APCSC Testified today for NJ Target Zero Commission with Teeth. And Protect access to e-bikes.

Hello supporters~

I was honored on Thursday, 2/15 to be among other equitable mobility advocates giving powerful testimony in favor of a strong Target Zero Commission.

We all urged the very receptive Senate Transportation Committee to establish the Target Zero Commission to include a commitment for an action plan and timeline in Bill S361 sponsored by @patrickdiegnan   

Contact Senator Patrick J. Diegnan Jr

Listen to the recording of the meeting, including testimony for Target Zero Bill 361 at 49:00. Prior is great testimony on other transit issues, including the (really bad) E-Bike Bill: S4132.

Senate Transportation Meeting Thursday, February 15, 2024

This Commission will provide leadership and encourage municipalities like Asbury Park to craft policies and implement safety measures to make streets safer for everyone. (Scroll down to read my testimony.)

Equitable Mobility Advocates with NJ Senator Patrick Diegnan.

Additionally others among us testified against the really bad E-bike/e-scooter Bill S4132 requiring licensing and registering low-speed e-bikes and scooters.

Why Every E-Biker Should Be Worried About NJ’s Proposed Micromobility Insurance Law Additional testimony was given on the terrible e-bike and scooter insuring, licensing, and registering bill.

Take Action to Protect Access to E-Bikes in New Jersey

Low speed e-bikes and scooters should not require insurance, licensing, and registration.

Here’s my testimony today, February 15th for the NJ Target Zero Commission, and Bill S361:

Polli testifying on behalf of APCSC

I’m Polli Schildge, a founding member of Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition.

*APCSC initiated a city wide movement to urge the city to implement the road diet on NJ Rt 71 Main St. It’s better, but still not great. There is still so much more to do.*

We’re happy to support the NJ Target Zero Commission, and Bill S361, including a commitment to an action plan with a specific timeline for implementation of road safety measures.

In the past few years our city has experienced a Renaissance, which has resulted in increased traffic, speeding, and drivers ignoring traffic signals and signs.

At the same time nearly half of residents are at, or under the poverty line, which is almost twice the national average. Many residents don’t own cars, and rely on walking or rolling as their primary transportation.

Road safety really is an issue of equity. *Everyone walking or rolling or driving has to cross NJ State Highway, Rt 71, our Main Street which bisects the city, to travel east and west. Driver behavior is terrible, and speeding is rampant.*

When I came upon the site of a recent crash and fatality of a person on a bike, all that remained was debris, and the squashed bike tossed to the side of the road. There was no news report on the crash or the person whose life was lost.

*I walk and bike by choice, not necessity. But many people walk and bike because they have no choice. – mothers with children, and elderly struggling to cross Rt71. I recently witnessed 2 people on bikes in the crosswalk, in a left turn hit and run, and learned of another person hit on a bike in critical condition.*

The social, economic, physical and mental repercussions of crashes is a true human health crisis, disproportionately affecting communities like Asbury Park. When anyone is killed or seriously injured in a crash, families under financial stress might be displaced, causing a ripple effect, and straining resources in the city itself.

*We don’t have accurate crash data – crashes are unreported because people may be undocumented or have criminal records.*

PSAs, signs, education, and enforcement don’t change human behavior. The ONLY way to reduce and ultimately prevent crashes, injuries and deaths is to change the built environment.

Everyone deserves to get around safely, especially the most vulnerable road users – I used to think it meant elderly, or children – but it really means everyone outside of a car.

Driving is a privilege, not a right. We all deserve the right to equitable mobility, which can be achieved by implementing policies, and building infrastructure to enhance the health of our communities, and most importantly, to save lives.

This Commission will provide leadership and encourage municipalities like Asbury Park to craft policies and implement safety measures to make streets safer for everyone.

Thank you.

Onward~

Polli Schildge

Editor APCSC

 

 

 

National Roadway Safety Strategy

The US is at the highest number of roadway deaths in 30 years.

We can take bold steps in our cities and design streets with traffic calming elements to slow drivers, move toward less less car dependence by providing transit, and micro mobility options. We can lobby the auto industry to stop advertising dangerous driving behaviors, and stop building larger and more murderous vehicles that can reach speeds of 160mph and beyond.

The USDOT supports Vision Zero, by preventing dangerous driving, reducing car dependency, and building more and better infrastructure to protect the most vulnerable road users.

Read the letter from the Secretary and the report.

