Month: March 2010

The headline says it all, yet so far our legislature is resisting increased penalties for manslaughter by vehicle (See: https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20100313115139411)
To read the full story: https://perilsoftransportation.blogspot.com/2010/03/hitting-jogger-will-cost-you-500.html

Congratulations to Hagerstown in their newly adopted Bike Master Plan but I’ll note that they seemed to have fallen into the same trap that other dormant bike plans have fallen into and that is the problem of funding. While we all read about the success stories across the nation and how they have successfully used Federal Aid to implement bicycling infrastructure but seriously what hope do we have in a state that ranks 45 out of 50 in spending of Federal Aid per the 2010 Benchmarking report?

Lets see if pictures can tell the story of Maryland’s funding vs oh lets say Oregon (since they have a reputation for being one of the best states that support cycling.)

On the pie charts note the Cat 1 (purple area) that’s spending on bike/ped projects and ours is notably smaller while we have a larger and more dense (by 15X) population then Oregon which should be ideal grounds for supporting cycling. On the charts on the right note the brown “Available” area,. we have $25 Million available, that’s a lot over what’s appointed and obligated. I seriously have to ask what’s the hold up on getting this money on the ground? This level of funding can’t do anything for cars but it can make a huge contribution for cycling, roughly by what Portland has done we have a potential here for 200 miles of on-road bike accommodations but the State would rather give the money back to the Feds then spend it on us, this is not right.

Note that per State Law: § 2-602. Public policy. The General Assembly finds that it is in the public interest for the State to include enhanced transportation facilities for pedestrians and bicycle riders as an essential component of the State’s transportation system…

So I have to ask how can MDOT deny funding to something that is essential per state law? We have an adopted State Bike Master plan with the stated goal of making Maryland the best State for cycling yet $25 billion in available funds is essentially denied by outrageous policies that make no sense after decades of neglect and totally inappropriate for cycling as transportation. Basically overall Maryland’s Bicycle Level Of Comfort scores for roads have not changed in 10 years because as the number of roads improve there is a near equal number of roads that become hostile for cycling. This trend of falling to make progress has to stop!

I’ll personally challenge MDOT to get its bike/ped spending up to at least the average spending per capita. Maryland being constantly noted as being in the bottom dregs of things related to cycling and walking has to end!
Continue reading “The City of Hagerstown adopts a bike master plan”

By Ron Cassie
…
Alex Obriecht, the featured speaker at the 13th annual get-together in mid-February, didn’t bother bogging down the event with statistics or studies.
The owner of Race Pace bike stores in Westminster, where he lives, Ellicott City, Columbia and Owings Mills, Obriecht focused on the joyful, wind-in-the-face recreation of traveling by bike. He also touted the immediate opportunity for Maryland to become a bicycle tourism destination, akin to Colorado, Vermont and northern California.
Holding up a copy of a mid-Atlantic bicycling magazine, Obreicht tallied the states with advertisements priming the pump of bicycle tourism. His thesis centered on the natural geography of the Old Line state and the economic benefits of bicycle tourism.
"Vermont, Georgia, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York," Obreicht called out, reading the magazine ads. "What about Maryland? People leave Maryland to go to Central Florida and ride bikes? That’s ridiculous."
The early October Sea Gull Century in Salisbury drew 8,300 bicyclists in 2009, producing $3.25 million in overall economic activity, Obriecht said. There are other annual events, such as the One Less Car-sponsored Tour du Port in Baltimore, but Maryland is barely scratching the surface of its potential as a bicycle tourism destination, Obriecht said.
The bicycle industry, including some 70 to 75 bike shops in the state, generates $38 million to $42 million in gross revenue, Obriecht said. Given Maryland’s location in the southern end of the Northeast corridor, with terrain that extends from the Chesapeake Bay to Baltimore to rolling hills and mountains in the west, the state is ideally suited for bicycling — a reputation usually reserved for states such as Vermont and Colorado, and certain regions such as Napa Valley in California.
…
Having traveled Europe, Central America and much of the U.S. by bike, some of Obriecht’s favorite roads are right outside his door in Carroll and Frederick counties.
In fact, there are world-class athletes who built their careers training in Frederick.
Former six-time, 24-hour world solo mountain bike champion Chris Eatough, who lives in Howard County, does most of his training in Gambrill State Park, even riding from Ellicott City to Frederick to hit the mountains.
Rebeccah and Laurel Wassner, Gaithersburg natives and twins, are both professional triathletes who have spent considerable time training in northern Frederick County. Rebeccah is a Mount St. Mary’s alumna.
Creating a functioning, statewide bicycle network that’s attractive to tourists goes beyond painting new bike paths on road shoulders or extending existing trails into population centers, Obreicht said. Public buses must be outfitted with bike racks and trains need to be outfitted with dedicated bike cars.
"Every train in Europe has a bike car, period," Obriecht said. "I get on a train with my bike in Genoa, Italy, and get off in Germany, and it’s no problem. Going anywhere on Amtrak with a bike, it’s a struggle."
Obriecht compared Baltimore with Portland, Ore., a similar size city with one of the largest percentages of bicycle commuters and recreational cyclists in the country. He pointed to the challenge the Charm City faces, as well as the potential.
…
Reversing decades-long transportation planning that ignored bicycling is difficult. Twenty years ago, said Bill and Vicki Smith, members of the Frederick Pedalers, bicycling in Frederick was actually easier. They noted the dramatic changes and increased traffic along the Rosemont Avenue/Yellow Springs corridor, for example, that has pushed out bicyclists.
"We need to make bicycling a real part of transportation planning," Obriecht urged symposium attendees. "This is crucial for both the recreational and the commuter bicyclist. That’s why were here today as far as I’m concerned."
In many European cities, bicycling and walking account for as much as 30 percent of all transportation, he said, creating both a healthier transportation model and a healthier population.
"Every road, within reason, should have bicycle access," Obriect said. "That’s the only way things will change."
Continue reading “Some look to make Maryland a bicycle tourism destination”