walkableprinceton

Council Decision Means Princeton’s Brick Crosswalks Will Disappear

Posted on November 29, 2013 by walkableprinceton

International-type crosswalk at Nassau St and S Tulane in downtown Princeton. (Click to expand.)

International-type crosswalk at Nassau St and S Tulane in downtown Princeton. This type of crosswalk is the new design standard in Princeton based on this week’s decision. (Click to expand.)

A common site in downtown Princeton- ornamental brick sidewalks- looks set to disappear following a Princeton Council decision earlier this week. As we reported in October, there have been behind-the-scenes discussions about standardizing the mixture of different types of crosswalks found in Princeton. The ‘international’-type standard white-striped crosswalk has emerged as the champion, and will be the default style for crosswalks installed in all municipal engineering projects going forward. Why? Continue reading →

Posted in Complete Streets, People, Princeton, Walking | Tagged Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, Pedestrian crossing, Princeton, Princeton Council, Princeton University | 3 Comments

Six Princeton Things We’re Thankful For This Holiday.

Posted on November 28, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Happy Thanksgiving, Princeton! (Click to expand.)

Living in Princeton gives us so much to be thankful for every day, with our history, walkable downtown and eclectic neighbors. We’re thankful for our friends. We’re thankful for our family. And this holiday, here are six things, all of which have happened in the last 12 months, for which we give thanks this year, all of which will make Princeton more walkable, inclusive and even more wonderful! Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Alternative Transportation, Biking, Community, Downtown Vibrancy, Events, People, Placemaking, Princeton, Real estate, Smart Growth, Trails, Transit, Zoning | Tagged Affordable housing, New Jersey Supreme Court, Palmer Square, Princeton, Princeton University, Walkability | Leave a comment

Is That A Good Deal? ‘Charming And Cozy’

Posted on November 27, 2013 by walkableprinceton

This 3-bed, 3-ba house in the John-Witherspoon neighborhood is available for rent at $2,100 per month. (click to expand.)

As part of an occasional series where we cast an eye over walkable rentals and real estate in Princeton, we invite you to comment on a current, local listing. You can find previous entries here and here.

This is a 3-bed, 1-ba house at Birch Avenue and John Street, in Princeton’s John-Witherspoon neighborhood. The rate is $2,050 per month, rising to $2,100 per month after July 2014, and the full listing with more photos can be viewed here. Continue reading →

Posted in Good Deal? | Tagged Palmer Square, Princeton, Princeton University, Renting, Witherspoon-John | 3 Comments

Princeton University Should Not Be Allowed To Ban Cycling On Alexander Street

Posted on November 26, 2013 by walkableprinceton

This unusual sign that has appeared on the Alexander Street ‘temporary walking path’ seems to indicate that cyclists must walk their bikes. (click to expand.)

Princeton was recently certified as a ‘bike friendly community’, an award that should be cause for celebration but instead has raised questions about whether the town is really doing enough to make cycling a viable alternative to car use. Despite a low percentage of trips made by bicycle compared to other college towns, Princeton is slowly but surely becoming more organized about developing infrastructure for local cyclists. But a new development at the Princeton University ‘Arts and Transit’ construction zone on Alexander Street gives cause for concern about how seriously the town takes cycling as a potential mode of transportation. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, Princeton, Walking | Tagged Complete streets, Cycling, League of American Bicyclist, Princeton, Princeton University | 5 Comments

Washington Post Calls Princeton A ‘Super-Zip’, But Highlights Issues Of Living In Paradise…

Posted on November 25, 2013 by walkableprinceton

The Central Jersey 'Super-Zip', as described by a special report in the Washington Post, includes Princeton, Plainsboro, Montgomery and communities west to Doylestown, PA. (Click to expand.)

The Central Jersey ‘Super-Zip’, as described by a special report in the Washington Post, includes Princeton (in red border), West Windsor, Montgomery and communities west to Doylestown, PA. (Click to expand.)

