“Waes Hael” and Be Safe

carolingLike many traditions, caroling harkens back to olden times.  On Twelfth Night, people in the apple growing regions of southern and western England gathered in orchards for wassailing. Because wages were often paid in apple cider, a bountiful harvest was necessary for the livelihood of the landowner and laborers.  Dancing and singing traditional songs, the people paraded through the orchards pouring apple cider on the trees and settling cider soaked bread on branches to chase away evil spirits.  They toasted the apple trees with a hearty “waes hael” (good health.)

Today, families and friends keep the tradition alive with a night of caroling.  Like the ancients, they walk through neighborhoods singing favorite carols and perhaps stopping for food and drink.

Unlike the ancients, carolers today may be walking on cold nights and icy sidewalks.  Keep these winter walking tips in mind.

  • Bundle up in coats, hats, gloves, and scarves.
  • Wear sensible, warm, waterproof boots for snowy or very cold nights.
  • Dress in layers.
  • Stay hydrated.  Carry a thermos with water or hot cocoa.
  • Carry a battery operated lantern or a flashlight to light the walk and to be seen by drivers. Be visible.

Have a great time!

Take the Car Free Challenge!

Join hundreds of Middlesex County commuters and millions of commuters everywhere in going Car Free or Car Lite on September 22, 2014. KMM will host a week-long event from September 21st to September 26th where we challenge you to try going Car Free or Car Lite just once during the week-long celebration.

Register and pledge to take the challenge. Everyone who registers is entered to win a host of prizes, such as:

  • Travel Mug + $10 Dunkin Donuts Gift Cardcar_v6
  • Travel Ear buds and $20 iTunes gift card
  • Travel Water Bottle and $20 Amazon Gift Card
  • Amazon Kindle reader

 

What is Car Free? 

Car Free Week is a worldwide movement to raise awareness about the negative impacts motor vehicles have on our environment. Car Free Week encourages people to reduce dependence on automobiles by Going Car Free or Car Lite for one day.

 

When did the Car Free Movement Begin?

The first official Car Free Day occurred in Europe on September 22, 1999. By 2005, over 112 million people worldwide participated in Car Free Day.

 

Why go Car Free?

Our dependence on the automobile harms our planet, our communities, and our lives. Noise and air pollution, traffic congestion, safety concerns make our cities and towns less attractive and less desirable. Going Car Free or Car Lite saves on gas and reduces wear and tear on your car. Walking or bicycling promotes fitness and health. Car Free Month can reconnect neighbors and neighborhoods.

 

Can you live without your car for one day?

Not sure you can do it?  Here are some easy ways to start!

  • Take a train or bus
  • Ride a bike
  • Walk to lunch
  • Bring a brown bag lunch
  • Work from home
  • Carpool or Vanpool

Are you ready to take the Car Free Challenge?

 Register today and make a change!

 

Making Connections

morethanonewaytoworkIf you’re thinking about making the switch from solo driving to another mode, mass transit is worth a look.  Middlesex County is transit rich.  NJ TRANSIT’S  Raritan Valley, Northeast Corridor, and North Jersey Coast rail lines provide service to New York.  And 76 bus lines traverse Middlesex County.

The newly updated and bi-lingual Middlesex Transit Guide is a must have resource for those contemplating bus or train commuting.  The Guide describes all of the routes in Middlesex County and provides information about the points each routes served. And, KMM can supply schedules for buses and trains or the links on where to download them.

Need something more local?  Visit KMM’s website and learn about the local buses that traverse the county!

Also, don’t forget to visit NJ TRANSIT .  The site provides a wealth of information that will help you get to where you need to go.

There is always more than one way to get to work.  Let KMM help you learn which one suits your commute best!

5 Tips for Driving in the Rain

kmm driving in the rain tipsSummer brings long days, warm weather and more time spent enjoying the outdoors.  However, the occasional (or more-like weekly, these days) thunderstorms also make their summer appearance as the skies open and deluge us with heavy, blinding rain.

While it’s safest to stay off the roads during these heavy storms, sometimes the rain comes quickly and fierce.  KMM shares with you five important tips for driving in the rain.

  1. First and foremost, drive slow and focused.
  2. If driving on a highway, drive in the center lane since water tends to pool on the left and right lanes.
  3. If your wipers are on, so should your lights.  This keeps you visible to other drivers and helps you navigate the blinding rain too!
  4. Never drive through moving water, especially if you can’t see the roadway.
  5. Follow the tread marks of the car ahead of you and make sure to keep at least 5 seconds of driving distance between you and the car ahead of you.

New Brunswick Ciclovia is Coming!

Ciclovia7.12 eventKMM is getting ready for the next New Brunswick Ciclovia, coming on Saturday July 12th!

Ciclovia is an open streets event that encourages New Brunswick residents and visitors of all ages to get physically active through biking, walking, skating, and programmed activities on closed city streets. KMM is partnering with Safe Kids Middlesex County to bring mini bike skills course to Remsen Avenue.

The July 12th event features an all-new route that connects New Brunswick’s downtown and residential neighborhoods with the Cook/Douglas campus of Rutgers University.  Plan ahead and check out the Cicolovia map!

To learn more about the program, be sure to visit the New Brunswick Ciclovia’s website.

Six Ways to get Ready for the Summer Heat

ozone alertsIt happens each year.  You drive your normal commute route and find the traffic is slightly lighter than normal and the sun is shining.   And then you realize, it’s that time of year – The Summer Commute.  (Of course, this does NOT apply to the commuters who live by the NJ shore)

Along with the summer commute comes the summer heat.  Play it cool and smart this year and be in the know of how to deal with the summer heat.  Aside from keeping hydrated, think about your daily commute and activities.  Here are six ways you can prepare.

