Why NRG Wants Canal Pte Blvd Bike Lanes

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Jerry Foster

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Mar 30, 2016, 7:10:08 AM3/30/16
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Let's talk Zagster - you may/not be aware that Zagster is a bike share company with suburban-friendly technology. After signing up online for a $20 one-time fee, you can rent a bike for 2 hours for free, then return the bike to any designated drop-off place and end your rental. What makes it suburban friendly is that all the technology is on the bike rather than in a docking station, so you can lock your bike to anything that works with a standard U-lock - e.g. take your Zagster bike from work to a nearby restaurant for lunch, then back, don't have to jump in the car.

Until last week, the only location to rent a Zagster bike was the Princeton Dinky Station, but Princeton University expanded the number of locations to 9, including one in Plainsboro on their Forrestal Campus. So if a student at Lawrence Apts wants to shop at Whole Foods, they can rent a Zagster bike and enjoy a nice ride to shopping and back, on the canal path I'd guess, unless it's winter or too muddy, where it would be just as close (bit under 3 miles) to use Canal Pte Blvd (after it has bike lanes).

Also, NRG is about to put in Zagster bikes at their new  building on Canal Pte Blvd, and as the picture shows, already have bike lanes from their facility implemented.

I'd like to encourage anyone who has an interest in employee wellness for your company to take a look at Zagster. NRG will be limiting their bikes to their employees, but your company may want to participate in a larger regional bike share network.

Jerry Foster
NRG Driveway onto Canal Pte Blvd Bike Lanes.jpg

Alison Miller

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Mar 30, 2016, 4:43:31 PM3/30/16
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Jerry makes good points.  Bikes and bike lanes are good for businesses, and for attracting businesses.  Speaking of Canal Pointe Boulevard, the Council is going to discuss awarding a contract for engineering the road repaving to Van Cleef Engineering this coming Monday, April 4th.  All interested parties are invited.

Alison


From: Jerry Foster <j3j3...@gmail.com>
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Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 7:10 AM
Subject: Why NRG Wants Canal Pte Blvd Bike Lanes

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Virginia Manzari

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Mar 30, 2016, 4:56:33 PM3/30/16
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I have to disagree.  The road diet will make traveling by car on that road excruciating, with 10-minute wait times at some intersections and through-traffic that's sluggish at best.  I for one will avoid that area like the plague, and will opt to go to somewhere else - to another grocery store, an alternative to Marshall's, or the Target or the pet store in East Windsor - to do my shopping if I have to go during rush hour.  
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Jerry Foster

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Mar 31, 2016, 7:10:51 AM3/31/16
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Alison and Virginia's comments both say why bike lanes and shopping by bike are not just good for business, but good for *local* business. If you jump on a bike at lunch from Carnegie Center, for example, you're going to stay in WW for lunch. Although, the restaurant on Alexander in Princeton just by the canal is really good and not uphill, it would be bikeable from Carnegie Center.

Jerry

Sandra Shapiro

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Mar 31, 2016, 8:10:32 AM3/31/16
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Very good point, Jerry. Workers might be pressed for time to exercise, so combining the lunch break with a bike ride (or a brisk walk) would be efficient. The ride might only be 10-15 minutes each way, giving enough time to get a light lunch and ride back to work feeling refreshed. And with a bike-share program, the employee wouldn’t necessarily have to ride his/her bike from home to work.
Sandy

On Mar 31, 2016, at 7:10 AM, Jerry Foster <j3j3...@gmail.com> wrote:

Alison and Virginia's comments both say why bike lanes and shopping by bike are not just good for business, but good for *local* business. If you jump on a bike at lunch from Carnegie Center, for example, you're going to stay in WW for lunch. Although, the restaurant on Alexander in Princeton just by the canal is really good and not uphill, it would be bikeable from Carnegie Center.

Jerry

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John Church

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Mar 31, 2016, 9:56:35 AM3/31/16
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Personally, I would never ride a bike across those narrow bridges on Alexander between West Windsor and Princeton.  Not recommended !   I dislike even driving across them.

 

OTOH, I do recommend a brisk walk after lunch. Weather permitting, I always used to do this and it got me going for the afternoon’s work. 

