Safety was the original motivation for the NVG, first proposed in a 2016 Change.org petition started by local resident Alex Philliou. The death of a local boy on his bicycle led his Boy Scout troop to champion this cause—and, unfortunately, similar incidents have continued to occur. New Jersey has a high pedestrian death rate (Bergen County ranks among the top ten counties in the nation) as well as an increasing number of cyclist fatalities.
Beyond the traditional reasons of safety, open space, and recreation, there is a growing emphasis on serving active transportation needs—reducing pollution from commuting and easing traffic congestion for those not using the Greenway. The growing use of e-bikes has greatly expanded commuting possibilities. The NVG is envisioned not as an isolated path but as part of a proposed NY/NJ Active Transportation Coalition, a regional working group working with stakeholders to create a network of active transportation projects in the Northern Valley region of Bergen and Rockland Counties. The Coalition currently includes the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), Palisades Interstate Park Conservancy and Citizens Advisory Council (PIP CAC), New Jersey Bike & Walk Coalition (NJBWC), New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, Bike Touring Club of North Jersey (BTCNJ), and the NVG itself. The Coalition continues to invite other regional advocacy groups and governmental transportation agencies to participate in discussions and planning.