For many bicyclists, Gaudreau tragedy highlights an ongoing concern. Will anything change?

OLDMANS TWP. — The death-by-auto of brothers Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau raises renewed questions about why biking isn't safer in New Jersey.

The Gaudreaus, well-known locally and among sports fans for their professional hockey careers, were hit by a suspected drunk driver Aug. 29 in Oldmans Township, just a few miles from their parents' home. Oldmans Township has no designated bike trails — nor would they likely be welcomed.

But as officials here recently looked at future development, they were told that setting up bike lanes would probably require cooperation from Salem County, which owns most roads here.

Statewide and nationally, biking enthusiasts are organized and pushing for governments to stop thinking of bikeways, paths and trails as logistical add-ons, worked around vehicle uses. Biking, not unlike walking, is recreation for many and a necessity for some.

More: 'To know these two was to love these two': Gaudreaus speak out after brothers' deaths

The Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, along with other organizations belonging to the New Jersey Vision Zero Alliance, called the Gaudreau deaths “avoidable on so many levels.”

“In 2023, over 40,000 people were killed on American roads, 606 of whom were killed in New Jersey — of which 33 percent were vulnerable road users (people traveling outside vehicles),” a joint press release said. “US roadways have grown more deadly during the last two decades, especially for those outside of cars.

The deaths of the Gaudreaus marked the 16th and 17th bicyclist fatalities this year, based on New Jersey State Police counts. These numbers are running 33% higher than last year.

“The deaths of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau are a stark reminder that current safety measures — in New Jersey and across the United States — are insufficient and must be dramatically strengthened to prevent further loss of life,” the release stated.

Rural road where brothers died has heavy, fast traffic

The Gaudreaus were killed along Salem County Route 551, locally known as "Pennsville-Auburn Road" — a quick, straight shot for many drivers to go where they want to be.

The road technically has shoulders, but like a lot of similar country roads, they are so narrow that a pedestrian or biker would be dangerously close to traffic.

The speed limit on the two-lane road is 50 mph. Drivers, as a rule, hit that mark and often pass it.

The double-fatal accident Aug. 29 took place near an intersection with Stumpy Road — also just two lanes and not much by way of shoulders.

“Stumpy Lane,” as locals call it, is a much less busy experience according to some people who were at the intersection Tuesday to visit a memorial that's sprung up since last Thursday.

More: Death of Johnny Gaudreau: Updates on NHL star killed by suspected DUI driver in New Jersey

Forming the memorial: a pair of crosses, at least 28 hockey sticks, pucks, sports headgear, admiring letters thanking the Gaudreaus for the memories and inspiration, flowers, flags, banners and even a pack of Gatorade bottles.

Chuck Priest, a Pennsville Township resident who once hailed from Oldmans, was driving with his daughter when he stopped his truck.

“My heart went out for him and the family, just seeing this,” Priest said.

“Like I said, I never met any of them. But I just can’t even imagine what the mom and dad are going through.”

Priest said that he regularly used the road growing up, and that his former job as a county sheriff’s officer sometimes took him there on patrol.

“Soon as I heard about the accident, I was, ‘Oh, man,’” Priest said. “Because I know it’s a bad road. There’s no shoulder. And when I heard they were hit on their bikes?

“I’d get speeders on this road going 70 (mph), plus,” he said. “You know, anymore with a bicycle? I ride my bike around town. But people get behind the wheel, a lot of people just don’t really look.”

Margie Ziegler, a Carneys Point Township resident, drove from her nearby home to sink a U.S. flag into the grass. Sirens of emergency vehicles responding to the scene last week had awoken her to what happened, she said.

“I saw it on the news and just wanted to show my respects, you know?” Ziegler said. “I watch hockey all the time.”

According to Ziegler, traffic on Pennsville-Auburn has grown heavier over the years.

She said she knows a few people who ride bikes in the area. She wondered if the brothers might have intended to turn off onto Stumpy Road to circle back to their starting point.

Families for Safe Streets New Jersey founder Sangeeta Badlani and New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition head Debra Kagan have both have been studying the existing road conditions and what happenend to the Gaudreau brothers.

“But just looking at the road over there, the intersection where the crash happened, I mean, you can see there was really no infrastructure for biking or walking,” Badlani said. “I’m sure they’re going to be investigating more and figuring out what needs to be done, which I think is really important. But I think it’s not just for the Gaudreau brothers, but all of the other crashes and the traffic deaths.”

Kagan said they're receiving lots of questions about the specifics of the accident.

“If this is taken seriously by the state and the counties, we can find solutions to make it safer. There are proven countermeasures, there (are) safety measures, to be an investigation and determine what might be the best solutions for that,” Kagan said.

The New Jersey Vision Zero Alliance is pushing for the New Jersey Legislature to pass the Target Zero Commission Bill in its current session. Already through the General Assembly, the bill would create a commission to create a statewide plan to reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries.

“I can tell you, from a state policy perspective, that there needs to be systemic change across the state for better and safer cycling,” Kagan said. “And part of that is the need to redesign our streets, so that they are safe for all users.”

Kagan added that New Jersey has some of the highest rates of pedestrian and cyclist crashes and fatalities.

“When you look around, you find many streets don’t have, really, a shoulder or a biking lane,” Badlani said. “The kids even don’t want to walk or bike because it’s just not safe to do so. Right? And so, we need to change that. It’s also healthier for people to be walking and biking. And I think rural roads do not take into account they will get people walking or biking.”

Badlani said bike lanes are one step and another filling in gaps in sidewalks.

“Also, you know, setting a speed limit that is appropriate for the road design and the condition it is,” she said.

Counties and municipalities are adding biking facilities using federal and state grants, according to Kagan. Some grants are issued on a competitive basis, and others using a non-competive formula.

Salem County and Oldmans elected officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the Gaudreau deaths and biking-related issues.

More than a decade ago, Salem County did an extensive inventory and analysis of biking facilities with observations and recommendations about adding 131 miles. The section of Route 130 passing through Oldmans was proposed for a bikeway, but otherwise the township was a low priority in the report.

At the time, the report stated only Pilesgrove and Pittsgrove townships and Woodstown Borough had bikeways in the county.

Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey 36 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Bicycling safety questions in New Jersey after Gaudreau accident