 

John

 

 


Andrew Hersh

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Mar 31, 2016, 10:11:39 AM3/31/16
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Jerry,

What is the benefit to West Windsor residents?  I see the issues that this will cause but can see no benefit.  I'm 100% for a walkable and biking community, but who benefits immediately and directly from this road diet?

NRG employees?  Do our residents who do not work for NRG want to be in the business of making NRG employees healthier?  Is NRG paying for the changes?  

People like me?  I commute to NY and try to fit in exercise running the canal or going to the gym.  Free time on the weekends?  Soccer, football, etc.  Perhaps on a sunny day like today? Sparingly, maybe, but difficult for the kids given other roadways.  Anyway, it would be a large exception.  

I believe that the public detriment largely out ways the public benefit, in spite of the well intended thinking and planning.  I agree with Virginia that the reality here is traffic issues.

I love the thinking but disagree with the outcome.

Andrew





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On Mar 31, 2016, at 7:10 AM, Jerry Foster <j3j3...@gmail.com> wrote:

Alison and Virginia's comments both say why bike lanes and shopping by bike are not just good for business, but good for *local* business. If you jump on a bike at lunch from Carnegie Center, for example, you're going to stay in WW for lunch. Although, the restaurant on Alexander in Princeton just by the canal is really good and not uphill, it would be bikeable from Carnegie Center.

Jerry

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Jerry Foster

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Mar 31, 2016, 10:34:42 AM3/31/16
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Agreed the bridge is narrow, but there is a well-used path along Alexander St for cyclists, joggers, etc. leading down to the D&R Canal path, see pic.

Jerry

Princeton Alexander St Stony Brook Bridge by D&R Canal Path.jpg

Sandra Shapiro

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Mar 31, 2016, 10:46:14 AM3/31/16
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Certainly West Windsor residents would benefit. Those living in Canal/Colonnade Pointe and the Seminary housing would be able to ride on the road in a dedicated lane rather than on the sidewalk (as some now do) in conflict with pedestrians. While Virginia said she spoke with residents in the area who are not in favor of bike lanes, I have spoken to others who would welcome the change. I guess it depends on whom you talk to. Canal Pointe Boulevard is narrow and windy, making it dangerous as a four-lane road. This is an opportunity to improve safety as well as encourage more exercise.

As for the narrow lane for bikes and pedestrians on the Alexander bridges, one can refer to the bridges over the Delaware where cyclists must walk their bikes. The Alexander bridges is much shorter and, if there are pedestrians at the same time as cyclists, the cyclists can walk their bikes over the bridge. It’s a very short distance. After the bridge, one can pick up the path in Princeton.

Having healthier people, whether they are WW residents or not, is in everyone’s interest.

Sandy

On Mar 31, 2016, at 10:34 AM, Jerry Foster <j3j3...@gmail.com> wrote:

Agreed the bridge is narrow, but there is a well-used path along Alexander St for cyclists, joggers, etc. leading down to the D&R Canal path, see pic.

Jerry


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<Princeton Alexander St Stony Brook Bridge by D&R Canal Path.jpg>

John Church

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Mar 31, 2016, 11:09:24 AM3/31/16
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The other significant issue is the steep S-curve, not really conducive to biking between WW and Princeton.  I have never seen a biker on it and even if there were bike lanes on CPB, I doubt that very many would attempt this crossing.  It’s dangerous at best, plus it would be quite a hard pull coming back up.

 

John

 

 


From: wwcommunit...@googlegroups.com [mailto:wwcommunit...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Sandra Shapiro
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 10:46 AM
To: WWCommunit...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: Why NRG Wants Canal Pte Blvd Bike Lanes

 

Certainly West Windsor residents would benefit. Those living in Canal/Colonnade Pointe and the Seminary housing would be able to ride on the road in a dedicated lane rather than on the sidewalk (as some now do) in conflict with pedestrians. While Virginia said she spoke with residents in the area who are not in favor of bike lanes, I have spoken to others who would welcome the change. I guess it depends on whom you talk to. Canal Pointe Boulevard is narrow and windy, making it dangerous as a four-lane road. This is an opportunity to improve safety as well as encourage more exercise.

