[B’ Spokes: I know the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee has talked about incorporating "Bike Stat" in with "City Stat" so I am sharing this because the same thing could be said for Baltimore, we don’t track what should be important information about crashes. I’ll just skip through the article sharing highlights. This also may give us a hint why police here are so quick with "The driver will not be charged" in bicycle crashes.]
*********************************************************************
By John Del Signore, Gothamist
This morning the City Council grilled representatives from the NYPD on why so few drivers face criminal charges after killing or maiming pedestrians and cyclists. … The department has been widely criticized for failing to issue criminal charges to drivers after serious accidents, as well as withholding the most basic details about their investigations. Today Councilmembers tried to understand why so many drivers get away with murder.
…
"We don’t accept gun violence as a way to die, and we shouldn’t accept traffic deaths either."
…
Vacca’s first question to Deputy Chief … was about speeding, and how often drivers caught speeding are charged with reckless endangerment. The answer came not from Cassidy, but from Susan Petito, an NYPD attorney, who politely explained that they simply don’t know, …
The NYPD reps frequently cited their inability to search for data during the hearing. At the same time, the department touted its TrafficStat data, which Chief Cassidy argued has enabled the department to reduce traffic fatalities by 39% over the past decade.
…
Here’s what we do know, and it helps explain why so many drivers get away with murder:
* The NYPD issued more summonses to cyclists than truck drivers last year: …
…
* The AIS will only investigate accidents in which the victim dies or seems likely to die. If you get hit by a driver and end up in a wheelchair for the rest of your life, there’s no AIS investigation. The patrol officers will fill out an accident report, and traffic tickets might be issued, but there will never be an in-depth investigation or follow-up.
* 241 pedestrians or cyclists were killed by drivers last year. Only 17 of the drivers responsible faced criminal charges.
* Asked how many criminal charges were filed against drivers in non-fatal accidents, the NYPD reps said they were not aware of any.
* Hayley and Diego’s Laws were created to empower the NYPD to issue "careless driving" charges, but the NYPD says judges have repeatedly thrown out these charges on the grounds that an officer has to personally witness the accident in order to file the charge.
And because traffic court judges have been throwing out "careless driving" tickets, the NYPD says they’ve instructed patrolmen not to issue them. Only the AIS is currently authorized to file charges under Hayley and Diego’s law, and since AIS only investigates fatal accidents, the law hasn’t done much good. Councilmember Brad Lander was particularly galled by this, asking the NYPD reps, "More than 3,000 crashes last year led to serious injury, and yet patrolmen can’t write a ticket [under Hayley and Diego’s law]?"
Councilmember Vacca recommended new legislation authorizing the NYPD to seize vehicles operated by speeding and reckless drivers. … as long as the default response to a motor vehicle crash is ‘accidents happen,’ the behaviors that are killing and injuring people will continue."
Also in attendance were the relatives of killed or injured cyclists, including Erika Lefevre, the mother of Mathieu Lefevre, an artist who was killed by a truck driver who left the scene of the accident in Williamsburg and did not face any criminal charges. (The Brooklyn DA is now conducting an independent investigation to determine if serious charges are warranted.) Lefevre, who had to sue the NYPD to release information about the AIS’s sloppy investigation, told the City Council, "The only person the NYPD showed courtesy, professionalism, and respect towards was the driver who ran over Mathieu."
…
Continue reading “Here’s Why Drivers Get Away With Murder In NYC”
Cyclists save city governments money
-> "Cyclists save city governments money by reducing traffic congestion, stormwater run-off, air pollution, and road maintenance expenditures. Many cities are doing little things to show their gratitude. Barcelona recently installed a counter on a main route displaying the time, temperature, bike count for the day and progress toward the official annual ridership goal for that route…"
— Christine Grant, Sightline Daily
https://bit.ly/xCtM71
from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
Berliners enjoy cleanest air in major European cities: report
From English.news.cn
BERLIN, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) — Residents in the German capital of Berlin are breathing the cleanest air in major European cities, as the municipality’s consistent efforts to decrease soot and other particulate pollution paid off, according to a new report released here Wednesday.
…
The Berlin municipality’s comprehensive strategy to curb high pollution emitters and efficiently put the use of private cars at a reasonable level has significantly contributed to the amelioration of the city’s overall air quality.
