Month: December 2008

Posted on

Bus driver Training

Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Manual

Problem
Currently Maryland’s (and most likely other States as well) the CDL Manual says that bicyclists are hazards and that truck drivers should honk at them (ok, in the manual it says tap the horn lightly but still that is totally bogus safety information.)

The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) in their Bike Friendly States (BFS) program had this question:

In the state driver’s CDL testing and manual are questions and information regarding motorists rights and responsibilities toward bicyclists included?

Which to me implies that there is something better out their then what Maryland has.

We just got this response back from someone at MVA:

Sorry this is a week later, but wanted to be sure I passed along this information with reference to the CDL Manual. It was suggested in the email discussion to update the CDL manual. In fact, Maryland’s CDL manual is modeled on the AAMVA manual (American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrations), and the sections mentioned in the email discussion regarding bicycles are actually taken word for word from the AAMVA model. There is a new version being printed this month with changes as a result of national model changes. I double-checked before sending this, and the new version of the CDL manual will have the same language on bicycles.

Because the verbage is basically handed down to us, any updates to the manual are definitely not something that could be easily changed — likely, any request for changes would have to work their way through nationally. It may seem unfriendly for trucks to blow their horn (or tap it lightly) at bicycles to make them aware of a truck behind them (getting ready to pass), and for bicycles to be listed as a potential hazard to trucks, but certainly the national model to teach truck drivers how to drive safely would not suggest harrassment of bicycles. Both of these sections mentioned are from the section on “Driving Safely” — with the first under “Communicating Your Presence” and the second under “Seeing Hazards.”

This seems to imply that Maryland has the “best” standard CDL manual.
Continue reading “Bus driver Training”

Posted on

BAHC plans, activities and initiatives.

Happy Holidays to All Howard County Cyclists! Although it is the off season (for many but not all of us) BAHC is planning for Spring and for future activities and initiatives.

Road Survey: Below is a link for a road survey for the bike-ability of Howard County roads. The primary purpose is to identify which roads are unsafe or in poor condition so we can target those with HC Public Works and Highways. We discovered last year that adding shoulders on some roads or modifying existing designs is difficult, but we want the County Government to be aware of our concerns as cyclists.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=A56raaJ3t6bWIho2WbjsiA_3d_3d

Club representatives please post on your message boards and send link to your listserves. If has difficulty with the survey or just wants to provide a an evaluation of the the 3 worst roads (for recreational cycling or commuting) you can also send information in an e-mail to: ichuck"at"gmail.com

Road Rage: Bill Kelly of the BAHC Board has arranged for Howard County Police Chief Bill McMahon (who is a cyclist) to attend our next Board meeting on Jan 12th. If you have any questions on how to report incidents with drivers or concern for how law enforcement in the County supports cycling please e-mail me (jackguarneri"at"gmail.com). I’ll ensure issues are brought up and will provide a post-meeting summary of our discussion.
Continue reading “BAHC plans, activities and initiatives.”

Posted on

Thanks to the following bicycle shops

[We always like to pass on kudos to those who are helping to promote bicycling.]

Thanks to the following bicycle shops for their generous contributions to the BBC

Remember to support them with your business!

JOE’S MT. WASHINGTON BIKE SHOP
LUTHERVILLE BIKE SHOP
PERFORMANCE BIKES
PRINCETON SPORTS
REI (RECREATIONAL EQUIP. INC.)
THE BICYCLE CONNECTION
TRI-SPEED/HUNT VALLEY BICYCLE
And a special thanks to the volunteer host of the BBC
Website:
System Source

Posted on

From MdTA: No bikes on ICC shoulders

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) has decided not to allow
bicycling on the shoulders of the ICC. Here is their response to
Nancy Breen who had asked on behalf of the Rockville Bicycle Advisory
Committee that bicycling be allowed on the shoulders for those
portions where the ICC trail will not be built.

– Jack Cochrane

December 1, 2008

Dear Dr. Breen:

Thank you for your follow-up email regarding bicyclist use of the
shoulders on the Intercounty Connector (ICC). As Transportation
Secretary and Maryland Transportation Authority Chairman, I am once
again pleased to respond.

As you are aware, legislation was passed during the 2008 legislative
session that allows me, as Authority Chairman, to decide on a
case-by-case basis whether bicycle use will be permitted on Authority
facilities. To that end, staff members completed a review of the
matter and took several issues into account, including shoulder use,
high-speed ramp crossing, motorist expectancy, toll
collection/violations and facility design. Based on staff findings
and further examination, I have made the decision not to allow bicycle
use on ICC shoulders. Local viable alternatives exist to allow a
bicyclist to cross the county, including trail segments that will be
built during ICC construction. The Authority has committed to and
will continue work at the local level to allow additional trail
segments adjacent to the ICC.

