The long-awaited “New Jersey Bicycling Manual” has been released online! The publication, developed under the auspices of and with the assistance of members of the Safety Education Committee of the New Jersey Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee (with members representing Bike New York, Hohne Consulting, Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center, New Jersey Department of Transportation, and The RBA Group.), is available on NJDOT’s website (the Department’s budget constraints made it impossible to print physical copies).
The manual’s purpose is to provide cyclists with the information necessary to ride safely on New Jersey’s roads with other traffic, whether for recreation or transportation. As noted in the introduction, the manual “is intended for those who have a basic understanding of how traffic operates on our roadways, the ability to understand traffic control devices and the ability to control their bikes. Understanding the information contained in the manual and practicing bike riding skills will enable you to ride with competence and confidence.” The manual includes chapters on selecting, fitting, and equipping a bicycle; maintenance checks; traffic basics; how to share the road with other vehicles and pedestrians; parking a bicycle; riding at night and in inclement weather; New Jersey bicycling laws and roadway restrictions; and traffic signals, signs, and road markings.
The WalkBikeJersey Blog review gives the manual a B+ because of a lack of information on how bicyclists and motorists are to use and treat bicycle lanes and shared lane markings, and because there is no discussion of bicycle routes. Regardless, the manual is a useful and well-crafted resource that should be read by all roadway users in New Jersey — cyclists, pedestrians, and automobile drivers alike.