NJDOT and TMA's want you to "Share the Road"

In conjunction with the new campaign, Governor Christine Todd Whitman signed a proclamation announcing that May will be "Bike Month" in New Jersey. May is also designated as National Bike Month. A copy of the proclamation is attached.

"Bicycling is an environmentally sound method of transportation which produces no air pollution, and is a great form of recreation and exercise. I invite people to use their bicycles as often as they can whether as an alternative form of commuting or just for pleasure." said Governor Whitman, who counts herself as one of the multitude of bicycle enthusiasts in New Jersey.

The ad campaign, called "Share the Road, will encourage motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians to be sensitive to each other and will educate them on their rights and responsibilities when traveling on New Jersey roadways. The campaign focuses on safety issues for all road users and advocates bicycling and walking as alternative forms of travel that help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality.

"New Jersey’s road system is one of the most diverse and heavily-utilized in the nation but it is more than just a conveyance to the millions of cars and trucks that travel them each year. Bicyclists and pedestrians also use our roads," said Transportation Commissioner John J. Haley Jr. "Motorists especially need to be aware that there are others using the roads. Sharing the road is the law and by respecting each others’ rights we can all travel more safely."

The "Share the Road" campaign kicked off yesterday and will run through the summer. The ad campaign consists of a series of newspaper advertisements, radio commercials and collateral materials filled with safety information and the rules of the road.

Funding for the ad campaign was provided by a grant from the Federal Highway Administration. For more information about Sharing the Road or bicycling in New Jersey, call 1-800-245-POOL or your local Transportation Management Association.