New Jersey BikeWalk Coalition

New Jersey BikeWalk Coalition
Name	New Jersey BikeWalk Coalition
Formation	1999
Type	Nonprofit advocacy organization
Headquarters	Montclair, New Jersey
Region served	New Jersey

New Jersey BikeWalk Coalition is a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization that promotes active transportation, pedestrian safety, and bicycle infrastructure across New Jersey. Founded at the end of the 20th century, it works with municipal, county, and state agencies to advance complete streets, safe routes, and equitable mobility for residents of cities and suburbs such as Newark, New Jersey, Jersey City, New Jersey, and Montclair, New Jersey. The coalition engages with stakeholders including transit agencies, planning bodies, elected officials, community groups, and advocacy organizations to influence policy and project delivery.

History

The coalition was established in 1999 amid national conversations catalyzed by organizations like Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, League of American Bicyclists, and America Walks. Early efforts paralleled initiatives led by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and regional planners such as the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization. Founding partners and allies included local bicycle clubs, neighborhood-based groups, and municipal officials from towns like Princeton, New Jersey and Camden, New Jersey. Over time the group engaged with federal programs administered by agencies such as the Federal Highway Administration and participated in campaigns concurrent with legislation like the Safe Routes to School program and the TEA-21 era funding. The coalition expanded its work through collaborations with organizations focused on public health like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiatives and environmental groups such as Sierra Club chapters in New Jersey. Its history intersects with major projects and plans including the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, the River Line, and municipal complete streets ordinances in communities like Montclair, New Jersey and Hoboken, New Jersey.

Mission and Programs

The coalition's mission centers on increasing walking and biking, improving safety, and promoting transportation choices across urban, suburban, and rural contexts in New Jersey. Programmatic work includes technical assistance for municipal complete streets policies similar to guidance from the National Association of City Transportation Officials and programmatic education modeled after curricula from the League of American Bicyclists and Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Core programs address bicycle and pedestrian counting and data consistent with methods used by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics and the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as training for law enforcement, planners, and advocates comparable to workshops hosted by Transportation for America and the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The coalition provides grant-writing support aligned with funding opportunities like the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program and state transportation alternative programs administered by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Advocacy and Policy Impact

Advocacy efforts have focused on adoption of complete streets policies in municipalities and counties, influencing legislation at the New Jersey Legislature and engaging with executive agencies including the Office of the Governor of New Jersey. The coalition has testified before transportation committees, collaborated on rulemaking with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on stormwater and green infrastructure considerations tied to active transportation corridors, and worked on policy alignment with the Regional Plan Association’s vision for the tri-state region. It has campaigned for funding allocations in state budgets and federal transportation bills such as the FAST Act, and coordinated responses to planning initiatives by entities like the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The coalition’s policy work intersects with safety campaigns related to Vision Zero discussions promoted by cities including New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Partnerships and Coalitions

The organization partners with local advocacy groups such as Bike New York, Tri-State Transportation Campaign, and town-level bicycle coalitions in places like Jersey City, New Jersey and Asbury Park, New Jersey. It collaborates with public health institutions including Rutgers University and municipal health departments, environmental nonprofits such as New Jersey Audubon and The Nature Conservancy, and transportation research organizations like the Rutgers Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center. The coalition participates in regional coalitions alongside entities like the Northeast Organic Farming Association on food-access corridor projects and aligns with national networks including PeopleForBikes and the National Complete Streets Coalition.

Events and Community Outreach

Programming includes organized rides, pedestrian safety demonstrations, and annual conferences that attract planners, elected officials, and advocates similar to events hosted by Traffic21 and the APA New Jersey chapter. Community outreach involves helmet fittings supported by medical partners such as Hackensack Meridian Health and public demonstrations tied to events like Bike to Work Day and National Bike Month. The coalition works with schools participating in Safe Routes to School programs and coordinates outreach at farmers markets, town fairs, and transit hubs including stations on the Northeast Corridor. Engagement frequently features partnerships with cultural institutions like the Princeton University Art Museum and civic organizations including Rotary International clubs across New Jersey municipalities.

Funding and Governance

Funding sources include membership dues, philanthropy from foundations such as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and local funders, project grants from the Federal Transit Administration and state grant programs, and individual donations. Governance is conducted by a board of directors composed of representatives from municipal governments, nonprofit leaders, urban planners, and transportation professionals with ties to institutions like Rutgers University, the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and professional associations such as the American Society of Civil Engineers. The coalition maintains fiscal sponsorship arrangements at times with community foundations like the Community Foundation of New Jersey and engages accounting and legal services from regional firms with experience in nonprofit compliance.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in New Jersey Category:Cycling organizations in the United States