First Draft of Trenton Bicycle Plan Available for Feedback on April 25, 2023
Trenton, N.J. – The Trenton Division of Planning and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) are requesting comments from the public regarding Trenton’s draft bike plan. The plan, Our Streets: A Trenton Bike Plan for All, proposes adding bicycle facilities and making design changes on certain streets within the City to increase safety for all road users – including bicyclists, skaters, scooters, pedestrians, and drivers. Residents will have the opportunity to view the plan recommendations and provide feedback at an in-person event or online.
Residents are encouraged to attend one of two upcoming in-person meetings:
- Tuesday, April 25, 2023, from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm, at Jennye Stubblefield Senior Center, 301 Prospect St, Trenton, NJ 08618
- Sunday, May 7, 2023, from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm, at Samuel Naples Community Center, 611 Chestnut Ave, Trenton, NJ 08611
In addition to sharing feedback, the public can enjoy free food and Mister Softee ice cream, take part in family-friendly art activities, and enter to win a bike and grocery gift cards. Residents are also invited to bring their bikes in for free tune-ups and to test out a protected bike lane. Spanish language translation will be available.
From April 26 to June 8, 2023, residents will be able to provide online feedback about the draft bicycle plan at www.dvrpc.org/ourstreets.
“We want to emphasize that the plan is intended to serve people who want to bike more, but in particular, residents who might not have routine access to vehicles. The City is seeking feedback about the bike plan, especially from communities historically left out of the planning process,” said Mayor W. Reed Gusciora.
The bicycle plan proposes design changes to certain streets in Trenton:
- Adding bike facilities: The bicycle plan recommends which streets in Trenton are best suited for bicycle facilities, such as protected bike lanes, two-way cycle tracks, and neighborhood greenways. These recommendations are summarized by a map showing which types of bicycle facilities are proposed on which city streets. The map has been created based on careful consideration of data, on-the-ground conditions, and community input.
- Adding traffic calming infrastructure: When traffic speeds are reduced, crashes are less likely and less severe.
- Reimagining the way street space is used for vehicles and people: To make room for the infrastructure needed for safe bicycling, the bicycle plan recommends changes to how space is used on certain streets. These changes might include moving parking inward toward the center of the street to fit a bike lane next to the curb, rearranging on-street parking to one side of the street in areas that traditionally had parking on two sides, and converting two-way streets to one-way streets.
From September 2022 to January 2023, DVRPC surveyed the public about how they get around Trenton. DVRPC distributed paper surveys at the Ciclovia community event, at Food Bazaar, and in downtown Trenton; they also distributed an online version of the survey. Almost 25% of respondents reported that they don’t drive alone on a regular basis. About 45% of respondents had ridden a bicycle in the past month. Respondents indicated that the most impactful barriers to riding a bicycle were traffic safety and personal safety, while the most impactful investments were protected bike lanes and a more connected bicycle network.
To view recommendations and provide comments about the draft bicycle plan:
- Attend an in-person meeting on April 25 or May 7, 2023, or
- Visit dvrpc.org/ourstreets from April 26 to June 8, 2023.
