New Jersey’s leadership in bicycle policy has been recognized on the national stage twice in one week. During this year’s Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference, New Jersey was not only featured in several panels, but also got a boost from the League of American Bicyclists. At the conference, the League’s Bicycle-Friendly States program announced its ranking of the states based on their efforts to promote bicycling, and New Jersey made the top ten, coming in as the ninth-best state in the country.
States were rated based on transportation department policy, state and federal funding directed toward cycling projects, motorist education, technical assistance given to municipalities, enforcement, and other criteria. The League specifically highlighted New Jersey as one of the few states with dedicated funding for bicycle projects (though, as TSTC has pointed out, municipal demand for funds from such programs far outstrips the amount of grants given).
NJ’s partners in the tri-state region were far behind. Though the League has recognized New York City as a Bronze-level Bicycle-Friendly Community, as a state New York ranked 34th because of a lack of complete streets policy and slow progress on its Safe Routes to School program. Connecticut was a dismal 42nd, and was hit for not having a bicycle route map (the state actually has a bicycle map, but it lists only “recommended routes” which are determined by highway shoulder width and traffic volume — not official signed routes certified to be bicycle-friendly).
The three best states in the country, according to the League, were (respectively) Washington, Wisconsin, and Arizona. West Virginia was last.
I think its more accurate to say that NJ is the 41st worst off state for bicycle friendliness. While there are some positive indicators the truth is that there is next to nothing on the ground.
Instead of $4 million annually for bike projects we need more like $40 million to begin to make a difference. That money needs to fund on-road as well as off-road projects. I have yet to see a safe urban interchange anywhere in the state.
Since the municipalities seem to dislike carrots, it’s time to introduce some sticks. A complete streets policy that is tied to local aid money along with a requirement for a bicycle and pedestrian element in all municipal and county comp plans could move the mostly reluctant towns forward.