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Brew donor offering matching funds

[B’ Spokes: Help make Baltimore a better place.]

By Fern Shen – Baltimore Brew

We hit $15,000, but it ain’t over, folks. A donor has promised to match whatever money we raise above $15,000!

In other words, if we reach $18,000, this person will kick in an additional $3,000. If we come up with an extra $5,000 and hit the $20,000 mark, our patron will contribute an additional $5,000, putting us at $25,000. (Boy, that sounds good.)

So between now and Sunday Jan. 22 at 10 a.m. , when the Baltimore Brew Kickstarter campaign ends, your Brew support counts double:  every dollar you pledge to us turns into two. (Don’t wait until the last minute folks because Mr./Ms Benefactor will be making his/her donation via Kickstarter on Sunday morning and the match will happen then.)

Can you help us, Brew readers? If you haven’t contributed yet, you can look like a really smart guy by doing it now when the moolah will be matched.

Thanks. And to our incredibly generous benefactor who wishes to remain nameless, we really appreciate your support and vote of confidence in our work. By the way, I asked Benefactor X if he has an upper limit. Yup, he’ll go up to $10,000. Wow.

Continue reading “Brew donor offering matching funds”

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Save the DATE – Special Events!

February 6, 2012 Pro-Bike Lobby Night 2012!

Join Bike Maryland at Pro-Bike Lobby Night
February 6, 2012
5:45 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.
House Office Building, Exact room to be determined
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
Registration is required. Space is limited. Registration is available on a first come; first served basis.

Reserve your spot today! RSVP by (In the body of the email include):

  • home address
  • email address
  • your Legislative District number
  • the name of your State Senator and the names of your State Delegate(s)
  • writing “RSVP Lobby Night” in the subject line and email to Christina Nutile
To find out your Legislative District number; the name of your State Senator and the names of your State Delegates, click here  then follow the steps below:
  • Type in your home address and city
  • Click on Find
  • The names of your elected officials will be on the left side of the web page with the Legislative District number
  • To find out information about your elected officials, click on their name and you will be taken to their biography/contact information.

Lobby night schedule:

5:45 to 6:00 pm  Check-in
6:00 to 6:30 pm  Training
6:30 to 7:45 pm   Appointments with Legislators

February 22, 2012 – Save the Date! 15th Annual Maryland State Bicycle Symposium

Hosted by Bike Maryland
Tentatively, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Miller Senate Building in the President’s Conference Center
11 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
Agenda to be posted at www.bikemd.org. Check back for more information.
The Annual Maryland State Bicycle Symposium hosted by Bike Maryland is a free day-long event with 10+ expert presenters. Topics include: Program Funding, Bike Maryland’s Legislative Agenda, Bikeshare, the Bike Friendly Maryland Program, the Bike-Minded Program, Bicycle Tourism, the New Maryland Bikeways Program, and much more. Please join 400+ decision makers, government, community and industry leaders, legislators, transportation planners, advocates, on and off-road recreational bicyclists and commuters from the MD, PA, DE, VA and D.C. areas and beyond to learn about key bicycle issues and how you can make your community or workplace more bike-able.

Reserve your seat at the Symposium today! RSVP by:

  • Writing “RSVP Symposium” in the subject line.
  • Include your name, organization, title and email address in the body.
  • Click here to send an RSVP Symposium email.  

Is this your first, second or even third time attending the Symposium?

Unlike many other summits, we do not charge for attendance but ask that you please consider a donation to help cover the cost of planning for this event.  Suggested donation is $30 and is 100% tax deductible. Click here to make a donation via credit card; to donate by check, please make checks payable to Bike Maryland and mail to: Bike Maryland, 1209 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.

     CLICK HERE

Bike Maryland is the non-profit organization hosting Maryland’s only Annual State Bicycle Symposium.  Additionally, we work to promote pro-bike legislation, enhance infrastructure, provide free educational workshops and much more. We need your support.  For ideas on how you can join our 20,000+ members, become an exhibitor at one of our events, volunteer or for sponsorship information, contact Christina Nutile.
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B’ More Involved January 2012

[B’ Spokes: If I could make a request that some people attend the Mayor’s FY 2013 Budget Workshop as we have more pedestrian fatalities then we do drivers of automobiles fatalities not to mention too few who bicycle in the city. We need to make sure these needs are adequately addressed through the budget. Thanks.]

B'more Involved - Produced by the BMC for the BRTB | www.baltometro.org
January 2012
Greetings!
Thank you for subscribing to B’More Involved!  B’More Involved is designed to provide you with helpful information on transportation planning, opportunities for public involvement, and environmental justice. This important information, e-mailed out on a regular basis and now posted on Facebook and Twitter, is a great way for you to learn more, stay up-to-date on important events and news, and, of course, let you know how you can B’More Involved!

  
Like us on Facebook


Follow us on Twitter

In this issue:

  • Comments Welcome through January 23 on Baltimore City and MTA Projects
  • Connecting Columbia – Get Involved!
  • Carroll County is Seeking Your Input
  • Annapolis Bicycle, Auto, and Pedestrian Safety Study Topic of January 19 Presentation
  • Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan
  • US Dept of Transportation Exploring Use of Mobile Applications for Public Transit
  • Clean Air Partners Poster Contest
  • Plan It 2035 Approved by the BRTB
  • Upcoming Events
  • In The News

Continue reading “B’ More Involved January 2012”

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Is this pedestrian safety or just pedestrian removal?