Find out what you can do in your town to make it safe for walking, biking, and rolling in New Jersey. Join NJ Bike And Walk Coalition

Share your email to apcompletestreets@gmail.com to join the movement in our city. Follow  Asbury Park Complete Streets Coalition on FaceBook, Instagram, and Twitter @asburyParkCSC.

A letter from US Department Of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg

Our priority at the Department of Transportation is to make our transportation system safe for all people. Right now, we face a crisis on our roadways. Almost 95 percent of our Nation’s transportation deaths occur on America’s streets, roads, and highways, and they are on the rise. An estimated 38,680 people died in motor vehicle crashes in 2020. In the first half of 2021, an estimated 20,160 people died, up 18.4 percent compared to the first six months of 2020. And every year, millions more are seriously and often permanently injured. Those lost are our family members, our friends, our colleagues, our neighbors. They are the people who build, maintain, and fix our roads. They are the people who deliver critical goods, and those who risk their own lives to keep us safe. The status quo is unacceptable, and it is preventable. We know it’s preventable because bold cities in the United States, and countries abroad, have achieved tremendous reductions in roadway deaths. We cannot accept such terrible losses here. Americans deserve to travel safely in their communities. Humans make mistakes, and as good stewards of the transportation system, we should have in place the safeguards to prevent those mistakes from being fatal. ZERO is the only acceptable number of deaths and serious injuries on our roadways.

USDOT National Roadway Safety Strategy / January 2022

The United States Department of Transportation National Roadway Safety Strategy (NRSS) outlines the Department’s comprehensive approach to significantly reducing serious injuries and deaths on our Nation’s highways, roads, and streets. This is the first step in working toward an ambitious long-term goal of reaching zero roadway fatalities. Safety is U.S. DOT’s top priority, and the NRSS represents a Department-wide approach to working with stakeholders across the country to achieve this goal.

Read more…

 

 

 

APCSC And Monmouth University Grad Students: Digital Design For Asbury Park

APCSC Founder Polli Schildge was honored and delighted to work with students earning an M.A. In Communication Idm (Interactive Digital Media) in November 2021 along with Professor Amanda Stojanov.

MONMOUTH UNIVERSITY INTERACTIVE DIGITAL MEDIA STUDIO X APCSC GRADUATE COURSE

 

With the guidance of Professor Stojanov these creative digital design students gained understanding of the need for safe streets for the most vulnerable road users in Asbury Park. They learned how streets designed for motor vehicles endanger the lives of people walking and using micromobility like bicycles and scooters,

The projects were focused on Vision Zero, (adopted in cities and states all over the US, and recently adopted NJ 4′ Passing Law.

The students got out on the streets of Asbury Park, on bikes, walking, and on scooters. They used drones,  and created videos and graphics.  They used advocacy language, “crash not accident”,  learned about infrastructure such as traffic circles and protected bike lanes, and they were spurred to action learning the number of deaths in traffic violence in the US.

For more information on the project or student work please contact astojano@monmouth.edu

Project Overview: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gKpI2Sp6N-Yb4Dxs3BJ_Ls5DSvR0vDZN?usp=sharing

Video by students Skylar Smith and Stella Clark

Posters by students Skylar Smith and Stella Clark

 

 

Video by Gianna Acquavella

 

 

Video by Idalis Maldonado & Nicole Totland

 

AJ Benfante’s project is a visual narrative in a storybook format.

Explore the project here: https://editor.p5js.org/AJB322/full/KkqVutBFX

 

Abby Brooks envisioned a non-linear storyline.

Explore the project here: https://editor.p5js.org/AbbyBrooks/full/AAqNVCwUx

 

 

 

WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE For Road Traffic Victims 11.21.21

#WODR2021 Sunday, November 21st, 2021

Please join Families for Safe Streets in commemorating World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims. Together, as those who have been personally impacted by crashes, we will join with the Vision Zero Network and other street safety organizations, community members, faith leaders, elected officials, and dignitaries from across the country and globe to REMEMBER, SUPPORT, and ACT.

Each year, 1.35 million people are killed around the world in traffic crashes. Over 100 Americans are killed every single day and millions more are injured each year.

Together we can amplify the heartbreaking cost of traffic crashes and the urgent need for change.

World Health Organization Key Facts On Road Traffic Deaths And Injuries

Critical Key Fact: Road traffic injuries are the leading cause of death for children and young adults aged 5-29 years.

