Will Montclair Ever Become More Bike-Friendly?

Mayor Jerry Fried co-founded Bike Montclair (the name was changed to Bike&Walk Montclair in 2009) with some friends in 2002. It's the local bike and pedestrian advocacy group. The group holds an annual "Tour de Montclair" each May where riders can explore the Township's neighborhoods on two wheels. Montclair resident Jaime Bedrin visited the mayor during his office hours this past week and asked him about the future of biking in Montclair.

What is the township doing to promote biking?

In 2008 we got money from a federal program that promotes safe biking and walking routes to schools. We're adding speed detectors with cameras at important intersections. We want to calm traffic around each of the schools. And since Montclair has 11 of them, by the time you make safe havens around the schools, you've pretty much connected the town with safer routes. This program kicks off in September.

Will Montclair get bike lanes?

I don't know. Most of what's happened in Montclair has been the addition of multi-use shoulders like on Grove Street. I was advocating for bike lanes. But the county didn't want to do that. The county would have normally done yellow stripes down middle. We compromised. There are also shoulders on North Mountain and Bellevue Avenues. The shoulders make it a little safer for cyclists.

Why is it so hard to get bike lanes?

Montclair's governing body is not consistently dedicated to bike safety. There are at least three of us on the council who feel that while bicycles are not currently a major factor in transportation in Montclair, they could be - and should be. The presence of cyclists calms traffic, which makes crosswalks safer and makes things better for pedestrians. It makes the community more appealing for residents who like to walk and bike. Businesses do better too, because people who aren't driving are more likely to spend money in town. Last year we passed New Jersey's first Complete Streets policy. Under the policy, planners have to consider more than just cars when designing roads. How will their plans impact automobiles, cyclists, pedestrians, people with disabilities etc.

How did you get involved in biking?

When I was a kid I liked to ride my bike. As an adult I used to ride my bike to the train station. I commuted into the City for years. So I just rode my bike to the train station. I usually bike to council meetings and to do errands around town. My favorite family vacations are biking and camping vacations. We've biked in Canada, Denmark, and France.

Where did you lock your bike at the train station? Where are the bike racks?

Bike&Walk Montclair has worked with NJ Transit to get better bike parking with limited success. There's not nearly as much as there should be.

What kind of bike do you use now?

I have lots of different bikes for different things. I have five people in my family so I have nine bikes in my household and usually several of them are in need of repair. We each have a regular bike and I have a good road bike, a 3-speed, and two old 10-speeds.

Where do you shop for bike supplies?

Diamond Cycle and Montclair Bikery.

Have you ever had a serious bike accident?

Nope. My sister-in-law had a very serious bike accident that left her with permanent nerve damage. She walks with a cane. If she weren't wearing a helmet, she would most likely not have survived. Always wear a helmet!