Bike Ride with the Mayor

John F. Newman March 30, 2012 at 03:42 pm

The mayor's idea came out of the recent Patch article on Complete Streets, hence the bicycle ride through town followed by a discussion. However, the informal meeting after the ride is not restricted to that one topic.
Hope to see you there.

jean March 30, 2012 at 08:24 pm

As long as everyone STAYS OFF THE SIDEWALKS. (Sorry, but that is one of my pet peeves....)

John F. Newman March 30, 2012 at 08:34 pm

to clarify the sidewalk issue which was also mentioned on the other thread:
The NJ DOT posted on its bike FAQs, that it is legal to ride on sidewalks unless there is a local ordinance to the contrary (http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/bike/faqs.shtm) Here is the borough ordinance from freeholdboro.org 10.40.060 Riding on sidewalks prohibited. No bicycle or similar vehicle shall be ridden on any of the sidewalks of the borough. This chapter shall not prevent the use of toy bicycles or children’s tricycles on a sidewalk by very young children, or children not over eight years of age. (Prior code § 5-10.6)

Michele Tidd Pfannenstiel March 30, 2012 at 09:22 pm

Thanks for posting that. Of course, there are a great number of sidewalks that are somewhat unrideable because of their condition!

Richard Berger March 31, 2012 at 03:17 am

I would like to see this ordinance enforced, and more postings about it on the street.

Claudine Scozzari March 31, 2012 at 02:50 pm

This ordinance isn't on the Freehold Borough website. Is this a back door deal?

John F. Newman March 31, 2012 at 02:53 pm

for some reason ordinances aren't posted under the "ordinance" section. They are posted under administrative code.
The ordinance cited can be found at: http://www.freeholdboro.org/forms/ordinances/T10%20-%20Title%2010%20%20VEHICLES%20AND%20TRAFFIC.pdf

Claudine Scozzari March 31, 2012 at 03:23 pm

First, according to your definitions, in english, any eminent domain parcel with an installation of bituminous stabilized base course for vehicular (vehicle with installed motorized engine) traffic should have a delineated shoulder for bicycle traffic.
Second, none of the residential streets or paved streets in Freehold borough have the installation of traffic striping with an approved paint material on them. Therefore, according to your definitions, bicycles are illegal in Freehold borough. I haven't gotten to the actual ordinance yet. The 07728 zip code houses the judges assigned to the Monmouth County courthouse, and none of them or their highly paid law clerks noticed this problem. Definitions are found in 10.40.010. Thirdly, a bicycle is a mode of transportion generally providing a sense of freedom to the minors of this community, and a bicycle of choice of most minors don't have a motorized engine installed. The borough is having every minor with a bicycle (including one with training wheels) register the bicycle according to ordinance 10.40.020. Is the borough issuing summons to four (4) yearolds who haven't paid their 50 cents to fill out a form they can't read yet? (Ordinance 10.40.030) I would love to be a fly on the wall in the pre-schools of the community. There conversations are about all the fees inposed on them by the local authorities. Do they know they can't get working papers until they are 15 (fifteen) years old.

Claudine Scozzari March 31, 2012 at 03:36 pm

Why would a toy bicycle (like one that went with a dollhouse or part of a Barby Collection) be ridden?
Toy bicycles aren't usually like a full size a four (4) year old would ride.