The meeting opened with emphasis on the development of a plan designed to enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety within the community. Dave Kum, a consultant from GPI, initiated the discussion by addressing general questions about the plan, which is set for completion by the end of the year. This plan is important for towns seeking to apply for design and construction grants under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets for All program. Kum differentiated this program from the Safe Routes to School initiative, noting that the latter also requires municipalities to have a travel plan for school districts to qualify for construction grants aimed at pedestrian safety improvements around schools.

A substantial portion of the meeting focused on a data-driven approach to identifying pedestrian and bicycle safety issues. Kum detailed how this method integrates crash history analysis with systemic assessments of roadway characteristics. While crash history pinpoints specific locations with past incidents, the systemic method evaluates common features of roads where accidents occur. He emphasized the importance of stakeholder involvement, explaining that feedback from community members and committee participants would complement the data analysis to formulate recommendations based on both empirical evidence and local insights.

Julia, another presenter, reiterated the distinction between hotspot analysis (focusing on past accidents) and systemic analysis (looking at roadway characteristics). She presented three potential project sites: the intersection of Lafayette Street and Bank Street, a corridor along Ocean, Elmyra, and Landis Streets, and Washington Street from Ocean to Sydney Avenue. Issues at these locations included offset intersections, outdated signal equipment, and a lack of pedestrian crossing signs. The committee also explored systemic project recommendations for local roads with speeds of 25 miles per hour or less, proposing improvements like wider edge lines, enhanced parking stall areas, and upgraded pedestrian crossings at stop-controlled intersections.

The committee discussed proposed projects submitted by members, focusing on enhancing bike lanes and crosswalks at various intersections. A significant concern was raised regarding the safety of routes leading to the beach from West Cape May, particularly emphasizing the dangers of Broadway. One participant stated, “If people live in West Cape May, there is not one safe route to the beach because they have to go on Broadway,” highlighting the need for safer pathways.

The dialogue also covered safe routes for bicycles and pedestrians to access the beach and other key areas. Concerns were voiced about current plans, which included Leeming and Elmyra streets directing people downtown rather than to the beach. Ongoing sidewalk work on Park Avenue and the addition of bike lanes were noted, along with the necessity for communication with the county to ensure bike lanes were included in the roundabout project. A suggestion was made to create a project ensuring safe streets down to the lifeguard station at Park and Grant, allowing safe passage from Central Park to the beach.

Safety concerns extended to local residents in West Cape May, with a proposal to designate Pacific as a bike route to improve safety. The need for recognizing pedestrian and bicycle routes collectively was emphasized, with discussions about traffic considering bike and pedestrian safety. Specific hazards near a creek due to speeding cars were noted, with hopes that infrastructure improvements would address these concerns.

The committee acknowledged the need for a broad overview of potential projects, prioritizing those based on safety and effectiveness, particularly in areas posing the most danger to pedestrians and cyclists around West Cape May and Cape May City. Routing for bikers entering town, especially at intersections like Bank Street, was also a topic of concern, with suggestions for designated bike lanes in congested areas to facilitate safer movement.

Non-infrastructure strategies were summarized, including public education and awareness initiatives, such as public service announcements, safety brochures, and school programs encouraging walking school buses and bike trains. Enforcement strategies like pedestrian safety enforcement programs and community-oriented traffic campaigns were discussed. Feedback from a recent focus group highlighted biking and walking as primary safety concerns, with visitors, tourists, and youth identified as key audiences.

The committee also explored effective communication strategies, debating the use of social media for outreach. While engagement with high school students received positive feedback, concerns were raised about the effectiveness of social media in reaching students, with suggestions to involve influencers and target adults and local businesses instead.

Enforcement strategies and speed limit considerations were discussed, with a participant noting the importance of collaboration among local towns to address transportation issues. The chief of police highlighted the challenges of enforcing traffic laws and the importance of stopping both speeding cars and bicyclists without helmets. The discussion on speed limits, particularly on Sunset Boulevard, included suggestions for unifying speed limits and implementing speed tables for traffic calming.