My proposed bike network for Woodbury/Westville NJ

A full size map is also available here: http://quikmaps.com/full/104243

Here is an unofficial proposal I have been working on for a bicycle network utilizing existing paths, proposed new paths and bicycle lanes that would be relatively easy and inexpensive to construct covering areas of Woodbury and West Deptford, NJ. By adding approximately 1.6 miles of new bike path and between 2 and 3 miles of bike lanes the total uninterrupted bike network would equal approximately 7.5 miles, be in close proximity to a number of facilities and within 1 mile of the majority of residents of both municipalities.

You can zoom in for much more detail or zoom out if you are unfamiliar with the general area. To zoom in and out or to navigate around the map use the arrows and plus or minus signs at the top left of the map.

Details that become apparent as you zoom in include:type of path, services and institutions that would be served and recreational and educational opportunities denoted by assorted icons explained in greater detail below:

• type of path

1. pre-existing bicycle paths = green
2. proposed simple paved paths = yellow
3. proposed path elements that may involve some cost or engineering attention = red
4. proposed bicycle lanes on existing road surfaces = blue
5. possible extensions that might make additional funding possible = pink (specifically linking the network to the Red Bank State Park {additional state funding} and a nearby complex of County and State Offices {additional state and county funding}.
   

• services and institutions that would be served including

1. Riverwinds Sports, art and entertainment Complex and Golf Club
2. West Deptford Municipal Complex and Court
3. West Deptford Public Library
4. West Deptford High School
5. Woodbury High school
6. Underwood Memorial Hospital
7. Gloucester County Courthouse, County Seat and Family Court

• recreational and educational opportunities denoted by assorted icons

1. Tree - natural area
2. Flower - indigenous flora
3. Ladybug - various wildlife
4. Football - sports facilities
5. Guitar - music arts and cultural facilities
6. Book - educational facilities
7. Footprints - hiking opportunities

By utilizing existing open public space and taking advantage of roads that would be relatively easy to incorporate bike lanes into the plan eliminates most of not all issues of eminent domain and most more complex engineering issues (the underpass along Woodbury Creek beneath I295 and Crown Point Roads would require some cost and moderate engineering issues but would allow a far greater area to be incorporated into the network while maximizing rider safety and enjoyment.) The exact path from the existing short trail in Woodbury in the vicinity of the High School, sports and health care facilities north to the Crown Point road area would best be determined by siting the route along those portions that would require the least among of environmental research and alteration and by choosing higher ground when needed to avoid bridges or boardwalks of any kind.

An example of a simple and inexpensive bike path can be found in the neighboring towns of Glassboro and Williamstown where an existing but unused railroad right-of-way was used to create a 6.36 miles mile simple paved path with a minimum of engineering, construction, environmental and maintenance costs. Plans have already been enacted to extend this path along Rt322 which would increase the length of the trail to a distance of 7.5 miles.