Month: May 2010

Posted on

PCCT’s and C&O’s Bicycle Emergency Response Team (BERT)

by washcycle

BERT Taking a fall on the CCT or the Canal Path will still be unpleasant, but it looks like help will be faster to arrive. The Glen Echo Fire Department’s new bicycle emergency response squad
was introduced to the trail on May 8.

The Glen Echo department hopes the Bicycle Emergency Response Team, to
be known as BERT, will provide medical support on the Capital Crescent
Trail in Bethesda and the C&O Canal towpath. Quickly getting to some
areas of the trails can be difficult, and the bikes will give emergency
staff members better access, said Jane Callen, a member of the patrol
and vice president of the Glen Echo Fire Department’s board of
directors, the Conduit Road Fire Board.

Bike patrol members will monitor the two pathways within an approximate
border of Western Avenue and Bradley Boulevard, said the department’s
volunteer chief, Herbert Leusch. The department plans to send the two
bikers on patrol in tandem on the Capital Crescent Trail and the towpath
during summer weekends to respond to emergency medical situations.

“There is not a weekend that goes by in the summer that a call doesn’t
come in from the Capital Crescent Trail,” Leusch said.

Continue reading “PCCT’s and C&O’s Bicycle Emergency Response Team (BERT)”

Posted on

Weekend Fun! (bike, bands, burritos/ Chilibrew competition)

This Sunday there is a bike swap/bands/burrito event at the Charm City
Arts Space. As Jim Ventosa puts it:

—
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Charm City Art Space
1731 Maryland Avenue, Baltimore, MD

BIKES:
* 10AM folks show up to buy stuff.
* 10:30 – anybody that wants to go on a "long" bike ride (20-30 miles) gets a cue sheet and leaves. If someone wants to volunteer to lead this, that’s cool, otherwise it’s just self guided. People don’t HAVE to leave
at 10:30, but then it won’t really be a group ride.
* 11:30 – anybody that wants to go on a "short" bike ride (10 ish miles) grabs a cue sheet and leaves.

BANDS (1PM):
TINY BOMBS
https://www.tinybombs.net/
FIRES
https://firesmusic.blogspot.com/

BURRITOS
Either a potluck or prepared burritos for sale on the fundraising tip.

For more information, please visit https://www.ccspace.org.
—

Velocipede Will have some items out for the swap, fyi.

Afterwards, if you wish to further indulge yourself, there is a benefit at the 2640 space (aka st. johns church on 2640 st. paul st.) where proceeds go to benefit both the Free School and Us. It’s called "Charitably Charmin’ ChiliBrew Competition" and details as follows:

That’s right! You heard it here! Baltimore’s very first Charmin’ ChiliBrew homebrew competition and chili cookoff is going down for two great causes. Join us for this yummy fundraiser to benefit the Velocipede Bike Project and the Baltimore Free School. You will not be disappointed.

–

We’re thinking that not only is Doing It Yourself a lot of fun, but Doing It Yourself, With Others is even better. So with this event we hope to bring together some folks who get a kick out of sticking it to the commercial product pipeline and living more locally, whether that means brewing, bike-building, gardening, crafts… Even if you don’t do anything of the sort, come have a sip and a bite and meet some people who do. Not only will it be delicious, but it might be the start of a wonderful new hobby!

Attendees will be offered the opportunity to judge chili and homebrew to award the titles of "Charmin’ Chili Champion" and "Ruler of Brews," with their accompanying prizes. And you’ll leave toting a lovely commemorative glass. Who wouldn’t want that?

We’ll be asking for a sliding-scale donation of $10 to $20 at the door. Whatever you can afford is great, but please keep in mind all the savory fare that awaits your tastebuds AND that all proceeds go to support two stellar community-based projects.

–
Visit our website for more information https://www.bmorecharmin.intuitwebsites.com
–

Homebrewers and chili chefs of all stripes and skills are invited to enter their top-notch concoctions. If this means you, get in touch with Ian: japanzerman"at"yahoo.com

Want to exhibit your DIY project or organization at our event, or sponsor the event with your boatloads of cash? Contact Patrice: pwooda1"at"yahoo.com

And finally…Spread the love! Invite all of your friends and foes. Yey ChiliBrew!

w/ all of our hearts,
Ian and Patrice
the charmin’ event co-chairs

Posted on

Bike Parking @ Artscape Volunteers Needed!

image

Bike Parking @
Artscape

 

Volunteers
Needed!

July
16, 17, 18

 

Artscape
is the East Coast’s largest free art festival, featuring arts, fashion,
music, food… and bike parking.

 

A
bike is the best way to get there!

Help
give bicyclists red carpet treatment!

 

Even
better, it’s a great opportunity to spread the word on biking in
Baltimore

We’re
looking for anyone friendly and interested in biking, but we also need folks
with tools who can offer minor bike repairs.

 

We
promise a fun weekend!

Volunteers
at Artscape receive a range of gifts and perks as well

 

Contact:
Mark Counselman, mcounselman”at”rcmd.com

Or
register via the Artscape volunteer page: https://www.myvolunteerpage.com

Search
for Artscape, Going Green Bike Parking Coordinator

 

 

Posted on

Park and Trail Supporters: The Lake Frank Trail needs your urgent support!

