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Bike Month and Bike to Work Week
May is Bike Month! Bike to Work week is May 11- 17th and Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 15th.
 If you are interested in organizing an Employer Challenge, please contact us, we can help promote the event and provide promotion materials.
Employer Teams consist of up to 5 members. Employees can form teams and compete against each other or against other employer teams. The Employer Challenge is one way to add some friendly competition and excitement to the rides!
Become a Bike Month sponsor by providing items or gift cards that can be offered as prizes at the end of the event. GMTMA has sponsorship opportunities available from $10 to $500; contact us for sponsorship level information and how to become a sponsor.
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Check out the Greater Mercer Long Distance Trails Network!
The Greater Mercer Trails Plan and Design Guide can now be viewed on the GMTMA website.
The Greater Mercer Trails Plan study, finalized in December 2019, was conducted to support the development of a network of multi-use (biking and walking) trails and paths in the Greater Mercer area, to serve a variety of transportation needs by linking communities and the amenities within those communities with a safe, low stress option to motorized travel.
The Trails Plan is a Framework Plan for action and collaboration. It is a living plan that will take shape over time, segment by segment and community by community. The proposed plan includes a network of long distance corridors that add almost 700 additional miles of bicycle and pedestrian facilities to the existing network. GMTMA looks to continue the conversations and partnerships that helped inform this Plan to further develop concepts and assist in advancing plans toward implementation.
If you’re interested in discussing the Plan or would like to arrange for a presentation, please contact Jerry Foster at jfoster@gmtma.org.
To download full documents, go to https://gmtma.org/greater-mercer-trails-plan/
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Point Pleasant Beach Street Smart
On Wednesday, February 26, 2020, Greater Mercer TMA and Street Smart NJ met with the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department to discuss ways to support pedestrian and bicycle safety in Point Pleasant Beach and deliver the newly redesigned campaign materials.
 Point Pleasant Beach was part of a NJ Shore safety campaign in 2018 along with other towns which included community outreach and advertising on NJ Transit trains and buses.
Pedestrian safety is a concern nationwide, but it is particularly important in New Jersey, which the federal government has designated a pedestrian safety focus state for its high rate of fatalities and injuries. Pedestrians comprised 29 percent (183 people) of the 624 people killed in crashes in New Jersey in 2017, nearly double the national average of 16 percent, according to the most recent data available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). New Jersey ranks 13th in the nation in pedestrian fatalities per 100,000 people. On average, one pedestrian is killed every two days in New Jersey and 12 are injured daily.
Street Smart NJ is one of many initiatives in New Jersey working to help the state reach its goal of zero pedestrian fatalities. The campaign reminds people that everyone has a role to play in making our streets safer. Drivers need to obey speed limits and stop for people crossing; people walking need to use crosswalks (marked and unmarked) and cross with the signals; and everyone needs to avoid distractions.
For more information go to streetsmartnj.org.
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Earth Day Celebrates 50 Years
This year, April 22, marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. The theme this year is climate action.
“Climate change represents the biggest challenge to the future of humanity and the life-support systems that make our world habitable.”
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Recommended Strategies for COVID-19 Prevention:
The CDC has issued guidelines to prevent the COVID-19 spread in the communities. Employers and businesses are encouraged to:
- Actively encourage sick employees to stay home
- Separate sick employees
- Emphasize staying home when sick, respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene by all employees
- Perform routine environmental cleaning
- Advise employees before travelling to take prevention steps
Colleges and Universities are encouraged to:
- Review, update, and implement emergency operations plans
- Develop information-sharing systems with partners
- Monitor and plan for absenteeism
- Establish procedures for students, staff, and faculty who are sick (with any illness) on campus
- Ensure IHE health clinics prepare for COVID-19
- Perform routine environmental cleaning
- Create plans to communicate accurately and timely information to the IHE community
- Review CDC;s guidance for businesses and employers
- Consider postponing or canceling student foreign exchange programs
For more resources, newsletters, and updates, check the following websites:
https://nj.gov/health/cd/topics/ncov.shtml
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/guidance-business-response.html
https://nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/approved/20200302b.shtml
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Time to Spring Forward
On, Sunday, March 8, 2020, 2:00 am clocks are turned forward 1 hour to
Sunday, March 8, 2020, 3:00 am local daylight time.
Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on Mar 8, 2020.
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