TMA of New Jersey Newsletter Series

The Transportation Management Association Council of NJ (TMAC NJ) is comprised of the ExecutiveDirectors of New Jersey's eight Transportation Management Associations (TMA). TMAs are non-profit,public/private partnership organizations that work with businesses, commuters, county, and localgovernments, and regional and state agencies to implement programs that reduce traffic congestion andimprove air quality. TMA services are available in every county in NJ. This quarterly newsletter isdesigned to educate and inform its readers about the impactful work NJ’s TMAs are doing to improve themobility needs of all persons in NJ. For information about the TMA serving your area, click here.

Hudson TMA- Keeping Riders Safeon Two Wheels This Summer!

With the Summer Wind blowing into Hudson County, moreand more residents are exploring the County on twowheels. In order to keep these residents of all ages safe, theHudson TMA has been working with Hudson Countymunicipalities and local police departments to remind ridersof some of the basic rules of the road so that they can ridesafely to avoid crashes and injuries. Recently, the Hudson TMA worked with the Bayonne PoliceDepartment to develop outdoor signage for locations acrossBayonne providing bicyclists with road safety tips. Sharingthe road safely will allow for a safe and fun Summer forresidents across Hudson County!

For more information, visit: https://hudsontma.org/

Cross County Connection Can Help YourBusiness Explore EV Charging Stations

Electric vehicles (EVs) are a common site on New Jersey’s roads. If you think you’re seeing more of them… you’re right! Year after year, more residents are purchasing an EV as the technology advances, andcosts have come down. It is anticipated there will be 2 million EVs on NJ’s roads by 2035. Providing EVcharging stations at your business gives an added benefit to current employees and an extra incentive toprospective hires. They also demonstrate an employer’s sincere commitment to environmentalsustainability. Here are some basics on EV charging to help you begin to envision the possibilities.

There are three levels of charging stations:Level ILevel IIDC Fast Charger

Source: ChargEVC

Each charger type progressively chargers your EV faster. DC fast chargers are the fastest, providing afull charge in 20 – 30 minutes. Each level of charger is better suited for different locations based on howlong people will be parked. For instance, a Level II charger is well suited for an office environment, whileDC Fast Chargers should be used in areas like gyms or supermarkets.

Laying the groundwork for EV infrastructure has significant costs. New Jersey has grant programs opento private businesses that can help. NJDEP’s It Pay$ to Plug In program provides grants for Level I,Level II, and DC Fast Chargers. In addition, PSE&G will soon launch a charging station grant programthat includes money for commercial charging customers. In February 2021, Atlantic City Electric receivedapproval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for new electric vehicle programs to expand accessto clean electric transportation options for all communities across their service area. The programs,expected to begin in 2022, will provide rebates and incentives to support the development of 3,250 EVcharging ports in public spaces, businesses, and homes across the southern New Jersey region.

Want to learn more about EVs? Cross County Connection is here to help! We help local businesses withimplementing charging stations. Our organization stays up-to-date on best practices and has connectionsto the state agencies and organizations that will guide you through funding and installing chargingstations.

Cross County Connection is the designated Transportation Management Association (TMA) for theseven-county southern New Jersey region: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland,Gloucester, and Salem. Cross County Connection assists local governments, schools, businesses, socialservice organizations, residents, and employees with mobility needs by fostering the implementation anduse of sustainable transportation modes.

Cross County Connection TMA was formally incorporated in 1989 through the efforts of a group ofsouthern New Jersey business leaders, local government officials, and representatives from the NewJersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT) toaddress mobility issues in the region and reduce the number of vehicles on state and local roadways.Today, Cross County Connection is a full-service transportation organization offering a wide variety ofprograms, services, and resources to southern New Jersey businesses, local governments, schools,residents, and employees. Visit driveless.com to learn more, or contact us at: (856) 596-8228 or email usat: ccctma@driveless.com

Bicycling is Booming in Hunterdon County

Bicycling has grown in popularity over the past year as COVID19 restrictions forced many tocome up with new forms of exercise and recreation. And, by all accounts, that popularity is notwaning as restrictions have been lifted. Summer 2021 is already shaping up to be another“summer of cycling” in Hunterdon County. “We’ve seen continued interest in bicycling over the past year,” says Caryl Harris, goHunterdonBicycle Specialist. “Families are riding in neighborhoods. Cyclists of all ages and abilities are multiuse trails in Clinton, High Bridge, and along the Delaware River. Road cyclists are out on solorides. Area bicycle clubs are seeing increases in membership. Mountain bikers are hitting thetrails in High Bridge, Kingwood and Frenchtown. Gravel, road, and mountain biking events areonce again on the calendar and are filling up fast,” says Harris. goHunterdon has been actively promoting Hunterdon County for its bicycling assets through thewww.bikehunterdon.org website and on social media. The website features a variety of bicycleroutes and bicycling opportunities in Hunterdon County, information on local bike shops, rentals,clubs, and events. The Bike Hunterdon Facebook Group has more than 400 members and the Bike HunterdonInstagram account continues to welcome new followers who share photos of their favoritebicycling experiences in Hunterdon County. Two new bicycle shops recently opened in Hunterdon County, including Pedego, an electricbicycle shop in Lambertville, and Green Wheels Bike Shop LLC in Raritan Township. With BigBear Gear in Lambertville adding a bicycle rental fleet to their operation, bicycles are nowavailable for sale or rent at eleven (11) locations across Hunterdon County! View bicycle shops:https://www.bikehunterdon.org/shops Local businesses have joined goHunterdon’s “Cyclists Welcome” initiative to identifythemselves as good places for bicyclists to visit. Coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, wineries,farms and farm markets, chocolate shops, and ice cream stores are displaying window clings witha special logo to clearly show that bicyclists are welcome. goHunterdon’s Pedal and Park bike rack loan program is fully subscribed, with six (6) bike rackscurrently in place around the county and a waiting list of additional spots waiting to test out if abicycle rack may be good fit for their location. “Bicycling is booming in Hunterdon. We’ve known that Hunterdon County is a premier location forbicycling and we’re thrilled with the momentum we’re seeing,” she adds.

