Jersey City Ward C council candidate Kevin Bing says that city leadership has failed on traffic safety to date, taking aim at incumbent Rich Boggiano in the process.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
His remarks came during his event, Bike with Bing, on Saturday, which began with a group bike ride from McGinley Square up Baldwin Avenue, which has been recently highlighted in the #FixBaldwin in support of safety improvements on the street.
Baldwin Avenue is listed as one of the most dangerous streets in Jersey City according to the city’s own Vision Zero action plan. The ride ended at a Lo Fidelity (LoFi) on Palisade Avenue Ward C, where he addressed supporters.
“Politics isn’t a game for anybody who is trying to get to work, home, or anywhere else safely. Lack of action from our leaders has resulted in Jersey City resident’s lives being taken,” Bing stated.
“What kind of council do we have that can’t guarantee basic safety for its constituents? … We need leadership that takes initiative in improving our streetscape, not a do-nothing machine politician who works to throw a wrench in city hall’s attempts to make streets safer.“
In addition to laying out where Ward C leadership is not taking enough action, Bing set forth a litany of solutions towards the hazardous driving conditions in Jersey City.
Of these, Bing called for expanding bike lanes, standard street safety infrastructure, and improved mass transit options.
“From Palisade to Newark, we are not going to trade pedestrian safety for driver convenience,” the candidate added.
Bing is in a three-way dance in the November 2nd non-partisan municipal elections, with attorney Tom Zuppa also challenging Boggiano for the Ward C council seat.
Where does Baldwin take anyone on a bike in the Heights? If it is to Journal Square it makes no sense from the Heights. Oakland ave to Journal square makes more sense and is direct. This is clearly a developer-backed proposal to build more units in Journal Square without parking. Near my home between Baldwin and Summit, these proposals will push more traffic into our sides streets. Bing is unwilling to address how this will impact commuters in the Heights, how it will impact side streets, and unwilling to look at other bike routes to Journal Square.