Some interesting info came out of Sustainable Princeton's most recent Great Ideas breakfast at the Princeton Public Library. One of the issues raised was the riding of bicycles on sidewalks. Mayor Lempert explained that, contrary to many people's impression, bicycling on sidewalks is legal, except along the town side of Nassau Street, where signs to that effect are posted. She hastened to add, however, that bicyclists using sidewalks need to be sensitive to pedestrians, and also get off their bikes when crossing streets.
(edited to reflect comment) There was also word of a proposal to rework a portion of Hamilton Avenue to make it more bicycle-friendly, and interest in providing bicyclists riding between Princeton and West Windsor with a route away from automobile traffic. It would require, however, a new bridge to be built over Route 1. If that comes to (by)pass, then Biking Rev-Olution will be more than a catchy title for an edifying breakfast.
2 comments:
The Mayor is working with other local mayors to try to get a bridge built for pedestrians and cyclists on Washington Road so they can cross Route 1 safely, but there is no active initiative to convert the Dinky right-of-way to a bikeway. I would describe that as a 'theoretical idea' rather than an initiative.
As for cyclists riding on sidewalks, it is not really good for anybody, but this is what you get when you don't provide proper cycling facilities. The Hamilton Avenue bike lane proposal has been approved by the town pedestrian/bicycling and Traffic and Transportation committees, but is on ice as Council considers the ordinance. At the last Council meeting, the project was opposed and did not get introduced. It is possible that it might get introduced in January, if some of the Council members would support it. This would just be for one small section of Hamilton, between Harrison Road and Snowden.
Thanks Sam for the clarifications.
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