Category: Biking in Maryland

Thank you for your letter concerning the death U.S. Senate candidate Natasha Pettigrew and improved biking conditions for cyclists. My deepest sympathy goes out to the friends and family of Natasha.
The Maryland General Assembly passed legislation during the 2010 Session that provided more protections for cyclists. I voted for those improvements. The legislation that you have recommended for introduction would fall under the purview of the Judiciary Committee to which I will forward your concerns. In the meantime, should you have any other thoughts or concerns, please feel free to contact my office.
Sincerely,
Delegate Adrienne A. Jones
Speaker Pro Tem
Maryland House of Delegates
10th Legislative District
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Seriously, only a 1,000 signatures? Let’s get some attention on this, pass around this link, and help support:
No More Senseless Bicycle Deaths!
https://environment.change.org/petitions/view/no_more_senseless_bicycle_deaths

By Dave Jamieson
An elderly man was hit by a car and seriously injured while crossing the street at Queens Chapel and Chillum roads yesterday in Mt. Rainier, Md. The driver fled the scene and was later apprehended.
According to Prince George’s fire department spokesman Mark Brady, emergency personnel got the call around 2:30 p.m. Sunday for a man with severe head injuries outside the Advance Auto Parts store about a block from the Mt. Rainier Nature and Recreation Center. The caller said the man had been hit by a car that did not stop and had blood coming from his mouth and nose. Brady said the victim, whose name was not released, looked to be in his 80’s. He was taken to a trauma center.
Chris Edwards was working at the auto parts store when the crash occurred. He says one of his co-workers saw the impact. "The guy was crossing the street and a black SUV hit him," Edwards says. "He kind of flew up into the air, and the car kept going. He never slowed down."
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Continue reading “Mt. Rainier hit and run: Elderly man critically injured, driver apprehended”

from Greater Greater Washington

by Miriam Schoenbaum

“Gaithersburg police declare pedestrian safety is top issue along 355,” a recent Gazette headline announced. But “Gaithersburg police target people on foot who get in the way of people in cars” would have been more like it.

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So maybe the City of Gaithersburg should try again. If they’re really concerned about pedestrian safety, perhaps they should cut back on the jaywalking tickets and instead propose a joint effort with the MD SHA to put in a few more places for people to cross safely and legally on foot.

Photo by the author.

Yes, this might mean a slightly slower trip, for the people who use this major commuting route in cars. But how about all of the other people who want to use the road without reorganizing their day or risking their lives?

Continue reading “Gaithersburg police target people in the way of cars”

I would like to offer Maryland drivers this advice based on § 21-303.9.(d) of Maryland’s Transpiration Code which says “The driver of an overtaken vehicle, on audible signal, shall give way to the right in favor of the overtaking vehicle.

How this works is described in the following video:

I will strongly assert this has fewer errors then MVA’s advice to us.

From Lane Change: Kate Ryan Reports
22 year old Danny Elizabeth Alay-Mateo died Tuesday morning as a result of her injuries in a hit-and-run in the Piney Branch area of Silver Spring. Police are continuing their investigation into the fatal pedestrian collision. They need the public’s help. Emphasis in bold font is mine. Here’s the release from Montgomery County Police:
Piney Branch Pedestrian Collision Now Being Investigated as a Fatal
Detectives from the Montgomery County Police Collision Reconstruction Unit (CRU) are continuing to investigate a serious pedestrian hit-and-run collision that occurred in the Piney Branch area of Silver Spring.
This morning at 10:30 a.m., the pedestrian, Danny Elizabeth Alay-Mateo, succumbed to her injuries at an area trauma center. She was 22-years-old and resided in the 9100 block of September Lane in Silver Spring.
On September 25 at 8:13 p.m., 3rd District officers and fire/rescue personnel responded to the 8700 block of Carroll Avenue for the report of a pedestrian struck. The preliminary investigation revealed that for unknown reasons, Alay-Mateo was in the northbound portion of the roadway of the 8700 block of Carroll Avenue. For reasons still under investigation, a dark colored vehicle struck her and failed to stop and remain at the scene.
The description of the striking vehicle is a 1994-998 GMC Jimmy, Chevy S-10 pick-up truck, Chevy Blazer, or Oldsmobile Bravada. The vehicle could possibly have minimal damage to the right front headlight, the hood, and/or the windshield. The right side exterior mirror was located at the scene and the plastic housing compartment is believed to still be attached to the vehicle.
Detectives have interviewed several witnesses, but would like to hear from anyone else who may have information about this collision and/or the suspect responsible. Those persons are asked to call the Collision Reconstruction Unit at 301-840-2435. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them that leads to an arrest and/or indictment for this felony crime.
Continue reading “Woman Dies As A Result of Hit-and-Run Injuries”

The scene at Georgia Ave. and Aspen Hill Rd. (Julie Parker)

This is just tragic, as much as I am for a proactive approach to pedestrian safety there should also be a systematic review of where accidents happen and up grade these intersections and if the pedestrian was “j-walking” and no crosswalk within 1/4 of a mile, put one in. Install countdown signals, refresh paint on the crosswalk (totally invisible in the photo) get rid of only on demand pedestrian signals for crossing busy roads.