Virginia Manzari

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Mar 31, 2016, 11:23:50 AM3/31/16
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Jerry, my comments most certainly did NOT say that bike lanes will help local business.  Perhaps I was unclear, so let me clarify.  Ruining this road for car traffic will ruin business - at least during the period of time encompassing rush hour - for those retailers at the end of CPB.  People will avoid that area at most any cost, even to go to a nearby town to spend their money.  At lunch time, the mere presence of bike lanes will not magically cause people to use them to bike down to Wendy's for lunch.  Why would people risk getting grease on their legs or clothes at lunch?  They won't...they'll drive or they'll eat in.  Likewise, people generally don't want to get sweaty in their work clothes during the middle of the day.  

As for the residents in CPB - I spent several days walking door-to-door in this residential area, and did not find a single person who said they would bike on CPB, with or without bike lanes.  They instead use the "back way" to access trails in Princeton, and said they would continue to do so.  As for the rest of West Windsor, I don't know who would want to ride down to those shops on a bike.  If you are shopping, you need a place to put your purchases. Certainly going to the grocery store usually necessitates a car.  And getting to CPB (via Alexander Road) would keep most people from biking there.  I certainly wouldn't do it, and I wouldn't let my kids do it.   If you're riding for pleasure, there are plenty of other bikeable destinations in WW that would be more desirable for a pleasure ride.  

Finally, the whole idea that reducing the number of lanes will magically cause people to slow down is absurd.  Do you see people driving 25 mph on Cranbury Road?  It is one lane each way, with significant curves in the road, and people drive 40 or 50 mph!  THIS is a safety issue that we should be discussing and continuing to put pressure on the mayor to rectify.  There are no sidewalks or shoulders on Cranbury Road!  At least CPB has a good sidewalk - there is no safety issue for pedestrians to walk down this road.  As far as other safety issues on CPB, they should be addressed using other common sense measures - not by making the road smaller.  Do you really think that on that road - which lacks the curves that Cranbury does - people would drive slower?  On the contrary, after waiting 10 minutes to enter CPB, people will want to go FASTER to make up for lost time.  


On Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 10:46:14 AM UTC-4, Sandy wrote:
Certainly West Windsor residents would benefit. Those living in Canal/Colonnade Pointe and the Seminary housing would be able to ride on the road in a dedicated lane rather than on the sidewalk (as some now do) in conflict with pedestrians. While Virginia said she spoke with residents in the area who are not in favor of bike lanes, I have spoken to others who would welcome the change. I guess it depends on whom you talk to. Canal Pointe Boulevard is narrow and windy, making it dangerous as a four-lane road. This is an opportunity to improve safety as well as encourage more exercise.

As for the narrow lane for bikes and pedestrians on the Alexander bridges, one can refer to the bridges over the Delaware where cyclists must walk their bikes. The Alexander bridges is much shorter and, if there are pedestrians at the same time as cyclists, the cyclists can walk their bikes over the bridge. It’s a very short distance. After the bridge, one can pick up the path in Princeton.

Having healthier people, whether they are WW residents or not, is in everyone’s interest.

Sandy

On Mar 31, 2016, at 10:34 AM, Jerry Foster <j3j3...@gmail.com> wrote:

Agreed the bridge is narrow, but there is a well-used path along Alexander St for cyclists, joggers, etc. leading down to the D&R Canal path, see pic.

Jerry


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George Barone

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Mar 31, 2016, 11:25:33 AM3/31/16
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Does anyone have accident stats for cars and for cyclists on this road?  Is the rate higher or in line for the amount of traffic on this road?

Thx 

George Barone


George C. Barone
 

Alison Miller

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Mar 31, 2016, 1:38:21 PM3/31/16
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Who benefits directly?  The people trying to turn left off of CPB who are not rear-ended or sideswiped.  They are, by definition, local people, because they are trying to get to local residences or businesses, not just bypass Route One.


From: Andrew Hersh <hersh....@gmail.com>
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Cc: "alis...@yahoo.com" <alis...@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 10:11 AM
Subject: Re: Why NRG Wants Canal Pte Blvd Bike Lanes

George Barone

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Mar 31, 2016, 1:51:02 PM3/31/16
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Once again what is the accident rate. I guess I've been lucky enough not to have seen any. 


