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Celebrating National Bike to Work Day, May 16th 2014

BIKE TO WORK DAY
MAY 16, 2014
Bicycle Safety (now you know!)
  • Bicycles on the roadway are, by law, vehicles with the same rights, and responsibilities as motorized vehicles.
  • Bicyclists should travel with traffic, in the shoulder or as far over as is safely possible.
  • In NJ, helmets are required for anyone under 18- however if you are biking in location where there is automobile traffic, it is highly recommended to take the extra step.
  • When riding in groups, never ride more than 2 across. On narrow roads with no shoulder or bike lane, ride single file. 
  • Use hand signals to notify motorists and other riders when you are turning or stopping



"More than half of the U.S. population lives within five miles of their workplace, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to work. With increased interest in healthy, sustainable and economic transportation options, it’s not surprising that, from 2000 to 2011, the number of bicycle commuters in the U.S. grew by more than 47 percent."

-The League of American Bicyclists

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Biking around town, you may notice some areas would be safer with designated bike lanes. Bike lanes can have dozens of benefits, including:
  • Bike lanes reduce injuries and death by around 50 percent for everyone where they’re installed.
  • Bike lanes reduce sidewalk cycling by as much as 80 percent.
  • Bike lanes on commercial streets are associated with a nearly 50 percent increase in retail sales.
- Source: Transportation Alternatives
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But May 16th is a great opportunity to give it a try, with road conditions as they are. Bikes have a traffic calming effect, improve personal health, and reduce your daily carbon footprint.

ESPECIALLY for a majority of people who travel 5 miles or less to a train, bus, or other. 
Take your bike there! Save on parking, save on gas, invigorate your body before work!
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In honor of this great day, I've mapped some leisure and commute rides. I challenge my followers to create usernames and share theirs as well! Once all of this information is available, who can ignore it?? (The site is free, and utilized globally!)

Here's a loop from the West Side of Roselle Park through Kenilworth and around Nomahegan Park in Cranford. Nice long leisure ride, easy visibility, relatively slow traffic (speed limit is 25 on these roads)

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/park-loop-leisure-ride

This is how I travel to Warinaco Park. Once you're at the park, it's a nice ride. Braving Galloping hill road can be tough- getting over to the left turn lanes require careful action.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/roselle-park-to-warinaco-park

This is the easiest way to get to Union Train Station, which has lots of bike parking and is well lit. It also has a coffee shop and heated waiting room. Highly recommended.

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/ride-to-union-train-station




HAPPY BIKING!
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