…
"The proportion of car traffic on the road has shrunk by 6 percent, while the use of bicycles has doubled to 13 percent," said Werner Reh, a transportation expert for BUND.
…
Continue reading “Berliners enjoy cleanest air in major European cities: report”
Americans Work 3.84 Minutes Each Day To Pay For Their Bicycles
by James D. Schwartz, The Urban Country
After revealing that the average American works about 2 hours a day to pay for the cost of automobile ownership earlier this month, I was asked to participate in a radio interview for the Edmonton’s CJSR 88.5FM on Full English Breakfast with Peter Chapman to talk bicycles (listen to the full 13 minute segment here: [MP3 download]).
For fun, the show hosts Peter Chapman and Karly Coleman crunched the numbers and determined that they work 3.5 minutes each day to pay for their bikes.
…
Continue reading “Americans Work 3.84 Minutes Each Day To Pay For Their Bicycles”
Q&A: City cyclist Rev. Andrew Foster Connors
[B’ Spokes: Nice interview of one of our cycling commuters.]
*****************************************************************************
By Fern Shen, Baltimore Bew
…
What has your experience been with Baltimore drivers and others you encounter on the road?
It’s like anything else Baltimore – you can find anything and everything. On balance, Baltimore drivers have been courteous and safe. If there’s any criticism I’d offer, it’s simply the speed. Baltimoreans speed a lot.
Have you had any close calls? Bad experiences? Great experiences?
I’ve had a few close calls with people passing too close, or honking and yelling because they think I have no right to be on the road. I haven’t been hit on a bike since I was a kid.
What’s it like biking on Mt. Royal, and and do you think a dedicated bike lane there would be a good idea?
It’s one of the busiest roads I encounter on my route, especially during rush hour. I think bike lanes are always a good idea, but I recognize that there are challenges in where to put them without disrupting traffic and such. Longer term, I support efforts to reduce the volume of traffic through smart development, increased public transportation options, and yes, bike lanes.
Frankly, I wasn’t aware of the controversy until the article. With the expansive median, there’s plenty of real estate space there, so I’m hopeful they can find a way to put one in.
…
https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2012/02/15/qa-city-cyclist-rev-andrew-foster-connors/
Coexisting With Bicyclists: 10 Rules for Drivers
[B’ Spokes: This is cool because it comes from a car site.]
by Kathleen Doheny, Edmonds
…
1. Appreciate Bicyclist Vulnerability: A car weighs 2 tons or so, while the average bike is a mere 20 pounds, says Tim Blumenthal, president of People for Bikes, an advocacy group.
“In any collision, any physical interaction between car and bike, the bike always loses,” he says. “I’ve never seen a collision where the bike rider came out less injured,” he says.
Gary Brustin, a bicycle accident attorney in Santa Monica and San Jose, California, says he has seen the severity of the injuries to cyclists increase in recent years. Among the factors driving the increase, he suspects, are older riders, including baby boomers, whose bones may be more fragile than those of younger riders. An increase in high-speed roads with bike lanes also contributes to the rise, he says.
2. Know Bicyclists’ Rights: Drivers sometimes have little idea of the traffic laws that apply to bicyclists. A recent visitor to a message board discussing cyclists and motorists wanted to know why cyclists can’t just use the sidewalks.
In fact, bicycles in the roadway are considered vehicles. NHTSA says cyclists 10 years and older should behave as though they were vehicles on the street, riding in the same direction as other traffic that’s going their way and following the same traffic rules.
The cyclists, then, are on the same level as motorists. Information on the California Department of Motor Vehicles Web site spells out the law in the Golden State: “Bicycle riders on public roads have the same rights and responsibilities as motorists, and are subject to the same rules and regulations.”
The site encourages drivers to ”look carefully for bicyclists before turning left or right, merging into bicycle lanes and opening doors next to moving traffic. Respect the right-of-way of bicyclists because they are entitled to share the road with you.”
Nearly every state has similar language covering bicyclists, says Andy Clarke, president of the League of American Bicyclists.
3. Adjust That Attitude: Motorists tend to think of cyclists as ”in their way,” Clarke says. Rather, they should think of them as equals, just as entitled to the roadway as drivers are, says Clarke and other experts in the cycling community.
