via Stop the Maryland Unsafe Driver
My conclusion is that there is a lot of scofflaw motorists in Maryland, after all what do you call someone who knows the law but does not obey it?
Future signage for bike lanes?
Photo from Fail BlogIf The Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access has his way we’ll need to put a “few” more No Parking signs in. While this might be an exaggeration but still the samples he provided where all about part time bike lane and part time parking. I really don’t like the implications of that kind of thinking.
Ref: RE: Not Blocking or Parking in Dedicated Bike Lanes (reply) (Still not supportive)
Tax free Energy Star / Energy Efficient products
via Jon Cardin
Please keep in mind that February 19-21 will be our first tax free shopping weekend for Energy Star / Energy Efficient products and appliances. As a lead sponsor of the legislation, a lover of the environment, and a believer in the economic turnaround of our state, this weekend could be a huge success for consumers and the environment alike and I am thrilled. More information can be found at https://www.marylandtaxes.com/shopmd/FAQs-ShopMD-Energy.pdf
Get Rich While Reducing Emissions: Smart Growth Keeps Looking Smarter
from Streetsblog Capitol Hill by Tanya Snyder
Just when you may have been looking for ways to counter that Pew report which poo-pooed the environmental impacts of transit and smart growth, here’s more evidence that reducing driving has an essential role to play in meeting economic and environmental goals: A new report from the Center for Clean Air Policy concludes that compact development will build wealth and cut carbon emissions.
Compact urbanism can work in the suburbs, like Bethesda, Maryland. Image: Maryland Sierra Club
“Growing Wealthier: Smart Growth, Climate Change, and Prosperity” starts with the simple assertion that accessibility – “bringing origins and destinations closer together” – is, after all, “the very reason that cities exist.”
“You want to have your choices nearby so you can meet your daily needs as efficiently as possible,” said report author Steve Winkelman.
By separating residential areas, commercial services, and places of employment, suburban planning requires that people travel long distances to meet their needs. All those miles used to be viewed as a measure of economic progress.
“[Vehicle Miles Traveled] and GDP have grown concurrently since World War II and in lock step for much of that time,” the report states. But around 1996, GDP began growing faster than VMT, and, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, “the importance of travel as a component of the U.S. economy has been declining since the early 1990s.”
Indeed, CCAP’s research shows that states with lower VMT per capita tend to have higher GDP per capita.
Excessive travel is more likely to be an economic detriment than a benefit. Ironically, GDP counts as economic productivity many of the counterproductive aspects of motorized travel, such as fuel consumed waiting in traffic jams, oil spills, vehicle repairs and medical treatment resulting from collisions, costs of air pollution, and defense operations to protect U.S. petroleum interests around the world. In fact, many costs of sprawling land use patterns (particularly increased infrastructure) themselves boost GDP figures.
The authors also urge us to distinguish between economically productive travel and what they call “empty miles.” It’s like differentiating between empty calories and nutrition.
“A lot of driving that most people are doing nowadays is not helping them economically,” said report author Chuck Kooshian. “Although the VMT has been going up per capita, as we’re making trips to the grocery store five miles to get some milk, and we’re taking the kids out driving to go trick-or-treating, and driving to the park to walk our dog, this is not helping the average household economically. It might be helping the Saudis.”
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Continue reading “Get Rich While Reducing Emissions: Smart Growth Keeps Looking Smarter”
How much flexibility is there in the Manual Of Uniform Traffic Control Devices? [video]
Highlights: Portland has 15mph speed limits to facilitate the mixing of cyclists with motoring traffic. They eliminated the pedestrian “beg” button downtown. In looking up some numbers it is very interesting to note they had 8 pedestrian fatalities vs our 16 pedestrian fatalities. Pedestrians are 19% of their traffic fatalities and ours is 42%.
How wasteful are we, really?
From B’more green: Baltimore ranks 16 out of 25 for being lest wasteful (not that good.) But hey, we got a mention that we are leading the way in saving leftovers.
https://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/features/green/2011/01/bmore_among_least_wasteful_cit.html
Ravenstown Bike Ride, Hon
A bit more stress on the scenery then the bike ride but that’s cool.
Portlandia: Bicycle Rights [video]
Purely for fun. There is probably a tiny voice in all of us that can relate to this video, but please let’s try to keep focused on the fun of cycling so it never gets too loud.
An open letter to Tom Hicks of Maryland’s State Highway Administration
From Bike Delaware
Bike Delaware, our constituent organizations, and bicyclists all over Delaware thank Tom Hicks (above, left), P.E. Director of SHA’s Office of Traffic and Safety, for revising Maryland State Highway Administration’s rumblestrip placement guidelines. Kudos as well to Michael Jackson (above, right), MD’s Department of Transportation’s Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, for answering the call and shuttling this request along.
Bike Delaware first met with MDOT’s District Office on January 22nd 2009, out on Route 273 to investigate first hand what went wrong. Others working in MD bike/ped safety themselves brought bicycles along, to verify that this application (pictured left) did not meet bicycle-friendly guidelines. Today, we can proudly say the manuals have been revised. We are relieved to know that the rumblestrips applied along Route 273 in Cecil County, which prompted our concern as well as those of local racing teams and recreational clubs, will not be repeated on MD roads and highways where bicycling is permitted.
We commend SHA for recognizing this design as problematic in that it created conflicts between drivers and cyclists. Switching to the guidelines accepted as bicycle-friendly according to the AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Bicycle Facilities will encourage bicyclists to ride in the correct position on the shoulder and facilitate cooperation between all user groups. Further, it will allow bicyclists to ride behind the rumble strips instead of at the white line, as well as move safely into the lane when cars are turning in front of them or to avoid debris.
This will make cyclists safer and lower the stress level of all road users.
(pictured left: Frank Warnock, Maria Wilburn, Stephanie Yanovitz , and Mary Davidson join MDOT District Officials on Jan. 22, 2009, at the Highs on Route 273. Jeff Butcher was also present)
View the letter to Mr Hicks in pdf HERE.
See the revised guidelines, including a letter to Bike Delaware in pdf HERE.
Timeline for this issue on Bike Delaware News HERE.
Continue reading “An open letter to Tom Hicks of Maryland’s State Highway Administration”