Jerry comes to GMTMA as a second career, from information technology at large financial services firms.
Q:What is your job at GMTMA?
Jerry: I am GMTMA’s latest biking and walking specialist and one of the Safe Routes to School Coordinators.
Q: What attracted you to this job?
Jerry: The possibility of making Mercer and Ocean counties more livable by improving the friendliness of the ten minute walk or ride for everyday errands. (Jerry is working on a map that could help you if you want to bike and need to know where the bike racks are. You can see it here. )
Q: What is one favorite thing about your job?
Jerry: Working with the students to change the way they see biking or walking to school – it should be fun and safe.
Q: Can you tell us something about your commute?
Jerry: After years of walking to Princeton Junction station to take the train to the city, I really like my 2 mile bike commute to the office here in West Windsor, except for the stretch along Alexander Road.
Q: Favorite commuting app/gadget?
Jerry: My GoPro bike mounted camera (Jerry took amazing videos and pictures with that.)
Q: What else would you like to do if you were not working in transportation?
Jerry: Biking and walking in the suburbs today is mainly recreation, but if we’re successful, it can become a viable mode of transportation for short distances. l am passionate about community service, now serving on the board of the Princeton Free Wheelers bike club and as president of the West Windsor Bicycle and Pedestrian Alliance advocacy group, and in the past with the Plainsboro Rescue Squad and my kids’ scout groups.
Q: Pet Peeve?
Jerry: American road culture – those (motorists/cyclists/pedestrians) are all law breakers and a danger to the rest of us. Whether we’re motoring, cycling or walking, it’s always those others who are dangerous scofflaws and not following the rules of the road – the arrogance! We’ve met the enemy, and they are us. (He is so right!)
Q: What do you like to do in your spare time?
Jerry: I enjoy outdoor activities like sailing, climbing, backpacking and bicycling. I am working on backpacking the Appalachian Trail, done over 1400 miles so far, and completed five 500-mile Anchor House Rides for Runaways, in addition to biking self-supported from Oakland to Los Angeles in 2010.