Month: February 2006

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Bicyclists, Motorists and the Language of Marginalization

An interesting read, I don’t agree on every point
but parts make you think. So what do think? Should the term MotorIST
join the ranks along with RacIST and SexIST?

Outline:
•    Racism, Sexism and Mode-ism
•    Bicyclists as Minorities
•    Manifest Destiny
•    Subspecies of Bicyclists and
Where to “Put” Them
•    Duh Laws
•    Act Up

A few quotes:
How does a citizen obeying the law while traveling on a public road
portray a negative image?

Then there’s the unwritten law. It’s based on
ridicule, an attitude of superiority, ignorance or disparagement of the
written law, and the ability to flee the consequences of antisocial
behavior. If it were written it would say:
    Stay out of our way or we will scare the
crap out of you, hit you, or maybe even kill you.
Continue reading “Bicyclists, Motorists and the Language of Marginalization”

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Vehicle Laws – Right-of-Way – Penalties for Failure to Yield

There is currently a bill being considered in the Maryland General Assembly that would increase the penalties for right-of-way violations. The bill numbers are SB429 for the Senate and HB 1383 for the House of Delegates. This bill covers all vehicles including bicycles.

Under current law, the penalty for violating the right-of-way of another vehicle is $60 and one point against the offenders’ license. Even when a right-of-way violation is combined with another charge like negligent driving, the maximum fines and penalties for both charges would be $630 and seven points.

In many accidents of this nature, law enforcement and the courts cannot justify a higher charge that would include more severe penalties and the violators are given only minimal fines and penalties. This bill seeks to give the courts the tools they need to penalize violators appropriately when serious injury or death occurs.

https://mlis.state.md.us/2006rs/billfile/sb0429.htm

Synopsis:
Establishing that, if a person is convicted of failing to yield the right-of-way in violation of specified provisions of law and the violation contributes to an accident that results in bodily injury to another, the person is subject to a $500 fine and a 90-day period of license suspension; establishing a fine of $1,000 and a 180-day period of license suspension if the violation contributes to an accident resulting in the death of another; providing that the penalties are in addition to other penalties provided by law; etc.

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Baltimore City Seeks Coments On New Master Plan

Draft Comprehensive Master Plan Released for Public Comment

Baltimore officials are looking for feedback on a plan they hope will steer the city’s efforts in economic development, transportation and land use for at least the next decade.

The Plan focuses on four primary areas: LIVE, EARN, PLAY,
and LEARN.

Prepared by the city Department of Planning, Baltimore’s first comprehensive master plan in 30 years lays out goals such as increasing retail space downtown by up to 1 million square feet and running a trolley along Charles Street.
Continue reading “Baltimore City Seeks Coments On New Master Plan”

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Bikes taking over Annapolis this Wednesday

BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN SYMPOSIUM TO BE HELD IN ANNAPOLIS;
AWARDS TO BE GIVEN TO LEGISLATORS AND ACTIVISTS

ANNAPOLIS The ninth annual Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Symposium
will be held on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 from 8:30 am to 4 pm at the
President’s Conference Center, West, Miller Senate Office Building.

Attendees will learn about the recently passed federal transportation
bill

SAFETEA-LU and how it will
affect
transportation funding for Maryland.
Continue reading “Bikes taking over Annapolis this Wednesday”

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Pet control is the big lesson in poodle saga

by Gregory Kane – Baltimore Sun

The first lesson is for Tippett: Jacquelyn is a poodle, madam, not your "little girl," as you referred to her in the news story. Dogs, while they have a reputation as bright animals, do have some limitations on their intelligence.

If I had been in the jogger’s spot, I might not have kicked Jacquelyn. But I would have tried to explain the situation to the pooch in clear English.

"I’m a 200-pound man. You’re a 4-pound poodle. I have a large foot that can kick you several feet. Do the math, dog. Do the math." The math for humans versus poodles confrontations comes to, I suspect, something like Humans 3,247, Poodles 0.

But dogs can’t do math. That’s the point. That’s why we have leash laws.

Continue reading “Pet control is the big lesson in poodle saga”