Drivers who get impatient with bicyclists might want to stop for a moment and think about the human being on that bike, says Bob Mionske, a Portland cycling attorney and cyclist: What if that rider was my friend, a friend of a friend, or a neighbor? Somehow, seeing bicyclists that way makes people a little more patient, he says. When drivers don’t humanize cyclists this way, he finds, they often perceive riders as mere objects.
If you can pinpoint the moment when a bicyclist is starting to irritate you — because you can’t see where he is going or because he’s moving slowly and is making you late — picture him as a family member or friend. That might calm you down, Mionske says.
4. Consider the Benefits of Bicycling — for Drivers: “One cyclist on the road is one less car,” Mionske says. Cyclists don’t wear out the road, he adds (which means fewer potholes for you). “We lessen traffic congestion,” he says. “We can’t pollute.”
So if you’re idling in your car behind a cyclist who you wish would go faster, think of it this way, Mionske says: “Well, he might be in my way temporarily. At least he is not in a vehicle and in my way the whole commute.”
5. Spare Them the Right Hook: Intersections are venues for serious car-cycle collisions. Drivers making right turns, especially, should watch out for cyclists. A cyclist may be a little behind and to the right of you, and may be planning to ride straight ahead. If you don’t signal your right turn, you could wind up hitting each other, with the point of contact somewhere on your car’s right side. If you are trying to figure out if a nearby cyclist is planning to turn right, look for his raised left hand in a squared position, or an extended right hand.
6. Beware the Left Turn: A driver trying to make a left turn sees an oncoming bicyclist, but the driver figures he has plenty of time to complete the turn. Sometimes, that’s not true. Brustin says it’s a common scenario: After a collision, a driver often says he didn’t realize the cyclist was going that fast.
A bike can easily get to 15- or 20-mile-per-hour speeds, Brustin says. “If in doubt, yield,” he says. Exercise the same caution as you would for an approaching vehicle.
7. Give Cyclists 3 Feet of Clearance: Twenty states have now passed laws requiring motorists to give bicycles on the roadway about 3 feet of space, Blumenthal says. “Bike riders really appreciate that,” he says. The 3-foot rule helps drivers by giving them a concrete frame of reference, he says.
And thanks to Joe Mizereck of Tallahassee, Florida, that figure is becoming a standard reference. Mizereck took up cycling five years ago and is an avid participant. He says he was so unnerved by a few close calls that he founded the “Three Feet Please” campaign. He sells cycling jerseys emblazoned with the motto. “Everyone who has bought one of these jerseys says, ‘It works,”’ he says.
On his site, Joe writes: “Please understand, our campaign is not about painting the motorist as the bad guy. Unfortunately, we have scofflaws on both sides and the key is to lay down the rules for all parties to follow, make sure the parties know the rules and then enforce them.” Everyone needs to be held accountable, he says, “including cyclists.” A list of the states that have passed the 3-feet law is here.
Besides giving cyclists that breathing room, Blumenthal says it’s best for drivers to pass them slowly and smoothly. The motorist’s tendency is to speed up and get by the cyclists as quickly as possible, he says. “It’s pretty unnerving when you are on a bike and a car accelerates.” You can also spare cyclists’ nerves by honking sparingly, he says.
8. Look Around — but Not at Your Phone: Brustin, who has been handling bicycle injury lawsuits for 20 years, says that drivers who have hit cyclists almost always say the same frightening, sobering thing: “I never saw him before I hit him.”
If drivers only expect other cars on the road, they’re setting themselves up for dangerous interactions. A model of greater awareness can be seen in the European-style ”roundabout,” with traffic coming from all directions and merging into a traffic circle. Roundabouts require every participant’s attention, as does the more comprehensive “shared space” concept of traffic design, which uses minimal road signs, crosswalks, lights and barriers and integrates pedestrians, cars and bicycles in the same terrain. The need for heightened interaction, paradoxically, makes everyone safer, traffic-design experts say.
“Start looking out for everybody,” Brustin suggests, including other vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.
9. Look Before You Exit Your Car: Cyclists are terrified of being “doored.” Imagine a rider pedaling along next to a row of parked cars. Suddenly, a driver flings her door open. The impact can send the cyclist flying, and riders have died when they’ve been thrown into traffic.
“Before you open the door, look out the sideview mirror on the driver side and be sure no one is approaching,” Blumenthal says.
