METUCHEN, NJ — The borough has scrapped plans to install a bike lane on Hillside Avenue and canceled a planned demonstration of the project, citing resident pushback, Mayor Jonathan M. Busch said.
"Borough officials have heard from a number of residents regarding the proposed bike lane on Hillside Avenue, and we appreciate that engagement," Busch said in a statement.
The bike lane, which was to be funded by more than $500,000 from the New Jersey Department of Transportation's Local Transportation Projects and Bikeway programs, would have run along Hillside Avenue and Dellwood Road, connecting the planned Grove Avenue bike lane to the Metuchen Train Station, according to the borough and a March 2026 survey summary prepared by nonprofit Keep Middlesex Moving.
Busch said the borough had intended to gather additional community input through a demonstration project in mid-May but determined it was unnecessary given the feedback already received.
"Given the volume and clarity of the feedback we received, we determined that a demonstration was no longer necessary," Busch said. "After considering that input alongside other practical factors, we have concluded that a bike lane on Hillside Avenue is not appropriate and will instead explore other ways to strengthen pedestrian and bicycle-friendly connections between our neighborhoods and downtown."
The project traces back to Metuchen's 2013 Complete Streets Policy and a 2016 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which identified Hillside Avenue as a critical east-west connection, according to the Keep Middlesex Moving survey summary.
Keep Middlesex Moving is a nonprofit transportation management association, and the survey work was funded through the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority with support from the Federal Highway Administration.
A public survey conducted between June and October 2025 drew 102 responses, including from 26 Hillside Avenue residents. The summary reported that 43 percent of participants spoke highly of the project, while 23 respondents said they were not in favor. Among the 26 residents of Hillside Avenue itself, eight expressed opposition, the summary said.
The survey also found that 70.6 percent of respondents agreed that bicyclists on the road should be treated as vehicular traffic, and 11 respondents asked for the project to be enhanced with protected barriers such as flex posts, planters or a dedicated curb.
"Road Paint will not prevent a car from hitting me, or alert a driver when they are veering into the bike lane. An actual PHYSICAL BARRIER is needed," one Hillside Avenue resident wrote, according to the summary. "This can be as simple as flex posts that collapse when hit so as not to damage the car."
Parking emerged as the most common concern, with 32 respondents questioning the project's impact on on-street parking, the summary said.
Opponents also raised concerns about potential ADA accessibility issues, the loss of parking for elderly residents outside their homes and the effects of displaced parking on narrow neighboring streets. Some residents had told borough representatives they felt their concerns received generic responses that did not address the specific issues they raised.
Busch did not rule out future bicycle infrastructure investment in the borough.
"In recent years, Metuchen has steadily expanded its commitment to improving pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and that progress will continue," Busch said. "Creating safer, more connected streets is an important part of our future. These improvements require thoughtful planning, community input, and the right approach for each location."
The mayor said the borough also heard resident concerns about speeding on Hillside Avenue and is reviewing conditions to determine what steps may be appropriate.
"We appreciate residents continuing to share their perspectives as we move forward," Busch said.
The Grove Avenue bike lane, a separate project long planned as Metuchen's first dedicated on-road bicycle facility, is scheduled to begin construction in 2026, according to the survey summary.
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