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MARYLAND RECOGNIZED AS A BICYCLE-FRIENDLY STATE

MARYLAND RECOGNIZED AS A BICYCLE-FRIENDLY STATE
Honorable Mention
The League Of American Bicyclists Highlights Maryland As One Of Six Bicycle-Friendly States
Making Key Initiatives To Improve Conditions For Bicyclists
HANOVER , MD – The League of American Bicyclists named Maryland as an Honorable Mention in its Bicycle Friendly State program. Maryland is one of six bicycle-friendly states recognized for state initiatives to improve conditions for bicyclists. This year is the first year the organization expanded its program honoring bicycle-friendly communities to highlight states making government efforts for bicyclists. The Bike Friendly State program links the League’s work with federal level and community advocacy throughout the nation by recognizing states that actively support bicycling.
“The League is delighted to recognize Maryland as an Honorable Mention for its efforts to welcome bicyclists and make bicycling safer and more enjoyable,” said League President Andy Clarke . “We applaud Maryland and our other Bicycle-Friendly State winners for their willingness to invest over the long-term in creating a better, more livable environment for their citizens.”
As part of Governor O’Malley’s Smart, Green and Growing Initiative, Maryland has taken a number of steps to improve access and to provide safe bicycling for residents and visitors. These efforts range from implementing a 20-year Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Master Plan and adding bicycle racks to buses to producing comprehensive bicycle safety materials. A key focus has been on creating materials aimed at encouraging adults to bicycle safely on Maryland roadways and trails. The Smart, Green and Growing Initiative is geared to help Maryland achieve a more sustainable future by linking: community revitalization, transportation improvements, economic development, smart growth and environmental restoration efforts.
“Being recognized as one of six Bicycle-Friendly States nationwide shows how Governor Martin O’Malley’s Smart, Green & Growing initiative is working to put families first,” said Transportation Secretary John D. Porcari. “In addition to a number of efforts here in Maryland , our next step is to launch our Maryland Trails Strategic Implementation Plan that will link 800 miles of existing transportation trails in Maryland . The goal is to provide trails without borders, by filling in the missing links regardless of city, county or State lines.”
One of the key missing links to be completed in June is the bicycle trail on the new Woodrow Wilson Bridge that connects Virginia and Maryland . This trail will provide an alternative commuter route and a great recreation option with an incredible view of the Potomac River and our Nation’s Capital.
The League of American Bicyclists cited a number of specific efforts Maryland is making that made them stand out including:
– coordination with other states;
– reach and breadth of education efforts by Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), Washington Area Bicyclist Association and One Less Car;
– bike patrol certification;
– creation of a Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access position at MDOT;
– creation of popular Competence and Confidence adult bicycle safety video specific to Maryland ; and
– establishment of a 20-Year Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Master Plan that provides a detailed perspective from the State’s vision of becoming the best State for bicycling by 2023 and the 66 action items needed to get there.
Both Maryland and Delaware were given honorable mention awards, with silver awards going to Washington and Wisconsin and bronze awards going to Arizona and Minnesota . Applicants completed a detailed, online form, and scoring was based on a 75-item questionnaire evaluating a state’s commitment to bicycling and covering six key areas: legislation, policies and programs, infrastructure, education and encouragement, evaluation and planning, and enforcement.
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Tour dem Parks early registration closing soon

It’s almost time for Tour dem Parks, Hon 2009!!! We are looking forward to our best ever TdP on Sunday, June 14th, 2009. Come check out our new and exciting route, now featuring some hidden-away gems of parks never before featured. Don’t miss it! Our registration page can be found at https://www.tourdemparks.org/register.html

If you have not already registered, please remember that Monday, June 1st is the last day to take advantage of low Early Registration rates. Adult registrations are $30 through June 1st, and Adult Couples are just $45! (After June 1st, rates go up to $35 and $50, respectively…)

Teens 11 to 16 are always $15, and kids 10 and under are always $5.

Registering early also guarantees you your very own beautiful Tour dem Parks, Hon! 2009 T-shirt — a great new design this year printed on earth-friendly 100% organic materials.

