Important Cycling Laws and Regulations in New Jersey

 Cycling is a popular recreational and exercise activity in the United States. A surge in demand resulted in a bicycle shortage during the summer of 2021; nearly 1 million American workers biked to work, according to the 2019 US Census. Considering the physical and psychological benefits of cycling, which range from stress reduction to improved cardiovascular functionality, it is no wonder that cycling has increased in popularity in recent years.

However, riders who do not adhere to local ordinances governing how cyclists should behave on the road put themselves at increased risk for accidents and injuries. Cyclists visiting or living in New Jersey should familiarize themselves with the state’s cycling laws and regulations.

To start, any time an individual is sitting on and actively riding a bike, they should view themselves as the driver of a vehicle. In fact, all New Jersey state laws that apply to automobile driving also apply to individuals riding bikes. For example, it is illegal to ride a bike while under the influence of alcohol. That said, due to the classification type for bikes in New Jersey, an individual will not lose their license due to a cycling DUI.

There are obvious exceptions to the concept of a bike being treated like an automobile. Cyclists, for instance, should stick to bike lanes and avoid riding busy freeways. That said, cyclists must travel in the same direction as vehicular traffic when using public roadways.

While riding on a roadway, cyclists should position themselves as close to the right roadside as possible while maintaining control over the bike. Like cars, cyclists must take extreme caution when passing a parked car or another vehicle headed in the same direction.

Left-hand turns represent another area of concern when it comes to cycling regulations and safety. Cyclists are permitted to make left turns out of the left turn lane or pocket. They can also turn left to avoid debris or another road obstacle and pass slower riders and cars. If traffic is not impeded, cyclists can move left and ride two abreast; otherwise, they should ride in a single file line.

Riders can signal a left-hand turn by raising their left arm, extending it outward parallel to the ground, and pointing in the general direction of the turn. Individuals should familiarize themselves with all cyclist hand signals, including signals for stopping and debris on the road.

Signals are an important tool for communicating with other riders, but New Jersey state law dictates that all bikes must be outfitted with a bell or audio device that can be heard at a minimum distance of 100 feet. Riding at night requires working lights and reflectors that drivers and other riders can see.

Some laws and regulations describe proper performance levels for a bike in good condition. Brakes, for instance, should be capable of creating skid marks when coming to a sudden stop on pavement that is flat, dry, and void of debris.

Other restrictions describe illegal modes of operation while cycling. Riders should never remove both hands from the handlebars or both feet from the pedals. Regarding passengers, a bike should only carry a number of riders equal to the number of seats on the bike.

For more information about laws and regulations governing cycling in the state of New Jersey, please consult Title 39 of the Motor Vehicles and Traffic Regulation laws.

Pilates’ Resurgence and Advantages

Joseph Pilates created the 34-exercise routine, Pilates, to help dancers who experienced overuse injuries after training. He was able to help them avoid further injuries by showing them how to strengthen core muscle groups. Since its inception, Pilates (the exercise) has become very popular, trending and slowing down throughout the years.

In 2022, Pilates is seeing a new resurgence in interest. Considered a total body workout, Pilates refers to exercises that form controlled movements that flow into one another. The idea is to control one’s movements and rely on stability to move the arms, legs, and extremities. The exercise focuses on strengthening the abdomen, inner thigh muscles, hip muscles, lower/upper muscles, and gluteal muscles (the core muscle groups).

While the exercise is widely-known for strengthening the core, some experts attribute its popularity in 2022 to providing participants with a way to destress. More importantly, it provides them with a way to destress and get a good workout using low-impact exercises.

Coping with the Covid-19 pandemic was stressful for many people, but Pilates provided people who exercised at the gym with a way to do so at home when stay-at-home orders were in place. The exercises’ low-impact, controlled movements provided participants with a more subdued workout. Some who practiced Pilates have replaced high-impact workouts (for example, High-Intensity Interval Training) with this exercise. They report that the former gives them just as good a workout as the latter.

According to a February 2021 article in the online publication Body + Soul, sweating and being fatigued to exhaustion after a workout is not necessarily a key to becoming fit. Alternatively, Pilates offers participants a workout that challenges the person differently than doing a cardio-intense workout. Moreover, it involves activating muscles one does not even know exist and sweating like when involved in high-impact exercises.

With that said, doing Pilates offers participants numerous benefits, namely improving one’s posture. With an improved posture, a person relieves tension in the back, shoulders, and legs resulting from everyday routines. For people who work at a desk all day, these exercises can be the remedy for desk postures that cause tension and pain.

Pilates can also reduce injury because it is a cross-training exercise. Cross-training contributes to injury prevention because a person uses different muscles by avoiding repetitive movements using the same muscles. The exercises are varied and provide the participant with improved strength and flexibility, qualities that help prevent injuries.

Further, in Pilates, the body is the primary means of exercise, requiring the person to work within their limits. Combined with breathing exercises, a Pilates session encourages mindfulness, making the person more aware of their own body, strengths, and limitations.

Of course, an added benefit is that Pilates does not require equipment. While Pilates studios have a range of equipment (reformers) used to maximize the workout, one only needs a mat to do these exercises. A February 2022 Houston Methodist Leading Medicine health article advises beginners (with financial resources) to start on reformers because the machines support stabilizing muscle groups while working on core muscle groups. However, once feeling a bit more confident, the online landscape is full of classes where a beginner with a mat and a good internet connection can work out.