Thank you again for your follow-up email and for taking the time to
write. If you have any further questions or comments, please do not
hesitate to contact Mr. Dennis Simpson, Acting Director of Capital
Planning, Maryland Transportation Authority at 410-537-5650, toll-free
1-888-754-0098 or via email at mdta@mdtransportationauthority.com.

Sincerely,

John D. Porcari

Posted on

Does Maryland’s drivers test cover bicycling well?

The one bike related question I got while taking the MD driver test on-line:
image

If a bicycle rider near you is a child:

* Expect the child to know Maryland’s bicycle laws.

* Expect the child to be in total control of the bicycle.

* Expect anything could happen and adjust your driving.

[What do you think, are MD drivers being trained and tested in regards to the rights of cyclists and the duties of driver’s of vehicles toward cyclists? Also if you take the test (its only 20 questions) let us know what was the one question you got.]
Continue reading “Does Maryland’s drivers test cover bicycling well?”

Posted on

The Transportation Outlook 2035 Amendment – Draft Preferred Alternative Open for Public Review and Comment

[Note: No additional bike projects, heavy sigh]

BALTIMORE (December 18, 2008) – After several months of public outreach and involvement, the BRTB is pleased to present, for public review and comment, the draft preferred alternative for the amendment to the Baltimore region’s long-range transportation plan, Transportation Outlook 2035: Creating a Blueprint for the Baltimore Region’s Future.

This Draft Preferred Alternative proposes $225 million in funding for regional transit projects, beginning in the year 2020.
The mix of projects includes:

* Green Line Transit – Preliminary Engineering
* Park-and-Ride spaces – averaging $10,000/space for 2,000 spaces in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Harford, and Howard counties
* Carroll County – transit vehicles and amenities
* Intermodal Facilities /MARC stations/ Transit Oriented Development (TOD) –
o $10 million/facility average, 3 of 4 (smaller type facilities such as bus to bus: Central Maryland Transit Operations Facility (CMTOF), Columbia, Snowden Square, Parole)
o $20 million/facility average (larger type facilities such as rail to rail or bus: Lexington Market, or other Baltimore City location)
o MARC station(s) not currently included in TO2035, i.e. Odenton, West Baltimore, or East Baltimore Development Initiative (EBDI)
* Dedicated bus lanes – in congested corridors such as I-695, MD 152, US 29, MD 2
Continue reading “The Transportation Outlook 2035 Amendment – Draft Preferred Alternative Open for Public Review and Comment”

Posted on

Baltimore ’s status on becoming a bike-friendly community

Attached are the comments from League of American Bicyclists concerning Baltimore ’s status on becoming a bike-friendly community. While the comments were compiled by LAB, the actual reviews were done by local persons with knowledge of Baltimore ’s bike “culture”.

If you have any questions or comments, please let us know.

Continue reading “Baltimore ’s status on becoming a bike-friendly community”

Posted on

Ray LaHood for DOT Sec

Dear Thunderhead members,

Please pardon the length of this post, but I want to provide
information on our incoming USDOT Secretary, Ray LaHood, a moderate
Republican Congressman from central Illinois who was retiring from his
seat this year. In summary, he’s been great for us! He is an active
supporter of bicycling and trails, and he has very visibly gone
against the wishes of his party leaders on our issues:

In a letter da ted April 28, 1997, LaHood joined 5 other Republican
House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee members in expressing
support for both Enhancements and CMAQ to the committee chair, Bud
Schuster. He also spoke to the Illinois Valley Wheelm’n bicycle club
about his support of both of these funding sources, which he said
“have provided many benefits to the environment and local communities
(e.g., bicycle and recreational trails). I believe in the importance
and value of these programs.” Congressman LaHood’s leadership was
pivotal in ensuring that Enhancements would continue in TEA-21 (1998).

On July 11, 2003, a House Appropriations Subcommittee, led by Rep.
Istook (R-OK), passed a fiscal year 2004 transportation budget that
redirected the $600 million slated for Transportation Enhancements to
highway construction. Zeroing out TE threatened it not only for that
year, but for the reautho rization bill that became SAFETEA-LU. An
effort to restore dedicated Enhancements funding barely failed in full
committee, where LaHood was one of only two R’s voting for it. In a
tremendous and powerful 327-90 victory that solidified TE’s status, a
bi-partisan amendment won 327-90 on the House floor. LaHood stood up
impressively to make a floor statement in support:

Continue reading “Ray LaHood for DOT Sec”