Month: November 2012

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Dangerous Grate: Hampton Inn Elkridge Landing Rd Linthicum, MD

Update: This grate should be fixed soon. Ref: https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20121129120407433

[B’ Spokes: I’m not sure who to forward this too, anyone have any ideas?]
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There is a drain grate situated between the Hampton Inn and Red Roof Inn on Elkridge Landing Rd that has gaps parallel to the direction of travel and wide enough for a bicycle wheel to fall in to. All other grates on this section of Elkridge Landing are configured to be bicycle safe. Numerous bike commuters heading to the NSA or other office facilities in this area in heavy traffic each morning have to swerve in to traffic to avoid the grate. As there is no shoulder this presents a significant hazzard.

https://seeclickfix.com/issues/275478

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Family Biking Workshops in Marin County

[B’ Spokes: this is a great idea!]
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By Jake Knight, Alliance for Biking and Walking
As part of a continuing focus on educating and encouraging families to bike together, Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC) is working with Alta Planning + Design to offer the free Family Biking Workshop Series.
Building off of MCBC’s previous work with family trainings and “Riding with Youth,” the series takes kids and parents through four hands-on sessions where they can learn with guided practice.
As the series progresses, students move from learning indoors to outside and from the bike rodeo to the street. Starting with the basics of safety and riding techniques, MCBC provides interactive lessons to teach parents and kids together.
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https://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/site/blog/4288/

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You can’t spell carbon without car

At last measure, we are sending $612,500 overseas every minute in support of our current automotive lifestyle. Cumulatively, over recent decades, this has amounted to a “massive, irreversible shift in wealth and power from the United States to the petro-states of the Middle East and energy-rich Russia.” This cash transfer, which is quickly working its way up to a third of a trillion dollars each year, is building some truly stunning metrorail systems in Dubai and Abu Dhabi — our cars are buying their trains. Add to this amount the significant chunk of our $700 billion military budget that is used to protect these questionable foreign interests, and it’s easy to see how our oil appetite could undo us economically long before the oil begins to run dry.
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Excerpt from Salon’s Stop climate change: Move to the city, start walking
https://www.salon.com/2012/11/03/stop_climate_change_move_to_the_city_start_walking/

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Driver in Diane Whitman fatality gets $400 in fines

via The WashCycle
Thanks to Joe for pointing this out. Heather Simmons, the driver who hit Diane Whitman from behind on Olney-Latonsville Road/Route 108, killing her, was found guilty of Negligent driving and "Not Keeping 3 Feet" and charged $400 in fines. That may be the first prosecution of the 3 feet rule in the region.
There doesn’t seem to be any sign of points or loss of license. There may be a civil case that follows, but still it looks like 2 tickets for $400 is the extent of the punishment.
https://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/11/driver-in-diane-whitman-fatality-gets-400-in-fines.html

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Auto sensors for cars and now for pedestrians

Via Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) • U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT)
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Once the FHWA determined the scientific approach to be feasible, Volpe awarded the small business a Phase 2 SBIR contract to move from concept to full-scale prototype. During this phase, Migma developed and tested a new infra-red (IR), light-emitting diode (LED) stereo camera that can detect pedestrians in near real time, day and night. The stereo camera has two lenses with separate image sensors for each lens, allowing the camera to capture three-dimensional (3-D) images. Researchers also developed pedestrian detection algorithms, enabling them to extract generic 3-D features from a stereo disparity map, which measures the difference between the two views.
The prototype can discriminate pedestrians from vehicles, taking advantage of the concavity of the human body. When the device detects pedestrians approaching the crosswalk, it can send a signal to the traffic signal controller to call the pedestrian phase for the person needing to walk across the street. Where needed for slow-moving pedestrians, who take more time to cross a street, the device can detect pedestrians still in the crosswalk and send a request to equipped traffic signal controllers to extend the "walk" signal until the pedestrian has safely crossed the street.
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https://www.volpe.dot.gov/noteworthy/2012/frpltp.html

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Cycling Jersey for a good cause

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Restore Red Hook Jersey

By Castelli

$100.00

WHAT HAPPENED? Our neigborhood of Red Hook, Brooklyn has been left flooded and in shambles following Hurricane Sandy. Countless homes, shops, artist studios, restaurants, bars, and workshops have been devastated. Despite this recent hardship, the heart of this vibrant community cannot be washed away. While our own storefront office flooded, the losses are minimal compared to the dire situation in the neighborhood. 

