Bayonne is a car city. Roads here, like the rest of the country, were designed for cars, and the sidewalks for pedestrians. Cyclists fall into a grey area, usually trapped dangerously between two lines of vehicles,250 times larger. One lane of motorists travels much faster than bikes, and the other is parked, stationary, but at any moment can open a car door into a cyclist’s path. Cycling can be stressful and dangerous, but cities are increasingly taking steps to mitigate that danger through education and city planning. Fewer drivers can mean safer and more hospitable cities.
Earlier this month, the city of Bayonne took part in a yearlong study by the Voorhes Transportation Center, part of the Bloustein School of Public Planning at Rutgers University, in conjunction with the Hudson County Transportation Management Association (TMA). The study looks at walkability issues and the integration of bikes in Bayonne.
Complete streets
Complete Streets are designed to enable safe access for all who use streets, including pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and transit riders of all ages and abilities. They are designed to make it easy to cross streets, walk to shops, and cycle to work. They are essentially an updated version of the streets we have now, which have not changed in design since the 1950s.
Mack says “We’re not a complete streets town, but that is a part of the study.” Mack says that Bayonne’s new Master Plan, set to unveil in September, will address many of these contemporary concerns, including the possibility of introducing the Citibike bike-share program.
The study will make recommendations as part of a school travel plan. TMA Director Jay DiDomenico says the plan will make it easier for the city to apply for grants to improve infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians.
“The benefit is to make it so students can safely walk or bike to school,” DiDomenico said. The study will also recommend safer ways for parents to drop off students, possibly recommending multiple drop-off locations to reduce congestion and improve safety, as opposed to all parents trying to drop off students as close to the door as possible. “Have you ever been to a school at pickup or drop-off time?” he asked. “It’s chaos.”
“Some people think more people on bikes is going to be chaos and mayhem, but studies have shown it gets safer for the cyclists when there are more bikes on the road.” – Jay DiDomenico
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The reality
In cities today, fewer people are using cars. According to U.S. Census data, 23.1 percent of households in Bayonne have no vehicles, a much lower percentage than Jersey City (38.6), Hoboken (35.1), or West New York (36.3). Those without vehicles have access to viable modes of public transportation, such as light rail and bus, but the TMA wants more people to choose pedal power. That can only happen if cycling is seen as a viable alternative to cars, and with the current lack of bicycle infrastructure, it simply is not.
Richard Gonzalez, owner RG’s Bicycle Shop on Broadway, said he notices more people commuting back and forth from Jersey City to Bayonne. “A lot of people are finding they can get to work quicker with their bike,” he said, noting that a lot of places in the county, especially Jersey City, have lots of zoned parking. “That’s a problem,” he said.“You can’t just go and think you can park your car on a side street, or else they’re going to boot your car.”
Gonzalez says driving difficulties like those are contributing to more people choosing pedal power. His recommendation? “They need to make bike lanes,” he said.“The ones they have around here aren’t real bike lanes.” The “lanes” he is referring to are the bicycle signs painted on the street that are meant to remind drivers to share the road, as opposed to painted lanes that are meant to separate drivers and cyclists.
Gonzalez notices most people who commute to Bayonne are coming from downtown Jersey City and Hoboken and take routes that cut through Bayonne’s northeast end. He said, “The best thing they [the city]could do is link up the waterfront area.”
Luckily for Gonzalez and an increasing number of commuting cyclists, that is exactly what the city plans on doing. The Hudson River Waterfront Walkway that currently goes from Fort Lee to Liberty State Park is slated to extend to a park on the south end of Bayonne’s Military Ocean Terminal Base, making Bayonne’s East Side more commutable by bicycle.
Mayor James Davis said that Citibike is “something we’re looking into.” He says he doesn’t think Bayonne is dense enough for the program yet, but that is expected to change with all the development planned. “I think as we grow, and as you see these new apartment buildings going up, then it will be more feasible.” The city is looking into the East Side as a prime location for a bike-sharing pilot because in theory it could reduce traffic congestion and give residents the option to not drive or even own their own bicycle as opposed to joining a bike share program.
All about safety
Meanwhile, Mayor Davis and Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti held an event with the Bayonne Police Department at 16th Street Park on July 20 for kids in the summer program to learn bike safety.Officer Joe Lynch reminded the children of basic bike rules, and shared some advice for adults.
“One of the most common mistakes is riding against the flow of traffic,” Lynch said.“They think they can see me and I can see them, but people can’t see you when they’re turning. Because bicycles are a “means of conveyance,” according to Lynch, they are subject to the same traffic laws as cars. “It’s hard to explain to the kids,” he said, “because they don’t know the traffic laws like adults.”
The TMA helps to integrate bicycle safety into drivers-ed courses at high schools throughout the county. “We teach accident preventive techniques, not only how to drive safely, but how to anticipate the mistakes that others make.” DiDomenico said. Drivers know that cyclists can seem maniacal, but cyclist behavior, just like driver behavior, is influenced by the design of the streets on which they drive and ride. “We teach the driver how best to share the road,” DiDomenico said.“Many motorists have no conception of what it’s like to commute on bike.”
Cars in cities are necessary, but DiDomenico says getting people biking or walking can have benefits, including spurring local commerce, promoting good health, and making cities a safer place. His office aims to challenge much of the stigma associated with cycling. “Some people think more people on bikes is going to be chaos and mayhem,” he said,“but studies have shown it gets safer for the cyclists when there are more bikes on the road.”
Rory Pasquariello may be reached at roryp@hudsonreporter.com.