George C. Barone
 

Alison Miller

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Mar 31, 2016, 1:59:57 PM3/31/16
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Last April there was a presentation on this topic at Town Hall.  The documents from that presentation, I believe, are up on the WW web site.  I remember the presenter mentioning four serious side-swipes per year of people trying to turn left off of CPB.  The presentation is more complete and specific than my recollection, but that number did stick in my mind.



From: George Barone <georg...@verizon.net>
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Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 1:50 PM

George Barone

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Mar 31, 2016, 2:42:34 PM3/31/16
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How does that compare to similar roadways?  Aren't left hand turners usually at fault?  Are we advocating to restrict traffic flow to protect the few impatient left hand turners or are some using it as an excuse to promote their bicycling agenda?

George Barone


George C. Barone
 

Alison Miller

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Mar 31, 2016, 6:06:37 PM3/31/16
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The number of accidents was one reason the traffic consultant recommended the road diet.  The accidents as described last April could not possibly have been the fault of the people turning left; they were the fault of the people speeding behind the left-turners who did not get into the right lane in time to avoid side-swiping the turners.  These accidents would be avoided if there were left turn lanes. I have also been told about someone who, since the tabulation of accidents reported on last year, was waiting to turn left and was rear-ended, resulting in her car being totaled.  We are not advocating restricting traffic flow; we are advocating directing traffic flow away from the people who, trying to get home or to work, are restricting flow by blocking the left lane.  Although it is true that the businesses located between Route One and Canal Pointe Boulevard can be accessed from Route One, and those left turns could be avoided, the people who live between Canal Pointe Boulevard and the canal have no choice; if they want to go home or leave home they have to use Canal Pointe Boulevard.  
  


Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2016 2:42 PM

John Church

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Mar 31, 2016, 7:49:26 PM3/31/16
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One issue is that I don’t believe there is adequate warning to CBP motorists of upcoming intersections where people may be wanting to turn left.  Motorists need to know that people may be waiting in the left turn lanes. You need sideways “T” signs (or crossroad signs where appropriate), well in advance of those intersections.  I will drive it both ways tomorrow and do a full analysis.

 

A notorious example where such “T” signs are lacking is along 571 to either side of the Windsor Drive intersection.  I have mentioned this time and again at town council meetings but so far no action has been taken. 

 

Adequate warning alone may be sufficient to greatly reduce or even eliminate rear-end accidents and allow keeping the 4-lane striping. The road diet has too many negatives.  This “cure” would be worse than the disease, in my opinion.

 

John

 

 


George Barone

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Apr 1, 2016, 12:11:38 AM4/1/16
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Road diets and signs won't cure the bad driving habits of many in the Garden State.

There is a segment of the driving public in NJ that want to keep the fact that they are making a left turn a secret until the last possible second.  

This is by no means an excuse for a rear end collision, but I'm sure that you have all come across drivers who feel that making a left hand turn is a privacy issue.  Can someone explain why drivers wait for a light to turn green before turning on their directional?  More importantly why are there  so many drivers in this state who will be traveling in excess of the posted speed limit and then suddenly step on their brakes and come to a near stop before turning on their left turn signal?  Doesn't it make more sense to  alert other drivers of your intent to turn before decelerating your vehicle?

Sorry but I just needed to get that off my chest.

Hopefully none of you are left turn privacy advocates.

George



George

Jerry Foster

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Apr 1, 2016, 9:54:55 AM4/1/16
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First, let me clarify the Alison said bike lanes were good for business, but Virginia said that driving a car makes it easier to get to other towns for shopping, etc - I put the two together to say bike lanes are good for local business.

The road diet might not improve safety in WW, but they have in many other places - so many that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) includes road diets among *only nine* proven safety countermeasures, see: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/provencountermeasures/

This is not a bikes vs. cars thing, it's straight-up motorist safety. Are WW drivers that different? Extremely unlikely. The thing that really bothers me about this conversation around traffic safety is the underlying assumption - "nothing can be done, so we shouldn't try to do anything" or more accurately "we can't stop a motorist who is willing to break the law so we shouldn't try to do anything". It's wrong factually and it's wrong morally - we should not tolerate dangerous driving, or bring up motorists' dangerous habits as anything other than what they are - unacceptable.

