citibike photo

GETTING AROUND SUSTAINABLY

 
DRIVE LESS

Harry Potter TrainAccording to the EPA, our personal cars and trucks account for nearly one-fifth of all U.S.emissions — about 24 pounds of global warming gases for every gallon of gas. The U.S. transportation sector, which includes all vehicles, freight, planes, etc., produces nearly 30% of all US global warming emissions — more than any other sector (according to the Union of Concerned Scientists.) In New Jersey, emissions from cars and light-trucks account for about 30% of the total hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen emissions that contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone or “smog.”

Driving less — avoiding driving alone in a gasoline powered car or truck, especially for trips less than a mile — is one of the high impact individual actions you can take to reduce your carbon emissions and reduce global warming. Fortunately, in Jersey City, residents have multiple options for driving less:

 

TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: TRAIN, LIGHT RAIL, BUS 

Harry Potter Snapes on BusDid you know that almost half of Jersey City residents use public transportation as their primary commuting mode? That’s compared to only 5% nationally and is very good news for the climate, because an estimated 37 million metric tons of carbon emissions and 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline are saved by using public transportation in the United States.

WALK OR RUN

Forest GumpConsider walking when you have to travel short distances. Jersey City recently adopted a VisionZero policy, which is a complete streets transportation policy and design approach that requires streets to be planned, designed, operated, and maintained to enable safe, convenient and comfortable travel and access for all users (pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists). Read the Vision Zero Action Plan, which was passed in February 2019, HERE. The City also adopted a Pedestrian Enhancement Plan in 2018. For more information about the many initiatives underway to ensure Jersey City streets are safe and accessible to all, see the The City Traffic Safety webpage .
CYCLE
ET reference

In the past five years Jersey City has installed over 35 miles of bike lanes to improve connectivity of neighborhoods, and recently completed a bicycle master plan. Read the plan here.

Cycling to work, school or to run errands (as well as for fun on the weekends) has many benefits:

  • Help fight pollution and reduce global warming
  • Avoid traffic delays and reduce your commute times
  • Save money on gasoline, parking, parking tickets, insurance and the maintenance of your car
  • Integrate exercise into your daily routine to stay healthy
  • Stay fit even when your schedule gets busy
  • Enjoy your commute. Bicycling to work instead of being stuck in traffic can reduce stress, according to a recent study.

Connect with other riders, or ask a friend, family member, colleague or neighbor if they are interested in trying out riding with you. Please obey all traffic laws when you are cycling, and consider bike lanes as you select a safe and pleasant route for your ride.

Are you a cycling beginner?

Check the American League of Cyclists webpages for tips on bike commuting, gear, and cycling safety, or the NYTimes Beginners Guide to Bike Commuting. In Jersey City, BikeJC hosts cycling events, group rides, and offers bike maps and classes to help you ride smarter.

Citibike

Don’t have a bike? Use Jersey City's bike share system - Citibike. You can use a bike for a day with a credit card at the docking station, or sign up to be a member and get an access key for the year. It is the same system as NYC uses, so is very convenient if you also need to get around across the Hudson. Citibike memberships are available for a discounted rate to qualified residents.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Electric Vehicle, Nissan Leaf at City HallInstead of using gasoline, electric vehicles (EVs) use electricity as their primary fuel source — and are propelled by one or more electric motors powered by rechargeable battery packs. EVs are more energy efficient than internal-combustion vehicles, and all-electric vehicles emit no tailpipe pollutants. The greenhouse gas emissions of electric vehicles depend on how the electricity is produced; here in New Jersey an EV emits 79% less CO2 than a conventional vehicle.

In order to reduce emissions within municipal operations, the City of Jersey City started incorporating plug-in EVs into the fleet with the acquisition of 4 Nissan Leafs in 2019. In 2020 the Mayor committed 100% of new municipal fleet vehicles to be fully electric by 2030.

Like other cities around the world, Jersey City is preparing for a public shift to EVs over the next few decades. A 2020 Bloomberg analysis of the industry predicts that by 2040 EVs will make up 67% of total global passenger vehicle sales. The transition has already started in the Garden State – from 2012 to 2018, electric vehicles registered in New Jersey increased over sixty times! For more information on electric vehicles in New Jersey, please visit the NJDEP’s website at www.drivegreen.nj.gov/electric.

CHARGING STATIONS IN JERSEY CITY

In Jersey City, there are electric car charging stations in parking lots and garages, apartment complexes, at individual employer parking garages, hotels and the Newport Mall. In 2020 the City of Jersey City added 4 electrical vehicles to the fleet, and installed 5 dual-port public charging stations. The City will be putting in more public chargers in 2021 in an effort to make electric vehicle charging stations accessible to all residents. See the map and table below for more information on current and future public EV charger locations.

CITY-OWNED PUBLIC CHARGING STATIONS

Charger Location Address # of Charge Ports
City Hall On the corner of Marin Blvd & Montgomery St 4 (2 dual-port stations)
City Hall Annex 1 Jackson Square 2
Bethune Center Parking Lot on Fulton Fulton Ave/MLK Ave Parking Lot by the Bethune Center (open 8am-6pm M-F) 4 (2 dual-port stations)
Riverview Park Along Ogden Ave at Riverview Park 2
Central Ave Parking Authority Office 394 Central Ave 2
Berry Lane Park 1017 Garfield Ave 2
Enos Jones Park 387 8th St 2
Leonard Gordon Park 227 Manhattan Ave 2
 
EXPLORE THE MAP BELOW TO FIND EXISTING AND PROPOSED CITY-OWNED EV CHARGING STATIONS FOR THE PUBLIC.

For additional charging station details, visit ChargePoint.com or PlugShare.com.

 
Other Public Charging Stations

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center provides a map of electric vehicle charging stations across the country. To find locations within the City for charging, just enter your destination in the map’s search bar here.