NJDOT Releases Downloadable Bicycle Tour Routes

TRENTON – The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced the release of its newest bicycle tour route Explore the Jersey Shore by Bicycle to help promote recreation along the New Jersey Shore as towns and businesses recover from Superstorm Sandy.
The tour route extends mainly along the shore and inland areas from Cape May to Sandy Hook. The route is broken up into four segments: Cape May to Somers Point (42 miles), Somers Point to Tuckerton (45 miles), Tuckerton to Brick (45 miles) and Brick to Sandy Hook (36 miles).
New Jersey’s numerous bike tour routes, trails and paths attract hundreds of bicyclists each year, providing economic, health and scenic benefits to residents and visitors alike. The tour route extends mainly along the shore and inland areas from Cape May to Sandy Hook.
“The Jersey Shore is open for business and we hope these maps and tour routes help residents and visitors discover the wonderful bicycling opportunities that exist,” Acting NJDOT Commissioner Joe Bertoni said. “Bicycling continues to grow as a form of recreation, physical fitness and as an alternate travel model for commuters.”
These new tour guides are in addition to the 20 diverse regional guides and feature rides for cyclists of all ages and levels. Cyclists can use their smart phones to view the touring guide cue sheets, and track their route progress in real time. For riders who are more comfortable with traditional maps, they remain available to be downloaded and printed from the NJDOT website.
“The Guides have information on nearby attractions and clickable links for more detail,” said NJDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Debbie Kingsland. “The best part of these new guides, are that you can ride as much or as little of the segments as you wish. The main thing is to get out, ride and Explore the Jersey Shore”.
NJDOT has helped build or fund hundreds of miles of bike paths around the state since 2000. Last year, NJDOT’s Complete Streets Policy received the top ranking for states that have adopted formal Complete Streets policies, according to the National Complete Streets Coalition. This was the third time NJDOT’s Complete Streets Policy received the top ranking since it was adopted in December 2009.
NJDOT’s Office of Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs coordinates and supports these efforts to create bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly environments around the state. The Department’s Complete Streets policy ensures that all future roadway improvement construction projects include safe accommodations for all users, including bicyclists.
NJDOT also publishes two long-distance bicycle tour guides, the 238-mile High Point to Cape May Bike Route and the East Coast Greenway Multi-use Trail Guide.