Jerry


Henry Murphy

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Apr 1, 2016, 10:25:36 AM4/1/16
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Love the discourse.  It can only lead to better "infrastructure" for everyone. 

Speaking of proven safety measures, I like the "island" one for Rt 571.  Last week a gal about 70'ish was trying to cross 571 at Sherbrook coming back with a pull cart from the grocery, around lunch on a sunny weekday.  I was waiting for her as I wanted to make a right turn out of the shopping center.  Despite her being a few steps in the roadway and the yellow lights a - blinking, traffic would not stop!  After waiting for what seemed a very long time, I did the "pretend I am somebody" thing, got out of my car, boldly walked to the middle, stuck up my hands in the "halt" signal, and everyone stopped.  She thanked me, I walked off, waving everyone on, and I got back in my car and drove off.  But, it struck me, it should not be so hard!

PS  I think I am pro "road diet' after reading all the messages, but am still enjoying the civil and reasoned back and forth.

PPS I went to California last week and I saw first hand how civilized living can be with a combination of better "infrastructure" and better driver awareness.  ALMOST made me want to spend $2.5millin for a ranch house on a 100 by 100 foot lot and move out. Especially if I had the extra $2.5 million.

Pete Weale

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Apr 1, 2016, 12:04:30 PM4/1/16
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The hazards (rear-end, side-swipes) on Canal Pointe Blvd are largely the result of the severe, extreme deterioration of the OUTSIDE drive lanes.  Consequently, this forces a 4-lane roadway to become a de facto 2-lane roadway. I am surprised the fire companies' suggestions are being dismissed. 

The more cost-effective action would be to 'Just Do It.'  Pave the 4 lanes, review its suitability, then make the minimal changes.  Reducing this roadway to 2-lanes is a mistake. Surely funds are sitting in a shoe box from the Transportation Improvement District (TID) funding from NRG, MarketFair Mall, and Carnegie Center.  And WHY hasn't the Carnegie Center Blvd traffic signal been eliminated when this argument and promise was the justification for construction of the Meadow Road overpass?

Oil prices are rising so all this continued delay to award a NO-BID Professional Services Contract to a fleet of engineers to STUDY is simply one more fail on the part of the Administration. According to Mayor Dr. Hsueh, P.E.,  in his run for re-election,  WW is the best town in the world. (Princeton Packet, June, 2013).  I am not even convinced the mayor-council form of government is better than township committee.  It certainly is not more cost effective nor is anyone more accountable. But that is another discussion for another day. It looks like the mayor has been doing a LOT of work behind the scenes commiting taxpayer dollars to find a traffic engineering enterprise to support his view. Scary

Pete Weale



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From: Jerry Foster <j3j3...@gmail.com>
To: West Windsor Community Discussion <WWCommunit...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Fri, Apr 1, 2016 9:54 am
Subject: Re: Why NRG Wants Canal Pte Blvd Bike Lanes

Virginia Manzari

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Apr 2, 2016, 2:07:12 PM4/2/16
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Jerry, I would appreciate it if you would stop trying to "explain" what I really mean - and let my words speak for themselves.  I did not say that "driving a car makes it easier to get to other towns for shopping" - I said that long wait times (up to 10 minutes at an intersection!) and unbearably sluggish traffic (can you say "parking lot"?) will force West Windsor residents to do their shopping somewhere other than the businesses at the end of CPB, possibly in another town.  In other words, the road diet will be BAD for WW businesses on CPB.  Think about it, you have to go to Staples...do you want to sit in a "parking lot" on Rt 1 or CPB, or do you want to drive to the one in East Windsor?  Or you need pet food...do you spend twice as long going to Dogs and Cats Rule...  or take a quicker trip to Pet Valu in East Windsor?  The road diet is a disaster in the making.  And it will make life miserable not just for the people who shop there, but for the people who live there and work there as well.  Plus, it costs more money than to just repave it as is, and there is no easy fix (to re-stripe they have to scrape up the roadway, thereby damaging it.)  

