Safety Concerns Raised Regrading Roundabout, Bike Lanes In Morristown

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Concerns about pedestrian and motorist safety were raised at a recent Morristown Council meeting, following the completion of the new roundabout at Morris and Spring Streets earlier this summer.

Several residents have contacted council member Nathan Umbriac, expressing concern about crossing at the new roundabout.

"They are scared to cross Morris Street at the roundabout with the new blinking light and I know it's new and I know there is an education piece… I think the issue is that people don't recognize the flashing light as they need to stop," Umbriac said.

According to Town Administrator Jillian Barrick, the town has received numerous complaints from residents alleging that motorists have failed to yield to pedestrians crossing the street. The police department and the public safety director have been collaborating on ways to educate both drivers and pedestrians on how to navigate the road safely.

"One of the problems is there are no signs that say slow down for that roundabout and people are hitting that roundabout fast right now and they are not educated to slow down," council member Sandi Mayer said.

In response to a comment made at the meeting, the Morristown Police Department released an educational video explaining how to drive around the roundabout correctly, as well as how traffic should stop for pedestrians.

"It's going to take some months," Mayor Tim Dougherty said.

During the council meeting, two residents also spoke out regarding concerns over bikers riding on township sidewalks. "I'm really getting fed up with this biking. They are allowed to ride on the sidewalks and some of them go like 100 miles per hour," resident Bill Byrne said.

According to Byrne, police have not been enforcing bike safety rules. "Enforcement is really a big issue and I think we got to do something here… get law enforcement to really start enforcing because all we do is talk about it," Byrne said.

Bierce Riley, a Morristown resident, also expressed her concerns, claiming that some kids in her neighborhood ride around at night on motorized scooters without headlights, endangering themselves and other pedestrians.

"That sort of thing is happening all over town and it's dangerous," Riley said.

The council responded by stating that they have no jurisdiction over the issue of bike safety enforcement, which is strictly a police matter, but they can provide additional education.

"Councils hands are tied. The police department came before us a couple of months ago and said there is no problem so there is nothing they can do and nothing we can do," Council President Stefan Armington said.

Mayor Dougherty stated that the police chief monitors the roads for people riding bikes on the sidewalk and that work is being done. "It's an education process. Education in cycling is something that we can work on as an administration and a council because we are a cycling community."

All cyclists under the age of 15 are allowed to ride on the sidewalks, according to the council.