For more information, visit bikehunterdon.org

Passaic County RollingForward with Bicycle Master PlanTransOptions is excited to be working with Passaic County to helpwith community outreach, education and in-person events as theywork on completing their Bicycle Master Plan in the coming months!Be sure to be a part of this project as it develops by visiting their infohub here!

(Link: https://publicinput.com/bikepassaiccounty )

Raritan Borough Bike Train Rolling Strong Five Years Later

It’s been five years since Somerset County’s firstBike Train began rolling through Raritan Borough,and it keeps gaining momentum. Having startedwith two students, the Bike Train has now grown to15 regular participants, sometimes more, and JohnF. Kennedy Primary School recently recognized theBike Train in their drop-off and pickup procedures. A bike train is the biking equivalent of a walkingschool bus: students and parents bike along a pre-determined route between home and school, oftenpicking up other students at various “stops” alongthe way. It was September 2016 when RaritanBorough residents Joe and Colleen Kempe decidedto form a Bike Train in their own community. Joe contacted RideWise to see if a bike trainalready existed as part of the agency’s Safe Routesto School program. When it didn’t, he and Colleendecided to start one. “My wife and I established a

route and we started to invite students we knew who lived along the way,” Kempe said. The firstBike Train ride consisted of one parent and two students riding along a 2-mile route to JFKPrimary School. By the spring of 2017, the Tuesday bike train grew to 20 participants promptingone parent to comment, “We’ll need a bigger bike rack.” Five years later, the Raritan Bike Train is still going strong, providing a fun and active way forstudents to get to school – even during the COVID-19 pandemic. “We have had to adapt to newprotocols,” Joe said, “but are thankful that the science has shown it’s safe to ride and be outdoorswith reasonable adjustments. The irony being that many of our riders prefer to wear their maskson some of the chillier mornings to keep their faces warm.”

Remote learning and many parents working from home have led to some larger changes to theBike Train. Fewer parents put their children on the school buses, instead opting to drive them toschool, leading to a sharp increase in traffic and affecting how the students ride into schoolgrounds. “We now walk our bikes to the rack rather than ride past the cars waiting for drop-off,”Joe remarked. Different learning cohorts also meant students were not attending school on thesame days, breaking the Tuesday bike train into smaller biking groups on different days. But, with JFK returning to 5-day instruction, the Bike Train’s numbers are returning to normal –and is even growing. “We have seen a return of our riders as well as a few others who learned orimproved their riding during the pandemic,” explained Joe. “One student in particular learned to

ride on two wheels last April, when the roads were at their quietest, and she is now riding everyweek in the bike train since it restarted. It's amazing what quieter and calmer streets will do for ayoung rider's confidence.” And it’s not only the students who are riding – parents have started joining the fun, too. BarrettWindrem remarked, "During a year with so much uncertainty one of my highlights has been myavailability on Tuesdays to accompany the Kempes on the Bike Train and ride with my twins.Nothing compares to the proud looks of joy and accomplishment on the riders faces when wereach school.” Erika Karp said, “My son enjoys this weekly event and counts down the days toTuesday. This year has made it even more special since I am working from home and have hadthe opportunity to join along. The JFK Bike Train has provided both my children with phenomenalmemories and helped them continue their joy for riding all around the Raritan-Bridgewater area." The next time you see the Bike Train in Raritan, Joe says, “roll down your window and say hey, orjust throw a thumbs up. Our biggest goal is to make the day a little brighter for the students atJFK.” And if you’d like to start a bike train in your community, contact Jon Dugan, RideWiseBicycle & Pedestrian Safety Manager, at jon@ridewise.org.

Get on your Bike & Ride…With KMM’s Bike SafetyVideo Library

2020 was a year of struggles, challenges, andmost important resilience. Social media sharedhow neighbors and friends coped with theirlockdowns – baking sour dough bread, catching upon their Netflix watch list and spending more timesbiking and walking.

