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Author: Keep Middlesex Moving

Grab Your Helmets!

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2013logoBicycling to work not only benefits our environment, but our personal health as well.  Dependence on the automobile harms our planet and can create unnecessary stress in our lives.  Choosing an alternative form of transportation,  like the bicycle, can help to improve pollution, traffic congestion, and safety concerns. It even saves you money!

Bike to Work Week is an international event that encourages commuters to ride their bike to work at least once during the week.  The event ultimately raises awareness about the ease of using a  bicycle for everyday transportation needs and the environmental and health benefits of doing so.

So grab your helmets and join KMM and bike to work.  Remember, biking to your school, train station or even biking while runnning errands qualifies as biking.  Everyone who registers for this program will even be entered to win tickets to a show at the State Theater in New Brunswick or Playhouse 22!  For all the details and to register, visit the KMM site and get biking today!

Make an Impact this Earth Day

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The idea that even the smallest changes can impact and create big change rings very true this Earth Day.  KMM is taking this idea and giving you the chance to make a change.

How?

It’s easy –   GO Green!

 

 

Go Green while driving. Turn off your car when idling and avoid using drive through for banking, coffee and other errands. icon_car

 

 

GO Green at home! Unplug all appliances that use standby power: coffee machines, alarm clocks, toaster ovens, blenders and lamps. icon_house

 

 

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Even at the office – Go Green and walk or brown bag your lunch. Everyone who takes the pledge will receive a small packet of seeds to plants and a handy info graphic pledge card.

 

Visit https://www.kmm.org/kmm_earthday2013.php to take the pledge today!

Let us Come to You This Spring

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MH900439345No two companies are alike.  Employee make-up, company goals and geographic locations are just some of the markers that define a company.  At KMM, we understand this reality.  In fact, our approach in assisting companies with commuter benefits makes this a priority.

Interested in learning more about KMM’s programs? Wondering if a fellow employee commutes along the same road? Interested in learning about transit availability near your job? Why not host a transportation fair at your worksite?  A KMM transportation fair is easy to schedule and can be held in conjunction with an employer event, such as Earth Day, or a benefits fair.  KMM staff can also set up an informational table at a central location during lunch to address questions regarding transportation issues and offer informational brochures on a host of commuter programs. You can even schedule an information session for your club or civic group.

In addition, KMM offers a comprehensive package of services, incentives, information and recognition developed by KMM to help employers make it easier for their employees to get to work.
Here are some of the services KMM can provide:

  • On-site transportation fairs
  • On-site transit passes and tax benefit programs
  • Site-specific newsletters for employees

Start fresh this Spring and contact KMM today for a customized transportation fair.  Visit us online or call our offices at 732-745-4465.

THE Guide for Transit Users

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traincommuterThe newly updated 2013 Middlesex County Transit Guide is now available for pre-order. The Guide maps local, regional, and interstate bus routes in Middlesex County and key adjacent points. It also shows the NJ Transit Northeast Corridor, North Jersey Coast and Raritan Valley rail lines, and Amtrak service.

The back of the map provides a description in both English and Spanish of information useful to transit riders. This includes bus boarding procedures and use of the rail system, fares, special programs, transfers, senior/disabled resident provisions, services to Newark International Airport and Atlantic City, and listings of the various service providers and their respective routes, bus ticket agents, and related websites and telephone numbers.

The map was revised by Keep Middlesex Moving and the Middlesex County Office of Planning with a grant from NJ Transit.   For a copy, email our office at 732-745-4465

Safer Routes to School, All Year Round

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Through a partnership with the New Jersey Department of Transportation and local communities and schools, KMM is making it safer and easier for children to walk and bike to school.  Walking to school is a fun and recreational exercise for students and parents. Children practice and observe safe pedestrian skills with the added bonus of arriving at school alert and ready to learn. In addition, by walking and biking to school children learn an environmentally friendly alternative to driving. In the big picture, reducing driving for school drop off reduces local traffic congestion, auto emissions, agirl_on_bikend traffic accident risk.

The biggest SRTS event of the year is Walk to School Day, held in early October. This year, we registered 19 schools in 14 different towns, representing 5,000 eligible students. Walk to School Day events included group walks to school, tables at the school entrance, and walks around the school neighborhood during the school day. In addition to stickers, worksheets, and bookmarks, KMM provided reflective zipper pulls for each participant and “We Take Safe Routes” banners to each school. Executive Director Bill Neary and staff members Peter Bilton and Vicki Becker helped at events in Milltown, East Brunswick, New Brunswick, and Highland Park.

