide a great deal of assistance to cyclists. By providing bicycle racks at transit stops, or assisting riders in identifying the most suitable roads for commuting to work or school on a bike, the TMA’s serve as a valuable resource for a budding cyclist looking to make “the switch.”