Hunterdon County planners are looking at establishing a bike path in the southwest region of the county.
By: Linda Seida
Hunterdon County planners are seeking input from residents concerning a proposed bike loop throughout the southwest region of the county.
The deadline for comments is Oct. 29.
The county is proposing a bike loop along county roads, except for a small section in Stockton where it would follow state Route 29 where it connects county routes 523 and 519.
The proposed loop would pass through or along Stockton and Kingwood, Alexandria, Franklin, Raritan and Delaware townships.
The route promotes bike safety, segregating bicyclists from other traffic, according to Stockton Clerk Kim Franklin.
The Borough Council unanimously passed a resolution Sept. 27 supporting the county’s bike loop concept.
The town is "smack in the middle" of top attractions for bicyclists, according to Mayor Gregg Rackin.
"They come from all over the state, from all over the country, from other countries," he said. "It’s one of the top 10 spots in the country to do that, to drive by an old mill."
The historic Prallsville Mills sits on the northern edge of the borough.
"We have a lot of people who use the Delaware and Raritan Canal towpath," he said.
He noted others prefer to ride road bikes.
"They now use the road, but it’s not really that safe," Mayor Rackin said. "The program widens the road to accommodate bicyclists. So if we can accommodate these people and give them a safe, pleasurable experience while using their road bikes, why shouldn’t we do it?"Federal funds are available to the county to create the bike loop, according to the mayor.
According to the county Planning Board’s Web site, the bicycle loop’s concept began in 2001 when the board passed the Hunterdon County Bicycle and Pedestrian Element. The county is preparing a study of conceptual routes.
The study was funded by a $39,000 grant from the New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority Inc.
According to the authority’s Web site, "The refined study investigates the difficulties that would be encountered in realizing a route in the southwest portion of the county.
"The study’s purpose is to have an application-ready plan detailing a system of bikeways that could benefit from federal or state funding when applications are solicited. The objective is to have a plan in place and coordinate bikeway planning with affected municipalities.
"Often the lag time between funding and application notices and submission deadlines is very short, and without a full-time planner on staff, municipalities lose out."
Comments on the proposed bike loop can be sent to Les Varga, principal planner, at [email protected] or at (908) 788-1496.