What connects Princeton, West Windsor, Hopewell and Doylestown, PA? According to the Washington Post, they are all part of a regional cluster of ‘Super-Zips’. The Post analyzed all US zip-code areas to rank them on a scale of 0-99 based on household income and percentage of adults with college degrees. The top 5% are ‘Super-Zips’. Princeton, Skillman, and Pennington all reached this category. Plainsboro and Lawrence township narrowly missed out. What does it mean to live in a Super-Zip? Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Local, Princeton | Tagged New Jersey, Princeton, Super-Zip, Washington Post | 1 Comment

Princeton Task Force: “Expect Alexander Street Traffic To Double”

Posted on November 22, 2013 by walkableprinceton

The old Delta gas station at Alexander and Faculty Road on a quiet Sunday afternoon. But rush hour traffic is expected to become overwhelming in the near future. (Click to expand.)

Princeton’s attention is focused on potential changes to the Dinky train line, but the committee tasked with examining traffic and transit on Alexander Street is also developing an all-new traffic model for Princeton. The so-called ‘Alexander Street / University Place Traffic and Transit Task Force’ recently hosted a public meeting at the Carl Fields Center at Princeton University. In addition to proposals to upgrade the Dinky with a streetcar, light rail, or Bus Rapid Transit, the group of residents who attended also heard alarming projections about traffic along the key Alexander Street corridor. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Complete Streets, Density, Events, Princeton, Sustainability, Traffic, Transit, Walking, Zoning | Tagged Bus Rapid Transit, Princeton, Princeton Branch, Princeton University | 4 Comments

Princeton’s Crazy, Mazy Alexander Street Walk-O-Rama!

Posted on November 21, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Princeton University has doubled-down on signs around the Arts & Transit construction site. (Click to expand.)

Construction of Princeton University’s ‘Arts and Transit‘ project has vexed people commuting by car into Princeton along Alexander Street, and sparked revolt from fans of the Dinky train line. But we haven’t heard much about pedestrians along Alexander Street. For many students and local residents, their regular walk to work or class has been transformed into an ever-changing magical mystery tour of diversions, fencing and a remarkable array of signage (see photo above).

Continue reading →

Posted in Princeton, Walking | Tagged Forbes, Palmer Square, Princeton, Princeton Branch, Princeton University | 5 Comments

Beautiful Walkable Princeton: Greenway Meadows Poetry Trail

Posted on November 20, 2013 by walkableprinceton

In the fall, the D&R 'Greenway' becomes coloreed with mottled tan and brown colors. (Click to expand.)

In the fall, the ‘Greenway Meadows’ adopts seasonal shades of tan and brown. (Click to expand.)

This post is part of a series where we celebrate the many beautiful and characterful sights of Princeton, NJ. You can find previous entries in this series here and here or by searching our site for ‘beautiful walkable Princeton’.

Just off Rosedale Road in Western Princeton, a beautiful park surrounds the Johnson Education Center of the D&R Greenway Land Trust. 60 acres of open space are available for Continue reading →

Posted in Beautiful Walkable Princeton | 6 Comments

Cycling Advocate Questions Decision To Award Princeton ‘Bike-Friendly’ Status

Posted on November 19, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Lacking proper bike racks, Princeton-area cyclists routinely lock their bikes to trees, lamp-posts and parking meters. (Click to expand.)

The League of American Bicyclists recently awarded Princeton ‘Bronze Bike-Friendly Community‘ status. Princeton is now one of just 5 municipalities in New Jersey to receive this award (West Windsor is another). Mayor Lempert thanked the Princeton Pedestrian and Bicyclist Committee for putting together the application, and specifically mentioned the painting of ‘sharrows‘ on local streets as a demonstration of Princeton’s commitment to improving cycling facilities. However, not everybody is convinced that Princeton did enough to merit the award.

Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, People, Princeton | Tagged Cycling, League of American Bicyclist, New Jersey, Princeton, Segregated cycle facilities, Shared lane marking | 5 Comments

Two Pieces Of Good News For Princeton Sidewalk-Users!

Posted on November 18, 2013 by walkableprinceton

New sidewalk and trees at Paul Robeson Place. (click to expand.)

Local pedestrians got two pieces of good news in the last week. First, the sidewalk on the south side of Paul Robeson Place has finally reopened following construction at ‘The Residences at Palmer Square‘ (see photo above). Second, Princeton Council passed an ordinance which provides for increased municipal support for maintaining our local network of sidewalks. Continue reading →