The Department of Transportation wants your feedback on biking conditions in Baltimore. The results from this quick, anonymous survey will be used to gage the biking conditions in Baltimore and identify areas of improvement. Please share this link as DOT is collecting feedback from both cyclists and non-cyclists. Click Here To Start Survey. Thanks for your participation!
Click Here to join the OLC Baltimore Bicycle Alliance. Check Bicycling Box. Join the Alliance to help OLC strengthen the Three Foot Rule, promote bicycle safety legislation and help make bicycle lanes, safety and facilities a priority in Baltimore City and Baltimore County.
The Alliance Development Committe is working to define our mission and develop a strong grass roots following. If you would like to attend Development Commitee meetings and have time to work on Alliance goals please email Rachel Mryowitz and she will add you to the Committee meeting announcement list. The One Less Car Baltimore Bicycle Alliance advocates for bicyclists and a bike-friendly Baltimore City and Baltimore County. Some Alliance goals:
To join the Core Alliance group working on the mission and strategy (meaning you have about 4 hours to give per month) please Click Here, check bicycling and write "alliance core group" in the message section. In the next week we will schedule a meeting date.
The Baltimore Regional Transportation Board would like to hear your voice through the imagine 2060 on line survey. It will only take a few minutes to complete and your input will be used as the BRTB moves forward in the process to imagine what we want for the region in 50 years. If you've already completed the survey, please use the links below to share with others or forward to a friend, coworker, neighbor, or your local community association.
I'd like to introduce you to Adiva Sotzsky. Over the past few years, she has been involved in efforts to pass legislation, in Maryland, that will provide more appropriate sanctions for those who cause road fatalities when driving (while sober) in a “criminally negligent” manner. Many tragic fatalities have occurred this year to bicyclist and pedestrian by drivers driving recklessly. Here is an update and a plan for the future. Please take a moment (or two) to read this information, pass this along to others, and join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Safer-Roads-in-Maryland/128627660482918
2010 Legislative Session Outcome - efforts to get Criminal Law – Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel – Criminal Negligence (SB 870 and HB 388) to a vote were, again, stonewalled by the committee chairmen. Thus, in Maryland, you can still cause fatalities by driving (or boating) recklessly or in a criminally negligent manner and pay a fine of a few hundred dollars.
Support for this bill was massive-yet still the bill did not make it out of Committee!
The bill was killed in, and by, committees.
What was accomplished? The need for families to be able to make a victim impact statement was addressed and House Bill 1156-Senate Bill 189 was passed.
How does this affect you?
Delegates from other districts can, and do, significantly impact all of us in the State of Maryland. Unfortunately, there are some individuals, appointed to powerful positions, who misuse their power. As chair of a committee, they single handedly decide whether a bill should become legislation. This has led to many bills being “put in a drawer,” - never going to the committee for a vote, and thus, never going to the legislature for their input.
What to do – a plan of action.
A Political Action Committee (PAC) - Safer Roads in Maryland has formed to provide support to those legislators who demonstrate a concern for the safety of our citizens. Ed Kohls is President and Adiva Sotzsky is Treasurer. Primary elections will be held in September. To learn more click here - we all want to elect legislators who work to ensure that our roads, waterways, and communities are safe. We look to a time when we can all feel safer on our roads and know that the State of Maryland is supportive because the law is equitable. If you have comments, or suggestions, please contact Adiva R. Sotzsky. Thank you Adiva for your tireless dedication to this important cause!
One more bike is one less car! We all seek solace from the daily automobile commute that includes congestion. This congestion results in employees arriving late to work, less time with family and friends, health related diseases such as obesity and asthma, environmental damage including air pollution and degradation of our Chesapeake Bay which is both an economic and natural resource, and an increased reliance on foreign sources of fuel.
Over time, bike safety legislation and other initiatives will increase the viability of smart commuting! OLC is the only non-profit in Maryland with an active presence in Annapolis working on state bike safety legislation. The Three Foot Rule bill is only one of six bike/pedestrian/alternative transportation bills OLC promoted this session. There is much more to do to promote smart commuting and a safe environment for bicyclists in Maryland. I hope folks will join in support of this effort during the 2011 session.
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