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Street Smart NJ Pedestrian Safety Campaigns in Clinton, Flemington

Police departments in the Borough of Flemington and Town of Clinton are conducting “Street Smart NJ” pedestrian safety education campaigns aimed at increasing awareness of pedestrian safety within their communities.

“With more residents staying close to home during the COVID19 pandemic, we wanted to make sure that motorists and pedestrians are aware of the role that they can play in ensuring pedestrian safety,” said Chief Jerry Rotella, Flemington Police Department.

“Even with fewer vehicles on the road in recent months, due to COVID19 closures,  we have seen an increase in speeding and distracted driving,” notes Town of Clinton Police Chief J. Cory Kubinak. “As our downtown welcomes back pedestrians, safety becomes a high priority. We want to make sure that motorists and pedestrians are aware of the role that they can play in ensuring safety.”

Street Smart NJ is a collaborative effort between public, private and non-profit organizations to educate motorists and pedestrians on their roles and responsibilities in maintaining a safe pedestrian environment.   The statewide Street Smart NJ campaign is managed by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA).

Both Flemington and the Town of Clinton have previously conducted Street Smart NJ campaigns. Prior Street Smart NJ campaigns were conducted in Flemington in 2016, 2017, and 2018. A campaign was conducted in the Town of Clinton in 2016.

The current Flemington Street Smart NJ campaign is focusing on Broad Street and Bonnell Street in response to community concerns.  In Clinton, the focus is in the vicinity of Leigh Street and Center Street.

Emphasis will be on the following key pedestrian safety behaviors:

  • Speeding
  • Distraction (motorists and pedestrians)
  • Using crosswalks
  • Stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks

Speed studies have been conducted in both communities to inform enforcement efforts.

Safety messaging is being shared in Flemington and the Town of Clinton via temporary street signs, social media, and printed materials, including take out coffee cup “sleeves” imprinted with Street Smart NJ messaging.

For more information about Street Smart NJ pedestrian safety campaigns in Hunterdon County, contact Tara Shepherd, executive director, 908.930.9053 of visit https://www.gohunterdon.org/bike-ped-programs/street-smart-nj/overview

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Celebrating a “Summer of Cycling”

After a successful virtual Hunterdon County Bike Month event during May 2020, goHunterdon is now promoting a “Summer of Cycling” through the organization’s “Bike Hunterdon” initiative.

“Hunterdon County offers so much for bicyclists of all ages and abilities. With peaceful rural roads, scenic vistas, exhilarating mountain bike trails, and miles and miles of family friendly multi-use paths, there really is something for everyone,” say Caryl Harris, goHunterdon Bicycle Specialist.

“During this unique time of COVID19, we have been inspired by the quote that “the bicycle is a simple solution to some of the world’s most complicated problems”, says Harris.  

Nationally, bicycling has increased in popularity in recent months as individuals and families are looking for activities to replace traditional group activities.  According to the NPD Group, which tracks retail-sporting-goods sales, children’s bike sales in March were up 56 percent compared to March 2019. Adult leisure bike sales are up a whopping 121 percent.

“There are so many people who have rediscovered a bicycle that may have been sitting in their garage or shed,” says Harris. “We’re encouraging Hunterdon residents to get out on their bikes and ride!”

goHunterdon’s Bike Hunterdon initiative promotes bicycling in Hunterdon County through the  www.bikehunterdon.org website. The site features bicycle routes/rides, information on bike maintenance and listings of local bike shops and bike clubs. The site also provides important bicycle safety information and New Jersey bicycle laws.

goHunterdon is using social media, including a Bike Hunterdon Facebook Group, Instagram, and the goHunterdon YouTube Channel, to engage directly with the community.

For more information, visit any of the online sites noted above, or contact Caryl Harris, charris@gohunterdon.org

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“Pedal and Park” Bike Rack Loan Program

Bicyclists are good for business. And, adequate bicycle parking tells bicyclists that they are welcome at a business or in a community.

