Meeting w/park superintendent

It would be good to know what we can do with respect to the red trail. e.g. is a re-route possible? Or are there land ownership issues in play? As discussed in a separate thread the current need to ride the road to Jacques to complete a loop is risky.

I also think enforcement of no riding/hiking/horseback riding during spring freeze thaw would be good to figure out.
 
I think the important thing is to make they realize that we respect the fact that we are using THEIR land. We have to establish a good relationship before we plop down a list of demands.

I thought this is a state (people who pay taxes in NJ) park? As long as the public is respectful and not harmful to each other and to the environment, it is everyone's right to use the park and the public should be able to dictate its usage with caveats of safety and law enforcement.

I understand that the park's stewards do some maintenance (not for free, and not speaking about volunteers) and law enforcement, but that does not mean it's their park. It's ours, collectively.

I would like to know what the Park is going to do to make a safe re-route of red, like others have already stated. It's not acceptable for the local government to drag this out while waiting for a tragic accident.
 
There’s a lot of ambiguity (real or perceived) around who is “responsible” for the daily upkeep of the trail system (excluding mowing the grass around the parking lot). Clearly, JORBA goes above and beyond, but what does the park actually do in the interior? What is the codified “turnaround” time on obstruction/ hazard mitigation? What is the frequency the full length of the trails are visually inspected/ observed by park representatives? Is the park aware that they haven’t maintained the access trail's on the eastern side of the park in over a decade?
 
It's a NJ State Park. The public may "own" the park collectively but they (State of NJ) make the rules. Whatever they decide in the name of safety and the public good will be the law. We (MTBers) are not the only ones at the table. It will take a lot of work and time to get them to see the light if it goes against their perceptions and biases (and least we forget, politics).
 
The township is bike friendly pretty much everywhere else. There are miles and miles of bike lanes and signage all over, yet that crossing on Middlebush was completely overlooked? And it’s in a busy park? There are blind hills on each side?

Maybe it’s not a big deal because most people don’t ride the whole park.
 
The township is bike friendly pretty much everywhere else. There are miles and miles of bike lanes and signage all over, yet that crossing on Middlebush was completely overlooked? And it’s in a busy park? There are blind hills on each side?

Maybe it’s not a big deal because most people don’t ride the whole park.
You might surprised what a well written letter to the town & park might accomplish. Someone will get hit there and that might be the first time that someone in state government begins to understand that 100's of people are crossing s. middlebush weekly. The same goes for the closed trail that forces riders down the busy and dangerous jacques lane.


 

South Middlebush Rd is under the jurisdiction of Somerset County (CR615)

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Jacques Lane and Canal Road are under the jurisdiction of the township.
 
If someone writes to him, I am curious of the response.
I drafted an email after my post. Its probably long overdue, but maybe power in numbers behind it.

Supervisor Russo

On CR615, South Middlebush Road, Somerset, adjacent to County Bridge No. H0403, there is a crossing that connects the two sides of the Six Mile Run State Park trails. These trail heads are marked with the standard Hiking Trail Signs.

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As a frequent user of the park, along with 100's of others weekly, making this crossing can be difficult. The State Park has identified the trail heads, but there is no advanced warning of a crossing in either direction for the motoring public that is in the valley of two higher elevation points in the roadway.

Since the roadway is maintained by the County, patrolled by Franklin Township, and the crossing is for a State Park, it seems that this could get lost in a political circle.

The request I am making is can there be solar powered illuminated crossing signs installed to give motorists knowledge of the park users trying to cross? Could advanced warning signs further north and south be installed to indicate a crossing ahead or a cross walk to identify the pathway?

Not sure how this is implemented, but I know any of the suggested traffic control devices would help to ensure the safety of the crossing public and the traveling motorists.

Thank you and I look forward to your response in regards to the safety on your roadway.
 

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