Peapack-Gladstone Borough, located in north-western Somerset County, includes a small and historic downtown with two NJ TRANSIT train stations. The borough’s main streets is lined with restaurants, small businesses and boutiques, hair salons, churches, car dealers, a barre gym, two post offices and a park is also located on Main Street. Within walking distance of Main Street is the Peapack-Gladstone branch of the Somerset County Library, the police station and the municipal complex. Cyclists often frequent Peapack-Gladstone for its scenery.
In May through June 2020, RideWise partnered with the Borough of Peapack-Gladstone and the Peapack-Gladstone Police Department to conduct a Street Smart NJ pedestrian safety campaign. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Street Smart Peapack-Gladstone campaign was modified to adhere to Governor Phil Murphy’s stay-at-home mandate; there were no pre- or post-campaign observations, and gathering the public’s opinion and knowledge on pedestrian safety through the use of a single campaign survey became a key campaign goal. Street Smart signage was displayed in town and in the windows of some businesses, though most businesses remained closed during the campaign.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic forced the campaign structure to be modified, the campaign was successful in evaluating areas where Peapack-Gladstone can improve pedestrian and cyclist safety while also raising awareness of the Street Smart NJ message.
Click here to read the 2020 report, or click the image below.