Hudson TMA-Keeping Riders Safe on Two Wheels This Summer! - Cross ...
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TMA of New Jersey Newsletter Series
The Transportation Management Association Council of NJ (TMAC NJ) is comprised of the Executive
Directors of New Jersey's eight Transportation Management Associations (TMA). TMAs are non-profit,
public/private partnership organizations that work with businesses, commuters, county, and local
governments, and regional and state agencies to implement programs that reduce traffic congestion and
improve air quality. TMA services are available in every county in NJ. This quarterly newsletter is
designed to educate and inform its readers about the impactful work NJ’s TMAs are doing to improve the
mobility needs of all persons in NJ. For information about the TMA serving your area, click here.
Hudson TMA- Keeping Riders Safe
on Two Wheels This Summer!
With the Summer Wind blowing into Hudson County, more
and more residents are exploring the County on two
wheels. In order to keep these residents of all ages safe, the
Hudson TMA has been working with Hudson County
municipalities and local police departments to remind riders
of some of the basic rules of the road so that they can ride
safely to avoid crashes and injuries.
Recently, the Hudson TMA worked with the Bayonne Police
Department to develop outdoor signage for locations across
Bayonne providing bicyclists with road safety tips. Sharing
the road safely will allow for a safe and fun Summer for
residents across Hudson County!
For more information, visit: https://hudsontma.org/
Cross County Connection Can Help Your
Business Explore EV Charging Stations
Electric vehicles (EVs) are a common site on New Jersey’s roads. If you think you’re seeing more of them
… you’re right! Year after year, more residents are purchasing an EV as the technology advances, and
costs have come down. It is anticipated there will be 2 million EVs on NJ’s roads by 2035. Providing EV
charging stations at your business gives an added benefit to current employees and an extra incentive to
prospective hires. They also demonstrate an employer’s sincere commitment to environmental
sustainability. Here are some basics on EV charging to help you begin to envision the possibilities.
There are three levels of charging stations:
Level I
Level II
DC Fast Charger
Source: ChargEVC
Each charger type progressively chargers your EV faster. DC fast chargers are the fastest, providing a
full charge in 20 – 30 minutes. Each level of charger is better suited for different locations based on how
long people will be parked. For instance, a Level II charger is well suited for an office environment, while
DC Fast Chargers should be used in areas like gyms or supermarkets.
Laying the groundwork for EV infrastructure has significant costs. New Jersey has grant programs open
to private businesses that can help. NJDEP’s It Pay$ to Plug In program provides grants for Level I,
Level II, and DC Fast Chargers. In addition, PSE&G will soon launch a charging station grant program
that includes money for commercial charging customers. In February 2021, Atlantic City Electric received
approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for new electric vehicle programs to expand access
to clean electric transportation options for all communities across their service area. The programs,
expected to begin in 2022, will provide rebates and incentives to support the development of 3,250 EV
charging ports in public spaces, businesses, and homes across the southern New Jersey region.
Want to learn more about EVs? Cross County Connection is here to help! We help local businesses with
implementing charging stations. Our organization stays up-to-date on best practices and has connections
to the state agencies and organizations that will guide you through funding and installing charging
stations.
Cross County Connection is the designated Transportation Management Association (TMA) for the
seven-county southern New Jersey region: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland,
Gloucester, and Salem. Cross County Connection assists local governments, schools, businesses, social
service organizations, residents, and employees with mobility needs by fostering the implementation and
use of sustainable transportation modes.
Cross County Connection TMA was formally incorporated in 1989 through the efforts of a group of
southern New Jersey business leaders, local government officials, and representatives from the New
Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT) to
address mobility issues in the region and reduce the number of vehicles on state and local roadways.
Today, Cross County Connection is a full-service transportation organization offering a wide variety of
programs, services, and resources to southern New Jersey businesses, local governments, schools,
residents, and employees. Visit driveless.com to learn more, or contact us at: (856) 596-8228 or email us
at: ccctma@driveless.com
Bicycling is Booming in Hunterdon County
Bicycling has grown in popularity over the past year as COVID19 restrictions forced many to come up with new forms of exercise and recreation. And, by all accounts, that popularity is not waning as restrictions have been lifted. Summer 2021 is already shaping up to be another “summer of cycling” in Hunterdon County. “We’ve seen continued interest in bicycling over the past year,” says Caryl Harris, goHunterdon Bicycle Specialist. “Families are riding in neighborhoods. Cyclists of all ages and abilities are multi use trails in Clinton, High Bridge, and along the Delaware River. Road cyclists are out on solo rides. Area bicycle clubs are seeing increases in membership. Mountain bikers are hitting the trails in High Bridge, Kingwood and Frenchtown. Gravel, road, and mountain biking events are once again on the calendar and are filling up fast,” says Harris. goHunterdon has been actively promoting Hunterdon County for its bicycling assets through the www.bikehunterdon.org website and on social media. The website features a variety of bicycle routes and bicycling opportunities in Hunterdon County, information on local bike shops, rentals, clubs, and events. The Bike Hunterdon Facebook Group has more than 400 members and theBike Hunterdon Instagram account continues to welcome new followers who share photos of their favorite bicycling experiences in Hunterdon County. Two new bicycle shops recently opened in Hunterdon County, including Pedego, an electric bicycle shop in Lambertville, and Green Wheels Bike Shop LLC in Raritan Township. With Big Bear Gear in Lambertville adding a bicycle rental fleet to their operation, bicycles are now available for sale or rent at eleven (11) locations across Hunterdon County! View bicycle shops: https://www.bikehunterdon.org/shops Local businesses have joined goHunterdon’s “Cyclists Welcome” initiative to identify themselves as good places for bicyclists to visit. Coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, wineries, farms and farm markets, chocolate shops, and ice cream stores are displaying window clings with a special logo to clearly show that bicyclists are welcome. goHunterdon’s Pedal and Park bike rack loan program is fully subscribed, with six (6) bike racks currently in place around the county and a waiting list of additional spots waiting to test out if a bicycle rack may be good fit for their location. “Bicycling is booming in Hunterdon. We’ve known that Hunterdon County is a premier location for bicycling and we’re thrilled with the momentum we’re seeing,” she adds.
