To the Editor:

A July 16 letter to the editor was headed “No Effort Seems to Be Spent on Impressing Local Cyclists With Their Responsibilities.” Although Princeton has its share of two-wheeled scofflaws, the suggestion that there is a “prevailing anarchy” among Princeton’s cycling community is unfair to the majority who ride safely, and to those who work toward making our streets safer for all road users.

Princeton has an active education and outreach program to local cyclists. Our police force is very active in public biking events including the recent Princeton Ciclovia, the “Fireflies” Ride held on Pi Day, the annual Mayor’s Ride of the Falling Leaves, and the ever-popular ‘Bike Rodeo’ for our young cyclists, organized in concert with the Human Services Department. All local biking events emphasize safety education, with the distribution of information pamphlets in two languages. We also distribute and fit helmets for children at the Bike Rodeo.

Our police are not generally in the habit of pulling over cyclists without bells. However the police do stock bike safety lights and distribute them freely to night-time bicyclists they encounter who are not properly equipped. In terms of the national “Safe Routes to School” program, Princeton is gaining traction thanks to recent efforts made by our engineering staff, with expertise provided by Greater Mercer TMA.

Princeton’s volunteer Pedestrian/Bicyclist Advisory Committee (PBAC) will soon publish a bike map to indicate safe cycling routes, and is working with the League of American Bicyclists to offer adult safety training classes. Interested residents can learn more about our ongoing efforts to promote safe cycling by meeting members of the PBAC team at ‘Community Night Out’ on August 5, or by writing to pjpbac@gmail.com. Our monthly meetings are open to the public and we welcome all feedback.

Stephen Kruse, Chair; Sam Bunting, David Cohen, Laurie Harmon, Anita Jeerage, Carolyn Sealfon

Princeton Pedestrian/Bicyclist

Advisory Committee