Greater Mercer TMA recognizes local students in safe Routes to School Bookmark Contest
In celebration of NJ Bike and Walk to School Month, Greater Mercer TMA (GMTMA) announced the winners of its Safe Routes to School Bookmark Design Contest. Third through fifth graders in Mercer and Ocean County were asked to create a bookmark design with the theme “Create your own Superhero! What does a Sustainability Superhero look like to you? What powers or gadgets would your Sustainability Superhero have to make your neighborhood cleaner and friendlier?”
“The superheroes the students created were great, “said Cheryl Kastrenakes Executive Director of GMTMA. Their work showed creativity and an awareness of the kinds of actions that can be done to help keep the earth cleaner and greener.”
The Mercer County winners are Gianna Stines 4th grade student at Robinson Elementary, Hamilton NJ and Joanne Young Lim 4th grade student at Johnson Park School, Princeton, NJ.
The Ocean County winners are Joanna Marie Cali 3rd grade student at Warren Wolf Elementary, Brick NJ and Sophia Pasqua 5th grade student at Island Heights Grade School at Toms River, NJ.
Each winner received a $50 gift card and had their bookmarks professionally printed. The winning bookmarks are being distributed at many Mercer and Ocean County schools and libraries. Gianna Stines was the Grand Prize winner and will also have her superhero character turned into a plush toy.
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Bike Month is here!
May is Bike Month. There’s still time to sign up for Bike Month and Bike Month and Bike to Work Week events at gmtma.org.
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Bicycle Month is also Bike Safety Month
Be prepared to share the road and help everyone get home safe. May 8th is Bike to School Day, May 13-17 is Bike to Work Week, and May 17 is Bike to Work Day. NHTSA.gov has the following tips:
Tips for Bicyclists:
- Always wear a properly-fitted helmet that meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standards.
- Check your bike equipment before heading out: check for proper fit and function, including tires, brakes, handlebars and seats.
- Ride in the same direction as traffic, as a vehicle on the road.
- Obey traffic signs, signals, and lane markings; signal all turns; and follow local laws.
- Be predictable; ride in a straight line and use hand signals when changing lanes or turning.
- Stay focused; look ahead for traffic and obstacles in your path.
- Be visible: wear bright colors, reflective materials and lights on your bicycle at night and in low light conditions.
- Stay alert: don’t use electronic devices.
- Ride safe; riding impaired by alcohol or drugs affects your judgment and skill; it affects your safety and others on the road
Tips for Motorists:
- Pass bicyclists on the road with care; allow at least three feet clearance.
- Look for cyclists before opening a car door or pulling out from a parking space.
- Yield to bicyclists at intersections and as directed by signs and signals.
- Look for bicyclists before making turns, either left or right.
- Respect designated bicycle lanes; don’t use them for parking, passing or turning.
- Never drive distracted or impaired. Always buckle up.
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Street Smart Campaign Kicks Off in Point Pleasant Borough
Representatives of Point Pleasant Borough kicked off their Street Smart safety campaign at the Boro’s annual Earth Day event on April 27th. During the campaign, posters, tip cards and other educational materials will be distributed throughout the community. Social media and community presentations will be used to help raise awareness about pedestrian safety along with an educational component being administered through the Borough’s Recreation and Police Departments in all of their various programs.
Residents are also encouraged to complete an online survey to gauge their traffic safety knowledge. “Pedestrian safety is a priority for the Borough’s Police Department. We’ll be interacting with motorists to make sure they know and obey the law and stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk,” said Chief Larsen. “We’ll also be reminding pedestrians to use crosswalks and cross at intersections.”
Officers will also address speeding and distracted driving and walking, which often contribute to crashes involving pedestrians.
“This is a great initiative”, stated Mayor Sabosik. “On top of all of the improvements we’ve already done over the last few years, education is probably the most important. Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists alike need to know the law and follow it.” Council President Thulen, Councilwoman Snyder,Councilman Joe Furmato, and Councilwoman DePaola, who chairs the Public Safety Committee were also present at the event.
The campaign comes at a significant time, New Jersey ranked 17th in the nation in pedestrian fatalities in 2016, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The federal government has designated New Jersey a “focus” state – placing an extra emphasis on aiding the state in combating its higher-than-average pedestrian fatality rate and providing funding for this campaign.
The statewide Street Smart NJ campaign is managed by the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and began in 2013. The Street Smart campaign focuses on encouraging five key behaviors. Motorists are told to obey the speed limit and stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. Pedestrians are told to use crosswalks and wait for the walk signal where applicable. And the fifth message, “Heads Up, Phone Down,” reminds everyone to avoid distractions whether they’re driving, biking or walking.
Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in helping to promote the Street Smart NJ message should contact Greater Mercer TMA, 609 452-1491 or tma@gmtma.org. To learn more about the campaign, visit bestreetsmartnj.org. The campaign is also on Facebook (StreetSmartNJ) and Twitter (@njstreetsmart).
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Click It or Ticket
There is no good excuse for not wearing a seatbelt and yet a percentage of the U.S. population is still not buckling up. In 2017, there were 10,076 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. Almost 57 percent of young adults (18 to 34) killed in crashes were completely unrestrained, and 59 percent of pickup truck occupants who were killed were not buckled up. In 2017, 51 percent of men killed in crashes were not buckled up, compared to 39 percent of women. To help prevent crash fatalities, cops across the nation will be stepping up enforcement from May 20 to June 2 to ensure that motorists are wearing their seat belts. |
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Spring Events
It’s been a wonderfully busy spring participating at community and corporate events. There’s still time to stop by our table and talk with us at St. Lawrence Rehab’s bike rodeo (May 11), Plainsboro’s Founders Day (May 11), Carnegie Center Health Fair (May 16), Princeton University Bike to Work Day (May 17) and Summerfest in Pt. Pleasant Borough (June 1).
A big thanks to NJDEP, Rider University, Albridge Pershing, Bloomberg, BMS, and REI for promoting earth day and biking events for their employees and including GMTMA in the day!
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