While the driver can take a few seconds to look and stay put if a cyclist is approaching, a cyclist has no sure way to anticipate whether a driver inside a parked car is about to open the door. All he can do is scan for drivers who look as though they might be preparing to exit a car.
10. Accept That Bicyclists Are Here To Stay: Bicycling is on the rise. People are taking it up for exercise or to reduce commuting costs. New York City, Portland, Oregon and San Francisco, among other cities, all have seen an increase in commuter cyclists. It’s time to make peace with them — for everyone’s safety.
Continue reading “Coexisting With Bicyclists: 10 Rules for Drivers”
San Francisco Will Pioneer Electric Bike Sharing
[B’ Spokes: Maybe Baltimore should think about this as well as our hills do keep some from riding.]
https://www.good.is/post/san-francisco-will-pioneer-electric-bike-sharing/
Cardin-Cochran Amendment Would Boost Local Control of Bike-Ped Funding [and say thank you]
B’ Spokes: I have a few comments based on this article from Streetsblog Capitol Hill
Image: America Bikes
Baltimore Metro is a Tier 1 MPO, that’s good news for us.
I also want to highlight this:
The way the Senate transportation bill, MAP-21, is currently written, all funding for complete streets programs is funneled to state DOTs, and for many cities and towns this could mean losing access to funds that make streets safer.
This does not apply to us as MDOT has already removed that funding (under the last transportation bill) from cities and towns with the exception for trail building. So I’ll note that it is imperative that if this amendment goes through that we make sure MDOT follows recommended federal policy and not get picky about what cycling facilities they do and do not support along with other “creative” measures to make funding “go further” by spending the LEAST amount for bicycling and walking then any other state.
Cochran told Streetsblog the measure would protect local communities from missing out on important funds: “Our amendment would ensure that communities continue to have access to federal resources to implement transportation improvements that are meaningful to public safety, economic development and quality of life at the local level,” he said.
Mississippi is running a thank you campaign so we should so the same. Please take a few moments to say thank you to Senator Ben Cardin:
Contact Senator Ben Cardin
(Transportation is the topic)
(If you don’t have ideas of your own just say thanks for his effort for “livable streets” or “healthy streets” as that will get the message across.)
Bike Maryland 15th Annual Bicycle Symposium Presenter List
Bike Maryland 15th
Annual Bicycle Symposium Presenter List
February 22, 2012 – 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
8:30a.m.
Meet and Greet
(This
list is not in the order of day of event presentations)
Alex
Obriecht, Bike Maryland Board President, emailmeao@yahoo.com.
Alex
began his bicycle business right after graduation from college, in 1978. His
business has continued to grow through the years and it now includes six Race
Pace locations as well as Bella Bikes, the first women’s bicycle store in the
U.S. Alex enjoys mountain and road biking, as well as multi-week self-supported
tours around the globe. His wife and three adult children are all cyclists. His
interests are: the economic impact of the retail bicycle trade, successful and
unique ways to integrate the bicycle into the transportation system, and how
sophisticated planning and implementation of the bicycle travel network in
Maryland yields a healthier, fitter population, a region which will attract
more active residents, a tourist draw for those outside the area, and a network
of commuter routes resulting in benefits to all involved.
Carol
Silldorff, Executive Director, Bike Maryland, Carol@bikemd.org.
Carol Silldorff
was appointed to the position of Executive Director in 2008. She has a
graduate degree in Public Administration with a specialization in Environmental
Management. She passionately works to promote bicycling, increase safety,
improve conditions and provide a voice for all bicyclists in
Maryland. Carol has worked on numerous legislative campaigns resulting in many
pro-cycling laws. She partners with leaders, individuals, clubs,
non-profit organizations, corporations, and city and county agencies throughout
Maryland to increase the number of bicyclists and increase cyclist safety.
Carol has been appointed to a number of state, city and county bicycle related
committees. During Carol’s career she has worked on a variety of environmental
sustainability issues for non-profit organizations, federal, state and local
government agencies and both small and fortune 500 businesses. Carol has been
an active bicyclist for many years (a bike commuter, recreational rider,
bicycle racer including completing team RAAM, a mountain biker and scenic trail
enthusiast).
Gregory
I Slater, Director, Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering, SHA, gslater@sha.state.md.us.