This year, we’re adding a Spring Walk and Bike to School Day which will be discussed at a workshop in February. Also on the agenda are walking school buses, KMM’s Golden Sneaker contest, bike rodeos, and engaging walk and bike safety classroom or assembly presentations. To learn how you can bring a Safe Routes programto your school or register for our February 25, 2013, contact KMM.

~PB

Remove Your Car From the Street… It Could Save Your Life

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Awhile back, I was a member of the governing body in my town.  From time to time, constituents would call about any number of issues.  Calls piled high immediately after a snow storm.  Mostly, residents complained that they had been ticketed for leaving their cars on the street.

MH900289534I would explain that our town, like many communities, requires vehicles to be removed from the street when snow fall reaches a certain level. For some towns, it’s two inches.  In others, it may be “when the street is snow-covered.”  In my town, the day before a storm, the Public Works guys post signs up and down the street, reminding people to move their vehicles off the roadway.  Some communities use reverse 911 messaging systems to call residents.

These policies were not adopted to be mean.  They are not meant to inconvenience people.  They are definitely not meant to be revenue generators, as a disgruntled citizen always suggests.  They are meant to save lives.

Think about it.  Cars parked on the street, impede snow removal.  If the snow can’t be removed, the roads cannot be plowed adequately.  If the roads cannot be plowed adequately, ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars may not be able to respond quickly to emergencies.  If emergency personnel cannot respond quickly, a house could burn down or someone could die.

So, follow the rules.  Get your car off the street prior to a major snowfall.  Squeeze your family’s vehicles into your driveway or onto your lawn.  Make arrangements with your neighbor or a local business.  Learn if your town allows residents to move their cars to municipal parking lots.

Yes, it’s a pain.  But it would be a lot more painful if you or your family needed emergency services, and first responders couldn’t respond.

~RAK

Having “the Talk.” Handing over the Keys.

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The other day, I was on the phone with my friend Anna when she screamed, “Stop, Jim, stop!  There’s a stop sign!  Phew! That was close.” 

She was a passenger in the car with her 80 something husband who refuses to relinquish the car keys.  Most of the time, she cajoles him into letting her drive but sometimes, especially for trips around town, Jim insists on getting behind the wheel.

Anna knows Jim should not be driving.  She’s tried hiding the car keys.  He made a spare set which he hides from her.  She’s thought of disabling his car.  But, Jim is pretty handy and he’d have it up and running in no time.  She has suggested less stressful routes.  But, Jim knows how to get “there” and doesn’t want to go a “longer” way.

What Anna hasn’t done is talk to Jim.  Her attempts to start a conversation have been rebuffed.  He doesn’t want to discuss it and she doesn’t want to start an argument.  She knows that being dependent on others to get where he wants to go would be devastating.  For Anna and Jim and other husbands and wives and parents and children, it’s hard to have “the talk.”

MH900442259Healthguide.org, a healthy aging help center, helps readers figure out when the time for “the talk” is right.  Diminished strength, coordination, and flexibility, problems with vision and hearing, reduced range of motion, and forgetfulness may be signs that driving should be curtailed.  If a driver has a few “close calls” like hitting the mailbox or begins receiving tickets or citations, or is driving erratically – too fast, no signals, sudden lane changes, it’s time.

It’s important to cover all the bases first.  If hearing or vision is a problem, will a hearing aid or new glasses help?  Can the manual transmission vehicle be replaced with one with an automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes?  Are there slower roads?  Can driving be done only in daylight?  Is a senior driver refresher course available?  Sometimes, solutions like these can extend a person’s driving time.

But, if adjustments can’t be made, it is time for “the talk.”  The conversation should be respectful and helpful.  Emphasize safety, not only of the driver but of others on the road.  If possible identify options – public transit, senior shuttles, taxis, ridesharing or family, friends, and neighbors who would be willing to help out with transportation needs.

Anna is working up to “the talk.”  She’s spoken to Jim’s doctor and is trying to find a professional who can evaluate Jim’s driving behavior.  She’s going to bring in family members to reassure Jim of their support.  They all love Jim and want him to stay active and involved.  They just don’t want him driving.

~RAK

Winter Driving Tips

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With winter in full swing here in Central New Jersey, we thought it would be best to brush up on our winter driving skills.  Before you climb into your car, take a moment to review and refresh!

Driving in Bad Weather

• Carpool: two heads are better than one.
• Be alert. Don’t drive when fatigued.
• Allow plenty of extra time for trips.
• Have alternative routes for how you’ll drive from point A to point B. Anticipate worst-case scenarios and prepare for them.
• Make sure your cell phone is fully charged and have the charger handy.

