By KRISTEN WYATT
Associated Press Writer
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Environmental groups poured thousands of dollars and worked the phones to help get Democrat Martin O’Malley elected governor. Now they’re looking for Maryland’s next governor to steer changes in how the state approaches growth, Chesapeake Bay restoration and other environmental concerns.
Betsy Johnson, chairwoman of the Maryland chapter of the Sierra Club, said her group sent 17,000 newsletters to state members backing O’Malley, who defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Robert Ehrlich. Sierra Club volunteers canvassed the state rallying support for O’Malley and helped staff phone banks for the Democrat. So, as the Baltimore mayor prepares a course for the next four years, Johnson said, he’d be wise to consider the help he got from environmental activists.
"We would like a governor who actually supports us," Johnson said.
The wish list for environmentalists is long, and not all agree what the priorities should be. But there was consensus from environmental activists and an O’Malley spokesman that the next four years will likely see a new emphasis on reducing sprawl, preserving undeveloped land and reducing carbon emissions in an attempt to address global warming.
Continue reading “Environmentalists Hope for Gains Under Next Md. Governor”
Comparative Risks
Annual Risk
You will have an auto accident = 1 in 12
You will die in an auto accident = 1 in 5,000
You will die = 1 in 115
You will have a fatal accident as a skydiver = 1 in 1,000
You will die while riding your bike = 1 in 130,000
You will die in an airplane crash = 1 in 250,000
Source: Laudan, Larry. (1994). The Book of Risks.
Other comparisons:
Days off your life from various activities
Fatalities per million hours
Continue reading “Comparative Risks”
Town Hall Meeting
November 29 @6:30 pm
Towson Unitarian Universalist Church
1710 Dulaney Valley Road, Towson, MD 21093
AREA TRANSIT SERVICES TO RUN ON HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
If you are planning on using transit this weekend to get around, make sure to check out the holiday transit schedules before you ride.
Here are some changes to area transit service:
Continue reading “AREA TRANSIT SERVICES TO RUN ON HOLIDAY SCHEDULE”
Study: Obese choose to live in sprawl
TORONTO, Nov. 1 (UPI) — Many believe urban sprawl spawned human sprawl — rising obesity levels — but Canadian, British and Spanish researchers say the obese choose sprawl.
Researchers at the University of Toronto, the London School of Economics and University Pompeu Fabra in Spain released a working paper entitled "Fat City: Questioning The Relationship Between Urban Sprawl and Obesity" that found no evidence that urban sprawl affects weight.
The researchers found that people living in sprawling neighborhoods tend to be heavier than those living where development is compact and there are many shops and amenities within walking distance. However, this is not because sprawling neighborhoods cause people to gain weight, but populations are heavier because individuals more at risk for obesity tend to live in such places.
"Someone who does not like to walk is more likely to be obese and is more likely to live where one can easily get around by car," says University of Toronto economics professor Matthew Turner. "Thus, the finding that people in sprawling neighborhoods are heavier does not imply that sprawl causes obesity."
Continue reading “Study: Obese choose to live in sprawl”
Shop volunteer day and then an awsome band!!
Hello to all of you velocidets out there new and old!! As promissed this
is round 2 of our newletter/velocinews!!!
Don’t forget to show up for our shop organizing day this Saturday at noon
until we can’t clean no more!!! Remember!! Eat Pizza, earn Co-op hours,
and get to know your biking bretheren and sisteren.
Then we’ll all head over to the Load of Fun Studios (north ave between
howard and maryland) to watch the Rude Mechanical Orchestra break it down
with some radical marhing band tunes. The doors open at 6 and they are
planning 2 full sets, bring some money to donate (proceeds will be split
between us and red emmas), but if you come to Shop Organizing day you can
get in for free!!!!
Continue reading “Shop volunteer day and then an awsome band!!”
Election turns wheels of power in favor of bikes
Roads – Cyclists are pumped as advocates move into key House transportation roles
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
JEFF MAPES – The Oregonian
Andy Clarke, who heads the League of American Cyclists, says he won’t advocate that interstates become bike paths after last Tuesday’s elections.
But cycling enthusiasts are dreaming big after their three biggest supporters in Congress — including two from Oregon — were swept into powerful new transportation positions after the Democrats took control of the U.S. House.
Continue reading “Election turns wheels of power in favor of bikes”
MBAC meeting Tuesday 11/21/06
The Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday November 21 at 6 PM at Park Headquarters, 2600 Madison Ave. (Across from Druid Hill Park at Druid Lake Park Drive: auto parking on the street, bike parking indoors, brown-bagging welcome.)
Agenda:
Politics! City and state transitions and our participation therein.
Bike Master Plan Implementation
Bike Safety Video (State Bike/Ped coordinator Michael Jackson is planning to attend to discuss his grant for a safety video)
Federal Transportation Enhancements funding opportunity
Bike to Shop (Safe Routes to the Mall?)
Whatever else you think of
As you can see we have a lot on the plate. This will be an important meeting.
No Parking: Condos Leave Out Cars
By LINDA BAKER – New York Times
Published: November 12, 2006
Sustainable development is not the only factor driving changes to parking standards.
Continue reading “No Parking: Condos Leave Out Cars”