For four months last fall, my lifestyle changed dramatically when my husband and I lived car-free. As life-long suburbanites, we have always driven a lot to get around. I was the mom-in-the-minivan, and am now the professional-in-a-Prius. But when we took an overdue sabbatical, we lived near universities in three developed countries — England, Germany, and Japan — where everything we needed was within easy reach by foot, bike, bus, or train.
Posts Tagged ‘Transit’
Opinion: Car-Free Inspiration From an Overseas Adventure
Monday, May 1st, 2023Transportation for Everyone: Designing Safe, Sustainable Options for Women
Friday, March 17th, 2023Last year, New Jersey Future explored how women and gender nonconforming people face disproportionate obstacles when accessing public transit, biking, or walking as forms of transportation. We found that 65% of women-identifying people have experienced street harassment in their lives and that 99% of the NYC public transit riders who reported sexual harassment on the subway identified as female.
Metuchen’s Downtown Revitalization: An Award-Winning Catalyst for Smart Growth
Thursday, March 16th, 2023“The Woodmont Metro at Metuchen Station was a catalyst for further redevelopment in downtown Metuchen… Having residents living downtown has resulted in a remarkable growth of restaurants, making downtown Metuchen a highly popular regional dining destination. New retail and service businesses have also opened creating a vibrant, active downtown,” explains Jay Muldoon, Director of Special Projects with the Borough of Metuchen.
Helping NJ Drive Less: The Need to Dedicate Funding to Transit and Safe Streets
Tuesday, January 31st, 2023Electric vehicles are great, but they won’t reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector fast enough, nor will they do anything to alleviate congestion. This past October, the United Nations published the Emissions Gap Report 2022, declaring that an important action for the transportation sector is to “integrate land use and transportation planning to prioritize public transit over private automobiles.”
Transit-Oriented Development is Pedestrian-Oriented Development
Monday, January 30th, 2023Despite being the most densely populated state in the country with over 150 train station towns, New Jersey is not a safe place for pedestrians of any age. In our effort to reduce car dependency, increase pedestrian safety, and encourage placemaking that serves the public, NJ ended 2022 with several announcements designating funds for advancing pedestrian and bicycle safety and transit-oriented development (TOD), indicating that the administration recognizes the importance of creating and fostering transportation options besides driving.
Supporting Equitable Access to Transit and Active Transportation
Monday, May 23rd, 2022Creating opportunities for more people to walk, bike, and take public transit is a critical element of growing and developing smarter. As we improve infrastructure and programs to accomplish this goal, we must make sure that we are improving access for everyone, especially those who have traditionally been, and continue to be, excluded or made to feel less safe in these spaces.
“Complete Streets” and Goods Delivery: What Is a Street For?
Thursday, March 24th, 2022The changing nature of shopping means people are more likely to have things delivered to them rather than going to a store to buy them. At the same time, people increasingly want to live in mixed-use neighborhoods where they can walk to local destinations. How should we be thinking about the safety of pedestrians and other non-motorized travelers in an era of increasing truck traffic?
NJ Stay-at-Home Order is Reducing GHG Emissions
Wednesday, April 15th, 2020According to the traffic data analysis consultant INRIX, New Jersey is #1 in staying at home, notching a 63 percent drop in statewide personal vehicle travel as of last week, when compared to the baseline week of February 22nd.
Summit Moves Toward Transit Village Designation, Future of Program Remains Uncertain
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011The city of Summit’s planning board voted unanimously in favor of seeking Transit Village status with the NJ Department of Transportation, but the initiative could fall short should the DOT fail to commit to the Transit Village program this year.
Many Roads in New Jersey are “Dangerous by Design” for Pedestrians
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011There have been 1,514 pedestrian fatalities in New Jersey between 2000 and 2009. The majority of these deaths occurred on suburban arterial roads where wide lanes and high speeds, along with little or no provision for pedestrians and bikers, create an inherent danger for anyone looking to get around without a car.
