Bike Advocacy Letter to the Mayor of Harrison, NJ, the location of the new 2010 Red Bull Soccer Stadium ( as well as lots of new car parking lots!)
Dear Mayor McDonough,
I am writing as a concerned resident of Harrison and as a member of the Brick City Bike Collective. I have lived in Harrison since May of 2006 and commute to work in New York City on the PATH. I plan on making Harrison my home for some time to come. In considering this investment, I write to ask for the incorporation of bicycle transportation in the town’s street plans.
One of the principal reasons I and others choose to reside in Harrison is the convenient access to public transportation to New York City. Biking from my home to the PATH station is an affordable and a quick way to cut down on my commute time and cost.
In the refurbishment of downtown Harrison, the creation of viable bike paths along main roads in town would encourage and facilitate bike use. Encouraging bike use is important as it is a form of transportation that cuts harmful emissions and helps to reduce vehicle congestion. Bike friendly policies and projects would benefit an ever expanding community and attract new residents as well as investors. Many people are becoming aware that biking is a great way to become intimate with a town and get exercise at the same time. In fact, Frank Rodgers Blvd in Harrison is already home to a portion of the East Coast Greenway, a bikeway running from Maine to Florida.
In addition to dedicated bike lanes, bike racks should be placed in well-lit, heavily trafficked areas, especially at the PATH. The sidewalk rails – currently used as an impromptu bike rack – do not provide enough space for the current bike commuters. Furthermore, some type of surveillance would be appropriate in the area around the PATH, to discourage bicycle theft and to increase public safety.
Adding bike paths and bike racks would make getting around town easier and more convenient and would in turn make Harrison a more attractive place for many commuters to call home. People would be encouraged to bike around town rather than drive and would increase foot traffic at local businesses. Bike friendliness is a major indicator of a town’s quality of life. The town of Harrison is at a crossroad in its development and has the potential to be a place where people feel safe and comfortable riding bikes for fun, fitness and transportation.
I hope that while redevelopment plans are in the works, current issues and needs will not take a back seat. We must take action now to improve the lives of town residents and to ensure future generations’ well-being. I applaud the Town of Harrison on several fronts and realize the tasks set before you are not easy to complete, but with diligence and planning, achievable.
Thank You,
Yarrow Willman-Cole
Advocacy Committee, Brick City Bike Collective
(thanks to Kyle and Monica for editing assistance 
)
