Last week, the City of Newark unveiled an ambitious bicycle "greenway" proposal as part of the city's overall transportation plan. Newark, New Jersey's largest and most dangerous city for pedestrians, would be girded by a greenway extending through all its wards and thickly crisscrossing its central business district.

The greenway system would provide 18.5 miles of routes among the city's major destinations. Large parks such as Branch Brook, Weequahic, and the planned waterfront Minish Park would be tied together. The universities - Medicine and Dentistry, Rutgers, and NJIT - and transit nodes - Penn and Broad Street stations - would be linked.

Newark plans to develop the greenway in five phases at a cost of $27.7 million. The project would be a prime candidate for state bicycle funds set aside by NJDOT. However, since only $7 million is available statewide annually, there is a question as to whether the state funds will be sufficient.

Coupled with a series of pilot pedestrian safety projects (MTR #232), the greenway plan would improve safety and accessibility for non-drivers in Newark. According to the 1990 Census, 44 percent of all Newark households do not have access to a car.

The Newark greenway proposal exemplifies the growing interest from New Jersey urban officials in encouraging bicycle transportation. In July, consultants presented a bicycle plan for Jersey City, which is now near completion. New Brunswick has been pursuing a bike lane on busy George Street.