More details and comments in the links after the fold.
Continue reading “Child in stroller struck by SUV in Aspen Hill, injuries ‘life-threatening’”

From the League of American Bicyclists (LAB)
With nearly 34,000 traffic fatalities in 2009 — 630 of them of bicyclists – there is a huge need to spend safety funds quickly and strategically. However, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released information showing that states have spent just 62 percent of the total available from the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP), one of the most significant federal safety funding sources. In our Advocacy Advance report, we discuss how HSIP funds can be spent on bicycle and pedestrian safety projects and how the spending rate, or “obligation rate,” has been extremely low since the beginning of the program.
It is disappointing to see states are still not aggressively tapping into these funds.
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[B’ Spokes: OK this is a national problem covering all modes of travel, so the big question is how does Maryland stack up? OK gentlemen place your bets, is Maryland doing better or worse then the national average?
The answer is worse, with Maryland spending only 44.6% from the Highway Safety Improvement Program verses 61.9% nationally and the best state (Wyoming) at 88.9%.
Combine that with Maryland’s absolutely the lowest spending rate of Transportation Enhancement money on bike/ped projects with $20M in the bank still unobligated it really looks like improved road safety is a low priority for Maryland. So while we are waiting for Maryland’s 2009 pedestrian fatality rate ranking to come out any bets on on the movement of our current ranking of 6th worst fatality rate?
Continue reading “States still slow to spend safety funds”

Updated update: While I did get a written response John Kuo, I will not post it. The issue is the only tools at John’s disposal are the Drivers’ Manual and Drivers’ Ed materials, he is not in a position to interpret laws. While this seems reasonable at first glance using car centric MVA materiel to interpret bicycling laws and having more AAG’s (Assistant Attorney General) in the phone directory then I can shake a stick at, this is really turning into more bother then what should be necessary. For now Maryland’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee and Maryland Highways Safety Office (Peter Moe) is working on this issue, so hold off on writing folks till we see what they come up with.

The upside to all this there has been a lot of conversations around improvements at MVA and John is a pleasant person to talk with and very receptive to ideas but as far as bicycle laws he knows what he knows and that’s that. Again let’s wait till we see what others can do before jumping on anyone’s case.

Update: I just got a call from John Kuo MVA Administrator he sends his apologies and they will be issuing a correction as well as putting information about how to drive safely around cyclists on the MVA web site. They will also be consulting with Peter Moe of Maryland Highway Safety Office who does a good job of presenting issues fairly, his work can be seen here

Good job to everyone who responded! We got some serious attention on this. Thank you.

Original alert after the fold. (No longer applicable.)
Continue reading “Updated Update: MVA Misfeasance”

It’s an epic fail to drag a bike for so long and think its something other then a cyclist. And I will note at least a tree branch makes more sense then a dog.

[B’ Spokes: Looking at Google maps, no crosswalks no pedestrian signals … yup the pedestrian must be at fault as roads are dangerous by design.]
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OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
On Sept. 27, at approximately 7:43 p.m., Calvert County Detective Traas called out with a personal injury accident involving a pedestrian that was struck northbound on Maryland Route 4 at the intersection of Fox Run Boulevard in Prince Frederick.
Members of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to the scene and assessed the situation. Preliminary investigation revealed that a Calvert County Sheriff’s Office unmarked Chevrolet Impala was traveling north along Maryland Route 4 approaching the intersection of Fox Run Boulevard when a pedestrian wearing dark, non reflective clothing entered the roadway from Fox Run Shopping Center.
The pedestrian was struck by the detective’s vehicle, causing the pedestrian to be vaulted into the southbound turn lane of Route 4. The pedestrian was transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
Three witnesses were interviewed and gave written statements as to what they observed during the incident. The Calvert County Sheriff’s Office requested the Maryland State Police Crash Team handle the investigation of the fatal crash because it involved a fatality with an agency vehicle. It was raining and visibility was reduced at the time of the crash.
The name of the deceased is not being released at this time due to the fact the family has not been notified. The pedestrian is believed to have been under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.
Maryland State Police Prince Frederick barrack are investigating a fatal pedestrian accident in Prince Frederick.
Rescue crews responded to report of a pedestrian struck on Route 4 near the Fox Run Shopping Center around 7:45 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 27.
Upon arrival, it was discovered that a pedestrian had been struck by a Sheriff’s deputy driving an unmarked vehicle. The pedestrian was transported to Calvert Memorial Hospital where the patient later died as a result of injuries received.
Authorities continue to investigate.
Continue reading “UPDATE: Fatal Pedestrian Accident”