To the Editor:

Halloween is full of scary things. But one scary thing that remains a constant threat throughout the year is the proliferation of microplastics, which are now found everywhere, including the most pristine wilderness areas, and even in our bodies. In developed countries wear from automobile tires, which are made of a plastics composite, is the largest source by far of microplastics. We breathe it. Our water supply is contaminated by it. It’s scary to think about that.

This is why I was happy to see that the proposed new Master Plan contains several elements that will lead to a large reduction of microplastics from tire wear in Princeton.

Princeton’s population of nearly 31,000 is augmented every weekday by 23,000 in-commuters, the vast majority of whom come to our town by car. Commuters include visiting scholars, postdocs, business and university employees, teachers, and staff of the various town departments. But if people who work in town can live in town, they can drive much shorter distances, or choose to walk or bike to work. The new Master Plan enables that. Moreover, the accommodation of several households in a building would achieve this with the smallest footprint, preserving the beautiful green spaces that are a hallmark of our town.

Other ways to reduce tire wear is for more of us to get around on skinny tires (I’m talking about bicycles) or shared tires (like those on a bus). In the Master Plan survey, “bike lanes” emerged as the most suggested improvement, as it did in the 2022 Princeton Mobility Survey. It’s great that the 2017 Bicycle Mobility Plan already contains a proposal for a network of bike lanes. After all, our Climate Action Plan calls for the town’s transportation to be reduced by half by 2030. Now is the time to build the bike lane and bus route networks that will enable that: we need to do so within the next few years.

When fewer of us drive, the streets are safer, we can all breathe cleaner air, drink cleaner water, and enjoy our town without the crushing traffic congestion; and those who still drive will see reduced competition for parking. We’d all have less to be scared about.

Tineke Thio
Dempsey Avenue