Another new year has come! It should be to no one's surprise that 2014's most popular resolution is to "lose weight." So it's probably safe to say that most will probably resolve to exercise more and diet, but did you know that there is another diet that can help your whole community be healthier? It's called a "Road Diet" and they are quickly catching on across the nation!

A Road Diet is a low cost and simple idea that can have a dramatic effect on the safety of a neighborhood, especially around urban and suburban "main street" streets with four lanes. Simply put, a Road Diet reduces the number of motor vehicle through lanes from four lanes to two lanes and adds a turn lane in the middle. Depending on circumstances, roadway designers can also add amenities like bike lanes, pedestrian refuge crossing islands, wider sidewalks, curb extensions (to shorten crosswalk distances) or street trees. Additionally motor vehicle lanes are often narrowed, causing a reduction in road speeds to create a safer environment, an effect is referred to as "traffic calming." 


To many, the idea of a Road Diet flies in the face of a so called "common sense" approach to increase traffic flow. In fact many critics of Road Diets are often motorists who frequently oppose them out of fear that their commute will take longer. On the other side are supporters of Road Diets who point out that while it's true that Road Diets are designed to reduce vehicle speeds, recent research suggests that they also increase roadway efficiency by reducing the amount of vehicle interactions, lane changes and blind spots as well as reducing lane back-ups due to turning vehicles.

However the main focus of a Road Diet is safety. In fact, as of January 2012, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety added Road Diets on their official list of Proven Safety Countermeasure

For more info, check out this video from StreetFilms.org

 

MBA: Road Diet

LET'S KEEP THE MOMENTUM GOING!

Want to learn more about transportation and public space issues? Follow us as we kick off 2014 with inspirational summits!

 

The NJ Bike & Walk Coalition Summit - February 8th 

Rutgers University - New Brunswick, NJ 

At this year's NJBWC Summit you'll learn about current State and Federal bicycle and pedestrian legal issues affecting your community as well as various funding sources you can use for your local organization. You'll also get a chance to meet face to face with hundreds of New Jersey's leaders and enthusiasts in the bicycle and pedestrian field who share an interest to make New Jersey a better place to live.

 

For registration or more information be sure to visit NJBWC.org.

 

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Youth Bike Summit - February 14th - 16th

The New School - New York, NY

Gaining Momentum: Youth Bike Summit 2012
Gaining Momentum: Youth Bike Summit 2012

The Youth Bike Summit is a three day gathering of leaders and enthusiasts from around the nation to engage youth, bicycles, education and advocacy. 

 

This year the Summit is inviting Michelle, Malia & Sasha Obama to be the Keynote Speakers at the Summit and are asking for your help to get 1,000 letters, postcards or video invites to the White House by the end of this month! Click here to download a letter template and instructions on how you can participate.

 

For registration or more info visit YouthBikeSummit.org.

 

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National Bike Summit March 3-5

Renaissance Hotel - Washington, D.C. 

The National Bike Summit is the largest bicycle summit, gathering more than 700 advocates, educators and enthusiasts from all 50 states to share bicycle success stories and best practices as well as to build momentum for a more Bicycle Friendly America.

In fact there are so many reasons why you should attend this year's National Bike Summit that we can't list them all, so instead, watch this video by the League of American Bicyclists!

For more information or registration visit BikeLeague.org
THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS:
THE 2014 BIKE TO WORK CHALLENGE!


motionmailapp.com

Last year's super exciting Challenge pitted 160 bike commuters in a free, friendly competition where everyone from veteran commuters to novice riders competed for prizes!

The best part about the Challenge is that the top prizes are raffled off based on the amount of bike commutes you take, regardless of the distance! So drive the hardest half of your commute and park in a park and ride, put your bike on a bus, ride the train or carpool with a friend for your trip home. As long as you include riding a bike at some point in your trip it counts!

Think your commute is too far, too hard or too overwhelming to bike? No problem! Sign up to one of our classes below to inspire and educate yourself before May or contact us with any questions or best routing options.
NOW IS YOUR TURN TO LEARN!
 
The New Year brings new opportunities for us to introduce more of our neighbors to the joys of bike riding and we couldn't be more excited! Our Bike Right� classes have something for everyone from experienced riders to those who have yet to learn to balance, adult and kids alike. 
 
Defensive Biking Skills Workshop
 
Last year we helped dozens of adults gain the knowledge and skills to ride some of the most intimidating roads, we taught hundreds of kids to respect the rules of the road and taught hundreds of people of all ages how to balance on a bike for the first time! 
 
Learn to Ride
 
Now it's your turn. Our experienced bike coaches are ready to help you make 2014 the year you get out and Bike Right�!

Contact Bill Feeney to schedule a FREE class for your group 
or
Check out our schedule of classes below and register today! 
JANUARY BIKE QUIZ
With the all the football frenzy this month, it's a good idea to bike and use public transit as much as possible. Before you go, you should know that NJ Transit Trains have some restrictions on when you can board with your bike. 
 
On which holiday does NJ Transit NOT allow you to board with a standard frame (non-fold-able) bicycle? 
 

 

UpcomingEvents

ADULT DEFENSIVE BIKING WORKSHOP

March 25th, 6:00pm - 8:00pm 

April 1st, April 8th, 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Morris Hills Adult School, Rockaway

(Participants must attend all three sessions)

 
March 29th, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Essex County Environmental Center, Roseland
 

KIDS LEARN TO RIDE

April 6th, 2:00pm - 4:00pm 

Byram Municipal Parking Lot, Stanhope

 

KIDS LEARN TO RIDE

April 27th, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Mt. View Elementary School, Flanders

 

KIDS LEARN TO RIDE

May 17, 10:30am - 12:30pm

Essex County Environmental Center, Roseland

 

KIDS LEARN TO RIDE

May 18, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Mt. View Elementary School, Flanders

 

 
If you would like to schedule your own bike class or workshop, contact BFeeney@TransOptions.org 
or call 973-267-7600.

 

 

View all TransOptions' upcoming events...