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.)

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.

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Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, People, Princeton | Tagged , , , , , | 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.)

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 →

Posted in Complete Streets, Princeton, Walking | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Homes For Diversity And Inclusivity Part 2: Hide Tall Buildings.

Posted on November 15, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Holly House, in Princeton Community Village, built 1974, is high-density in the forest. (Click to expand.)

Holly House, in Princeton Community Village, built 1974. (Click to expand.)

Princeton planning and zoning has had unintended exclusionary outcomes, making it hard for local middle-class workers to live in town, and incentivizing car-dependency and traffic. In this series, we explore options for adding more walkable housing in Princeton to enable diversity and inclusivity, while maintaining and enhancing Princeton’s historic charm. You can read Part 1 of the series here.

Tall buildings provide opportunities for spacious multi-family homes on a small footprint. This offers environmental benefits, because less land must be cleared to construct the same number of homes, and traffic-management benefits, because a concentration of customers has the potential to support goods and services within walking distance. Nonetheless, a Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Density, how-to-add-density, Princeton, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Traffic, Zoning | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Is That A Good Deal? ‘Steps From Princeton University’

Posted on November 14, 2013 by walkableprinceton
80 Nassau Street, #2A is a one-bed apartment for rent located across the street from Nassau Hall of Princeton University. The price is $2,000 per month. (Click to expand; image from Google Maps)

80 Nassau Street, #2A, on the left side of this picture is a one-bed apartment for rent located across the street from Nassau Hall of Princeton University. The price is $2,000 per month. (Click to expand; image from Google Maps)

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

This is a 1-bed, 1-ba apartment at 80 Nassau Street- directly across from Princeton University. The entrance is between “Zorba’s Brother” Greek restaurant and “Paper Source” craft and stationery store. The rate is $2,000 per month and the full listing including a floor-plan can be found here. Continue reading →

Posted in Good Deal? | 3 Comments

Can Princeton Green Spaces Be Open To Everybody? Fill Out This Princeton Survey Today!

Posted on November 13, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Limited entrances, uneven trails, and poor signage detract from enjoyment of Princeton's East Ridge green spaces, as seen here at the entrance to Herrontown Woods. (Click to expand.)

Limited entry points, uneven trails, and poor signage detract from enjoyment of Princeton’s East Ridge green spaces, as seen here at the entrance to Herrontown Woods. (Click to expand.)

In Princeton, we have an incredible choice of large parks and open spaces to explore. We can thanks groups like Friends of Princeton Open Spaces for working to preserve these green spaces. But many of our large parks are not as accessible as they could be. Our recent trip to Autumn Hills Reservation revealed many trails that

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Posted in Biking, Sustainability, Trails, Walking | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Princeton Transit Study Suggests Streetcar Will Be Best Option For Dinky Upgrade

Posted on November 12, 2013 by walkableprinceton
One visualization of what a streetcar might look like running along University Place in Princeton towards the Dinky Station and Princeton Junction. (Click to expand.)

Visualization of what a streetcar might look like running along University Place in Princeton towards the Dinky Station and Princeton Junction.* (Click to expand – or click here to see the street as it is today.)

Nobody is going to go on the record about it yet, but it looks like a streetcar is going to emerge as the most attractive option from Princeton’s Alexander Street Transit Study.

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Posted in Alternative Transportation, Princeton, Sustainability, Traffic, Transit | Tagged , , , , , , | 12 Comments

Remember When We Predicted Sub-$3 Gas Around Princeton? Well Here It Is.

Posted on November 11, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Here it is: that sub-$3 gas that we predicted back in May. (click to expand)

Here it is: that sub-$3 gas that we predicted back in May. (click to expand)

Back in May, we wrote an article predicting that the price of gas would fall and potentially drop below the magic $3 / gallon barrier. This was based on observations about trends in global oil prices. We saw this as Continue reading →

Posted in People, Sustainability, Traffic | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

OnePrinceton: How Walkable Businesses Are Supporting Princeton Non-Profits

Posted on November 8, 2013 by walkableprinceton
One Princeton is here! Hooray! (Click to expand.)

One Princeton is here! Hooray! (Click to expand.)

Live Local. Work Local. Shop Local. These are key principles of Walkable Princeton. And here is a way you can help local businesses and non-profits and it will cost you absolutely nothing: It’s called OnePrinceton. It’s like a regular debit card, but every time you use it, it keeps money right here in our local Princeton community. We’ve been using it for the last couple of weeks, and we’re totally satisfied! Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Downtown Vibrancy, Princeton | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Princeton Transit Task Force To Host Public Consultation This Saturday

Posted on November 7, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Princeton's Dinky Line has been severed half-way along Alexander Street. Can another transit mode replace cars for people trying to reach downtown? (click to expand.)

Princeton’s Dinky Line, pictured here looking toward town, has been severed half-way along Alexander Street. The old Dinky station can be seen in the distance. Can another transit mode replace cars for people trying to reach downtown? (click to expand.)

Princeton University has already cut off the railroad track for the Dinky train line (see above), and allowed the old Dinky Station to fall apart in a farcical manner, but the town of Princeton is looking to the future. A task force with the responsibility to improve transit along the Alexander Street Corridor is making a presentation to the public this coming Saturday, November 9, with the objective of getting feedback on the way ahead. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, Events, Princeton, Traffic, Transit | Tagged , , , | 17 Comments

Beautiful Walkable Princeton: Playmobil Pop-Up Store, Palmer Square

Posted on November 6, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Whoah! That sure is a big Playmobil person! (click to expand.)

Whoah! That sure is a big Playmobil person! (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’.

Gigantic Playmobil personages recently appeared Continue reading →

Posted in Beautiful Walkable Princeton, Downtown Vibrancy, Princeton | Tagged , , | 2 Comments