For more information, visit bikehunterdon.org
Passaic County Rolling
Forward with Bicycle Master Plan
TransOptions is excited to be working with Passaic County to help
with community outreach, education and in-person events as they
work on completing their Bicycle Master Plan in the coming months!
Be sure to be a part of this project as it develops by visiting their info
hub here!
(Link: https://publicinput.com/bikepassaiccounty )
Raritan Borough Bike Train Rolling Strong Five Years Later
It’s been five years since Somerset County’s first
Bike Train began rolling through Raritan Borough,
and it keeps gaining momentum. Having started
with two students, the Bike Train has now grown to
15 regular participants, sometimes more, and John
F. Kennedy Primary School recently recognized the
Bike Train in their drop-off and pickup procedures.
A bike train is the biking equivalent of a walking
school bus: students and parents bike along a pre-
determined route between home and school, often
picking up other students at various “stops” along
the way. It was September 2016 when Raritan
Borough residents Joe and Colleen Kempe decided
to form a Bike Train in their own community.
Joe contacted RideWise to see if a bike train
already existed as part of the agency’s Safe Routes
to School program. When it didn’t, he and Colleen
decided to start one. “My wife and I established a
route and we started to invite students we knew who lived along the way,” Kempe said. The first
Bike Train ride consisted of one parent and two students riding along a 2-mile route to JFK
Primary School. By the spring of 2017, the Tuesday bike train grew to 20 participants prompting
one parent to comment, “We’ll need a bigger bike rack.”
Five years later, the Raritan Bike Train is still going strong, providing a fun and active way for
students to get to school – even during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have had to adapt to new
protocols,” Joe said, “but are thankful that the science has shown it’s safe to ride and be outdoors
with reasonable adjustments. The irony being that many of our riders prefer to wear their masks
on some of the chillier mornings to keep their faces warm.”
Remote learning and many parents working from home have led to some larger changes to the
Bike Train. Fewer parents put their children on the school buses, instead opting to drive them to
school, leading to a sharp increase in traffic and affecting how the students ride into school
grounds. “We now walk our bikes to the rack rather than ride past the cars waiting for drop-off,”
Joe remarked. Different learning cohorts also meant students were not attending school on the
same days, breaking the Tuesday bike train into smaller biking groups on different days.
But, with JFK returning to 5-day instruction, the Bike Train’s numbers are returning to normal –
and is even growing. “We have seen a return of our riders as well as a few others who learned or
improved their riding during the pandemic,” explained Joe. “One student in particular learned to
ride on two wheels last April, when the roads were at their quietest, and she is now riding every
week in the bike train since it restarted. It's amazing what quieter and calmer streets will do for a
young rider's confidence.”
And it’s not only the students who are riding – parents have started joining the fun, too. Barrett
Windrem remarked, "During a year with so much uncertainty one of my highlights has been my
availability on Tuesdays to accompany the Kempes on the Bike Train and ride with my twins.
Nothing compares to the proud looks of joy and accomplishment on the riders faces when we
reach school.” Erika Karp said, “My son enjoys this weekly event and counts down the days to
Tuesday. This year has made it even more special since I am working from home and have had
the opportunity to join along. The JFK Bike Train has provided both my children with phenomenal
memories and helped them continue their joy for riding all around the Raritan-Bridgewater area."
The next time you see the Bike Train in Raritan, Joe says, “roll down your window and say hey, or
just throw a thumbs up. Our biggest goal is to make the day a little brighter for the students at
JFK.” And if you’d like to start a bike train in your community, contact Jon Dugan, RideWise
Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety Manager, at jon@ridewise.org.
Get on your Bike & Ride…
With KMM’s Bike Safety
Video Library
2020 was a year of struggles, challenges, and
most important resilience. Social media shared
how neighbors and friends coped with their
lockdowns – baking sour dough bread, catching up
on their Netflix watch list and spending more times
biking and walking.
