I'm looking to do a car-free commute from Hackettstown to Newark if possible. I'd probably purchase a folding bike.

The problem is, the train that would take me to and from Hackettstown wouldn't be late enough for me to leave work, and doesn't allow have a schedule to and from work on Saturdays (I have to go into work once every month).

Is there any alternatives anybody can think of? I can't commute there straight by bike for a couple of reasons--first, it'd be a 90 mile round trip, and secondly, Newark isn't exactly the safest place to commute to.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

when i first saw the title, i thought to myself "wow" thinking you were going to do it all the way.
can't really comment or give any advice, just saying good to see another jersyan.
good luck!

Nor is it the safest place to commute IN! Of all the cities in the US, Newark is the one that had the hair raised on the back of my neck the most.

There's gotta be a way I can have a car free commute. I can't believe there are no options.

I'll use public transportation, a bike, or any combination therein. Anybody know anything?

Looks like I'll be able to use the train about 90 percent of the time, and on certain days, I'll have to take a car the whole way. I was just hoping to avoid a car, but in today's society, we are so dependent on them.

My first thought was to suggest you move out of NJ. Actually it's my second through infinity thought as well. But realizing some people want to stay in that God forsaken (really) place, how about flex time with your employer? It might at least solve the train timing issue during the week. Saturdays you might be able to find someone who drives in from near you or near where the train drops you off and get a ride part way. Not "car free" but that car probably uses less fuel than the train that would take you.
Steve

Funny you should say that.

I was in Colorado last week looking to see what jobs are available. Needless to say, Denver and Colorado Springs are not exactly the happening places I was under the impression they were going to be.

The job market isn't exactly so great right now. Besides, they are beginning to look a lot like New Jersey without a shore, and mountains. It's a real shame.

I've done that trip before but on the weekend. LOL!

Using my GPS I boarded the NJ Morristown train in Hoboken, and rode back from Dover to Newark Penn station with NO problems. This was during the weekend and I don't know how those roads will be during rush hour. I love doing these trips with NJ trains and all my journeys in Jersey end in Newark Penn station as I live in Bayonne. I never had any problems in Newark and it's safe during the day as I travel there all the time during the summer. The problem is not Newark but the distance you intend to commute!

If you get a Garmin GPS, I'll send you a turn by turn trip. From Dover to Newark, were're talking 33 miles. I have a route to Hacketstown but it was never tested so I'm not sure if it's safe. The estimated miles on that untested route will be 50 miles to Newark NJ one way! That would be too much of a commute because there are the hills in Morristown that you'll have to pass. A folding bike may not have enough gears so make sure you get one that has a triple or Sram Dual drive. I did the trip on my Jamis Aurora touring bike.

Here's my solution.

Get the folding bike and GPS and start getting off the train different locations. I would get off at the Short Hills station and ride to Newark Penn Station. You could also leave the car at Short Hills or where ever you can find parking. That's a nice little ride of about 15 miles and you'll get stronger each week. Expand it in a couple of weeks and by getting off at Summit and then the Madison stop. You'll find your comfort level but I doubt you'll feel comfortable riding 50 miles one way in the morning during a work week.

I have a nice route from Short Hills to Newark Penn station that's quite enjoyable.

I don't know why people are afraid of Newark New Jersey? I've been there so many times and nothing never happend! At night, things can get somewhat dangerous but I've survived many times. I've been to all of Jersey's slums like Patterson, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Newark, East Orange and Trenton and nothing ever happened.

As for Newark, I actually enjoy riding into the city and reminds me of New York City in many ways. I love being able to ride into the city where the speed limit is 25 mph after riding in the burbs where the cars are doing 45 - 55 mph! If you don't like Newark, you'll probably hate New York City and Philadelphia.

I lived on the outskirts of Newark about 20 years ago and never had any problems riding through the city. Some sections are worse than others, you quickly learn which you probably ought to avoid.

Camden's far worse BTW.

I've had the pleasure of visiting all those garden spots myself, and the only problem I ever encountered was in Patterson. I have a friend who teaches there, and I was going to pick her up after Parent-Teacher Night for a few drinks. Turns out, Parent-Teacher Night was cancelled due to gang activity in the area. Kinda scary. Camden was by far the scariest Jersey city I ever visited.

You left out Passaic, which is one of the worst for riding because it is so dense in the old areas.

Camden probably wins for street crime, but Patterson has the extra bonus of islamofacsists.

Road and traffic wise, IMO Newark is not bad as far as urban riding goes. Crime wise, I try to stay off the side streets, but ride there pretty often and have never had any problems

You do know why people in NYC are depressed don't you? It is because the light at the end of the tunnel is Newark... (I can get away with this since I lived in NJ)

I guess we were in different neighborhoods. I liked NY and Philly, but the area around Newark airport (Elizabeth actually), especially Frehulinghausen (or however the heck you spell it) was not fun. It's like the drivers have a deal with the meth-heads on the street - 'you knock em over, we'll roll em and send em back so you can knock em around some more!' The plant I worked in was in the garden spot of the city - gated with guards, a meth clinic across the street and a waste disposal facility next door. Even the seagulls seemed to want a piece of me! I didn't much like the concrete barriered arterials either, with narrow lanes, crazy drivers and few bailout options.

The Penn Station area wasn't too bad.

Newark?
I thought they turned Newark over to the Snake Plisskens of the world...

Several years ago I lived in Morris County and I know the trains and roads a little bit. It looks like your major options are Stanhope, which might not offer many more trains than Hackettstown but is the closest other station, Dover at 16.6 miles or so up Rte 46 or Gladstone-Peapack at 15.8 miles or so up Schooley's Mountain road and over to 206. I know Dover and Gladstone Peapack used to offer very early train service so it's a pick your poison kind of thing. I think a bike locked in Peapack would be better off than one in Dover, if that's what you plan to do with it. Does NJ Transit have any sort of Bike Locker facilities?