Here are some current initiatives of Walk Bike Ride and our local partners in SOMa. If you want to get involved, or have a new idea, let us know!

Traffic Calming and Road Design

• Safety Action Plan: South Orange was awarded a $100,000 federal Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant to create a Safety Action Plan to make our roads safer for all users. We look forward to facilitating community input into this Vision Zero Plan with a goal to achieve zero traffic-related deaths and serious injuries by 2030.

• Traffic calming policy: We aim to create a process/policy document to make it clear and transparent for residents to make requests for traffic studies, stop signs, crosswalks, sidewalks, signage, and other road designs that will make streets safer. 

Bike Lanes

• South Orange's only bike lane, on Mead Street, from Vose to the fabulous new Baird community center, will be repaved in 2024.

• South Orange will get its second bike lane when West Montrose Ave between Scotland and Ridgewood is repaved with traffic calming additions, in the coming year.

• We aim to create an updated town-wide bike lane network plan, in conjunction with Maplewood's bike plan updates.

• In the meantime, we recommend opportunities to add bike lanes and traffic calming as roads are planned for repaving.

Maplewood

• Maplewood residents are welcome at Walk Bike Ride meetings, as our events and discussion topics often include Maplewood. 

• Maplewood has an informal bicycling working group - email us to get involved with them.

• Given that the community of South Orange and Maplewood share roads and schools, we partner with Maplewood stakeholders to encourage community input into:

  • development of a town-wide bicycle lane network

  • starting with a potential bike lane on Parker Ave

  • consideration of a potential e-bike ordinance

  • Maplewood Greenway plans

• We also aim to connect with other neighboring towns such as Orange, West Orange, and Essex County at large.

SOMa Bike Bus

• Check out our friends at SOMa Bike Bus! 

• Created & led by South Orange-Maplewood School District parents (not WBRSO)

• A bike bus is an adult-led scheduled bike ride that follows a specific route and timetable.

• Ride with bike buses to Seth Boyden, Clinton, Bolden, and Marshall Elementary Schools on Friday mornings

• Parents can join WhatsApp to get involved with their school's rides

• Learn more Instagram: @somabikebus

Schools

Every school day, thousands of students need to get safely to and from schools in the South Orange Maplewood School District. School buses only serve students beyond a certain distance from school. Others are on their own to walk or bike — but many drive. This creates serious traffic congestion, pollution, and risks to student safety. 

Here's how you can help!

• Bike Bus: Check out our friends at SOMa Bike Bus to join group bike rides to school on Friday mornings.

• Bicycling Infrastructure and Policies: Ask the BOE, superintendent, and principals for consistent access to bicycling across the schools. All elementary schools should offer bicycle racks and should have bicycling policies that encourage students and families to ride, which will in turn improve school drop off traffic issues.

• Adequate Busing: Keep pushing the district to provide adequate and safe busing for all students who need it!

• Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Education: Bring a bicycle and pedestrian safety assembly to your school, presented for free by EZRide. 

• Walk & Bike to School Day:  Many parents and leaders worry about the risks of such an event, and that shows how we're on an unsustainable path. Don't forget, you can walk or bike to school any day you want!

• SOMa Crossing Guard Appreciation Week: Join us in celebrating our district's crossing guards annually in February.

• Safe Routes to School: This state program offers resources and grants to improve safe access for walking and biking to school.