Bike Ride From Newark To Trenton Will Push For NJ ‘Greenway’

NEWARK, NJ — On Sunday, it will be wheels down in Newark and wheels up at the Statehouse in Trenton.

On Sept. 26, Bike JC and the Newark Community Cycling Center, with the support of the Essex-Hudson Greenway Coalition and the East Coast Greenway Alliance, will lead Bike2Trenton, a mass bicycle ride from Newark to Trenton in support of the proposed Essex-Hudson Greenway.

Registration for the event is underway at www.bike2trenton.org. See more details below.

If it ever comes to fruition, the greenway would convert 8.6 miles of unused railroad tracks on the old Boonton Line into a 100-foot-wide biking/hiking path that crosses through eight towns: Montclair, Glen Ridge, Bloomfield, Belleville, Newark, Kearny, Secaucus and Jersey City.

Proponents say the greenway would give residents and visitors in one of the most densely populated areas of the state a place to ride a bike or take a leisurely walk outdoors. It would also give North Jersey commuters another way to travel to New York City, helping to relieve traffic congestion in the area.

But in June, supporters of the plan began to sound the call that time is running out to make the greenway a reality.

Leaders in the effort to create the greenway, including the Open Space Institute, the New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, and the September 11th National Memorial Trail Alliance, have said without immediate action from state officials, including Gov. Phil Murphy, the "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" will evaporate.

• See related article: Essex-Hudson Greenway Plan In Jeopardy, NJ Groups Warn

It remains to be seen how a separate plan to run permanent bus service between Secaucus Junction train station and the Meadowlands train stop – which serves American Dream mega mall and MetLife stadium – will affect the Essex-Hudson Greenway proposal, if at all.

That proposal, unveiled at the NJ Transit board meeting on Aug. 25, calls for a bus or bus-like vehicles to depart the Secaucus station, cross the Hackensack River at Laurel Hill Park along the abandoned Boonton rail tracks and then connect to I-95 near the stadium. The plan calls for paving over the old Boonton line, which currently has grass and weeds growing in between old railroad ties.

• See related article: NJT Wants To Launch Bus Service From Secaucus To American Dream

The Essex-Hudson Greenway Coalition offered Patch a statement about the NJ Transit proposal on Tuesday:

“The Essex-Hudson Greenway Coalition, comprised of the Open Space Institute, New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition, and the September 11th National Memorial Trail, is completely supportive of NJ Transit’s recent award for the Innovation Challenge to find creative transportation solutions for the Meadowlands. This alternative transportation system could be integrated within a portion of the proposed Essex-Hudson Greenway and is compatible with the long-desired goal of the greenway to create urban transportation solutions and reduce carbon emissions.”

The coalition continued:

“The priority for the coalition remains the acquisition of the former Boonton Line rail property and its subsequent transformation into the greenway. The ultimate goal is to find solutions that serve both the need for enhanced green space and efficient transportation options for communities across the region. A formal agreement between the Open Space Institute and Norfolk Southern Rail Corporation remains in place. Conversations with the state of New Jersey regarding the purchase of the property continue.”

RIDING FOR THE GREENWAY

Meanwhile, activists and local officials across North Jersey continue to push for the Essex-Hudson Greenway.

“On September 26, we need everyone to ride with us from Newark to Trenton to create a huge and active statement to the governor and his staff that we want this project to get over the finish line,” said Patrick Conlon, president of Bike JC.

“This project needs our support now more than ever,” Conlon said. “The window is closing quickly for the state to join forces with the Essex-Hudson Greenway Coalition, and community-based groups like ours, to make this project a reality.”

“If the sale is not finalized soon, then the railroad will have the right to sell off the land in pieces to developers,” Conlon said. “Once that happens, the possibility of the greenway will be gone forever.”

Here are the details about Sunday’s bike ride, organizers said:

“For riders, there will be wheels down in Newark at 7 a.m., with multiple meeting points along the way for those who would like to join for part of the ride. The event concludes with a support rally on the steps of the New Jersey State House at 2 p.m… From its start in Newark, Bike2Trenton will proceed south through Elizabeth, with a 7:30 a.m. meet-up at Warinanco Park at the East 3rd Avenue and Park Street entrance. The ride will then proceed to Bound Brook with a 9:30 a.m. meet-up at the Bound Brook Train Station (East Main Street, Bound Brook). The ride proceeds to Princeton with a meet-up at the Princeton Battle Monument, where riders are expected to arrive at 11:30 a.m. At noon, the ride will leave for Trenton and the William Trent House (Stockton Street, Trenton) for a projected arrival around 1 p.m. At 1:45 p.m., all the cyclists will ride together to the support rally on the steps of the Statehouse at 225 State Street, Trenton.”

“The Essex-Hudson Greenway would bring new opportunities for biking, walking and other recreation to one of the most populous regions of the state and an area that is traditionally forgotten when it comes to important transformational projects like this,” said Derrick Washington, a partner and industry specialist for the Newark Community Cycling Center.

“We know that this project is larger than a single group, but there is strength in numbers,” Washington said. “Bike2Trenton is an opportunity for bicycle enthusiasts across the state to join us in support of this project. With many voices we can truly help bring this project to fruition.”

• See related article: Support Swells For Essex-Hudson Greenway As Clock Ticks Down

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