Clear skies, a break in the heat, and a downhill route made an ideal environment for Jersey City's first bicycle rally in memory last Saturday. Organized by the nascent Bicycle Advocates of Jersey City (BAJ) (see MTR #230), the rally attracted about 75 cyclists, including a bicycle-mounted police escort.

"I was impressed with the turnout. It was a good show of the bicycling community's strength," said Tony Scarpa, founder and president of BAJ.

The activists gathered at the edge of the Jersey City's steep Palisades and pedaled down to City Hall. Mayor Bret Schundler, Councilmen Mariano Vega and Bill Gaughan, and Neighborhood Improvement District Director Maureen Corrado were there to greet the cyclists and show their support for bicycle safety and access in Jersey City. BAJ has its foremost objective the implementation of the Jersey City Bicycle Plan, a comprehensive vision being completed by the Rutgers Transportation Policy Institute.

The plan lays out detailed recommendations for bicycle parking and lanes throughout the city, and demonstrates that with adequate facilities any destination in the City can be reached within twenty minutes by bicycle.