From September 2-5, 2008, hundreds of pedestrian and bicycle advocates; planning, public health and transportation professionals; and many more who want to make our cities and communities more walkable and bicycle-friendly places will gather in Seattle, Washington, for The National Center for Bicycling & Walking’s Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference. Several sessions will highlight New Jersey programs and case studies, a reflection of the state’s leadership position in pedestrian and bicycle planning.

• A panel discussion on “Kids as Consultants: Going to the Experts to Improve School Travel and Local Government” will highlight projects which have engaged youth, including NJDOT’s Safe Routes to School Urban Demonstration project and a local Safe Routes to School project in Garfield, NJ.

• “Making Streets Safer: Pedestrian Rights in a New Jersey Case Study” will examine how a strong legislative and policy basis for pedestrian safety in the 1920’s regressed over time, and analyze recent legislative proposals which would strengthen pedestrian rights.

• “Cracks in the Sidewalk” will explore policy issues and best practices in sidewalk financing, construction, and maintenance from the state and local level. The session will present the policy findings and recommendations of a paper prepared by Rutgers University’s Voorhees Transportation Center and Charles Carmalt on behalf of NJDOT.

• Members of the Voorhees Center will also present at a meeting of the Seattle Bicycle Advisory Board (open to conference attendees) and discuss their research on “Building a Better Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Council,” a survey of national bike/pedestrian advisory councils.

NJDOT’s recognition is well deserved. New Jersey has more than doubled the amount of money spent on bicycle and pedestrian funding since fiscal year 2005, from $11 million in FY2005 to almost $35 million in FY2008 (see MTR # 554). In 2006, Gov. Corzine announced a statewide pedestrian safety initiative that has invested in key urban corridors (see MTR # 539). A recent TSTC report, Skimping on Sidewalks 2008, lists several ways NJDOT could do even better, and continue to set a national standard.