Month: June 2007

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ICC: A BAD Deal, Not a Done Deal.

Anyone remember the $3 billion 18 mile highway that is supposed to be economical(1) as well as being supposedly environmentally friendly with serious encroachment in and over park lands while encouraging more single occupancy vehicular travel and the accompanying hiker/biker trail was nixed(2) because it was not economical(3) and not environmentally friendly?
The errors, lies, cover ups and short cuts that have already happened in trying to shove this project down the publics throat is most likely just the tip of the iceberg and we should expect more once the project gets underway. But the ICC is not a done deal yet and we can put the money to better use if we let Governor O
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MOONLIGHT MADNESS RIDE – SATURDAY – 6/30/07

Take a night-time bike tour of Baltimore City on a safe, well lit, mostly
flat route of about 20 miles.

Get an intimate view of the city after dark. Skyline, neighborhoods,
waterfront you’ll see them all.

See the sights ranging from illuminated classical buildings and monuments to
the neon of “The Block”, from churches, museums, and City Hall to the
enormous “Wizard of Boh”.

Support the recently reopened Baltimore Hostel.

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Roller Coaster in Japan: It’s Pedal Powered

pedal1.jpg

Here is the future of the green amusement park: The Skycycle at Washuzan Highland Park in Okayama, a pedal-powered roller coaster. They clearly have some dramatic topography to take advantage of here, and it looks truly frightening. Most North American amusement parks are on pretty flat terrain but they often build artificial mountains- Demand a green ride like this on the Magic Mountain.

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Here are some of the common myths that people claim prevent them from commuting by bike

An op-ed by Member of Parliament Emily Thornberry, which appeared in The Guardian newspaper and she answers these questions.
1. "But won’t I be killed?"
2. "Don’t I need lots of gear?"
3. "Won’t my bike get stolen?"
4. "I haven’t done it for years"
5. "The weather in Britain is too bad"
6. "I live in a hilly area"
7. "There’s too much pollution"
8. "Bikes are expensive"
9. "I can’t carry anything on a bike"
10. "There are other reasons"
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BMC Board Calls for Strategic Plan for MARC

Focus on Improved Service, Potential for New Stations
Baltimore, MD June 20, 2007 In anticipation of growth related to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), the elected executives of the Baltimore region sent a letter to Governor O’Malley asking the state to collaborate with the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) in developing a strategic plan for MARC commuter rail service in the Baltimore- Washington corridor. While economic expansion, new jobs and new residents will bring greater prosperity to the region, they threaten to strain public infrastructure, especially transportation facilities.

"MARC is the only existing mass transit facility that serves both Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Meade, as well as major activity centers in the greater Baltimore-Washington corridor," said Harford County Executive David R. Craig, the BMC Chair. "BRAC will contribute to the general growth projected to occur over the next thirty years, as the Baltimore region becomes more connected with both the Washington region and regions to the north. We need a frank assessment of where we stand today and where we need to be in the future with regional commuter rail."

In the last decade, annual ridership on MARC has increased by more than 54 percent on the Penn Line and more than 60 percent on the Camden Line. Yet MARC continues to be plagued with capacity, reliability and service issues related to MARC’s reliance on Amtrak and CSX.

The BMC Board is proposing a three-part approach:

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As Portland aims for platinum status as a cycling city, it can use the gender gap to make rides safer

The Oregonian
You don’t have to be a cyclist to guess the scariest places to ride a bike in Portland. Danger zones include the controlled chaos of downtown, the high speeds of the outer Eastside and the winding uncertainty of the West Hills — all places where drivers and cyclists mix with unease.
There’s a way to measure bike safety beyond guessing, however. Watch for women. As the city’s bike planners have found, there’s a direct correlation between the safety of a particular area and the number of women cyclists. The city can use this information as it maps out a new master plan for biking, reduces the danger spots and strives to spin its "gold" rating from the League of American Bicyclists into platinum.
"Women cyclists," the city’s transportation office asserts, "are the indicators of a healthy bikeway network."
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Vatican issues 10 Commandments for drivers

1. You shall not kill.
2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.
9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.
10. Feel responsible toward others.
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