Seeing the increase and interest in biking (81%surveyed in 2020 saw an increase in theircommunity) and walking, KMM developed a seriesof safety videos that addressed not only bikingsafety and etiquette, but videos to help newcomersto biking enjoy the activity in creative ways.

How to use a Bicycle Trailer: A Bicycle Trailer can be a wonderful accessory for recreation andtransportation. Anyone with a bike can have the ability to tow cargo like groceries, and even children closebehind. The trailer attaches securely to the bike, and this essentially makes the bike longer and heavier.https://youtu.be/K6_ubYHUUQ8

How to Keep your Bike Clean: Just like you wash your car when it gets dirty, it’s a good idea to washand maintain your bike on occasion. Give your bike some TLC and take your take it outside with soapywater, an old dish wand, sponge, or toothbrush and we’ll show you how it can be done with items that youalready have. https://youtu.be/fnZ7tnADchE

How to Maximize Family Bike Rides: Our parks are for everyone. Our state, counties, andmunicipalities offer wonderful places for us to experience physical activity outdoors. These are spaceswhere children can play, wander, and imagine. Here are some tips on how you and your family can enjoythe outdoors and stay safe. https://youtu.be/pgR5A3XPJFA

How to Teach your Child to Ride a Bike: Learning to ride a bike is right of passage. Let us show you afew quick tips on how to teach your children to ride a bike. https://youtu.be/zNyeFY-t93s

Wearing a Bike Helmet Properly: Whether you’re riding a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, if there arewheels under your feet, NJ requires a helmet on your head up to the age of 17. Biking to school andaround town can be a safe activity, though if you happen to fall, it’s smart to protect your head.https://youtu.be/eYxBxUbGiEs

Red Light Green Light: During KMM’s bike rodeos, instructors’ direct children through activities that canlook like games. These exercises emphasize skills that all cyclists require in the real world. Red Light /

Green Light is an excellent “Bike Game,” that requires space, but no additional equipment.https://youtu.be/IKA89Feq7dc

For a look our at our complete library, visit us online! Click Here.

Ryde4Life – A Statewide Transportation Programwith Lyft and Uber

Since 2017, EZ Ride has partnered withLyft and Uber to launch a scalable newprogram – Ryde4Life, which effectivelybypassed the need for riders to use appsor to have smartphones at all. The serviceis available on-demand throughout NewJersey from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdaysand from 8 am to 5 pm on Saturdays.

Despite the pandemic, the program has provided more than 16,000 rides in 2021.

The recent growth is due to non-profit organizations like the Affordable HousingAlliance, Caregivers of Central Jersey, Visiting Nurse Association, and localgovernment agencies like Essex County, Bergen County, and the Township ofMontclair. They provide rides for their clients free of cost.

More recently, we have expanded our partnership with Community ActionPartnerships (CAPs) like NORWESCAP, Gateway CAP, and O.C.E.A.N., Inc., toprovide rides for their clients in eleven more counties. As a result of these newpartnerships, we now have a meaningful Ryde4Life program throughout the state.

Through these partnerships, riders receive rides for free, which are paid for by thesponsoring agency. Ryde4Life helps augment the transportation offered by countiesand towns. EZ Ride coordinates all trips and provides summary reports for allfulfilled rides. If your county or town is interested in participating and would like moredetails about the Ryde4Life program, please call (201) 939-4242 ext. 131.

Transportation Management Associations This quarterly newsletter is designed to educate and inform its readers about the impactful work beingdone to improve the mobility needs of NJ’s residents and employers.

At the logos below, click on the name of the TMA serving your county for information about theirprograms and services.

Cross County Connection TMAAtlantic, Burlington, Camden,Cape May, Cumberland,Gloucester and Salem counties.858-596-8228

EZ Ride (formerly Meadowlink)Bergen County and westernportions of Hudson County,eastern portions of Passaic, Unionand Essex and MonmouthCounties201-939-4242, toll free 866-208-1307

goHunterdonHunterdon County908-788-5553

Greater Mercer TMAMercer County, MontgomeryTownship (Somerset County) andOcean County609-452-1491

Hudson TMAHudson County201-324-6222

Keep Middlesex Moving, Inc.Middlesex County732-745-4465

RideWiseSomerset County, except forMontgomery Township908-704-1011

TransOptionsMorris, Sussex, Warren, and western portions ofPassaic and Essex Counties973-267-7600

Transportation Management Partner Associations

Cross County Connection TMA RideWise Keep Middlesex Moving, Inc.

goHunterdon

Hudson TMA

EZ Ride 

Greater Mercer TMA TransOptions

About Us: TMA Council of NJ (TMAC NJ) is comprised of the Executive Directors of New Jersey's eightTransportation Management Associations. TMAs are non-profit organizations that work with businesses,commuters, county, and local governments, and state agencies to implement programs that reduce trafficcongestion and improve air quality.

Funding for the TMAs, is provided in part, by the Federal Highway Administration, NJ Department of Transportation(NJDOT), NJ TRANSIT, North Jersey Transportation Authority (NJTPA), Delaware Valley Regional Planning

Commission (DVRPC), private foundations, local businesses and other sources.