RED BANK – The county’s new interest in bike lanes is a move that the environmental commission is looking to take advantage of.
“Monmouth County freeholders are going to chip in 50 percent of any of the upgrades to bicycle lanes as part of the Complete Streets in New Jersey state program in the county,” said Frank Corrado, who is a member of the Red Bank Environmental Commission and the Safe Routes Red Bank group. “Bicycle and pedestrian issues are close to my heart in Red Bank.”
A few weeks ago, the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders approved a resolution to install bike lanes on Rumson and Ridge roads in Fair Haven, Little Silver and Rumson to create a continuous bike lane stretching from Red Bank to the beach.
The freeholders agreed to partially fund bike lanes on county roads.
It’s a plan the environmental commission can support and the members are hoping the borough will create bike lanes and pedestrian friendly areas throughout the borough.
“I think adding bike lanes in the borough is a great idea,” said Councilwoman Cindy Burnham, liaison to the commission, commending the county for support of bike lanes.
“It’s a mode of transport that’s catching on all around the county,” added Corrado.
“It would make Red Bank a more enticing and attractive place to live.”
Currently there are roads in the borough that are unsafe for cyclists, he said, including
Shrewsbury Avenue, which he said has been the location of many accidents involving cyclists and motorists.
The commission would also like to see a dedicated bike lane that would run along Branch Avenue.
According to Burnham, there is an issue with putting more bike lanes on some roads in Red Bank.
“The problem is our streets are narrow and the question is, how do we fix that.” She said.
To Corrado, the fact that the county supports the initiative shows that the future is bright for bike lanes throughout the county.
Bike lanes could also prove useful to the downtown area, which has a long-standing shortage of parking.
“Bike lanes offer so many benefits for residents, businesses and homeowners,” he said, adding that bike lanes could help to decongest the borough’s popular downtown area.
“With the county’s recent commitment to encourage bike lanes in the area, I have hope,” said Corrado.