Biking in Baltimore
Each year, the Maryland General Assembly meets for 90 days in Annapolis to act on more than 2,300 bills including the State’s annual budget. The 2007 MD General Assembly session began on January 10 and will run through April 9, 2007.
During the session, BMC publishes a weekly report on the status of transportation, air quality and community development related legislation introduced in the general assembly.
Continue reading “Legislative Weekly Report”
Synopsis:
Prohibiting a driver of a motor vehicle from overtaking and passing a bicycle, an electric personal assistive mobility device (EPAMD), or a motor scooter that is going in the same direction unless the driver can do so safely without endangering the rider of the bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter; prohibiting a driver of a vehicle from intentionally interfering with the movement of a person who is riding a bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter; etc.
First Reading Environmental Matters
Hearing 2/6 at 1:00 p.m.
This request came in from one of the local lists and since this needs to be done before Feb 09 I thought I would help to promote the request here.
I would like assistance in putting together a display for this
Friday Bike/Ped Symposium in Annapolis. The event last year focused
on bike paths and recreation, but did not have much on bike
commuting and I would like to create a display highlighting bike
commuters.
I would like to put together a quick display of bike commuters from
around MD. If you are a bike commuter, please take the time to
email me with the following:
Continue reading “HELP: Bike Commuting Project”
By STEPHEN REGENOLD – New York Times
…
Ice bike racing, a subgenre of the subgenre of winter cycling, is a hybrid discipline where spiked tires bite solid ice on twisting, circuitous courses cut from a mantle of snow. Riders pedal hard on straight-aways, then slide and fishtail through the turns. Frozen lakes and rivers serve as the medium of the sport, which mixes elements of a sprint road race with a dirt bike rally.
Continue reading “Wheels on Ice: Slip-Sliding and Loving It”
An interesting letter in the Sun where Susan A. Seim of Lutherville givers her view on what is driving people out to suburbia.
I promise you it will not be trash or parking problems that will force many of these prosperous residents out of the city.
It will be the schools. Period.
Continue reading “It is the schools”
Lubbock Texas
"David G. Knape, 62, of Lubbock staged at least a year-long campaign against unsuspecting cyclists, according to police reports. He stretched wires between trees at "neck level" and put nails and glass in the pathway of cyclists."
Why?
"Knape told the detective he was only trying to protect the environment."
…
"… Knape, who now faces two felony charges of attempted aggravated assault with a weapon. Each count is a third-degree felony, carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison."
Continue reading “I was only protecting the environment by trying to kill cyclists”
By Geoffrey York in The Globe and Mail
…
Visiting Western leaders are always impressed by the decreasing number of bicycles, seeing it as an example of rising affluence. But the reality is that many Chinese have reluctantly given up their bicycles not because they can afford a car but because of the rising pollution in the streets, the increasing unpleasantness of the ride and the growing threat of being hit by a car.
Those dangers have become a hot subject in the media. A recent survey by Chinese state television found that 43 per cent of bicyclists have cut back on biking — and only 11 per cent said it was because they had bought a car. More than one-third of those who quit bicycling said the main reason was the mounting danger in the streets.
"Cars take over our bicycle lanes, and we’re very angry about it," a young man told the TV program. "If a bicyclist is hit by a car, he’ll certainly be injured. There needs to be a lane for us."
Continue reading “Cars conquering the Bicycle Kingdom”
You might have noticed the Geeklog logo in the top left hand corner and wondered what it is all about? Geeklog is the software we use for running the site and the logo is default logo that comes with it. I am not a graphics artist and have almost zero drawing skills so I am putting the call out to our readers to come up with a logo for the site. Send submissions into info at baltimorespokes.org
A question came in to our mailbox from Elizabeth asking for help figuring out who in the city can help get a bike rack installed. She was looking for a bike rack to be installed on the sidewalk outside the new developments on teh east side of the 3200 block of Saint Paul Street. If that is not possible then on the west side of the street by the new condos that are being built.
My initial thought was to contact Carley Francis at Baltimore City, but she has moved on. Beth Strommen said the Bike coordinator is in charge of bike racks but the position hasn’t been filled yet.
So who in the Baltimore City Government can we contact about bike rack issues?
Great news the city is on track in trying to implement the newly adopted Bike Master Plan and is currently looking for qualified candidates:
The City of Baltimore Department of Transportation is currently hiring for the following position: SPECIAL BIKE/PEDESTRIAN CITY PLANNER II. Responsible for development and update of comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian plans, participation in the development of the long range transportation plans and providing strategic planning and direction, technical expertise and project management in the development and implementation of bicycle and pedestrian programs throughout the City of Baltimore. Responsible for the development and implementation of the City’s ADA Transition Plan for the public right-of-way. Min. qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning or related field, (Master’s Degree preferred); 3 yrs. related exp.; or equivalent education and exp.; strong computer and GIS skills, writing and communication skills.