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It’s Official: Robert “Highways are environmentally friendly but bikeways are not” Ehrlich plans to rematch O’Malley

While I will give former Governor credit for pushing through MD’s portion of the Great Allegheny Passage (https://www.atatrail.org/) But his choice for Secretary of Transportation (Robert Flanagan) resulted in the most draconian period for cyclists in this state in recent years. Flanagan wielded MDOT’s policy of accommodating cyclists where "practical and feasible" as a carte blanche rule for violating state law that the needs of cyclists MUST be considered in ALL transportation projects. Under Flanagan’s tenure Government employees where threaten to support the state’s position on the ICC trail or be fired. Flanagan in testimony before the legislature bragged about coming in under budget $40 million for years in a row while denying cycling accommodations as "too expensive" that would be only a small fraction of that amount. I will strongly assert any government agency that comes in under budget by that large of an amount is not performing its duties to the citizens of this state.

I feel that it is my duty to inform all those who support cycling that during Ehrlich’s administration the most absurd and laughable assertion ever that a bike trail is not environmentally friendly while a multi-lane highway full of single occupancy vehicles is environmentally friendly. We have made progress in undermining Ehrlich ‘s anti-ICC trail and a change back to that administrations could jeopardize that progress.

Continue reading “It’s Official: Robert “Highways are environmentally friendly but bikeways are not” Ehrlich plans to rematch O’Malley”

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Beware of "iPod zombies," warns the AAA Mid-Atlantic.

The iPod zombies are cyclists, pedestrians and motorists who have on portable music devices with headphones or earbuds while attempting to cross streets or drive — in essence becoming oblivious to the rest of the world, said AAA Mid-Atlantic spokeswoman Christine Delise.
"It’s very dangerous because the headphones block out sound, and you can’t hear if there’s an ambulance behind you trying to get through or horns blowing to alert you to danger," she said.
Pedestrians, runners and bicyclists risk death or injury because the devices often make them inattentive to traffic and road conditions.
The automobile advocacy group pointed to several recent instances: A 14-year-old Baltimore County girl was killed by a train as she crossed the track while wearing her headphones in January; a 23-year-old Pennsylvania woman on a bicycle was killed last summer as she crossed an intersection while wearing headphones in Ocean City; a 51-year-old Washington, D.C., woman was struck and killed March 6 by a tractor-trailer as she crossed against the light while wearing headphones.
With the weather warming, more people will be out for walks, jogs and bike rides, Delise said. That increases the chances for accidents.
AAA urges people to either leave their devices at home or keep the volume down low enough so that they can still hear traffic, particularly at intersections, Delise said.
Continue reading “Beware of "iPod zombies," warns the AAA Mid-Atlantic.”

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Cycling Provides a Break for Some With Parkinson’s

Underneath all the practical reasons for cycling there is almost a magical quality that transforms the mind and spirit as evident in this article:
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“I said, ‘This cannot be,’ ” Dr. Bloem, a professor of neurology and medical director of the hospital’s Parkinson’s Center, recalled in a telephone interview. “This man has end-stage Parkinson’s disease. He is unable to walk.”
But the man was eager to demonstrate, so Dr. Bloem took him outside where a nurse’s bike was parked.
“We helped him mount the bike, gave him a little push, and he was gone,” Dr. Bloem said. He rode, even making a U-turn, and was in perfect control, all his Parkinson’s symptoms gone.
Yet the moment the man got off the bike, his symptoms returned. He froze immediately, unable to take a step.
Dr. Bloem made a video and photos of the man trying to walk and then riding his bike. The photos appear in the April 1 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.
After seeing that man, Dr. Bloem asked 20 other severely affected patients about riding a bike. It turned out that all could do it, though it is not clear why.
…
Continue reading “Cycling Provides a Break for Some With Parkinson’s”

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Biller’s Bikes Havre de Grace Re-Opens April 1

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Biller’s Bikes in historic Havre de Grace, MD re-opens April 1st for its fourth bicycling season.

Located at the meeting point of the Susquehanna River and Chesapeake Bay, the recreational bike shop sells SUN cruisers and trail bikes, Bianchi hybrid, sport and touring bikes, offers daily rentals, and sells practically priced parts and accessories. The versatile repair shop attracts customers from MD, PA and DE for its quality service and pricing.

Biller’s Bikes is a trailhead on the East Coast Greenway and offers Greenway members and other touring cyclists legal and safe means of crossing the Susquehanna River. Home of the fully-equipped SUN Stage and Cinema, Biller’s Bikes features a Spring/Summer schedule of music and film events and activities. The classic “mom-and-pop” bike shop is built inside a restored 1920s mens’ department store.

For hours, directions, events and more information, see www.billersbikes.com.

This Spring/Summer season you are eagerly invited to come “Bike Havre de Grace!”

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Name that bill!

Here Biking Bis summarizes States attempt at passing 3′ safe passing distance laws across the nation and notes that only 1 in 9 passed. And I’ll note that the one bill that passed was named for an 18-year-old senior at Tupelo High School. He struck by a pickup in August 2009 as he trained on his bicycle for upcoming triathlete events.

I really have to ask were is our Jack Yates, Yoram Kaufman, unnamed 14 year old girl killed crossing Route 2 because of the lack of lights and crosswalks, the cyclist that had the right of way and the driver was 100% at fault still lost at recovering damages from the driver, my freind Hugh Macintosh who was mirrored bills? All these stories and more come across my desk and then just fade away, that’s just sad. I realize that these stories and names cover many issues but to me its just sad, that these stories are just a tragedy and nothing more. [Note please feel free to add names or stories I might have missed in the comments.]

Anyway Biking Bis has a nice picture of Maryland’s One Less Car president, Greg Cantori, demonstrating what three feet looks like when passing:
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Continue reading “Name that bill!”

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Environmentalists Say Legislators Are “Giving the Environment the Shaft”

And the pedestrians and cyclists are getting it too. All out bills are stalled in the legislature with the exception of HB 1155 Which will help mainstream bike/ped projects as well as requiring the state to meet specific goals (other then just randomly spending money.) While I am personally concerned that the State will still maintain barriers to funding bike/ped projects such as: it has to be really expensive before financial aid will even be considered along with a unflexible matching requirement, which between the two hinder projects that can do the most good in meeting the established goals as well as preventing projects from being built where they will do the most good.

Despite my concerns over HB 1155 establishing goals is a very important first step, and the fact that it has passed the House (nothing of importance of ours has passed the House in the last 5 years) this is good news. No we have to wait to see what the Senate will do with their version SB 760.
Continue reading “Environmentalists Say Legislators Are “Giving the Environment the Shaft””

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Maryland LCV Action Network – Call to Action

University of Maryland Environmental Law Center
Issue
Withdrawing Funding from UMD Environmental Law Center and Adding Strings
Background
Because of the horrible water quality around Perdue’s chicken farms, the University of Maryland Law Clinic is representing clients who are suing to stop these extreme water violations.
Now state lawmakers are threatening to withhold funding from the school.
It is outrageous that legislators are putting Perdue’s interests over the impartiality and prestige that define the University of Maryland. Tell them to stop.
Take action! https://mdlcv.e-actionmax.com/takeaction.asp?aaid=4616

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Let Him Ride!

Donate

Contribute to the Reed “ChipSeal” Bates Defense Fund.

Protect your legal right to the road. Every dollar counts! Please contribute as much or as little as you can.

A fellow cyclist in Texas is being repeatedly arrested, simply for riding his bike. This is bigger than just one rider. It affects all of us. Click the donate button to help.




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