Read more…

GOOD NEWS: The Vision Zero Act Of 2019 Just Introduced

THESE STAGGERING STATISTICS
Are we going to begin to wean our nation from car dependency? Cars are literally killing us.
The Vision Zero Act comes after a five-year increase in pedestrian and cyclist deaths in the U.S. A recent report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found more pedestrians and cyclists were killed last year than in any year since 1990; approximately 17 pedestrians and two cyclists were killed each day.
GOOD NEWS
The Vision Zero Act of 2019
, a bipartisan bill introduced in the House on October 23: To provide more federal funding towards safer street design, to help to reduce the increasing number of pedestrian fatalities in the U.S.

NEW BILL AIMS TO COUNTER ALARMING RISE IN PEDESTRIAN DEATHS WITH FUNDING FOR SAFER STREETS

 

Bipartisan Vision Zero Act would steer highway funds towards programs for safer transit

 

“The Vision Zero Act is a critical step in our fight to reduce the number of transportation-related fatalities across our country,” said Rep. Pressley, who recently co-founded the House’s new Future of Transportation caucus. “This bill affirms the right of pedestrians, cyclists, and public transit riders to travel safely in community.”

Read about it:

https://www.curbed.com/2019/10/23/20928815/vision-zero-traffic-deaths-safe-streets-transportation

VisionZero Day Of Action: Attention to Preventable Traffic Deaths

On Sunday, November 18th  communities across U.S., and around the globe organized for World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.

Asbury Park has thankfully not had traffic deaths that other larger cities have had. Let’s not wait until a tragedy happens to implement traffic calming measures all over the city, and #slowthecars.

 |  BY VERONICA VANTERPOOL

Every day 100 people will die in U.S. in preventable crashes. How is our community doing? Yesterday Sunday, November 18th was World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims to honor those who lost lives. We join VisionZero Network and urge action for

Read more…

https://visionzeronetwork.org/sunday-nov-18-2018-day-of-action-calls-attention-to-preventable-traffic-deaths-worldwide/

What Does Vision Zero Mean?

Learn about Vision Zero from Jerry Foster of Greater Mercer TMA in an article discussing the meaning of VZ as it relates to safer streets in Princeton and in NJ. Aren’t streets and roads designed for safety…or are they primarily designed to expedite cars?

Vision Zero: A Comprehensive Re-Thinking of Road Safety

At the local level some safety advocates have recognized the urgency of the situation (National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) study showing an increase in pedestrian deaths), and are taking up the cause. Below, Jerry Foster of the West Windsor Bicycle & Pedestrian Alliance outlines Vision Zero, a safety plan that has been effective in other countries that activists are trying to bring to New Jersey.

What Is Vision Zero?

It’s not just another blame-the-victim (and enforcement) safety campaign! Vision Zero is a comprehensive re-thinking of road safety that brings everyone to the table to systematically prevent crashes and reduce crash severity — just like airline and railroad crashes.

Read more…

https://princetoninfo.com/vision-zero-a-comprehensive-re-thinking-of-road-safety/

Smaller Firetrucks Get The Job Done

Many calls to a fire station are not fire related emergencies, so a huge rig with thousands of gallons of water isn’t needed to respond. Safety to pedestrians, bicyclists and other motorists is a benefit in situations where a smaller truck can do the job.

Fire departments are adopting Vision Zero, so why shouldn’t you?

“The good news is that, even without smaller fire vehicles, city planners and fire officials can work together in this conscious effort to improve safety, not only for people walking, but for all road users. Let San Franciso and Portland stand as examples of what can happen when groups work together (hint: everyone wins).”

Read more…

http://bikewalkcentralflorida.org/2018/05/31/fire-departments-are-adopting-vision-zero-so-why-shouldnt-you/

Vision Zero #Slowthecars

Vision Zero is working in cities all over the US. “To actually make progress or commit to Vision Zero, it will really take a transformative shift in how your city is prioritizing safe mobility.”

Asbury Park is actively working on strategies to reduce automobile speed on city streets. Stay tuned for our initiative #slowthecars.

Vision Zero Network Hires Big Gun To Focus on Slowing Drivers Down Already

About 30 U.S. cities have committed to Vision Zero, but that’s the easy part. Map: Vision Zero Network
Read more…

https://usa.streetsblog.org/2018/08/21/vision-zero-network-hires-big-gun-to-focus-on-slowing-drivers-down-already/