by Dawn Bonsell, Pennsylvania Rural Development Public Information Coordinator
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The trail affects the local economy in many ways, including an increase in property values, jobs, investment and general consumer spending. According to the Great Allegheny Passage Economic Impact Study, approximately 800,000 trips are taken on the GAP annually, 76 new trail-related businesses have opened and over 93 new jobs were created. In addition to the economic impact, trail towns are vibrant places where people come together. Some travelers pass through on short day trips and others are on multi-day trips, including a bicyclist from Vancouver who shouted, “Hello” to O’Brien as he headed South on the GAP toward Maryland. A cycle shop in Confluence proudly displays the hometowns of cyclists who stop while travelling through the small town. For several years, a U. S. map display worked, but now the shop uses a globe adorned with thumb tacks representing world-wide visitors.
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https://blogs.usda.gov/2012/09/19/trail-towns-flourish-in-economically-challenged-southwestern-pennsylvania/
Man Falls From Bicycle, Hit By Car, Dies
By Robert Lang, WBAL
Baltimore County Police say a 27-year-old man died after he was hit by a car, minutes after he fell off a bicycle.
The accident took place just after 3:30 Saturday morning at the intersection of Fuselage Avenue and Right Wing Drive in Essex.
Police say Jason Leonard of Joppa had been riding his bicycle on Right Wing Drive, when he fell and then was hit by a car at the intersection.
The driver of the car, 25-year-old Brandon Cook of Essex remained at the scene.
Cook was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released.
Police are still investigating.
The Great Allegheny Passage: Biking Pittsburgh to Maryland
Tips and (one persons) itinerary for the Great Allegheny Passage:
https://www.eveningsun.com/sunstyle/ci_21570080/great-allegheny-passage-biking-pittsburgh-maryland
Corner BYOB in Hampden holds benefit for employee injured in bicycle crash
[B’ Spokes: I ran across this bit late for the fundraiser but we wish Michael Cassidy a speedy recovery.]
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By Larry Perl, Baltimore Sun
Riding his bike home from work at the Hampden restaurant Corner BYOB, Michael Cassidy took more than a nasty spill.
A wheel of Cassidy’s bike hit a manhole or metal plate on lower Falls Road south of Woodberry Aug. 24, according to restaurant owner Cecille Fenix.
"He basically fell off his bike. He hit his head," Fenix said. "The doctors are trying to tell him to stay as motionless as possible," she said, until his injuries heal.
The 31-year-old waiter and head of the dining room staff, who has been on staff since last winter, fractured the occipital condyle bone at the lower back of his skull, millimeters from his spine, and also tore an artery that supplies oxygen to the brain.
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Western Maryland Rail Trail Tour
History buffs or those interested in a scenic
bike ride are invited to take part in a guided tour featuring tales of the
Western Maryland Rail Trail’s past and the plans for its future, starting at 10
a.m. on October 13 at the C&O Bicycle Shop in Hancock.
bike ride are invited to take part in a guided tour featuring tales of the
Western Maryland Rail Trail’s past and the plans for its future, starting at 10
a.m. on October 13 at the C&O Bicycle Shop in Hancock.
“During the tour, participants will see the relics of past modes of
transportation, which played an important role in making the area what it is
today,” said Park Ranger Andy Vecchio.
transportation, which played an important role in making the area what it is
today,” said Park Ranger Andy Vecchio.
The Western Maryland Rail Trail was a former railway that now serves as
22-mile long, paved walking and biking trail. A park ranger will lead the tour
and explain how the former Western Maryland Railway shaped the area.
Participants will also learn about the current recreational use and future
expansion plans of the trail.
22-mile long, paved walking and biking trail. A park ranger will lead the tour
and explain how the former Western Maryland Railway shaped the area.
Participants will also learn about the current recreational use and future
expansion plans of the trail.
The guided tour will last about four hours, taken at leisurely pace and
will cover approximately 20 miles round-trip. The tour is on a mostly paved,
flat surface, suitable for people of most ages and fitness levels. It will be
held rain or shine.
will cover approximately 20 miles round-trip. The tour is on a mostly paved,
flat surface, suitable for people of most ages and fitness levels. It will be
held rain or shine.
Participants should dress for the weather and pack sunscreen and insect
repellant. Everyone should bring water and a snack or lunch. Bike helmets are
required for riders under age 16 and encouraged for all others.
repellant. Everyone should bring water and a snack or lunch. Bike helmets are
required for riders under age 16 and encouraged for all others.
The C&O Bicycle Shop is located at 9 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Hancock,
Md., 21750. The shop offers bike rentals and can be contacted at
301-678-6665.
Md., 21750. The shop offers bike rentals and can be contacted at
301-678-6665.
More information on the tour is available by calling 301-842-2155 during
regular office hours.
regular office hours.
The Fort
Frederick State Park complex is the home of Maryland’s premier stone fort.
Fort Frederick was built by the colony of Maryland in 1756 to protect its
western boundaries and as a base to attack French claims to the Ohio River
valley. The Western Maryland Rail Trail is owned and managed by the Department
of Natural Resources, Fort Frederick State Park
complex.
Frederick State Park complex is the home of Maryland’s premier stone fort.
Fort Frederick was built by the colony of Maryland in 1756 to protect its
western boundaries and as a base to attack French claims to the Ohio River
valley. The Western Maryland Rail Trail is owned and managed by the Department
of Natural Resources, Fort Frederick State Park
complex.
Maryland 9th lowest in percentage of bike commuters
[B’ Spokes: So I have to ask hows that 8th best state ranking from LAB working out for us?]
