Sharing the Shore

Written by Laura Cerutti

People are not spending their summer sitting in shore traffic on the Garden State Parkway for nothing. With the amount of people flooding to shore towns on the weekends, it’s obvious that the Jersey Shore has a strong fan base. And after being stuck in shore traffic, what better way to enjoy the shore than on a bike ride or a walk?

Bicycles parked at the beach

Walking and biking are two favorite shore pastimes. The level ground makes a bike trip or long stroll easy to manage and the coastal views of the beach and bay are a novelty most people only get to enjoy a few times a year. For drivers, however, navigating the shore does not necessarily get easier after enduring a bumpy ride on the Garden State Parkway. Once you have finally reached your destination, it is imperative to remain vigilant when sharing the roads with an influx of bicyclists and walkers.

Biking and walking is a major component of the Jersey Shore’s culture. Most people stay within a short distance of the beach, shops, restaurants and boardwalk making it silly to use your car to get around. During my time at the beach I realized I go days without using my car. In fact, it usually stays parked in its spot from the time I get there until I reluctantly leave to head home. One reason my car stays in its place is because it’s hard to find parking after giving up a space, the other is because I find driving the local roads to be a stressful experience due to the swarms of bicyclists and pedestrians. I too find myself being more inclined to take part in the shore’s bike/walk culture more than I would at home, but no matter how I am traveling, my safety senses are heightened.

After observing the driving, walking and bicycling behaviors of those around me at the beach, I noticed these three modes of transportation do not exactly coexist peacefully. Too many times I have seen pedestrians jaywalking when a cross walk is only yards away, drivers failing to give the right-of-way to pedestrians who are actually in the crosswalks or bicyclists riding towards the beach on the wrong side of the street.

People of the shore travel in “vacation mode”. The bicyclists may only ever ride while there and never in the
off season, meaning they could be lacking regular road experience. Pedestrians can be seen heading to the beach while trying to balance several beach items like chairs, towels, and bags causing them to be less aware of their surroundings. And drivers can be distracted while searching for parking, looking for places to eat, or by being on their cell phones. When you mix these hazards and put them in a crowded shore town, unfortunate incidents are bound to happen.

Long Beach Island Shuttle Bus

To combat crashes involving pedestrians at the Jersey Shore, the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) recently launched the Street Smart campaign in Long Beach Island. Between 2009 and 2012, LBI had a total of 13 pedestrian related crashes. It was found that most of these crashes were caused by either pedestrians crossing outside of marked crosswalks or drivers failing to yield.
The goal for LBI’s Street Smart movement is to encourage both motorists and pedestrians to check their “vital signs” of obeying the speed limits, stopping for pedestrians, waiting for the “walk” signal at intersections, and crossing at crosswalks.

Just like Long Beach Island, other popular shore towns experience a rise in pedestrians and bicycle related crashes, especially during the summer months. Between 2009 and 2014, municipalities like Long Branch, Belmar and Point Pleasant Beach have all had an uptick in crashes between May and September. Similar to LBI, these crashes were most likely caused by the disconnect between drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists.

All road users have the right to a safe passage and everyone needs to do their part in keeping the roadways safe, not matter how you choose to travel. In busy areas, like the Jersey Shore in the summer, knowing your part in sharing the road is key to creating a travel-friendly environment. Whether you choose to ride, walk, or driver, we have a few key tips for all road users!

Bicyclists:

• Ride Right, meaning with traffic.
• Behave as a vehicle, meaning         stop at stop signs and use turn           signals.
• Watch the door zone of         distracted drivers
• Get to know NJ’s bike laws!
• Get a bell to alert others on the         road when you are approaching.

Pedestrians:

• Stick to the sidewalks or walk to the left side of the street! (Ride         Right, Walk Left!)
• Cross at crosswalks! Jay walking could earn you a $54 ticket.
• Cross at the “walk sign.”