1. “Trip Link” by doing all errands at one time, you avoid unnecessary cold starts. An engine that’s been sitting for an hour or more pollutes five TIMES as much as a warm one.

2. Refuel at the end of the day. Ozone levels are usually at their highest in the mid-to late afternoon and pumping gas emits tons of VOC’s into the air a day. So save your pumping until evening.

3. Don’t “top off” your fuel tank This is never a good idea, no matter what time of day, because it causes fumes to escape.

4. Postpone mowing the lawn until late in the day or use an electric mower instead.

5. Grill outdoors in the late afternoon and avoid using charcoal lighter fluid (Try using a fire-starter chimney.), or use an electric or propane grill.

6. Reschedule strenuous outdoor activates. Avoid exercising, gardening or spending time outside during prime hours of 11am to 5pm when the temperatures are at their peak. Try conducting your outdoor activies before activities or after 6pm.

Remember, whatever you can do to help DOES make a difference.  Register for Ozone Alerts and stay cool this summer!

Lace up your Sneakers

roosevelt-park-middlesex-countyjpg-1f9815b2dbf4c121With the weather slowly (very slowly) warming up,  everyone is spending more and more time outside walking, playing or just enjoying the fresh air.

Here in New Jersey, we are very lucky to have some of the most beautiful parks to explore  and we also have many communities that boast hiking trails and fun parks.

But before you lace up your sneakers, here are some walking safety tips.

Visibility – Make sure that you can be seen.
  • Wear bright-colored or light-colored clothing such as a cap, hat, jacket, vest  to make you more visible to other ans drivers.
  • Attach a piece of high visibility fluorescent material to your purse, backpack, briefcase, or any item in plain view.
Awareness – Make sure someone knows of your plans if you are hiking.
  • Inform family or a friend if you are planning a hike or long walk.
  • Make sure to have a bottle of water and some fruit or nutrition bars.
  • Bring your charged cellphone and a back-up battery.
Community Walking – Walking in the city poses many risks.  Know what is expected of you as a pedestrian

  • Cross only at corners or designated crosswalks.
  • Stop at the curb and look left-right-left.
  • Before stepping off the curb, be sure all vehicles have stopped. Make sure drivers see you.
  • Walk in front of parked cars instead of behind them whenever possible.
  • Listen for engine noise
  • Look for back-up lights.
Walking can be an enjoyable way to not only explore your community but it’s a great way to exercise too!  Happy Walking!
Photo Credit: Roosevelt Park, Middlesex County, NJ

Lunch Time by Foot

walkingKMM is located in the heart of vibrant New Brunswick, NJ where banks, the post office, all sorts of stores, and even the State Theater are within walking distance. Our staff relishes all this convenience, especially at lunch time when the city is our oyster.

American, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese, Caribbean, and Ethiopian cuisine as well as the Hyatt’s Glasswoods Tavern offer attractive eat in options. For something fast, New Brunswick boasts barbeque, burgers, soups, salads, hot dogs, subs, and sandwiches. And, if we just can’t decide, we head over to the new supermarket which has an abundant take out menu. We frequent delightful ice cream and yogurt shops guilt free because we are walking to and from the yummy establishments.

Admittedly, winter has curtailed our lunchtime outdoor activities somewhat. For now, we’re mostly brown bagging around our conference table.

Despite the cold, wind, snow, and ice, we do get out, waiting for the “perfect” day, defined loosely as one with temperatures above 20 degrees and no precipitation. Lacing up our boots, putting on our mittens, and wrapping up in scarves, and hats, we’re ready to brave the elements. Walking gingerly to avoid ice, we mince our way down the sidewalk to a nearby eatery for something hot to eat-in or take out.

Sadly, we’ve haven’t enjoyed too many of these excursions. When it comes to walking in winter, we use common sense. If it’s cold, if it’s slippery, if the snow is piled high at intersections, we stay in the office and look longingly at our sneakers sitting untouched in the corner waiting, like us, for Spring.

Say Cheese and Drink Hot Chocolate

WinterPhotoContest2The weather outside is certainly frightful and Winter 2014 is turning out to be memorable –  if nothing else.  So the staff at KMM decided that we need to help make the winter commute brighter and warmer.

Beginning this month and running until supplies last, KMM will send every commuter who submits a photo of their winter commute (either via our Facebook page or via wintercommute@kmm,org) a packet of delicious hot chocolate!  Once the photos are submitted, fellow commuters and Facebook fans can vote on their favorite photo.  The photo with the most votes at the end of the program will receive the Grand Prize Gift Basket filled with winter goodies.

As for the photos?

Be creative.  Whether you carpool, vanpool, take mass transit, ride a bike or drive alone – take a picture of what you winter commute looks like.

There is a delicious hot cup of chocolate waiting to be sent just to you!

Happy and Safe Commute!

We do remind everyone, to exercise safety and common sense when taking their photos.  Please do not take photos while driving.

Over the River and Through the Woods

It’s that time….Tis the season to travel over the rive and through the woods for…..

Seasonal dinners.

Visits to family and friends.

Shopping and sightseeing.

Ice Skating and a tree lighting.

Yes, the 2013 Holiday season is here! This year, enjoy comfort and convenience and avoid the hassles of traffic and parking by taking mass transit trains or buses this season. Let KMM’s interactive map help plan your trip and while you are online, register for the new INN – Information Notification Network traffic alerts.

From our families to yours, a safe and joyous holiday season!untitled