Op-Ed: “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
from Streetsblog.net by WalkBikeJersey
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
This July 4th, we as a nation will celibate these words that shook humanity, and are the foundation of our fledgling Nation and its Declaration of Independence 235 years ago. Nothing is more American than Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. I believe that these “inalienable Rights” that we are all “endowed by our Creator” cannot note be infringed upon no matter what the peaceful endeavor one so chooses.
However as someone who regularly walks and rides a bike, I cannot help but wonder if these rights, that form the foundation of our uniquely American form of freedom, does not apply to me when I travel using these modes. As a free American, I hereby declare that I demand my rights of “Life Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” no matter what legal form of travel I so choose.
Life – I demand the right to walk or ride my bicycle on the public right-of-way without the constant fear that my life is in imminent danger due to:
- roadway engineering that continues to ignore the practical needs of bicyclists and pedestrians.
- the poor driving skills of the operators of motor vehicles and the government agencies that continue to allow these incompetent persons to legally operate said motor vehicles with impunity.
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Legal duty for local authorities to provide cycle routes
Yesterday the Welsh Government made worldwide history by becoming the first Government to introduce a Cycling Bill to make it a legal duty for local authorities to provide cycle routes.
https://road.cc/content/news/37379-world-first-welsh-government-commits-cycling-bill
Bicycle Repair Station
Bike Fixtation allows cyclists to pump up the tires for free and make simple adjustments using supplied tools.
You can even purchase needed bicycle parts in a vending machine.
First self-service bicycle repair station was installed at the Uptown Transit Station in Minneapolis.
If it becomes popular, we will see more Bike Fixtations around the world.
Bikes May Use Full Lane sign still under consideration
Dear Bicycle Advocate:
Thank you for your email to Governor Martin O’Malley, the State Highway Administration (SHA), and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) regarding the R4-11 “Bikes May Make Use of Full Lane” sign. The Governor received your email and asked me to respond on his behalf, and I am also responding on behalf of the SHA.
Consistent with Governor O‘Malley’s policy initiatives to encourage bicycle use and accommodate bicyclists, MDOT and SHA will develop guidelines for the appropriate use of the R4-1 l sign. As we previously agreed, the SHA will consult with stakeholders before adopting a final set of guidelines. I apologize that incorrect information was communicated prior to any formal decision.
Thank you, again, for your email. The Governor appreciates hearing from you, and, on his behalf, I also thank you for your interest in this issue. If we may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Tom Hicks, Director of Traffic and Safety, SHA at 410-787-5815 or, toll-free, at 1-888-963-0307.
Sincerely,
Beverley K. Swaim-Staley
Secretary
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Dear motorIST, please take a chill pill
[B’ Spokes: note there is not enough room between the cyclist and the car in front to safely “squeeze” in another car. So this complaint is basically “If it wasn’t for this cyclists I could be stuck in traffic so much faster.” ‘
From The Washcycle:
This is one of the photos sent around by an outraged citizen to demonstrate cyclists failing to share the road in Montgomery County. It’s part of the reason there has been so much discussion about MacArthur Boulevard…
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Please take a moment to remember Nathan Krasnopoler
Mobility efficiency
Excerpts from Rebuilding Place in the Urban Space by Richard Layman
Optimal
Definition: Best, by whatever criterion decisions are being made; thus yielding the highest level of utility, profit, economic welfare, or whatever objective is being pursued.
…
Mobility efficiency of various modes, one hour’s travel. (From the 1977 study, Central Washington Transportation and Civic Design Study.)
Any basic analysis of mobility can’t help but come to the conclusion that automobiles aren’t very efficient collectively in terms of moving large numbers of people, especially during short periods of time such as during rush periods.
…
Sprawl promoting economists choose to ignore key economic principles when it suits them
Future directions for our transportation networks
Excerpt from the Washington Post’s "Dear Dr. Gridlock:"
To maximize economic and quality-of-life benefits for the region, transportation investments over the next couple of decades, except for road maintenance, should be devoted only to building efficient and effective transit and pedestrian/bicycle networks.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/future-directions-for-our-transportation-networks/2011/07/01/AGdQIevH_story.html
New Drivers’ Test and Manual Coming Out This Month
In response to one of our alerts the Secretary of Transportation responds:
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Thank you for your email to Governor Martin O’Malley regarding sample test questions for the Maryland driver’s license knowledge examination on the Online Tutorial on the Motor Vehicle Administration’s (MVA) website. The Governor has received your email and asked me to respond on his behalf.
The MVA is scheduled to release its new Maryland Driver’s Manual in July 201 1. The revised manual will address bicycle-related issues in greater detail than in previous editions of this publication. It is my understanding that the staff of the MVA, the State Highway Administration, and Mr. Michael Jackson, MDOTs Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, worked with both you and the members of the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to revise the text regarding motorist responsibilities toward bicyclists and sharing the road with bicyclists. These changes will be reflected in the revise manual.
Test questions including practice test questions within the Online Tutorial will be updated to reflect the revised information in the new Driver’s Manual. We will give consideration to your comments when developing the new test questions.
Thank you, again, for your email. The Governor appreciates hearing from you, and, on his behalf, I thank you for your interest in this issue. For additional information on bicycle traffic safety in Maryland please feel free to contact Mr. Jackson at 410-865-1237 or via email at mjackson3@mdot.state.md.us. He will be happy to assist you
Beverley K. Swaim-Staley
Secretary of Transportation
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