More and more New Jersey municipalities are recognizing the benefits of being a bicycle and pedestrian friendly community. In addition to easing roadway congestion, making walking and biking a viable transportation mode for both utilitarian and recreational trips has environmental and social benefits as well. Biking and walking allows for healthier communities by providing opportunities for exercise, by contributing to a more egalitarian and connected transportation system, and by providing opportunities for community interaction and sense of place. This positive change is being fostered in New Jersey communities at all levels of government, but no player can have a greater impact in changing a community than the community itself. 

 

Policy Tools

Communities have the opportunity to create change through creating supportive policies and decision making frameworks. There are several key tools that communities can use to promote positive change. These tools include creating and updating official documents (master plan) and official policies (resolutions; ordinances), promoting local feedback and leadership (committees, advocates, public process), and supportive and interconnected decision making (check lists; reference official documents, conforming policies with

official documents, etc.). One particular opportunity for communities to incorporate and utilize these tools isduring the development and design review process.

 

Ordinances

New Jersey state law allows municipalities to pass local laws, or ordinances, within their own jurisdiction. Ordinances are limited to certain categories, including municipal land use which allows for zoning, subdivision and site plan ordinances. Zoning ordinances govern land use and building characteristics, including type, height and location; subdivision ordinances create developable lot parcels; and site plan ordinances assure proposed developments conform to municipal land use law. Municipalities may use ordinances to address bicycle and pedestrian accommodations as well, either by including them in a zoning or other existing ordinance, where suitable, or by passing a specific bicycle ordinance. They can address everything from roadway maintenance to bicycle parking and shower requirements. For example, ordinances may mandate that developers make certain kinds of improvements or adhere to certain design guidelines, such as a minimum width for sidewalks or the use of bicycle-safe grates on roadways. Ordinances often include a penalty for violations, generally a fine.