Belleville Experiments With Pop-Up Bike Lane To Improve Traffic Safety

BELLEVILLE, NJ — A traffic experiment is being conducted in Belleville with the goal of making it safer to walk and bicycle to Belleville High School, but not everybody is on board with the results so far.

A “pop-up bike lane” along Division Avenue (between Nolton Street and Belleville High School) has been turning some eyes in the township since launching earlier this week. It will remain up until Nov. 1.

What’s the deal? According to a municipal advisory:

“A two-way bicycle path, marked with temporary paint and movable plastic posts will be installed on the east side of Division Avenue, between Nolton Street and Belleville High School. Parking is currently permitted only on the west side of Division Avenue. During the demonstration, parking will be temporarily prohibited between Nolton Street and the high school. Residents are invited to use the high school parking lot by the tennis courts for overnight parking.”

Here are some things to know about the “demonstration” program, according to the township's advisory:

What is a Temporary Demonstration Project?

A Temporary Demonstration Project is a low-cost way to test out new street designs and get community input before investing in permanent changes. It allows residents and students to see and use the temporary infrastructure instead of relying only on concept images or descriptions.

What will Belleville be testing?

Belleville will be testing a two-way protected bicycle path between Nolton Street and Belleville High School along Division Avenue. Protected bicycle paths provide a dedicated space for bicyclists to ride, away from motor vehicles and off sidewalks. Separating bicyclists and motor vehicles reduces conflicts that can arise due to the differences in their travel speeds. Bicycle paths have also been found to reduce motor vehicle speeds, increasing safety for all users. Pedestrians may also feel more comfortable with motor vehicle traffic placed further away from the sidewalk.

I live on Division Avenue. Will access to my home change?

Access in and out of your driveway will be maintained. A temporary no parking restriction will be in place during the demonstration period between Nolton Street and Belleville High School. Residents will be permitted to park overnight in the high school parking lot by the tennis courts.

How will the Township make the changes?

As part of this demonstration, temporary paint and signs will be added to delineate the two-way protected bike lane. In addition, plastic posts will be placed to help drivers understand the new traffic pattern.

How long will the demonstration be in place?

The changes will be in place from Thursday, October 24 to Friday, November 1.

How will success be measured?

The team’s evaluation will include speed studies, direct observations, and feedback from residents. An online survey will be conducted once the changes are in place.

Why is this demonstration happening?

Belleville applied to the Complete Streets Technical Assistance program, a partnership of Rutgers-Voorhees Transportation Center, Sustainable Jersey, and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), to develop a Bicycle Network Plan for the high school neighborhood. The Plan will identify ideas to improve roadway safety around the school and to encourage students and residents to walk and bicycle to the school campus, instead of driving. Shifting school trips away from motor vehicles can help reduce neighborhood congestion and increase quality of life for residents. The demonstration will help Belleville and the project team learn more about transportation needs in the school neighborhood.

FEEDBACK ON THE BIKE LANE

The bike lane has seen mixed reviews, including from Belleville Mayor Michael Melham, who wrote that he was "torn between horrified and mortified" at the experiment.

Melham wrote:

"To be clear, the Township did NOT dream up this project. Nor am I blaming the Town for the execution. After all, we received a grant from an organization for the study. That said, I’m certain the Township will be addressing this first thing tomorrow. And as far as I’m concerned, I’m not ruling out suggesting that we rip it out entirely. If it can't meet our standards, it shouldn’t stay. By the way, I’ve never seen a two-way bike lane. And I also have concerns about turning westbound on Division and how a garbage truck can properly collect garbage in the middle of two-way traffic and a double bike lane. Honestly I can’t imagine how this project got this far and became a realty. Again, not a Township idea, we received a grant for a temporary study."

"To the residents temporarily impacted by this, you have my sincerest apologies," he added.

OTHER INFORMATION

During the demonstration, EZ Ride Transportation Management Association, Belleville High School, and the Township of Belleville will be hosting a Bike to School Day event on Oct. 30. In addition, a Safety Training class will be held at the high school on Nov. 1 for students.

Project materials are being provided by the NJTPA Complete Streets Demonstration Library. The NJTPA created the library to help communities interested in trying out bicycle lanes, corner “bump-outs,” and other safety, placemaking, and traffic calming features. To learn more, visit njtpa.org/demolibrary

Once the demonstration is in place, a questionnaire will be made available at https://go.rutgers.edu/belleville-survey

For more information, contact township manager Brian Banda at 973-450-3407 or bbanda@bellevillenj.org, or Matthew Paladino (Belleville School District) at matthew.paladino@ bellevilleschools.org or 973-450- 3500.

• See Related: Belleville Gets Nearly $1M From NJ For ‘Safe Routes To School’
• See Related: Belleville Cops Will Walk Students To School As Part Of Annual Event

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