Presentation: Funding Opportunities in Maryland
Greg is a 1997 Graduate of Towson University in Geography and Environmental
Planning, a 2007 Graduate of the University Of Maryland National Leadership
Institute, a 2009 Graduate of the MDOT; State Highway Administrations Advanced
Leadership Program; and a register GISP (GIS Professional). Before being
appointed to SHA’s Planning Director, Greg served as the Chief of the Design
Technical Services Division. As Planning Director, Greg takes an approach of
data driven decision support and establishing relationships to develop
sustainable solutions for Maryland. Because of this approach, Greg has Maryland
focused on sustainability, climate change, linking of planning and safety, GIS
based asset data warehousing for a comprehensive asset management approach, and
multimodal planning solutions that focus on community and industry input, The
data driven approach is designed to build fully context sensitive solutions by
gathering input from all involved and thinking big picture with the solutions.
Chris
Eatough, BikeArlington Program Manager, Capital Bikeshare Management and
Marketing, chris.eatough@bikearlington.com.
Presentation: Keys to Success and Experiences of Capital Bikeshare
Chris was a
professional cyclist for 12 years and is a six time world champion in endurance
mountain bike racing. In 2009 a career shift brought him to
BikeArlington, where Chris is managing the initiatives that promote bike
culture and contribute to making Arlington one of the most bicycle friendly
communities in the nation. These programs include cycling education and
encouragement classes, bicycle friendly business outreach and marketing
bicycles as a valid form of transportation. Recently, Chris’ scope of
work at BikeArlington has broadened to include the management and marketing of
Capital Bikeshare.
Heather Strassberger, AICP, Bicycle, Pedestrian & Human Services
Transportation Planner, Baltimore Metropolitan Council, hstrassberger@baltometro.org.
Presentation: Regional
transportation planning: opportunities for funding
Heather
Strassberger is the Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Human Services Transportation
Planner at Baltimore Metropolitan Council. She is a member of the American
Institute of Certified Planners and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle
Professionals and holds a Master of City and Regional Planning from Rutgers
University and a Bachelor of Arts from UMBC. Her professional interests include
transportation and land use integration; environmental justice; providing safe,
accessible, healthy, and sustainable transportation options for people of all
abilities; and enhancing research and data collection about pedestrian and
bicycle travel. Prior to joining BMC, Heather was a transportation planner for
Land-of-Sky Regional Council in Asheville, NC and served as treasurer of the
North Carolina Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations. She returned
to her native Baltimore in 2011 and now enjoys a short but scenic daily bike
commute around the Inner Harbor.
Michael
Sonnenfeld, Bike Maryland Board Member, mjsonnenfeld@att.net.
Presentation: Bike Maryland’s Legislative Agenda
Michael
is an avid cyclist in the rural environs of Northern Baltimore, Carroll and
Harford Counties, and believes preservation of agricultural and rural land and
open space creates significant benefits for all of Maryland’s citizens (and
cyclists). He is an attorney and has spent over 25 years working in the
residential mortgage and mortgage-backed securities industries, including
founding Fieldstone Mortgage Company in 1995 and serving as the first President
of Saxon Mortgage Funding Corporation prior to that. He is a cancer survivor
and has participated since 2003 in the Pan Mass Challenge, an annual
bike-a-thon that is the largest athletic fund raising event in the world and
that has raised over $300 million since 1980 to fund advances in cancer
research and treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA.
Michael is working to strengthen the three foot passing law and is
especially passionate about bicycle safety.
Dave
Love, PhD, Project Director at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future
and on the faculty at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, davelove1@gmail.com.
Presentation:
How Close is 3 Feet? One Bicycle Commuter’s Video Diary
Dr. Love is a microbiologist by training and studies the connections between
food, farming, health, and the environment. He just completed a study of
motor vehicle passing distance of bike commuters. Dave is bike advocate and
bike commuter in Baltimore, Maryland.
Katie Gore, Bike Maryland Bike-MINDED Program Coordinator, ktgoremtb@comcast.net. Presentation: Being
Bike-MINDED
Through her work as a Bike Maryland Bike-MINDED Coordinator, Katie
performs fun, social and educational bike safety workshops for youth in
Baltimore. Additionally, she leads bicycle commuter workshops for adults
throughout Maryland. Katie was a Parks and Recreation Leader in the
Minneapolis Park system and studied Early Childhood Education at The
University of Minnesota and Towson University. She is the Director for the
Trails End Mountain Bike Camp for kids ages 12-16. She is co-owner of two
Baltimore bicycle shops and is an active mountain and road cyclist. "I
have seen a positive change in the acceptance of cycling in Maryland over the
past three years and realize it is only the beginning. I know bicycle safety is
one of the key components in helping Maryland become a top Bike Friendly State.