Update: https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20100616101804156

An important planned trail that will connect the
Rock Creek Trail to
Lake Frank
is in jeopardy due to nearby homeowner opposition. This paved trail will be a
superb amenity that will greatly improve access to the lake, provide family recreational
opportunities and serve as a high quality bikeway. The trail will also be an important
piece of the future North Olney Trail that will link the Rock Creek Trail
to Olney five miles away, helping the environment by
supporting bike transportation instead of driving. But a group of neighbors who live
adjacent to Lake Frank is vociferously opposing the trail based on its proximity to
their homes, a problem we face all too often when new trails are built. To stop the trail
they are attempting to take away its state funding.

What You Can Do

Continue reading “Park and Trail Supporters: The Lake Frank Trail needs your urgent support!”

Posted on

Baltimore cyclists angry over TV report faulting French bicyclist injured in May 4th crash

Aerial shot of May 4 crash involving cyclist and truck on Belair Road.

by FERN SHEN
A French bicyclist struck by a pick-up truck on Belair Road on May 4 is still hospitailzed and in stable-but-critical condition and the Baltimore cycling community remains angry over a WJZ-TV news report that implied that police are faulting the cyclist when in fact they are preparing to file criminal charges against the driver.

It was an ironic bit of news on an otherwise happy day for area cyclists, celebrating record-setting participation in today’s Bike to Work Day.

Marc Phillippe Arnaud, who has been living in the Baltimore area in the 5200 block of Plainfield Road, was not at fault, according to Baltimore County Police spokesman Lt. Rob McCullough, reading today from the report on the May 4 crash completed by the department’s accident investigators.

McCullough refused to name the motorist who struck Arnaud, but said the man is a 60-year-old Jarrettsvillle resident who was driving a 1997 Ford 150.

“We are waiting to determine what charges will be filed, based on what happens with the victim’s medical condition,” McCullough said.

A nurse at the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center said Arnaud remains in the trauma ward in “stable but critical condition” more than two weeks after the crash.

The 5/4/10 crash occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on Belair Road, north of the I-695 off-ramp, McCullough said.

The accident was reported two days later by WJZ-TV Channel 13, in a piece by Suzanne Collins headlined on the station’s website “Pedestrian & Bike Accidents Rise in Baltimore County.” The article (and television report)  doesn’t name the cyclist or driver but says:

“The police report shows the truck driver in Tuesday’s crash may not be at fault” Collins said, in the report. ”

“Police say the bicyclist wasn’t wearing a helmet, and they believe he was riding in the middle of the car lane.” Collins continued. “They also say the driver probably had a blind spot when he came over the hill.”

After a complaint from Baltimore Spokes, this apologetic reposnse ensued from Baltimore County Chief of Police James Johnson, suggesting that that the WJZ report was in error. The full statement by Johnson is here and we include a key excerpt below, with the most important sentence boldfaced by us: 

The police report of public record for this crash indicates, by numeric code, that the bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment. There is no statement of fault attached to this observation. The report indicates that the bicyclist was traveling north in lane #2 (the center lane) of three northbound lanes (2 northbound lanes and 1 transitional lane for exiting and entering Interstate 695). There is no statement of fault attributed to this finding. The report includes a statement from a witness that heard the truck driver state that the bicyclist must have come up on his blind side. Again, the cyclist was not indicated as being at fault because of this finding. In fact, the police investigative report concludes the truck driver, not the bicyclist, to be at fault for the crash.

 WJZ-TV news director Gail Bending did not return a call from Baltimore Brew seeking comment.

Much of Collins’ report dwells on the increase in fatal “pedestrian” crashes in Baltimore County, pooling together crashes involving walkers, runners and bicyclists. These fatalities are on the rise, in Baltimore County: Collins said and McCullough confirmed that there were 19 of them in 2009 and in the first four months of 2010, there have been 8.

Johnson was quoted saying that in most of these cases, “pedestrians” are at fault.   

But though the story was confusing, he must have meant true “pedestrians.” The April 8 fatality involving cyclist Lawrence Bensky was the only bike fatality in the county that McCullough knew of, among those eight.

Continue reading “Baltimore cyclists angry over TV report faulting French bicyclist injured in May 4th crash”

Posted on

Many Hit The Road For ‘Bike To Work Day’

Reporting Andrea Fujii BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―

There were hundreds of fewer cars on the road Friday and more bicycles. It was all for National Bike to Work Day.

Andrea Fujii explains that biking to work has more incentives than just staying fit.

Nearly 1,300 Baltimore area cyclists pledged to pedal rather than drive Friday.

"It’s Bike to Work Day!" said Monica Meade, cyclist.

This is the 13th year Maryland has participated in the national event. But it’s nothing new for the one percent of Marylanders who bike to work regularly.

"It makes the environment better, it makes us healthier, it makes our quality of life better," said Meade.