Again, I will ask why the Bike and Ped people are expending so much time and energy on this, when they are so much quieter on the issue of the Cranbury Road sidewalks - which by the way, were scheduled to be done now (this spring!) and from 571 all the way to Grovers Mill Road.  Now, who knows what the time line is, and it has been shortened to a tiny stretch of road from 571 to Sunnydale, which isn't even the dangerous part of the road.  Where is the outrage for these people who cannot even put their kids on the school bus or go to their mailboxes safely??  
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Jerry Foster

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Apr 4, 2016, 11:33:22 AM4/4/16
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I'll respectfully suggest that traffic doesn't work the way popular imagination supposes it does. Granted, popular imagination is fed by people with a business interest in keeping the myths alive.

In popular imagination, every trip is *necessary* and not only that, but the specific route and timing is also required, so any restriction on road capacity will result in dire consequences. In reality, many trips, routes and timing are optional or flexible. Commuting trips to work, the least flexible, make up only 15% of all trips, but in popular imagination every trip is like a commuting trip. 

For example, a recent Princeton study on Alexander Street predicted that people would soon be waiting 20 minutes for a light on 206/Nassau. How did they arrive at this conclusion? Extrapolation of current wait times with *predicted* (assumed) traffic increases every year, combined with lack of *any* adjustment by drivers, in other words because all trips, routes and timing are inflexible. This is coming from professional consulting firms who presumably know, and are paid to know, how traffic really works (hint - the same consulting firms who also build new roads).

I'll respectfully suggest that nobody would wait 20 minutes for a light, and anyone that tells you they would is selling something.

Jerry Foster



 

Sandra Shapiro

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Apr 4, 2016, 2:11:32 PM4/4/16
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Jerry,
I’m confused. Alexander Street doesn’t intersect with 206/Nassau Street. Did you mean the intersection of Alexander and Mercer, at which there is currently just a stop sign?
Thanks,
Sandy

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hersh....@gmail.com

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Apr 4, 2016, 2:28:54 PM4/4/16
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Jerry,

With due respect, i don't think your comment reflects the reality of the average West Windsor resident.  Send your wife away on a business trip, pretend commute 1.5 to 2 hours each way to your work and  back, add 2 kids to the mix and make sure that they are over scheduled to after school learning, musical instrument rehearsal, 2 additional hours of homework and 3 sports, add in your own exercise, grocery shopping and pick-up and drop-off schedules for your kids events. Then you will experience what the average person in our town experiences.

The comments you make are not based on the reality of our town.  Go one town over and you have a different story in terms of only 1 working parent.  A different logic applies.  

I'm having trouble with your logic, in this case, and frankly am a little miffed at the lack of understanding the statement below shows.  I stand strongly for the WWBPA, but this doesn't make sense and the logic behind it appears to flawed (and a moving target).

Andrew





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On Apr 4, 2016, at 11:33 AM, Jerry Foster <j3j3...@gmail.com> wrote:

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Jerry Foster

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Apr 4, 2016, 3:23:24 PM4/4/16
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Here's the Princeton Alexander St study, see p 32 for the no-build delay:
http://www.princetonnj.gov/ASUP/Traffic-Study-Final-Report-15-0409.pdf

I've lived the 2 child, 2 working parent WW lifestyle w full activities and 2 NYC train commutes, and know that it is very difficult to squeeze extra time out of the day, but not everyone in WW lives that lifestyle. The point is that we can create other possibilities, and in my view should create those alternatives, because WW will be better for it.  Allowing those who want to take advantage of active transportation to do so will free up road space for those who cannot or do not want to, for whatever lifestyle reason. One size does not have to fit all, but only engineering for motorists in effect denies the possibility of choosing active transportation.

WW is ideal for cycling - flat, moderate climate, affluent, highly educated, great schools, near a top university, very similar in many respects to Palo Alto, CA, which has over 10% bike commuting,
see: http://www.cyclelicio.us/2012/bicycle-mode-share-bay-area-2011/

Jerry Foster

Sandra Shapiro

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Apr 4, 2016, 6:15:25 PM4/4/16
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Yes, I see the long delay without changes; these would be at Alexander and Mercer and at Nassau and Mercer. Thank you for sending the link to the full report; it makes what might happen clearer.
Sandy

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