Registering is now easier than ever, and you have your choice of using our secure online Paypal server, or sending a check or money order to our address — Tour dem Parks, Hon!, PO Box 3601, Towson University, Baltimore, MD 21252. To register online, just follow the link: https://www.tourdemparks.org/register.html

Whether you choose the 12-mile family ride, the 25-mile medium ride, the 36-mile long ride, or our challenging metric century (64 miles), you’ll get a healthy workout, see some great sights, and help raise money to support our wonderful parks!

Thanks for riding!!!

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Report from JHU Security

CCTV Observations:

* Suspicious Males/Tampering with a bicycle – Unit E. University Parkway. Interfaith bike rack – May 23rd at 2:04 AM, two males were observed tampering with a bike secured to the bike rack. One of the males was observed pulling at the bike in an attempt to break the bike free from the rack. The males were stopped, identified and given trespass warnings.

* Juvenile Trespassers – Wolman West Bike Rack – On May 24th at 12:05 PM, two juveniles were seen tampering with secured bicycles. They were stopped by campus officers, identified and given trespass warnings. Baltimore Police responded

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Downtown Circulator

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A brand-new transportation system is coming to the downtown area late this summer 2009. To better connect Baltimore residents, workers, businesses, and visitors, twenty-one hybrid EcoSaver IV buses will circulate on three downtown routes, seven days a week—with no fare or boarding fee. The circulator routes will run south to north from the Inner Harbor Visitor Center to Penn Station, and east to west from Harbor East to the B&O Railroad Museum. With buses arriving approximately every ten minutes, the circulator system is planned to connect with Amtrak, MARC, Light Rail, Metro Subway, MTA bus lines, two water connectors (Maritime Park to Tide Point and Canton Waterfront Park to Tide Point), and parking garages located on the fringes of downtown.
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VTA Leads Bicycle and Pedestrian Network in Santa Clara County

By LINH HOANG, Public Relations Supervisor, Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority, San Jose, CA
When people think about the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), it’s usually synonymous with images of buses and light rail. However, VTA is also a Congestion Management Agency, and therefore supports the bicycle and pedestrian communities by working with the Santa Clara County and 15 cities to enhance additional trails, bicycle and pedestrian programs and policies, and design and construction of bicycle and pedestrian pathways, trails, sidewalks, bridges, ramps, bicycle lockers, storage and gates.
“VTA is more than bus and light rail. We work diligently to create an environment that allows Silicon Valley residents to have options when they bike,” said Chief Congestion Management Agency Officer John Ristow.
As the region’s Congestion Management Agency, VTA works across many areas, including transportation programming and land use planning, in its efforts to enhance and promote the bicycle and pedestrian communities. The authority identifies cross-county bicycle corridors to plan and implement a seamless bicycle and pedestrian travel network that is continuous across city and county boundaries.
VTA, in striving to promote a greener lifestyle for the communities it serves, also has created an environment that welcomes bicyclists and pedestrians on bus and light rail. Bicycles are allowed on all VTA coaches, and electronic bike lockers are also available. Many light rail lines can drop off passengers directly to the bicycle and pedestrian trails highlighted by the Bikeways Map produced and distributed by VTA. The map has gained popularity among the region’s bicycle and pedestrian communities and has been in high demand.
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Include Public Transit in House Climate Bill; Contact House Members Immediately

The draft “American Clean Energy Security Act” (ACESA), H.R. 2454, released May 15 by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, provides for no investment in public transportation. The legislation retains language that would establish emission reductions goals for the transportation sector—in Section 222, Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reductions Through Transportation Efficiency—but no funding is made available from the bill’s proposed cap-and-trade system to finance transportation investments that reduce emissions.

The Committee began markup of the bill on May 18, and as Passenger Transport went to press, expected to complete consideration before adjourning for the Memorial Day recess during the week beginning May 25.

“One of the most powerful tools individuals may have to reduce their daily carbon dioxide emissions—the use of public transportation—is not part of the new climate change legislation,” stated APTA President William Millar. “Despite the facts that show providing greater access to public transportation may be the most effective weapon for combating climate change, there are no allowances from the cap-and-trade program for public transportation in the current climate legislation.”
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