SOMA and Newark Bike Groups Collaborate

Newark's Brick City Bike Collective (BCBC) joined forces with the South Orange/Maplewood Bicycle Coalition (SOMbike) Thursday night at my home in South Orange to plan joint efforts that will link our communities. In the works are a Cherry Blossom Festival ride in Branch Brook Park this April, a meet-up during Bike to Work Week, May 16-21, and posting each other's events on our online calendars. Information and resources were shared, and both groups were enthusiastic about working together in the future.

The Brick City Bike Collective formed last May. According to their mission statement posted on brickcitybikecollective.org, "BCBC is dedicated to creating a bike-friendly Newark by increasing awareness and resources, making safer streets and encouraging everyone to share the roads." They hold at least two rides a month during the warmer months. At their "Repair Day" in Newark's Lincoln Park on the third Sunday of each month, members patch tubes and adjust brakes for neighborhood riders. And no matter what the weather, they roll out for an evening ride on the first Friday of every month.

As bicycling advocates, they've addressed the issue of bike access to the Harrison PATH station and held  "audit rides" that they are turning into a bike plan for their city.

Zoe Baldwin, a founder, who works on the New Jersey Tri-State Transportation Campaign, explained that part of the function of their group is to find others to ride with at the spur of the moment. "I'm taking a ride. Want to come? And then go off on a jaunt in the middle of the day," she said.

The South Orange/Maplewood Bicycle Coalition came together in October. The goal of the group is to promote cycling in the two towns for both recreation and utility. Their first group ride, on Thanksgiving Weekend, pulled in about 50 people, including many children. Throughout the winter, they are holding rides on the last Sunday of every month. In the spring, bi-monthly rides of five to 10 miles will be held. They are planning educational workshops through the Adult School and will be organizing events in both towns for Bike to Work Week. In addition, they are developing a foldable map that will lay out a network of bike-friendly routes connecting parks, retail areas and schools.  

To join in on rides or other events, go to sombike.com.

Ellen Kahaner is co-president of the South Orange/Maplewood Bicycle Coalition.