City to Be Sued Again for Shrugging at Pedestrian Killings
By Joe Coscarelli, New York Magazine
New York City’s failure to prosecute, or even investigate, most drivers involved in the deaths of pedestrians and cyclists has become an increasingly visible issue thanks to advocacy from websites like StreetsBlog.org and Gothamist and heartbreaking injustices like the death of Brooklyn’s Clara Heyworth last year. Today, the New York Times follows up an article on the issue this summer with its most forceful report to date, beginning with the story of 21-year-old Roxana Buta, who was killed on Broadway in May by a turning dump truck whose driver could not be bothered to stop but was eventually tracked down and not charged nor ticketed. Her mother is now suing.
"She is quite insistent that this not get treated like ‘Hey, that’s life in the big city,’" said a lawyer for Buta’s family. They are not alone, as the cause has made its way to the City Council, which is looking to expand the twenty-person investigations unit and reassess insane rules like, "Departmental procedure also prohibits officers from writing even a ticket unless they personally witnessed the accident."
…
https://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/09/nyc-still-shrugging-at-pedestrian-killings.html
Safe Bicycling in Maryland is now a joke
Once upon a time we had a fairly decent bike safety booklet called “Safe Bicycling in Maryland”. I loved this booklet! I would drop off copies to local bike shops, bring copies to bike events, it was worth promoting and to me showed Maryland cared about cyclists. Then one day they ran out, I was told something to the effect that they were trying to negotiate with the publisher to get an on-line version as well. This was a very nice effort and appreciated but it looks like negotiations failed and even worse it seems there is no info on-line on how to request this book. Is it out of print all together? I don’t know yet but it seems that State Highways thinks that a “good” safety booklet is a kiddie booklet which has such sage advice as:
So it is very important for those that can’t read to read that carefully. :/ And there is this bike from the 70’s saying you should have a bell or horn. Like this is going to work: “Ding, ding, watch out big truck, I’ve got a bell on my bike.” :/
In short this is not a booklet geared for adults. It is nowhere near as thorough nor as complete as what we used to be able to get through this now broken link https://www.sha.state.md.us/exploremd/bicyclists/oppe/Pamphlets/Bicyclists1.asp
So on this page https://www.sha.maryland.gov/index.aspx?PageId=598 we have links to the bike map (cool) two links for kiddie cyclists (the “What every parent should know” is really good for that age level) and two links about helmets but next to nothing about defensive cycling. Helmets do not prevent crashes, defensive cycling does!
So I would like to point out what Arizona has on-line: Arizona Bicycling Street Smarts:
Riding Confidently, Legally and Safely by John S. Allen. This is a really good book and available to customize for Maryland!
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Custom editions, too! |
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State transportation department? Bicycle manufacturer? Advocacy group? University safety program? inquire of the publisher! |
So could I ask that we get this here as well? Please.
Continue reading “Safe Bicycling in Maryland is now a joke”
Arlington PD begins bikes initiative
[B’ Spokes: Two things to highlight here, that are cool:]
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Arlington — Arlington police officers will soon start handing out information on the rules of the road to bicyclists around town as part of an educational initiative to make roads safer for cyclists and drivers, according to APD Traffic Officer Paul Conroy and Captain Richard Flynn.
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Local police departments are still adjusting to the Bicyclist Safety Bill signed into law in January 2009, which authorizes police to fine drivers for “dooring,” or opening vehicle doors in cyclists’ path; mandates bicycle-specific training for new police recruits; and allows police to stop and fine cyclists using the same procedure as for motorists, among other changes.
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[B’ Spokes: Did you catch that? We need a law to mandate bicycle-specific training for new police recruits, otherwise they just don’t know. Over the years I have collected stories of police officers incorrectly ticketing cyclists for pedestrian specific violations as well as motorcycle specific violations, not to mention having a poor understand what exactly is a cyclists right-of-way.
I’ll point out Article 9 of Maryland’s Declaration of Rights: "That no power of suspending Laws or the execution of Laws, unless by, or derived from the Legislature, ought to be exercised, or allowed."
Yet we allow the police to be as a mater of routine to be totally ignorant on a section of law that applies to a significant amount of the population.]
Continue reading “Arlington PD begins bikes initiative”
Horn-Crazy Driver Busted for Harassing Cyclists
[B’ Spokes: I would love to see this kind of thing happening here.]
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by STEVE CASIMIRO
Cyclists have been harassed by drivers for years with little to no recourse, but thanks to technology and changing attitudes among law enforcement, justice increasingly is being served: The driver who hassled two road cyclists in Colorado this week by following them and honking his horn obsessively for three minutes has been charged with four misdemeanors by the Colorado State Patrol.
Seventy-five year old James Ernst, 75, of Erie, Colorado, was cited for improper use of his horn, two counts of harassment, and — this is the most delightfully schadenfreudenistic part — impeding traffic. Ernst was caught on video by Dirk Friel, a former pro roadie, developer of TrainingPeaks software, and coach, who used his iPhone to capture the incident.
“I’m happy they were able to find [Ernst], and maybe something like this won’t happen again with him,” Friel told Bicycle Retailer.
CSP Trooper Joshua Mills said, “Together with victims and witnesses, CSP worked with the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office in an effort to find and correctly charge the alleged driver. The Colorado State Patrol wishes to remind everyone to share the road with courtesy with everyone, regardless whether they are pedestrians, bikers, or other motor vehicles.”
Continue reading “Horn-Crazy Driver Busted for Harassing Cyclists”