walkableprinceton

Princeton Council Members Miller And Simon Speak Out Against Sidewalks And Bike Lanes

Posted on November 4, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Meeting of Mayor and Princeton Council October 27. On stage, left to right, Jenny Crumiller, Bernie Miller, Mayor Liz Lempert, Lance Liverman, Jo Butler, and Patrick Simon. (click to expand)

For those of us who look forward to new ways to safely walk and bike around Princeton, events at the Princeton Council meeting of October 27 were pretty hard to watch. Council member Bernie Miller voted against a 500-ft sidewalk project that was part of the Sidewalk Masterplan, and a proposal to add bike lanes was shelved after several Council members- most notably Patrick Simon- spoke out forcefully against it. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, People, planning, Princeton, Sustainability, Walking | Tagged Complete streets, Cycling, election 2014, Princeton, Walking | 1 Comment

Free Breakfast And Sustainable Cycling Discussion At Princeton Public Library Tomorrow

Posted on October 29, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Bikes in Princeton. Sustainable Princeton will ask how to make it easier to get around by bike in Prineton at a ‘Great Ideas Breakfast on Thursday 10.30 at 8.15 a.m. at Princeton Public Library(click to expand.)

Princeton roads are full and parking is tough. It’s not clear that there’s space for any more cars. Future transportation needs in the area must be addressed by making it easier for people to switch to other forms of transport. Transit, walking and cycling are the most obvious solutions, but Princeton lags other college towns for bicycle transportation. Whereas Palo Alto and Davis, CA have bike mode share of 28%, in Princeton it’s just 3%. Growing bicycle transportation is a huge opportunity. It is also helpful for the increasing share of local residents who are interested in healthy living and reducing their carbon footprint. But how can we make it happen? That is the subject of a discussion session hosted by ‘Sustainable Princeton’ on Thursday morning, October 29 30 (tomorrow) at Princeton Public Library at ~~8.30~~ 8.15 a.m. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, Princeton, Sustainability | Leave a comment

Marchetti’s Constant, And Transit Around Princeton

Posted on October 27, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Princeton shuttle and NE Regional NJ Transit line at Princeton Junction station. (click to expand.)

Princeton shuttle and NE Regional NJ Transit train, at Princeton Junction station. (click to expand.)

Most people in Princeton and Central Jersey would like to see better transit options. But in practice, the few transit options that we already have are not heavily used. Buses are driving around half-full, and the Dinky train is under-utilized. What kind of transit is likely to be successful? The answer is surprisingly simple, and it depends on something called “Marchetti’s Constant“.

Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Princeton, Transit | Tagged New Jersey, Princeton, Transit, Trenton | Leave a comment

Friday Walkability Links

Posted on October 24, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Bicycles at Forbes College, Princeton. (click to expand)

Links to Princeton area walkability stories that you might have missed…

Jersey Rent Too High: House prices are through the roof in New Jersey…and it’s even worse for renters. What effect does it have on the economy and local middle-class people if a huge amount of their budget must be dedicated to housing costs? (via NJ Spotlight.) Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Alternative Transportation, Biking, Community, Complete Streets, Density, Local, People, Smart Growth, Transit, Zoning | Tagged Central Jersey, Princeton | Leave a comment

Princeton’s ‘Poe Road Preservation Associaton’ Has Got It Wrong On Sidewalks

Posted on October 17, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Poe Road in Princeton between Random Road and Route 27, where sidewalks are due to be added. (click to expand)

This weeks ‘Town Topics’ features a letter from a local resident claiming to represent the ‘Poe Road Preservation Associaton’, a group of neighbors who have organized to oppose a municipal engineering project that will complete a key section of Princeton’s sidewalk network. The letter makes several arguments against building the new sidewalks, but understates the importance of building them. Continue reading →

Posted in Complete Streets, Princeton, Walking | Tagged Princeton, sidewalks, vision zero, Walking | 2 Comments

Princeton Assembly Member Proposes Regional School Boards

Posted on October 14, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Littlebrook Elementary School in Princeton. (click to expand)

Donna Simon (R) who represents Princeton in the New Jersey Assembly, is proposing new legislation to set up a task force to study the possibility of regional school boards (via NJ.com). Her goal is to promote efficiency and save taxpayer dollars. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Community, Local, People, Sustainability | Tagged new jersey assembly, Princeton, schooling | Leave a comment

In Princeton’s Tree Streets Neighborhood- Is This Graffiti Or A Political Statement?

Posted on October 13, 2014 by walkableprinceton

“#WeAreN” – Linden Lane, Princeton, 2014. (click to expand)

One of the things that makes downtown Princeton so walkable is the mixture of houses old and new, gardens, parks and many different things to draw the eye of the walker. Walking is enjoyable, because there are many things to draw your interest. When walkability guru Jeff Bezos talks about the things that make walking appealing, he invariably talks about how walking must be ‘interesting’. (as well as ‘safe’, ‘comfortable’, and ‘useful’. A walk through Princeton’s Tree Streets neighborhood is invariably more interesting than a trek up Bunn Drive, because there is a constantly changing environment. One house in particular caught the eye on a recent stroll… Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Walking | Tagged #wearen, Princeton, Walking | Leave a comment

Howard Hughes Aims For Special Planning Process At West Windsor Cyanamid Site

Posted on October 7, 2014 by walkableprinceton

The former American Cyanamid site, between Route 1 and Clarksville Road in West Windsor, NJ. (click to expand.)

The former American Cyanamid site, between Route 1 and Clarksville Road in West Windsor, NJ. From Howard Hughes Corporation presentation of 9.22.14 (click to expand.)

One of the most significant redevelopments in the Princeton area moved a step closer yesterday as the Howard Hughes Corporation announced plans to seek a special planning process for their land holdings at the former American Cyanamid site in West Windsor. Continue reading →

Posted in Local, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Real estate, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Traffic, Transit, Zoning | Tagged Central Jersey, howard hughes corporation, planning, Princeton, route 1, smart growth, West Windsor | 1 Comment

I Saved A Gallon Of Gas On Princeton #Carfree Day. Here Are 5 Things I Learned…

Posted on October 2, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Waiting for the bus on car-free day September 20, 2014. (click to expand.)

Carf-ree Day 2014 has come and passed. Did you replace your car trip? I did, and by switching to a combination of bicycle/Dinky/NJ Transit train/bus/walking, I managed to save a full gallon of gas. Lifting a gallon of milk from the refrigerator for comparison, I was simultaneously proud of my achievement, and horrified that I really burn this much fossil fuel on my regular commute every single day. What makes me particularly glum is that, like many New Jerseyans, driving a car seems like the only practical way for me to get to work. Here are 5 things I learned on #carfree day: Continue reading →