A new analysisby the Tri-State Transportation Campaign shows that 8,281 bicyclist crashes and 63 bicyclist fatalities occurred in eight South Jersey counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem) between 2001 and 2010.
Ocean County, in GMTMA’s jurisdiction, ranked fourth most dangerous county for bicyclists in the region, with 2,132 crashes at a rate of 3.92 crashes per 10,000 residents. Eight bicyclists were killed in these crashes in the 2001-2010 time period. 787 of those crashes were between 2008 and 2010.
Their analysis also included a look at roadways that were particularly dangerous for bicyclists, almost all of which were arterials, or high-capacity, usually two-lane roads with speed limits above 40 miles per hour. These roads are also known to be very dangerous for pedestrians. In Ocean County, US 9 (88 bicyclists in accidents) and NJ 35 (63 bicyclists in accidents), followed by NJ 88 and Route 549 (46 bicyclists in accidents on each road) were the four most dangerous roads for bicyclists in Ocean County during this period.
County fact sheets and Google Maps can be found here.
This new analysis underscores the importance NJDOT’s Complete Streets policy, which was passed in December 2009. The policy requires new or rehabilitated roads to be built for all users, including walkers, cyclist, transit riders, and drivers. Counties and municipalities are following suit; Monmouth County has adopted its own Complete Streets policy, and a number of municipalities have as well. Click here for previous On the Move posts about Complete Streets in New Jersey and why they make such a difference to the safety and health of our communities.