According to the Adventure Cycling Association, towns with populations of just 750 people can generate more than $25 million from bicycle tourism annually. “Bicyclists require relatively little to attract them to your business or community, but bicycle parking is a key amenity to attract and welcome bicyclists to patronize local stores,” says Caryl Harris, goHunterdon Bicycle Specialist.

As part of the Bike Hunterdon initiative, goHunterdon is offering bicycle racks to local businesses and municipalities, for periods of up to one month, free of charge, to test demand for bicycle parking. “The bike rack loan program allows businesses and communities to gauge for themselves whether a bike rack is of value,” says Harris.

“During the COVID19 pandemic, we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of local residents who are choosing to ride recreationally and use their bicycles as a form of transportation,” notes Harris.  “We are seeing individuals and families ride into town for ice cream, pick up to go orders from local restaurants, or ride to the farmers market” she reports.  “Providing an appropriate place for bicyclists to park becomes important.”

Businesses and municipalities may request to borrow a 4-bike or 8-bike capacity rack.  goHunterdon will deliver and secure the rack at an agreed upon location for up to 30 days.

For more information, contact Caryl Harris, goHunterdon Bicycle Specialist, charris@gohunterdon.org, or complete an online request form: https://www.gohunterdon.org/pedalpark

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Employment Transportation Planning Available to Job Seekers

goHunterdon’s Employment Transportation Planning assistance continues to be available to job seekers needing transportation to get to work. goHunterdon’s Community Mobility Coordinator is available to “meet” with job seekers via phone or Zoom video conference to discuss individual needs, discuss available transportation options, how to use services, and establish a transportation budget. Continue reading “Employment Transportation Planning Available to Job Seekers”

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Hunterdon County Virtual Walk & Bike to School Week

Hunterdon County Walk & Bike to School Week has long served as the kick off of the spring walking season at Hunterdon schools that participate in the Hunterdon County Safe Routes to School Program, facilitated by goHunterdon.  The annual event has always provided a fun and engaging way to reinforce the goals of its program- “Where it is safe, get kids walking and bicycling; where it is not safe, make it safe.”

Barley Sheaf Elementary School, Bloomsbury Elementary School, Califon Public School, Clinton Public School, Delaware Township School, Frenchtown Elementary School, Hampton Public School, High Bridge Elementary School, Lambertville Public School, Lebanon Borough School, Milford Public School, and Reading-Fleming Intermediate School all participate in the Hunterdon Safe Routes to Program.

While students were not walking or bicycling to school this year, the event was still held-  virtually!

Virtual Hunterdon County Walk & Bike to School Week took place last week, Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 8, 2020. Students and teachers were encouraged to walk or bike at home or in their neighborhood.  Daily themes and activities, like Motivation Monday, Terrific Tuesday, Walk Safe Wednesday, Thumbs Up Thursday, and Find it Friday made each day exciting. Videos were created for each day and sent to the schools to share with students. All of the videos have been posted to goHunterdon’s YouTube channel.

Students were provided with worksheets for each day and logged in the number of minutes that they walked or bicycled at home during their remote school day.

The friendly Golden Sneaker Trophy competition, a cornerstone of Hunterdon County Walk and Bike to School Week, continued as well, with schools competing to determine which school logged in the greatest number of minutes of activity.  The winner will be announced soon during a special virtual trophy presentation with the winning school!

For more information, contact Ryan Fisher, Safety Programs Coordinator, rfisher@gohunterdon.org

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Bike Hunterdon: A Celebration of Cycling




“The bicycle is a simple solution to some of the world’s most complicated problems”.

The COVID 19 pandemic has changed our lives in ways that were unimaginable just a few short months ago. For many, our daily “hustle/bustle” came to an abrupt halt. For essential workers who are serving on the front lines and those who have been impacted by COVID 19, life has become even more intense. Continue reading “Bike Hunterdon: A Celebration of Cycling”