Month: March 2011

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Stairs are dangerous – wear a helmet

from A view from the cycle path – David Hembrow
In 2008, 716 cyclists died on the roads of the United States. It’s quite a death toll – it would of course be better if there were fewer. However, by comparison, 12000 people die each year on stairs in the same country. It’s much the same pattern in any country. Stairs are much more dangerous than bicycles. Nearly 17x as dangerous. This article provides a list of helpful tips to prevent injuries
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The purpose of this site

A recent comment inspired me to write this article to make it clear that the purpose of this site is TO INVOKE CHANGE AND TO THINK DIFFERENTLY ABOUT THE BUILT WORLD AROUND US! I would hope that if I did get accused of taking illegal drugs that they would be of the mind altering kind to allow me to see the world differently then some opiate that induces mental lethargy and is commonly used to dull the pain of the status quo. I guess I failed in that regards, so to make my point more clear:

In respect to the senseless death of a 5 year-old on a residential street…

How many would support the following statement?

>>> I want to live on a street where instantaneous death is almost guaranteed for myself and loved ones if we venture forth in something other then a steel cage, otherwise known as a automobile.

Not to many takers on that one is there? Think differently!

In respect to the duty of most police departments to "improve public safety" what statement by police do you think would do the most good to improve to improve public safety?

A) We would like to remind all drivers to exercise extra caution when driving through residential neighborhoods as kids are outside and to share the street safely.

B) We would to remind drivers that if they accidentally kill someone, no harm done as far as we are concerned. Please carry on as if nothing serious happened.

My point here and elsewhere is not to "throw the book" at the driver nor is it to excuse why the child was on the road in the first place. My point is the missed opportunity for an improved safety message. In this I believe the police and the media are equally culpable. But unfortunately the police, media and my dear commenter seem to all accept needless traffic deaths as simple collateral damage necessary for the fast and efficient travel of the ever superior automobile over that of human life itself.

Think differently … Think change!
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Sustainable Growth too Costly says the House Environmental Matters Committee

Smart Growth, Transit Orientated Development and Sustainable Growth are buzz words that I will simply restate as looking at transportation planning and other planning as one unit or in effect let’s look at transportations costs as well as housing costs and lets try and make the total as cost effective as possible.

Or Sprawl is unsustainable and we can’t afford to support that model any more.

But apparently with House Bill 948 we can’t afford to do any differently then what we have been doing either. Keep the status quo! 🙁
Continue reading “Sustainable Growth too Costly says the House Environmental Matters Committee”

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Tour dem Parks Registration is Open

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Forget about that Groundhog — the surest sign that spring
is right around the corner is that Tour dem Parks is just a few short months
away, and that registration is now OPEN!  We are already counting down to
Tour Day — Sunday, June 12th.  As in years past, we are offering four options
for routes: 

 

The Family Ride — a laid-back, kid-friendly
12-mile jaunt highlighting the Gwynn’s Falls Trail.

Le Petite Tour — a 25-mile ride great for
newbies or those recently returned to the joy of cycling, showing off a nice
sampling of Baltimore’s great parks from large to small.   

Le Grand Tour — a 36-mile ride through the
five largest parks (Gwynn’s Falls/Leakin, Druid Hill, Clifton, Patterson,
Carroll) and many neighborhood and street parks.

The Metric Century – our fourth Metric
Century ride (64 miles), for experienced riders only, which once again features
an all-new route.

Registration
is open now — our Paypal-driven registration page is on our redesigned
website: www.tourdemparks.org
(Click the “Registration” tab.) 

 Save
some bucks by registering now — our Early Bird rate applies only until May 31,
2011.  As an Early Bird registrant, you are also assured of having a 2011
Tour dem Parks T-shirt in your choice of size — this year you specify T-shirt
size as part of the registration process to make double-triple sure you get the
size you want!

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A Successful Day on the Hill!

Yesterday, Alex Obriecht, Bike Maryland President and I were accompanied by at least a dozen of Maryland’s advocates, leaders, citizens, bike shop owners and planners to deliver our “bike-partisan” message directly to our new and current members of Congress. We made sure that Maryland’s Congressional leaders know the direct value of bike enhancements, safe routes to school, recreational trails and other Federally-funded projects.  As Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists states, “Bicycling offers an excellent return on Federal investment, in terms of jobs, economic growth, and a healthier America.” 

Meetings took place with the following staff/leaders:  Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator Benjamin Cardin, Representative Andy Harris, Representative C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger, Representative John Sarbanes, Representative Donna Edwards, Representative Steny Hoyer, Representative Roscoe Bartlett, Representative Elijah Cummings and Representative Chris Van Hollen.  Please contact your Congressional leader, thank them for meeting with us and urge them to support a more bike-able Maryland. Unfortunately, there was not the opportunity to meet with Representative Andy Harris (1st District) so if you live in the 1st District it is especially important that you urge him to support funding for bicycling. Click here to contact your representative.

For example, Representative John Sarbanes learned that his district is home to 51 stores that sell bikes and that those stores grossed more than $20 million in 2009.  Most of these bikes are sold by small-business owners, and those sales create jobs and better our economy.  Also emphasized, was the fact that alternative transportation alternatives such as bike paths and bike lanes are a whole lot less expensive than new highways.

LAB writes, “There are more people riding bikes than ever. Yet half of all U.S. trips are three miles or less, and more than 90 percent are made by car. The National Bike Summit has improved bicycle-friendliness and livability in many communities, but the need and opportunity to improve physical activity, safety and livability in the U.S., while reducing congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and our dependence on oil – remains greater today than a decade ago. These issues seem difficult to solve but the answer is simple. The answer is the bicycle”.  Please support Bike Maryland and your right to bike by spreading this important message to your Congressional leaders!

Written by: Carol Silldorff, Bike Maryland Executive Director

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Nathan Krasnopoler March 11 Update

Nathan was quiet today. He was back on the tracheal collar so he has been breathing on his own for seven hours and has been doing great! He was back on the vent previously, because of his surgery and recovery from the anesthetic.

March 10 Update
Yesterday, March 10, Nathan had his first of probably many surgeries to reconstruct part of the right side of his face. This surgery was to remove the dead burned skin and prepare his face to accept a skin graft. The plastic surgeon said the surgery went well.