Few driving the ICC
Found via Greater Greater Washington
The ICC is drawing only 50% of the drivers that were expected on the first segment. More will use it once it’s open to I-95, but predictions were higher, too. If things don’t change, Maryland will be stuck with huge deficits. (Examiner https://washingtonexaminer.com/local/dc/2011/05/icc-traffic-increasing-slightly-ad-campaign-trying-lure-more )
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[B’ Spokes: To jog your memories this $3B 18 mile toll road was "economically feasible" while a master planned trail got split into three pieces (7 miles total) because the rest of the trail was "too expensive." It is looking more and more like they had it backwards.]
We won – the Governor Signs HB363 into Law!
Thanks to your great work, we won!
House Bill 363 – the Manslaughter by Vehicle – Criminal Negligence bill was signed into law today by Governor O’Malley. Bike Maryland gives thanks to the many dedicated partners (Delegate Simmons and the Maryland General Assembly, Mid-Atlantic AAA, City of Rockville, Washington Area Bicycle Association, League of American Bicyclists and more) and the advocates that worked together to bring this legislation to fruition.
Governor O’Malley, aside many bill supporters, signs HB363 into law.
HB 363 increases justice and safety for all vulnerable groups, including bicyclists and pedestrians, by sending a clear message to motorists to obey the law – now just punishment exists. There have been far too many bicycle and pedestrian fatalities, caused by motorists, on Maryland roads. HB363 fills an important loophole in the law and prosecutors will now be able to seek higher penalties for those who cause the fatality of a bicyclist/pedestrian.
The bill will become law on October 1, 2011. Click here to go to the Maryland General Assembly HB363 bill information page.
Carol Silldorff, Bike Maryland Executive Director, presents Delegate Luiz R. S.
Simmons (sponsor of the bill) with a certificate of excellence for his personal
commitment, dedication, leadership and support of bicycle and pedestrian
safety and justice in Maryland.
Edward Kohls, Adiva Sotzsky, Delegate Simmons, Carol Silldorff & Tamara Bensky.
Ed, Adiva and Tamara experienced the tragic loss of a loved one. They worked
passionately and diligently in their promotion of HB363. We profusely thank
them for their courage and dedication toward making Maryland a safer place
to bike.
Continue reading “We won – the Governor Signs HB363 into Law!”
Bike taken – Owings Mills
via Carroll County Times
On May 3, a teenage boy stole a bicycle in the unit block of Woodthorn Court in Owings Mills, police said.
The teen asked the bike’s rider for the bike. When the rider said no, the teen pushed the rider off and rode away. Police recovered the orange-and-black stunt bike and arrested and charged a teen with robbery.
Continue reading “Bike taken – Owings Mills”
Sgt. Vickie Warehime of the Baltimore County Police Department – 160 miles so far
Pikesville’s Sgt. Vickie Warehime, along with hundreds of other police officers, are cycling from New Jersey to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of fallen law enforcement officers
https://pikesville.patch.com/articles/police-sergeantcyclist-begins-second-day-of-unity-tour
Friends, Please ASK THE GOVERNOR TO VETO SB 690 [Environment issue]
Update: A good explanation of the issue in the Sun: https://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-05-09/news/bs-ed-waste-energy-20110509_1_goals-for-renewable-energy-incineration-trash
Veto SB 690!
Please veto SB 690 and keep the bar high for renewable energy. Incineration is bad for our health, bad for the environment, and bad for our clean energy future.
1. Waste incinerators do not generate clean renewable energy. Waste incinerators release pollutants through air and ash emissions, including toxins like mercury, lead, dioxins, and PCBs, as well as pollutants that contribute to smog and acid rain.
2. Waste incinerators undermine efforts to fight climate change. According to the EPA, incineration produces more CO2 per megawatt hour than any other form of power generation. They produce nearly 25 percent more CO2 per unit of electricity than coal!
3. Promoting incineration as a Tier 1 renewable would dilute Maryland’s Renewable Portfolio Standard and undermine urgently needed progress toward legitimate clean, renewable energy. Burning trash competes with legitimate renewable energy; SB 690 would dilute the standard and negate the impact of the RPS in driving the development of renewable energy.
Continue reading “Friends, Please ASK THE GOVERNOR TO VETO SB 690 [Environment issue]”
Gwynns Falls Bike Ride Friday, May 20 · 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Time Friday, May 20 · 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Location I-70 Park and Ride to Federal Hill Park
Enjoy this Friday evening with a bike ride starting at the to Federal Hill Park. We will travel down the Gwynns Falls Stream Valley through wooded areas, fields and city Streets to Federal Hill. Return transportation will be provided at 8pm by RSVP only. Please contact Molly Gallant at 443-984-4058 or by email at molly.gallant@baltimorecity.gov
Continue reading “Gwynns Falls Bike Ride Friday, May 20 · 6:00pm – 9:00pm”
Jones Falls Trail Ride and Clean Saturday, May 14 · 9:00am – 12:00pm
Time Saturday, May 14 · 9:00am – 12:00pm
Location Druid Hill Complex at 3100 Swan Drive
Please Meet at the Druid Hill Complex at 3100 Swan Drive at 9AM. Bring your bike and be ready to ride and clean the Jones Falls Trail. Picking up trash and removing broken glass, sprucing up sign beds. Please RSVP to molly.gallant@baltimorecity.gov or
by phone at 443-984-4058.
Continue reading “Jones Falls Trail Ride and Clean Saturday, May 14 · 9:00am – 12:00pm”
Herring Run Trail Ride Friday, May 13 · 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Time Friday, May 13 · 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Location Meet at Lake Montebello : top of the hill near Harford Road side
Meet at Lake Montebello and head to 895. Yup, that’s right, to 895 through Herring Run Park. This trip is a combination of paved/sand/dirt trails and street riding. Not to mention the exciting stream crossing! Please bring a patch kit and a spare tube. Unfortunately, this trip is not recommended for persons under 12. Round Trip is about 8 miles and should take about 2 hours. Please RSVP to molly.gallant@baltimorecity.gov or by phone at 443-984-4058.
Continue reading “Herring Run Trail Ride Friday, May 13 · 6:00pm – 9:00pm”
Columbia Woman Completes 29-Day Bicycle Ride Around Chesapeake Bay
By David Greisman – Columbia Patch
It took about four weeks and more than 1,000 miles of pedaling, but Stacy Heiliger made it, bicycling all the way around the Chesapeake Bay, setting off from Columbia on April 5 and making it back home on May 3.
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“I had thought that a long-distance cycling trip would be a lot of fun, but I was kind of nervous to try it ’cause I had never done it before. This way I was always just a few hours away [from family members] in case I had a meltdown on the side of the road, got injured, had a mechanical problem or wasn’t having fun.
“I was already familiar with Maryland and a lot of the areas I was going to, but a lot of it was new areas. There were places that I knew were there by the maps, but I’d never been there before. That was a whole lot of fun, just discovering different parts of the Chesapeake Bay and different communities that were off the beaten path.
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Continue reading “Columbia Woman Completes 29-Day Bicycle Ride Around Chesapeake Bay”