The earlier we teach our children good riding habits – the earlier we
expose them to responsible ways to ride – the greater chance for those
lessons to become a life foundation for bicycling as a means of commuting and
for recreation." Please contact Katie to schedule a Youth
Rodeo, Adult Commuter workshop, volunteer, become a Bike Ambassador or
partner with Bike Maryland.
Marla Streb, Bike Maryland Bike-MINDED Program Coordinator, marla@bikemd.org. Presentation: Being
Bike-MINDED
Marla Streb is a retired professional cyclist of 16 years, with
accolades such as World, U.S. National and X Games Champion. During her racing
career, Streb published two books and was also on the board of USA Cycling for
three years. Perhaps her favorite aspect of life as a pro was the many visits to
schools and communities around the country, opening kids’ eyes to the world of
cycling. Currently, Marla continues to utilize her skills with youth as a Bike
Maryland Bike-MINDED Coordinator. Additionally, Marla is a part time coach for
the LUNA Chix Ambassador Program and a PR/Marketing contractor for the LUNA Pro
Team. A Baltimore native, Streb earned a Master of Science degree from
University of Maryland in 1990. The Fells Point resident is a proud mom of two
young girls, Kiki (2) and Nicoya (5), who happily (and safely) travel together
by bicycle or foot on over 90% of their downtown trips. Marla’s goal is to
encourage other Baltimoreans to safely ride, and enjoy the journey as much as
the destination. Please contact Marla to
schedule a Youth Rodeo, Adult Commuter workshop, volunteer, become a Bike
Ambassador or partner with Bike Maryland.
Michael
E. Jackson, State Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, Maryland
Department of Transportation, mjackson3@mdot.state.md.us.
Presentation:
The Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee / Maryland’s New Bike
Share Program
Michael Jackson currently holds the position of Director of Bicycle and
Pedestrian Access with the Maryland Department of Transportation and is
responsible for advising the Department on bicycle and pedestrian
transportation policies. Mr. Jackson has worked on bicycle and pedestrian
matters his entire professional career of over 30 years. Prior to joining MDOT
in 2000 he served as the State Bicycle Coordinator for the Minnesota Department
of Transportation, and held bicycle coordinator positions with Contra Costa
County, California, the City of San Diego and Washington, DC.
![[photo, Jon S. Cardin, State Delegate]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/417122_10150608978098076_513493075_9055097_544972996_n.jpg)
Delegate
Jon S. Cardin, District 11, Baltimore County
Sponsor
of numerous pro-bicycle bills. Successfully worked to pass the 3 foot law in
2010. Member of House of Delegates since January 8, 2003.
Member
of the House Ways & Means Committee (and chair of the Election Law
Subcommittee).
Chair,
Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Caucus, 2005.
Please
visit: https://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13984.html
to view Delegate Cardin’s impressive biography.
![[photo, James E. Malone, Jr., State Delegate]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/406494_10150608978138076_513493075_9055098_2117013316_n.jpg)
Delegate
James E Malone Jr., District 12A Baltimore County and Howard County
Leader
in Distracted Driving Legislation
Member of House of Delegate since January 11, 1995.
Vice-Chair, Environmental Matters Committee since 2003.
Member Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Caucus since 2003.
Member of numerous Committees.
Please visit: https://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa12263.html
to view Delegate Malone’s impressive biography.
![[photo, Luiz R. S. Simmons, State Delegate]](https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426486_10150608978188076_513493075_9055099_486530879_n.jpg)
Delegate Luiz R. S. Simmons, District 17, Montgomery County
Successfully
worked to pass the criminal negligence – manslaughter by motor vehicle law. Member
of House of Delegates, January 10, 1979 to January 12, 1983 and since January
8, 2003.
Member, Judiciary Committee and many other Committees.
Please
visit: https://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/html/msa13381.htmlto view Delegate
Simmon’s impressive biography.
