Month: November 2012

B’ Spokes: Since we have several areas developing Bike Master Plans this article by Richard Layman is a recommended read for those involved in the process. Some highlights from the article:

I often make the point that plans are beginnings, not endpoints.

government is about "sustained efforts."

prepared advocates poised to act are key.

if you want to improve the situation for whatever you are advocating for, YOU NEED AN AGENDA, one that is clear, cogent, and ideally comprehensive and complete.

If you don’t identify the gaps, I guarantee they will never be corrected.
[B’ Spokes: I’ll also echo the importance of this as too often "what can easily be done" takes focus over "what needs to be done."]

https://urbanplacesandspaces.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-western-baltimore-county-pedestrian.html

By Mary K. Tilghman, Baltimore Sun

…
One local example is bike lanes that will be designated along Edmondson Avenue in Catonsville, probably in the spring, she said.

Thanks to the efforts of Catonsville Rails to Trails, a bike lane was added to the Frederick Road bridge over the Baltimore Beltway as part of that construction project.

Some streets will be considered "signature streets" designed to accommodate many modes of travel as well as provide amenities that will make them more aesthetically pleasing. They should be walkable, ridable and be on transit routes.

Rolling Road in Catonsville is one of three designated signature streets in the county.
…
Annapolis Road in Baltimore Highlands and stretches of Sulphur Spring Road, Wilkens Avenue and Maiden Choice Lane in Arbutus received top priority for bike lane designation. So did parts of Hollins Ferry Road in Lansdowne.

In Catonsville, sections of North Rolling and South Rolling were listed for bike lanes, as were Winters Lane, Edmondson Avenue and Bloomsbury Avenue.

Roads that connect to parks, bus stops and train stations, schools and existing bike paths also were given a number one priority for bike lanes and signage.

Sidewalk improvements got top priority in Catonsville on parts of Frederick Road, North and South Rolling Road, Old Frederick Road, Edmondson Avenue and Ingleside Avenue and parts of Sulphur Spring Road, Leeds Avenue, Maiden Choice Lane, Selma Avenue and Winans Avenue in Arbutus.

Among the paths listed for needing improvements to make them attractive to both cyclists and pedestrians were the three converted trolley trails in the area, trails in Patapsco Valley State Park, the Catonsville Park Trail and Banneker Community Center Trail.

In addition, other needs identified included bus shelters, crosswalks and ramps in neighborhoods as well as on the campuses of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the Community College of Baltimore County, Catonsville.
…

https://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/baltimorecounty/news/ph-ca-at-bike-ped-20121127,0,6293734.story

Update: Our post "Dangerous Grate: Hampton Inn Elkridge Landing Rd Linthicum, MD"( https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20121113170742922 ) got Carol Silldorff of Bike Maryland’s attention and she set out on an email adventure to find the person who could fix this grate. Well that person has been found and says the grate should be fixed soon.

Kudos Carol!!!

Promoting bicycling in Maryland has a lot of time consuming details like this if you would like to see more attention to detail please take a moment and support Bike Maryland (any amount helps) https://bikemd.org/page.php?id=146

And special thanks goes out to Michael Jackson our State Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access for his contribution in helping to resolve this issue.