[B’ Spokes: I really love this title by Ben Ross of Greater Greater Washington. He makes some excellent points of witch I’ll highlight (when reading keep in mind Maryland has the 4th highest pedestrian fatality rate): ]
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…
In fact, the White Flint crosswalk was often full of people, so drivers obeyed the law and stopped more often than elsewhere. From the pedestrian’s point of view, this was likely one of the safest unsignalized crosswalks (given the amount of car traffic) in the county.
The White Flint crosswalk was not removed because it was in the best interests of the pedestrians, but rather, because it was in the best interest of the drivers. Throughout the county, MCDOT encourages drivers to violate the law by leaving crosswalks unmarked, even where there is heavy pedestrian traffic.
Sadly, this is not a unique situation. Another wall was built with a similar goal in mind at New Hampshire Avenue and University Boulevard. In both locations, MCDOT could have made it safer to cross the street by redesigning the road to slow traffic and ticketing drivers who failed to yield. But it appears that this is not the approach the department has embraced. Instead, pedestrians take a backseat to the county’s drivers.
Continue reading “Is this pedestrian safety or just pedestrian removal?”

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Remembering a Life Lost Too Soon in Middle River

[B’ Spokes: Very shallow safety advice given in this article, please see the links we provide for better information on how to ride defensibly https://www.baltimorespokes.org/links/index.php?category=Must+read+for+bike+safety ]
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Blaine Susnowitz, who would have turned 18 on Jan. 3, was killed while riding his bike along Martin Boulevard at Middle River Road on Nov. 28, 2008.
By Ron Snyder – Patch

Blaine Susnowitz should have been thinking about graduating from high school this year.

The Middle River teen loved being outside, especially when it came to riding his bicycle. That’s exactly what Blaine was doing as he went looking for a friend whom he thought was on the other side of the street when he rode his bike across Martin Boulevard at Middle River Road on Nov. 28, 2008.

But, that decision turned out to be fatal as Blaine was struck by a pick-up truck and killed.
…
“He wasn’t much into video games of sports, he just loved riding his bike and being outdoors with his friends,” said Dawn Susnowitz, Blaine’s mother. “While it’s still really hard to know Blaine’s gone, it was so special to have so many people come together and remember him. It showed me how much he was loved.”
…
Continue reading “Remembering a Life Lost Too Soon in Middle River”

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Mountain Bikers, DPW Nearing Compromise Over Reservoir Trail Use

Baltimore County Council members will issue a resolution in support of expanding trail network at Loch Raven Reservoir.
By Nick DiMarco – Patch
Loch Raven Reservoir trail users and the Baltimore City Department of Public Works could be nearing a compromise after months of negotiations over watershed land use, according to a county councilman and a representative for the Mid-Atlantic Outdoor Enthusiasts (MORE).
Trail users, specifically mountain bikers, have been in talks with Public Works to reclaim a network of "legacy trails" that were closed off—only to bikers—because of fears that tire treads were causing environmental damage to the watershed.
The contentious situation has been going on for over a year, as mountain bikers have pleaded with the city for a compromise.
While Loch Raven Reservoir is under Baltimore City control, the land is located within Baltimore County. With two governing interests involved, change can be difficult.
However, Baltimore County Council is moving ahead with a resolution to expand the trail network in conjunction with MORE.
A resolution (see attached PDF file)—co-sponsored by four council members—has been drafted in support of mountain bikers and outlines intentions for expanding trail networks.
…
Continue reading “Mountain Bikers, DPW Nearing Compromise Over Reservoir Trail Use”

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Celebu-Economist: Drunk Driving Safer Than “Drunk Walking”

by Angie Schmitt – Streets blog
Did you know it’s safer to drive in the United States than to walk?
Yep. We’ve built a transportation system that so privileges motorists, is so blind to the needs of those who try to get around any other way, that pedestrians make up 11 percent of trips, but 12 percent of fatalities (traffic engineers, take a bow).
…
https://streetsblog.net/2012/01/11/celebu-economist-drunk-driving-safer-than-drunk-walking/

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Boring playgrounds tied to sedentary kids, study shows

By Monica DyBuncio – CBS News
"Physical activity is essential for kids in this age group for preventing obesity and for development," study author Dr. Kristen Copeland, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, told Reuters. "But the teachers were saying they were pressured by parents and somewhat by state early learning standards to emphasize classroom learning."
https://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57352284-10391704/boring-playgrounds-tied-to-sedentary-kids-study-shows/

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Advanced Bicycle Maintenance Class February 20 & 22

Date: Monday, February 20 and Wednesday, February 22.

Time: 6:30pm-9:30pm.

Session 1(Monday): fundamentals of a bike, what tools are good to have, basic maintenance tips, full drive train cleaning and repair assessment.

Session 2 (Wednesday): brake adjustment, derailleur adjustment, bottom bracket, hub and headset adjustment and the replacement/repair of any simple repair needed on your bike.

Students are encouraged to bring and work on their own bike. The cost is $125 which includes a copy of "The Haynes Bicycle Book" – my favorite repair manual. 🙂

Class is limited to 8 students. Come join us. Everyone learns a lot and it’s great fun. Please call the shop at 301-441-2928 to reserve your spot.
Here’s to a great new year!

Jill DiMauro
Proteus Bicycles in College Park. www.proteusbicycles.com