Drivers:

• Scan the road for pedestrians and bicyclists.
• Be prepared to stop.
• Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks or you could face a $200 fine         and two points.
• Slow down! A small increase in speed can make the biggest         difference. Pedestrians and bicyclists are less protected and more         vulnerable. If a pedestrian is struck by a vehicle traveling at 20         MPH they have a 90% chance of surviving, if hit at 40 MPH         that number drops to a 10% chance of surviving.

Why Biking To Work Is Kid-Friendly

Written by Laura Cerutti

Part 2 of 2. Read part 1 here.

Last week we talked about making biking to work with a child more convenient and less difficult, but we understand that there are some safety concerns when it comes to riding with your little ones. After all, it is your natural instinct as a parent to protect your kids. One of the of the dads from the Bike to Work Challenge recommends going slow, making sure your bike is in working order, and ensuring that all of the connections to your child's ride-along apparatus are tight and secure. It is also imperative that your child is wearing a properly-fitted helmet at all times! Now that you know why you should bike to work with your kids, here's how you can get started:

Get the right equipment

Before they are old enough to ride confidently on their own, there are plenty of options for bike seats, trailers and cargo bikes to tow your little one.

REI ($299)

REI (179.95)

The dads from the Bike to Work Challenge both chose to use trailers. One father made arrangements to leave his daughter's bike trailer at her school before continuing his 10 mile trip to work. He then swings by the school to pick up the empty trailer on his ride home. He later informed us that he eventually ungraded to a Weehoo igo trailer that allows his daughter to become an active rider and pedal along with him to propel them forward.

If you have multiple kids, you don't have to pick favorites on who gets to ride with you! It is possible to attach multiple kids to one bike, just check out how this mom from Portland rides with six kids. (Yes! You read that correctly. Six kids, one bike!).

Six kids is no deterrent for this Portland mom.

Plan your route

On a weekend or a day off, ride alone to your child’s school and then ride by work. Time yourself and take note of bike lanes and hazardous intersections. After you are comfortable with your ride, bring your son or daughter along so they can get also get used to the ride and you can get used to them being hitched up to your bike. Once you are both comfortable, get ready to bike to school and work together!

Why Biking To Work Is Kid-Friendly

Written by Laura Cerutti
Part 1 of 2 

Most of us know the countless benefits of biking to work. It is known to relieve stress, elevate mood, and increase work productivity. It is also a major money saver and healthier alternative (for you and the environment) to sitting alone in traffic. Riding to work doesn’t have to stop, or fail to start, because you have a family or young children to take to school. If we know commuting by bike is good for us, why not instill these benefits in our children and take them along as we ride to work?

When confronted with the idea of riding a bike to work and bringing the kids along, most parents jump to the conclusion that it is inconvenient, unsafe and way too difficult. When reaching out to riders for our annual Bike to Work Challenge, we often met interested parents who would love to ride to the office but declined to register, feeling it would be near impossible to get their kids to school and make it to work on time.

This year's Bike to Work Challenge turned out to be a milestone year for TransOptions in many ways, but one of the most significant accomplishment came from two dads who submitted photos of them biking to work with their son and daughter.

These parents showed us that with the right equipment, some preparation, and the right attitude, having your kids ride along with you to work is actually teaching them a valuable lesson. Not only are you spending quality time with them outside the car, but you are also teaching them the importance of a gasoline-free, healthy, and inexpensive way to get to around.

The most important thing you need to do as a bike riding parent, is set a good example by riding responsibly. Studies on teen driving show that your kids start learning how to drive when they are in the car seat. Kids are like sponges, they observe everything, take it all in, and mimic what mom and dad do. If you are an aggressive driver that forgets turn signals, speeds, or talks on the phone while driving, chances are your kids will grow up to display the same unsafe behaviors behind the wheel. 

The same goes for bike riding. While your kids are hitched on to your bicycle, they are watching your every move. Obeying traffic laws, scanning for safety, using proper hand signals, and being friendly to drivers and pedestrians will shape your children’s future bicycling habits. Teaching your kids the valuable lesson of sharing the road will carry over to when they are ready to ride to school on their own, or even better, as adults riding to work.

Check back next Monday for Part 2. We'll show you how you can get started on sharing your bike to work trip with your kids.