Morris Urbanists

About Us:
The Morris Urbanists are a collection of residents from Morristown, Morris Township, and Morris Plains whose guiding philosophy is that urban design and transportation can improve many issues that impact our towns.

• Climate change
• Physical and mental health
• Sense of Community
• Economy (by supporting local businesses and reducing personal costs needed to live)
• Cost of housing
• R

ising pedestrian fatalities statewide

➡This Discord channel serves as a place to get together, discuss and share ideas, and to motivate others to take action and be active in their local government.⬅

💖 Things we like: 💖

- Policies that support the concepts of “8-to-80 design” and the “15 minutes City”
• An “8-to-80 City” prioritizes people’s well-being. Whether you are 8 or 80 years old, a town should be designed for everyone.
• A “15 minute City” is a residential concept in which most daily necessities are accomplished by either walking or cycling from homes. Also known as complete communities or walkable neighborhoods. The concept has been described as a "return to a local way of life.”
- Supporting People and Businesses over parking and cars
- Dedicated infrastructure for bikers and walkers 🚲🚶‍♀️
- More frequent and accessible public transit 🚆🚌🚋
- Supporting government policies like Complete Streets, and updates to zoning and parking policies.

🤔 Why Do We Exist? 🤔

- The federal government has designated New Jersey as a pedestrian safety focus state for its high rate of fatalities and injuries.

- 35% of car trips are 2 miles or less (a bikeable/walkable distance) and 35% of Morristown residents commute less than 15 minutes

- 70% of people surveyed for the Morris Township Mobility survey said that bikers and pedestrians need dedicated lanes.

- The Morristown Master Plan has identified a desire from its people to return the green back to the people.

- To continue to push for improvements that have begun in town (better pedestrian infrastructure, bike lanes, etc.)

🎬 How you can help: 🎬

- Join the discussion here!
- Call into or attend town meetings
- Write to your local representatives

📚 Further Reading: 📚
https://www.youtube.com/c/notjustbikes
https://www.strongtowns.org/