Bicycle master plan hints at a future of miles of bike lanes and plenty of parking

After a public meeting to discuss a bicycle master plan for Jersey City Tuesday, those in attendance emerged energized, full of hope that there might be something that comes of the meeting and pleasantly surprised that there were so many like-minded cyclists living in the area.

"I was surprised at how many people showed up," said Lewis Dijkstra, a project manager for the Rutgers University Transportation Policy Institute, who is finalizing the bicycle master plan. "It shows how much interest there is in the issue."

A group of more than 50 cyclists discussed the plan, which Dijkstra hopes will be used as the basis for a request for funding from the state, which has allocated $7.4 million for bicycle accomodation programs.

Pedal Pusher

Exchanging ideas and swapping horror stories, the members of the audience, many from the city's Downtown section and cyclists from other towns as well, seemed energized by the very idea of a public discussion of bicycle lanes and increased bicycle parking.

Sensing the energy, Dijkstra encouraged the audience to become more active. "It's really up to you now to make the plan a reality," he said. "My role is not to be a bike advocate; maybe there is someone among you who you can choose to take on that role."

Almost immediately all eyes turned to Tony Scarpa, the owner of SDS bike shop in the city and founder of the fledgling Bike Advocates of Jersey City (BAJ). Scarpa is the most visible bicycle advocate in the city, sponsoring regular cycling events around the city and serving as a clearing house for everything from used bikes to the latest industry gossip. He formed BAJ as a way to facilitate his fundraising bicycle events. It was quite by accident that he hooked up with Dijkstra.

"When Lewis came along with the bike master plan it just fit perfectly with what we were trying to do," said Scarp. "Our goal is to raise awareness of cycling and to serve as an advocate for cycling and cyclists. Every time a street gets opened up, we'll be there to say there should be bike lanes there or when they put down a sewer grate we want them to make sure that they use the round grate holes instead of the long ones."

Scarpa told the gathering that he stood ready to assist them in helping to implement Dijkstra's plan and encouraged them to join his organization.

Man with the Plan

With Governor Chrisie Whitman's goal of having 2,000 miles of bicycle lanes and other accomodations in place statewide by the year 2010, the Transportation Policy Institute, which studies ways to make getting around easier, has contracted with the city to develop the plan, the cost of which will be split by the state Department of Transportation and the city.

At the center of the plan is a network of proposed bicycle lanes in all parts of the city.

"The goal is that no resident in the city should live more than a quarter mile from a bike lane," said Dijkstra. The plan calls for bike lanes on major north-south corridors like Kennedy Boulevard, Central Avenue and Palisades Avenue, which lead into neighboring communities. He also proposes bike lanes for east-west roads like Montgomery Street, Grand Street and Newark Avenue.

The plan advocates for increased bike parking all around the city including at every PATH and light rail station, major employment centers like Exchange Place, Journal Square and Newport as well as commercial districts like Central Avenue and Newark Avenue.

"I don't want this plan to just sit," said Dijkstra, who is leaving the country at the end of the month. "If it just gathers dust then I consider it a failure; I did not set out to create a failed plan. I hope that when I come back to visit there will be bike lanes and bike parking all over the area."

Years from now, residents will likely not remember that Dijkstra was the man who brought the area into the modern era of bicycle access, but those at last week's meeting had high praise for him.

"I was excited about the plan," said Scarpa, echoing the sentiment of almost everyone at the meeting. "There were some great ideas there. I can't wait to see what it looks like when it finally gets done."

Myles Jackson, a Hoboken resident who rode his bike to the meeting, but had a problem finding parking for it, said it would also be a great idea for cyclists to have a gathering spot where they could get together to discuss an action plan. "Having everyone in the same place would encourage an exchange of ideas," he said.

Already, it seems, an action plan is forming. Scarpa said he will meet with interested parties Tuesday evening at the Hard Grove Cafe in Jersey City (319 Grove Street) at 8 p.m. to discuss bicycle advocacy and form a committee which would organize a large county-wide bike tour along the lines of the popular Five Borough Bike Tour in Manhattan. (Call 656-5472 for more information)

In addition, a bicycle loaner program, which would provide refurbished bicycles to loan to residents and visitors, is being discussed.

"They did something similar in Amsterdam and it was a huge success," said Dijkstra.

Interesting what 50 cyclists in a room can do.