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How bikes and cars co-exist

The Ottawa Citizen –
In every city there are thousands of closet cyclists, people who would love to ride their bikes but don’t dare. They see cycling in the city as something for bike couriers, for the fiendishly fit, for neighbours with nerves of steel.
Our cities are just bursting with pedaling potential, and it’s time to set it loose on the streets. The key lies in building the right kind of infrastructure. Cycling routes designed by cyclists for cyclists.
…
What strikes the Canadian visitor is just how ordinary cycling seems to be in the lives of the locals. It is not a big deal to choose to ride somewhere. It does not involve special clothes, helmets, gloves and fancy bikes. Herds of children roll by on their way to school together. Couples head off to work. An older lady rides by with a load of groceries in the rear panniers, and a lapdog in the front basket.
With the right urban planning and infrastructure design, the cities of North America could be just as full of bikes: cleaning the air, cutting greenhouse gas emissions, improving public health, and freeing up some storage space.
– David Chernushenko
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Bike racks on buses

We are seeing more buses around town with bike racks (~50%) but they are not scheduled to go in to operation use till later this year as drivers are still being trained in their use. I happened to catch one driver being trained outside City Hall:

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Agenda for Baltimore’s Bike 2 Work day event

6:30 Director Foxx will give introductions and an update on biking in Baltimore
6:35 Mayor Dixon to Speak about the benefits of biking to work
6:40 Jeremy Guthrie, Pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, to speak about biking to work.
6:45 Director Foxx to give closing announcement, after which the ride from City Hall to Fort McHenry will commence.
After the group of bicyclists leave City Hall, there will be a program with giveaways, refreshments and autograph signing by Jeremy Guthrie.

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East Coast Greenway MD Route Posted on Google Maps

The East Coast Greenway Alliance (bike trails Maine to Florida) has posted the newly designated Harford and Cecil counties trail routes on Googlemaps. Cyber-cycle the trails before you mount up and ride!
Dozens of cycling organizations, government agencies and cycling volunteers contributed to colorful segments from Delaware through Elkton, Northeast, Perryville, Havre de Grace and Bel Air, to the NCR trail in Monkton, and on to Charm City. (New cue sheets are coming soon.)
Go to www.greenway.org for the East Coast Greenway Alliance’s website directory for Maryland trail developments and more.

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Do yourself a favor, Install a front rack

Last year I had a nasty crash while riding home from the bakery with a pie in my hand. I knew I needed to get some sort of rack for my bike. I would up welding one in my shop, it’s made of steel and the platform is 12"x15" with cedar planks. I can’t tell you how useful a simple front rack can be. I’m not talking about the skinny little bag support touring racks, I’m talkin’ about a big flatbed rack, big enough for a case of beer or two. I like to throw an empty cardboard box from a case of beer and fill it with groceries, or veggies from the farmers market. Bolt one on your bike and I guarantee you won’t regret it.

Check out some of these ready made options:
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Congressman John Sarbanes on bicycling

I share your goal of reducing congestion on our nation’s highways and I will support measures that effectively accomplish this goal. H.R. 1498 would allow for a bicycle commuting allowance as a qualified transportation fringe benefit available to employers. This legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. Should the full House of Representatives have the opportunity to consider this measure, I will be sure to keep your views in mind.

Again, thank you for your input on this important issue. If I can be of assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

John Sarbanes
Member of Congress
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Kratovil supports biking

On BBC Talk:

"So at the BCYD meeting Frank Kratovil came to speak (He’s running for congress in the 1st district) and I asked him if he supported making route 40’s bridge over the Susquehanna River bikable and he said yes and yes to my follow up about making it easier for cyclists on the Bay Bridge. (Well technically he said yes in that it was part of his belief that there should be more alternative transportation) Just thought it would be useful to pass on his position. …"
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