The federal government is trying to make it even more cost effective. Last year, Congress passed the Bicycle Commuter Act. This law allows employers to pay employees who bike to work everyday $20 a month. Employers could then write off that cost.

Organizers also say studies show biking to work everyday rather than driving saves on average between $6,000-$10,000 a year.

"Bike parts are a lot cheaper than car parts and water’s a lot cheaper than gas," said Paul Kovalcik, cyclist.

In the past three years, the city has added 50 miles of bike lanes, encouraging more cyclists to brave the streets.

"The Baltimore drivers can be kind of tough, kind of mean-spirited, but you learn to deal with it," said Kovalcik.

Many say the benefits far outweigh any risks. They hope this event sends a positive message.

"It’s really telling people that you can get out of your car and a cleaner way to get to work," said Stephanie Yanowitz, Baltimore Metropolitan Council.

In this latest legislative session Maryland passed a law requiring cars to leave at least three feet of space when passing a cyclist.
Continue reading “Many Hit The Road For ‘Bike To Work Day’”

Posted on

Quelling the need for speed

By JASON BABCOCK
After three years with the Maryland State Police, trooper Matthew Pitcher has heard most of the excuses for speeding.
I’m late for school. I’m late for work. I really have to go to the bathroom.
"The bathroom deal — we hear that all the time," he said.
Some motorists complain when they see Maryland State Police on the side of the road, scanning for speeders.
Without traffic stops, there wouldn’t be as many criminal arrests, though.
"The majority of criminal arrests come from traffic stops," said Lt. Michael Thompson, commander of the Leonardtown barrack. In Maryland there are about 250,000 people walking around free with open warrants for their arrest. They are getting from place to place somehow, and they’re often not found until they are pulled over for a traffic violation.
"It all starts with the traffic stop," Pitcher said.
Major arrests can stem from a simple traffic stop. Timothy McVeigh was caught after bombing a federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995 because a trooper stopped him for driving a vehicle with no license plates.
"It may be easy to say, ‘Why aren’t they doing something else?’" Lt. Charles Parlett said, until someone becomes a victim of a crash or a crime. "Ultimately we’d like to get drunk drivers off the road, find guns, find drugs and make everyone a little bit safer," he said. Parlett is the commander of the Maryland State Police La Plata barrack.
…
"That’s not our point, to generate money," Parlett said. "It’s more to make the citizens of Charles County a little bit safer."
Continue reading “Quelling the need for speed”

Posted on

Women cyclists ‘at greater risk from lorry deaths’

…
The study was blunt in its conclusions: "Women may be over-represented in (collisions with goods vehicles) because they are less likely than men to disobey red lights."
By jumping red lights, it said, men are less likely to be caught in a lorry driver’s blind spot, whereas less assertive cyclists who wait at the lights just in front of a lorry are at greater risk as they cannot be seen by the driver. But not everyone agrees. Mark Ames, who writes the ibikelondon blog, thinks the focus should be on lorries themselves rather than the cyclists’ gender.
…
Continue reading “Women cyclists ‘at greater risk from lorry deaths’”

Posted on

Driver Loses Control of Vehicle and Hits Cyclist, both Die

by washcycle

Dr. Gridlock has the report.

A driver making a right turn in Fairfax Friday afternoon lost
control of the vehicle, leaving the road and striking two cyclists on a
bike path before the car plunged into a wooded area, according to
Fairfax County police.

One bike rider and the driver were killed, officials said.

The accident happened just after 4 p.m. at the intersection of Lee
Highway and Forum Drive, according to Fairfax spokesperson Officer
Shelly Broderick.

Police are now reporting that the second cyclist was not injured. They identified the car involved as an SUV.

Worst possible ending to Bike to Work Day.

UPDATE: Here is more coverage.

The Post – the cyclist was a 17 year old high school student.

The driver also died when the vehicle continued to careen and crashed
into a tree, officials said. Another cyclist on the trail was hit but
was not injured.

The other cyclist was a 14 year old girl. The Post article is weird. After describing the crash and mentioning that it happened on BTWD, it goes on to talk about how Latinos are in bike crashes with a quote from the same Fairfax detective who said that bike commuters can’t handle their bikes.

Traffic fatalities
have dropped sharply in Fairfax in recent years, and records indicate
that the cyclist’s death might be the county’s first in more than a
year. The majority of the half-dozen cyclist deaths in the past five years have involved Latino immigrants riding to or from work in the dark.

“You want to be careful about stereotyping, but you have to look at the
circumstances,” said Fairfax Detective Scott Neville, who investigates
traffic fatalities. “As much as you hate to say it, it’s often a
certain socioeconomic class.”

It then describes three crashes that fit this description (three out of six is not a majority, btw). In the second case, the driver was charged with reckless driving, but this wasn’t mentioned by Neville or Ashley Halsey III. Then she adds that none of them were wearing helmets. None of which is relevant since the 17 year old killed today was not riding badly, was probably not biking from work and was not Latino. And we don’t know if he was wearing a helmet, not that it was likely to matter.

9 News coverage.

Continue reading “Driver Loses Control of Vehicle and Hits Cyclist, both Die”