Jersey City Mayor Fulop Honored For Cyclist Advocacy

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Mayor Steven Fulop was honored by the New Jersey Bike and Walking Coalition with the 2021 Marty Epstein Advocate of the Year Award.

Fulop is an avid cyclist and helped Jersey City establish the first bikeshare program in the state.

The Advocate of the Year Award was presented to Mayor Fulop during the kickoff to this year’s 12th Annual New Jersey Bike and Walk Summit, being held virtually June 1 - June 5.

The Marty Epstein Advocate of the Year Award honors Marty’s 41 years of advocacy to make New Jersey a more livable place through bicycling and is given to individuals and organizations, in recognition of excellence in the bicycle and pedestrian advocacy movement. The three other recipients spanning the State were also awarded for their efforts to greatly enhance cycling and walking throughout their respective communities, including NJBWC Board Member Cyndi Steiner, Princeton Pedestrian & Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC), and Trenton Cycling Revolution (TCR).

“I’m incredibly honored for this recognition and I am thankful for NJBWC’s efforts to promote pedestrian safety,” said Mayor Fulop. “In urban areas with dense population and limited street space, like Jersey City, bicycling and innovative mobility options are essential. That’s why we’re making the important investments to expand our transportation infrastructure and really open the door to countless opportunities for our residents by addressing the tough transit issues that traditionally affect urban areas most, such as closing transit gaps, affordability, access to jobs and education, and improving connectivity.”

Under Fulop's administration, the city has been prioritizing cycling and alternative means of transportation including a new unification of the Citi Bike program with Hoboken. Jersey City will add two new Citi Bike stations in Greenville in the first 60 days of the new partnership with Hoboken, after hearing a need from local riders.

In 2020, Jersey City started a rollout of protected bike lanes throughout the city using planters, curbs, parked cars, or bollards to physically separate and protect bicyclists from passing traffic in the right-of-way. The city completed 6.7 miles of protected bike lanes and has 2.7 miles planned.

The push behind protected bike lanes is part of Fulop's plan to rid the city of any traffic-related fatalities by 2026 — in 2018 Fulop signed an executive order committing Jersey City to this "Vision Zero." The executive order formed a task force that created the city's first-ever Jersey City Bicycle Master Plan.

“We are excited to recognize Mayor Fulop's leadership in making the City of Jersey City a safer and more bikeable and walkable place to live. By incorporating a Vision Zero policy with a quick, phased roll-out of biking infrastructure across the City, Jersey City has provided a successful model for other municipalities in New Jersey looking to make their streets safer for all users,” said Debra Kagan Executive Director NJBWC.

Also Read:

• Jersey City Cyclists Bike To Work With Mayor Fulop
• Jersey City and Hoboken Unite Bike Share Programs
• Jersey City Named Safest City For Cyclists In NJ: Report