Sorry for stepping on the daises but...

I guess it got your attention. I'm referring to planned conversation with our property owners that are interesting in making our business campus more walk and transit-friendly. Huh? Where'd they get such a novel idea? And who told them to ask us planners? As luck would have it, I happen to be one of those people that would greatly benefit from such change. I think they probably got tired of me walking on the grass and stepping on the flowers that they pay so much money for. Oh well. My goal is to make my own desire lines. The transit amenities along our road are a joke. The bus drivers don't even know where to let us off - which should really tell you something. I heard someone at work say they didn't even realize that a bus ran along our road - they just thought people were waiting along the side to be picked up by their spouse/partner or hitchhiking. It definitely looks like I could be hitchhiking but believe me I'd rather hike than hitchhike. And by hike I mean, when the bus no longer runs along my road  I literally have to walk through hill and dale to the next closest bus stop. So if I miss the 6:12pm bus then this is the walk that I have to look forward to: http://goo.gl/maps/11a5

This is the view of the cut-through to avoid the traffic/no sidewalks on Rt. 202

I love stormwater treatments - I just don't like walking through them , especially on rainy days

Can you imagine what type of visibility I have when the sun goes down?

I've been taking pictures of people walking, jogging, and biking along our business campus for years now - so I'm ready and thrilled to have this conversation. You know the saying - "Walk a mile in my shoes" - well, walk the 0.8 mile in my shoes and you'll see why things here need to change. It's hard to tell these things by sitting in your office but people do use these streets - not just cars. And these motorists are sooooo disrespectful. They speed so fast and forget the whole stop for pedestrians in the crosswalk. No such thing in these parts. They're mad that you're out there! How dare you interrupt their hurried passage to work/lunch/home. I'm totally going to find an app that can record speed and measure just how fast these f'ers are going. I know we tell the kids to walk in the same direction as traffic but I will admit that I do not abide by this along this segment of road. I've been hit by a car once and once is good enough for me. These motorists don't move over for me at all so I do not trust having my back to them. It's so sad. I'm a person just like you.

One day I'll take video of where the other bus that I sometimes have to take from the train station to get to work let's you off. Unbelievably, the bus stops on the ON RAMP to Route 10 East!!! and then you have to CROSS the on/off ramp to Route 10/Route 202 and walk through this "field." It's challenging on a sunny day but add any other element such as snow, ice or rain and it'll have you rethinking your whole commute.

Transit Can Be Beautiful

Some of the train stations that I've been to are nice but they're nothing to write how about. Take a look at some fine specimen of train stations around the world.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-most-beautiful-train-stations/1

When you're done, take a look at the subway list:
http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-most-beautiful-subway-stations/1

My First Time

So today I'm riding on the Pascack Valley line for the first time. Funny enough, it's almost the same price to get to Rockland as if I were buying a ticket to get to work. I have to say that my geek meter is registering really high readings right now. I like being exposed to parts of both states that I haven't seen all the while kicking my heels up and listening to my music. Not having a car sucks but not right now...

Location:Kearny,United States

A Train Station Is A Home...

to some...unfortunate but I don't think I should be subject to it all the time! I just don't understand how this man lives here and no one knows. I don't mind homeless people but I do have a fear of visibly unstable people (wish you could see his lips going as he was talking to himself). When I need to wait inside the station because my train isn't coming for over an hour and I encounter this - I have a problem. He was actually laying down when I came in as he usually is most nights I visit this station (Morris Plains) after work. Imagine that the smell of the station is stale to begin with and then add some straight up stank to it. Then he has his music blasting (I was recording with my headset in so you can't hear just how loud it is) so I can't even hear the other person if I get a phone call. I filled out my customer service survey last night and alerted them to the problem. Hopefully they'll clean up this act.

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How To Save A Life

So, in my earnest to get back on the fitness bandwagon, I've been purposely getting off at the train stop before my normal stop and walking the mile home instead. Tonight for the entire walk I questioned whether or not tonight was a night to have done so but I didn't really have many options as the next bus or train wouldn't have arrived for almost an hour. Although I was continually frustrated by the vegetation overgrowing and overhanging into the sidewalk, I did manage a smile when I spotted a bunny rabbit on someone's front lawn. The smile quickly dissipated when I remembered about the dead dog at my usual crosswalk. I thought I have a lot of calling to do tomorrow...

Well, the thing that was most intriguing on this walk home and served as the inspiration for this post was the bicyclist that was riding along my street. Here it is after 9pm and he's riding on this street with NO LIGHTS - NO REFLECTORS - NO NOTHING. As I was walking, I made my resolve that I would tell him that he needed lights if he was going to be out here riding at night. I stopped at the crosswalk and watched as the bicyclist continued through as his light was red. Needless to say, he almost hit and got hit by the car that had the green. That was it for me. I reached into my bag for my safety light. When he got closer I said "You really need to have a light on your bike or on yourself. Would you like one?" He stopped and took it. He asked where he should put it. I told him since he's riding with traffic he should worry more about the cars behind him not seeing him therefore he should clip it to his back pocket. He thanked me and asked me if I lived around here. I said yes and he told me he had just moved to NJ and was looking for a place to live. I told him about a few places I knew of but kept the conversation short because he was still in the street with no lights. I wished him well and told him to stay safe. I felt really good about imparting knowledge but was really worried about his riding skills. I'm sure this is his commuting route so maybe we'll meet again and I'll have a bike light for him.

Moral of the story: Be Safe, Be Seen.

This is what bicycling looks along this road during the daytime