Bill Nesper, Director, Bicycle Friendly America Program,
League of American Bicyclists, bill@ bikeleague.org. Presentation: Bicycle
Friendly Maryland
Bill
Nesper oversees the League’s Bicycle Friendly America program, which includes
the Bicycle Friendly Community, Bicycle Friendly State and Bicycle Friendly
Business recognition programs. Nesper first joined the League as a Membership
Assistant in 2002 and moved in 2005 to manage the League education programs and
Bicycle Friendly Community Program. Prior to joining the League, he was a
touring musician and Artist Manager for seven years. He holds a BA in History
from the University of Florida and is completing an MA at George Mason
University. Nesper rides his bike nine miles to work and is a member of the
Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals, and the Washington Area
Bicyclist Association.
Rebecca
Dougherty Goldman, Research & Performance Metrics Manager, Office of
Tourism Development, Maryland Department of Business & Economic
Development, rgoldman@visitmaryland.org.
Presentation: Cycle Maryland Survey – Who, What, Why, Where, and How
Rebecca
has managed the research program for the Maryland Office of Tourism since 2007.
A favorite part of her job at OTD includes participating on multidisciplinary
projects with a range of collaborators, including but not limited to the
Maryland Departments of Transportation, Natural Resources, and Planning; county
and local partners; universities; and marketing and advertising firms. Rebecca
has a master’s degree in urban affairs and public policy from the University of
Delaware, a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Towson University,
and a passion for developing good research that guides better decision making
and improved programming within the public sector.
Nate
Evans, Bicycle
& Pedestrian Planner, Baltimore Department of Transportation,
NateEvans@baltimorecity.gov.
Presentation:
Bike Advocacy – An Inside Job
Nate Evans has been the bicycle & pedestrian planner with the
Baltimore Department of Transportation for four years. In that time, Nate
has overseen the planning, engineering and construction of nearly 50 miles of
bike facilities including the city’s first contraflow bike lanes, on-street
bike parking, shared bike & buses lanes and first bike box. Nate has
also helped shift city policy in a pro-bike direction with a Complete Streets
resolution, bike friendly storm grates on all construction projects and
establishing a $75 fine for parking in bike lanes. He graduated from
Frostburg State University with a degree in Urban Planning and spent 10 years
as a civil engineer before working with the city. Nate lives
in Perry Hall with his wife Heather and three awesome kids where he is
active in his community and rides trails whenever possible.
Peter C. Moe,
Section Chief, Program Advisory Section, Maryland State Highway
Administration, pmoe@sha.state.md.us.
Presentation:
Maryland’s Bicycle Awareness Campaign
Bio
to be posted soon.
Donald
A. Halligan, Director, Office of Planning & Capital Programming, Maryland
Department of Transportation, dhalligan@mdot.stat.md.us
or Kate R. Sylvester, Office of Planning and Capital Programming, Maryland
Department of Transportation, ksylvester@mdot.state.md.us.
Presentation: Maryland’s Bikeways Program
Bio
to be posted soon.
William
Atkinson, Maryland Department of Planning, Western Maryland Regional Office,
Regional Planner, batkinson@mdp.state.md.us.
Presentation: Trails and Economic Development
Bill has worked as a Regional
Planner for the Maryland Department of Planning since 1989. The main
responsibility of the job is the supervision of the regional office. He
provides technical assistance, coordination and liaison activities with elected
officials and local jurisdictions within Western Maryland on State Smart Growth
issues and Policies. In June 2009, he was assigned the duties of the Coordinator
of the Trail Town Program for Allegany County Maryland. The Trail Town Program
is an economic development program along the Great Allegheny Passage working to
revitalize trailside communities and reap the economic benefits of trail-based
tourism and recreation as part of a larger, coordinated approach to regional
economic development. Bill is a Graduate of Frostburg State University, July
1984 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Management
Concentration.
Punitive Damages for Drunk Drivers in Maryland
from Maryland Injury Lawyer Blog
There is a bill in the Maryland General Assembly that would authorize punitive damages against drunk drivers who caused "injury or wrongful death while operating a motor vehicle." Punitive damages would be available against drunk drivers: (1) With a blood alcohol concentration of over .15; or (2) With a blood alcohol concentration of over .08, and was driving on a suspended or revoked license or had entered a plea of nolo contendere or received probation before judgment within the last 5 years.
The Maryland Chamber of Commerce opposes this bill. Why? [No real reason given in the article] …