During 2020, the Green Team conducted a Bicycle/Pedestrian Audit of the Long Branch Historic Trail which runs from the Church of the Presidents to Seven Presidents Park, including the full extent of the boardwalk. Numerous opportunities to improve safety and enhance the overall experience of both bikers and pedestrians were documented and turned over to the City of Long Branch. The next step in the process is to use the audit as a baseline for development of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan which includes not only the Historic Trail but all main roads and pathways in Long Branch. The plan is an essential component of building healthy communities that support active living. People in communities throughout New Jersey are increasingly searching for solutions to tight family budgets, rising health care costs, and time wasted in traffic. As transportation costs and congestion increase, walking and bicycling will continue to grow in importance. Bicycling and walking are viabl...
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During 2020, the Green Team conducted a Bicycle/Pedestrian Audit of the Long Branch Historic Trail which runs from the Church of the Presidents to Seven Presidents Park, including the full extent of the boardwalk. Numerous opportunities to improve safety and enhance the overall experience of both bikers and pedestrians were documented and turned over to the City of Long Branch.
The next step in the process is to use the audit as a baseline for development of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan which includes not only the Historic Trail but all main roads and pathways in Long Branch.
The plan is an essential component of building healthy communities that support active living. People in communities throughout New Jersey are increasingly searching for solutions to tight family budgets, rising health care costs, and time wasted in traffic. As transportation costs and congestion increase, walking and bicycling will continue to grow in importance.
Bicycling and walking are viable forms of transportation, especially important for people who rely on transit and lack access to automobiles, including children and the elderly. A well thought out and executed Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Plan will ensure that all members of the community have the choice to safely bicycle and walk to work, to school, to shopping and to other destinations as an integrated part of the transportation system. A Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Master Plan Element will also support the Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School policies and programs already in place in addition to addressing connections and access to trails, parks and transit for all ages and abilities.
Why is it important?
A transportation system that supports safe and convenient bicycling and walking enhances health, reduces traffic congestion, promotes economic vitality, improves quality of life, and results in cost savings to users as well as road and parking facility savings. For every trip made by bicycle or by walking rather than car there is less pollution, less fuel used, less space taken on the road, and less need for additional roadways.
Completing a Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Plan shows a community’s dedication to being less reliant on motorized transportation and giving equal importance to non-motorized transportation.
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