Tips for Readying Your Car

• Keep the gas tank at least half-full when driving in bad weather. You’ll be more prepared for periods of slow driving or when traffic stops altogether.
• Keep your wiper blades in excellent condition to ensure good visibility and make sure your wiper fluid is topped off.
• Check your tire treads. Worn tires will not have enough traction to help you stop.
• Carry emergency supplies in your vehicle, no matter what the weather. A good emergency checklist includes a blanket, window scraper, flashlight, first-aid kit, shovel, jumper cables, flares, and non-perishable snacks.

Braking and Skidding

• When applying the brakes on a vehicle equipped with conventional brakes, avoid locking them by pumping.
• For vehicles equipped with anti-lock brakes, apply the amount of brake pressure needed, and don’t pump the brakes.
• To avoid skidding, stay within the speed limit, and, in poor weather, slow down. Keep adequate distance between your vehicle and others.
• Slow down before entering turns or bends, steering steadily.
• While on icy or slippery roads, don’t brake heavily or jerk the steering wheel.

Snow, Ice or Mud Conditions

• If your car is stuck in snow, ice, or mud, proceed carefully. Acceleration that is too rapid will spin the wheels and only dig the vehicle in deeper.
• Try to stay calm and turn the steering wheel gently from side to side to clear snow, ice, or mud away from the wheels. Lightly accelerate forward with the wheels straight ahead, alternating with a slow movement in reverse. This may help rock the vehicle out of its rut.
• Be aware that moisture on overpasses and bridges becomes icy more quickly than on ground-level roads, since cold air is beneath these structures.

This is the perfect time of year to investigate ridesharing or mass transit as an alternative for your commute. Contact KMM to inquire about carpool or vanpool matches for your route, and get free mass transit schedules for your area. Why not start commute habits now that will benefit you all year-long? It could make for a better commute!

How do YOU get to Work?

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nj tmac, nj, tmaRegardless of where you live in New Jersey, there is a TMA that can help YOU get to work.  What is a TMA?  Don’t worry.  You are not alone in asking this question.

For starters, KMM is a TMA (yes, that is a mouth-full of acrynoms).  In a nutshell, our office helps commuters find ways to get work and communicate all things related to commuting.

Officially, TMA’s are transportation management associations that serve specific counties throughout the state of New Jersey that work with businesses, commuters, county and local government and state agencies to implement programs that reduce traffic congestions and improve air quality.  No matter where you live in New Jersey, there is a TMA that can offer you travel options across the state.

So take a moment to find the TMA that serves your area.  Most of the programs and services they provide are free and are ready to help you with….

Train Schedules

Carpools & Vanpool

Bike Lockers and Maps

Commuter Reward Programs

Bus

Shuttles

Park & Ride

Traffic Alerts

….Because there is always more than one way to get to work!

~CCF

Ignore the “Cat”-erwauling – Restrain Your Pets in the Car

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IM000411.JPGLast week, I was stopped at a traffic light when I was rear ended.  The impact was strong enough to knock a package to floor and cause $1000 worth of damage. Fortunately, there were no injuries.  It did scare the living daylights out of my 18-year-old cat who was secured in his carrier with a seat belt.

We were coming back from a vet visit.  Cognac complains about vet visits but he really doesn’t mind being there because the staff dotes on him erasing all memory of the horrific trip he had to endure to get there.  And, he doesn’t mind riding in the car.  It’s being confined to his carrier that is most vexing.  The caterwauling begins the minute he’s placed in the carrier and doesn’t end until the moment he’s released.  Talking to him doesn’t help because he’s deaf.

This cacophony unnerves me and often I’m tempted to allow him to roam in the car.  After all, our vet is only 10 minutes away.  Yet, as I experienced, accidents do happen, even around the corner from home.  Many pet owners do allow their cats and dogs unfettered access to the back or front seats, dashboards and rear window ledges of their cars.  Yet, the American Kennel Club, the Humane Society, and even Cars.com all advise securing pets before pulling out of the driveway.

The reason is safety.  In a collision, the vehicle stops but unrestrained drivers, passengers, packages, and pets keep moving, bouncing off the interior of the car or even being thrown from it.  Airbags don’t protect pets since the speed with which an airbag opens and the pressure it exerts can crush an animal.  California, Florida, and other states have laws that require the restraint of pets in cars.  A similar law was under consideration by the NJ Legislature.  I don’t know that we need a law but we sure need some common sense.

You wear a seatbelt.  Your passengers wear seatbelts.  Keep your pet safe by using a backseat hammock, a front seat booster seat for small dogs, a partition, or a vehicle restraint harness.   Or, place your pet in a carrier on the back seat, and secure it with a seatbelt.  When, like Cognac, your pet starts complaining, turn up the radio and sing along.

~RAK