http://bikemd.org Bike Maryland en-us Copyright 2012 Bike Maryland. http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=389 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=389 While we can honestly debate the merits of this and that type of cycling infrastructure improvements, we have to ask ourselves - at the most fundamental level - is any amount of cycling infrastructure going to change the general (read motoring) public's outlook toward people who ride bikes for transportation and/or exercise? Local cycling advocates wax for Copenhagen's accouterments, but is it the infrastructure that makes Denmark safe for it's cycling practitioners? Locally we have the recent incident of young Nathan Krasnopoler, the twenty year old Hopkins student still hospitalized and unconscious after colliding with, then getting run over by an elderly motorist. The motorist made right turn across Nathan's direction of travel while he was riding in a bike lane. Internationally, In Brazil we have a disgruntled motorist intentionally ramming his car into a Critical Mass rally, injuring dozens of cyclists, many of them severely. At least with the second incident the driver was locat . . . . Read the full story at http://onelesscar.org. Fri, 04 Mar 2011 11:00:00 -0500 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=387 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=387 Hello Bike Maryland! My name is Galen Wallace and I have been invited to pick up the Bike Maryland blog. What I hope to do with the blog submissions is add another - sometimes contrarian - voice to cycling advocacy. I am a 53 year old male who has been a recreational, competitive and utilitarian cyclist since 1987. I have lived in the Baltimore area my entire life. I am a pragmatic person who believes in thoughtful investigation of cycling issues with an eye towards simple and inexpensive solutions. To that end, my first report concerns the recent Maryland State Highway Administration's roadway widening project of York Road from the Baltimore Beltway overpass north to Ridgeley Road in the Lutherville area of Baltimore County. The main impetus for the SHA's widening project was to construct a center turn lane so that the lane would be continuous from just north of Towson all the way to Hunt Valley. As a bonus, the state constructed the curb lanes along this stretch . . . . Read the full story at http://onelesscar.org. Tue, 25 Jan 2011 11:08:00 -0500 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=370 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=370 The reccent passage of the "3-foot-rule" bill into law must now be enforced in order to prevent crashes. The Baltimore Sun reports, "The family of a Baltimore cyclist killed last year in a collision with a tanker truck on Maryland Avenue has settled a $5 million lawsuit against the driver and his employer, the family's attorney said. John R. "Jack" Yates, 67, was riding behind the truck Aug. 4, 2009, when the vehicle made a right turn onto Lafayette Avenue in the Charles North neighborhood and Yates got caught in its rear wheels, according to city police." Everyone needs to know that a motorist must give cyclists 3' of space when passing, for the safety of everyone involved. Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper to keep roads safe for everyone! Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:04:00 -0500 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=369 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=369 The League of American Bicyclists just announced the Bicycle Friendly University application is now online! The League announced the 2010 Fall Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC) and the 2010 Fall Bicycle Friendly Businesses (BFB) last month -- Baltimore, MD was recognized as a 2010 Fall Bicycle Friendly Community and Rockville, MD recieved a 2010 Fall Bicycle Friendly Community Honorable Mention. Maryland has moved from 35th most Bike Friendly State in 2008 to 16th most Bike Friendly State in 2009. Let's keep this momentum going!! The League's Bicycle Friendly America campaign promotes bicycle friendly communities, buisnesses and universities across the state. Guidlines on the applications below are extremely helpful if you are an advocate for the improvement of biking. If you are interested in developing the 5E's to apply, please contact rachel@bikemd.org. APPLICATION DEADLINE Bicycle Friendly State Feburary 18th, 2011 Bicycle Friendly Community . . . . Read the full story at http://onelesscar.org. Sat, 20 Nov 2010 11:51:00 -0500 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=368 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=368 The Royal Netherlands Embassy, in cooperation with the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) hosted a 2-day event - the Think Bike Workshops - yesterday and today in Washington, DC. The ThinkBike Workshops brought together Dutch bicycle transportation experts, Washington area transportation planners, engineers and cyclists to plan and discuss how the region can become more bike-friendly. Reccomendations coming out of the instensive sessions were given by the presenters. The Netherlands is a model of prioritizing bicycling as a mode of transportation, rather than simply recreation. "There are 1.1 bicycles per person in the Netherlands, resulting in less traffic, less pollution and a healthier population," said Renée Jones-Bos, Dutch Ambassador. "The bicycle is the most popular form of transportation for the 16 million people who live in the Netherlands," added the Ambassador. Check ou . . . . Read the full story at http://onelesscar.org. Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:14:00 -0500 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=366 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=366 Next time you are riding down the street in Baltimore, take a moment to appreciate the new bike lanes that are popping up everywhere! From the contraflow lane on Lanvale to the sharrows in Harbor East, we are witnessing the transformation of Baltimore into a more bikable city. Investing in bicyle infastructure certainly gives more bang for the buck than infrastructure for motorized vehices. The League of American Bicyclists Economic Benefit of Bicycle Infrastructure Report notes, "In urban areas, where cars and bicyclists travel at similar speeds, bike lanes can accommodate 7 to 12 times as many people per meter of lane per hour than car lanes and bicycles cause less wear on the pavement. The cost of a bike lane varies depending on the location, the condition of the pavement, lane-painting expenses, changing traffic-light signalization, and other factors, but can cost as little as $5,000 a mile. It is most cost-effective to create a bike lane when an existing road . . . . Read the full story at http://onelesscar.org. Thu, 11 Nov 2010 10:43:00 -0500 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=365 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=365 Last night, Baltimore City Council showed support of three important pieces of bicycle legislation: 09-0176R - The Cyclist's Bill of Rights -ADOPTED!! 09-0429 - Required Parking for Bicycles - 3rd Reading 09-0433 - Street and Transportation Projects - Complete Streets - 3rd Reading The next Baltimore City Council meeting, to hear the 3rd readings of 09-0433 and 09-0429, will be on November 15th at 5pm in the City Council Chambers, 4th Floor Baltimore City Hall. This meeting is open to the public but will not hear public testimony. Please contact your City Council member to thank the member for supporting the Cyclist's Bill of Rights and to show your support of 09-0433 and 09-0429! Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:50:00 -0500 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=364 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=364 Statement of Purpose The Maryland Driver's Handbook should clarify how automobile drivers interact with bicycles. Goal 4 of Maryland's Twenty Year Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Master Plan states. "Develop education and encouragement programs that will increase levels of bicycling and walking and foster a pro-bicycle and pro-pedestrian ethic in individuals, private sector organizations, and all levels of government." We strongly urge adopting the following language to clarify how drivers of automobiles should safely anticipate and interact with bicyclists. The general public, including drivers, bicyclists, and police officers, use the Maryland Drivers' Handbook as the basis for learning how to use our roadways. However, experience over the past decades has shown the Handbook to be out of date. For example, bicyclists have been told to ride as far right as practical, but that has given motorists the mistaken impression that they can then easily pass a bicyc . . . . Read the full story at http://onelesscar.org. Mon, 08 Nov 2010 08:34:00 -0500 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=363 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=363 Today, Baltimore City Council Community Development Subcommittee passed two important pieces of legislation for cyclists: The Cyclist's Bill of Rights Resolution and Street and Transportation Projects - Complete Streets Resolution. These two resolutions mark a significant change in legal attitude toward cyclists and bicycle infrastructure. Thanks to the support of Baltimore City government, positive steps were made in establishing the legitimacy of cycling as a mode of transportation. Please take a moment to ask your representative in City Council to support our right to bike in the full council hearing on Monday !! Fri, 05 Nov 2010 14:12:00 -0400 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=362 http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=362 Baltimore's SECOND B'More Streets for People was a huge success on Sunday!! Cyclists, skateboarders, walkers and spectators came out to see 2km of Southbound Roland Avenue closed off to motor vehicles. What a fantastic way to enjoy a leisurely Sunday morning and make a bold statement about the need for sustainable transportation! Please take a moment to thank Mike McQuestion and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clark for making this wonderful event happen here in Baltimore!! The inspiration for B'More Streets for People is credited to Bogota, Colombia where they close of streets weekly to hold "Ciclovias". Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:19:00 -0400