Seeing the increase and interest in biking (81%
surveyed in 2020 saw an increase in their
community) and walking, KMM developed a series
of safety videos that addressed not only biking
safety and etiquette, but videos to help newcomers
to biking enjoy the activity in creative ways.
How to use a Bicycle Trailer: A Bicycle Trailer can be a wonderful accessory for recreation and
transportation. Anyone with a bike can have the ability to tow cargo like groceries, and even children close
behind. The trailer attaches securely to the bike, and this essentially makes the bike longer and heavier.
https://youtu.be/K6_ubYHUUQ8
How to Keep your Bike Clean: Just like you wash your car when it gets dirty, it’s a good idea to wash
and maintain your bike on occasion. Give your bike some TLC and take your take it outside with soapy
water, an old dish wand, sponge, or toothbrush and we’ll show you how it can be done with items that you
already have. https://youtu.be/fnZ7tnADchE
How to Maximize Family Bike Rides: Our parks are for everyone. Our state, counties, and
municipalities offer wonderful places for us to experience physical activity outdoors. These are spaces
where children can play, wander, and imagine. Here are some tips on how you and your family can enjoy
the outdoors and stay safe. https://youtu.be/pgR5A3XPJFA
How to Teach your Child to Ride a Bike:Learning to ride a bike is right of passage. Let us show you a
few quick tips on how to teach your children to ride a bike. https://youtu.be/zNyeFY-t93s
Wearing a Bike Helmet Properly: Whether you’re riding a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, if there are
wheels under your feet, NJ requires a helmet on your head up to the age of 17. Biking to school and
around town can be a safe activity, though if you happen to fall, it’s smart to protect your head.
https://youtu.be/eYxBxUbGiEs
Red Light Green Light: During KMM’s bike rodeos, instructors’ direct children through activities that can
look like games. These exercises emphasize skills that all cyclists require in the real world. Red Light /
Green Light is an excellent “Bike Game,” that requires space, but no additional equipment.
https://youtu.be/IKA89Feq7dc
For a look our at our complete library, visit us online! Click Here.
Ryde4Life – A Statewide Transportation Program
with Lyft and Uber
Since 2017, EZ Ride has partnered with
Lyft and Uber to launch a scalable new
program – Ryde4Life, which effectively
bypassed the need for riders to use apps
or to have smartphones at all. The service
is available on-demand throughout New
Jersey from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays
and from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturdays.
Despite the pandemic, the program has provided more than 16,000 rides in 2021.
The recent growth is due to non-profit organizations like the Affordable Housing
Alliance, Caregivers of Central Jersey, Visiting Nurse Association, and local
government agencies like Essex County, Bergen County, and the Township of
Montclair. They provide rides for their clients free of cost.
More recently, we have expanded our partnership with Community Action
Partnerships (CAPs) like NORWESCAP, Gateway CAP, and O.C.E.A.N., Inc., to
provide rides for their clients in eleven more counties. As a result of these new
partnerships, we now have a meaningful Ryde4Life program throughout the state.
Through these partnerships, riders receive rides for free, which are paid for by the
sponsoring agency. Ryde4Life helps augment the transportation offered by counties
and towns. EZ Ride coordinates all trips and provides summary reports for all
fulfilled rides. If your county or town is interested in participating and would like more
details about the Ryde4Life program, please call (201) 939-4242 ext. 131.
Transportation Management Associations
This quarterly newsletter is designed to educate and inform its readers about the impactful work being
done to improve the mobility needs of NJ’s residents and employers.
At the logos below, click on the name of the TMA serving your county for information about their
programs and services.
Cross County Connection TMA
Atlantic, Burlington, Camden,
Cape May, Cumberland,
Gloucester and Salem counties.
858-596-8228
EZ Ride (formerly Meadowlink)
Bergen County and western
portions of Hudson County,
eastern portions of Passaic, Union
and Essex and Monmouth
Counties
201-939-4242, toll free 866-208-
1307
goHunterdon
Hunterdon County
908-788-5553
Greater Mercer TMA
Mercer County, Montgomery
Township (Somerset County) and
Ocean County
609-452-1491
Hudson TMA
Hudson County
201-324-6222
Keep Middlesex Moving, Inc.
Middlesex County
732-745-4465
RideWise
Somerset County, except for
Montgomery Township
908-704-1011
TransOptions
Morris, Sussex, Warren, and western portions of
Passaic and Essex Counties
973-267-7600
Transportation Management Partner Associations
Keep Middlesex Moving, Inc.
Cross County Connection TMA RideWise
goHunterdon EZ Ride
Hudson TMA
TransOptions
Greater Mercer TMA
About Us: TMA Council of NJ (TMAC NJ) is comprised of the Executive Directors of New Jersey's eight
Transportation Management Associations. TMAs are non-profit organizations that work with businesses,
commuters, county, and local governments, and state agencies to implement programs that reduce traffic
congestion and improve air quality.
Funding for the TMAs, is provided in part, by the Federal Highway Administration, NJ Department of Transportation
(NJDOT), NJ TRANSIT, North Jersey Transportation Authority (NJTPA), Delaware Valley Regional Planning
Commission (DVRPC), private foundations, local businesses and other sources.
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