WHAT’S NEXT? Castelli Cycling has generously stepped up to produce a pair of special benefit jerseys with us to help raise funds for Red Hook’s recovery. Designed by Jonah Birns, these jerseys will be pre-sold exclusively here on our site until December 1st. After production is complete, we will be shipping these in mid-January.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: All profits from these jerseys will be split between the Red Hook Initiative (RHI) and Restore Red Hook (RRH). The RHI–an established community center–is operating as the critical organizer of relief efforts. Since then, Restore Red Hook has also been set up to help the many devastated small businesses of Red Hook reopen their doors as soon as possible.
Available in thermal long sleeve or race weight short sleeve

https://www.gagedesoto.com/products/restore-red-hook-jersey

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Not-Cyclist

Once again Bikeyface gets to the issues. Most cyclists don’t look like cyclists (Excerpt)
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And I just love the conclusion:

Ultimately it’s not about biking, but creating a neighborhood where people will stop biking… and stay a while.

And remember the whole point behind roads and cars is stop as little as possible. Let’s help create something worth stopping for.

https://bikeyface.com/2012/11/02/not-cyclists/

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Film Screening: Fixing the Future

Join us for a screening of Fixing the Future, a David Brancaccio (NPR, PBS) production about local groups across the country who are working to create a sustainable future. The BNote and BGCA are featured!

We are honored to announce that Edgar S. Cahn, the “father” of time banking, the creator of Time Dollars, the founder of TimeBanks USA, and the author of several books including “No More Throw Away People: The Co-Production Imperative” will be joining us and will be on hand for our discussion after the film. Mr. Cahn’s development of Time Dollars is just one achievement in a career that, since the early 1960′s, has been dedicated to achieving social justice for the disenfranchised. Here’s a short clip of Edgar Cahn speaking briefly about money for another upcoming film about the need for creating a new people-centered economy: “Money & Life.”

WHEN: Thursday, November 8, 2012 at 7:00 – 10:00 pm

WHERE: Creative Alliance at the Patterson, 3134 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224

TICKETS: $10 Admission

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https://baltimoregreencurrency.org/fixing-the-future

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Every university should have these kind of problems

B’ Spokes: First let me congratulate UMD for getting to this point of “too many” bikes. This is a great accomplishment and one they should feel proud of. This is good news!

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From a campus arborist, “. The real concern is that the bike(s) will scar or damage the bark. Once the tree is damaged the tree must overcome that wound and there is the possibility the wounds can be so severe that the tree can die. There is also added foot compaction to the soil around the tree which limits the productivity of the roots. Overall it is best to keep items that cause mechanical damage away from the trees. ”
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151076582051497&set=o.113115015368119&type=1&relevant_count=1

I’m sorry but saying there is a danger to trees from bikes parking against it is like saying there is a danger of bleeding to death from a paper cut. Granted I am not an expert here but the “dangers” of soil compaction caused by bikes has come up in various bike meetings and those in the know have always refuted the idea.

Don’t get me wrong I love trees! And if there was adequate bike parking this would not be an issue. But some perspective is needed here: 1 bike replaces 1 car but it takes 250 trees to makes 1 car carbon neutral. I hate to sound snobbish here but bikes are saving the planet, so simple and yet they do so much, so their use should be encouraged, not discouraged!

In my previous critic of UMD bike parking regulations I strongly encouraged “If cyclists become such a “problem” then that shows that they need more accommodations” and they responded noting that they earned ” Bronze level Bicycle Friendly University” from the League of American Bicyclists… well let’s look at that:

The League of American Bicyclists has designated University of Maryland- College Park as a Bicycle Friendly University at the
bronze level. … Four significant measures the university should take to improve cycling in the campus are:
* Increase the amount of secure bicycle parking throughout the campus. We encourage you to expand the parking so that each commuter has a secure spot to park a bike and parking is placed in areas around campus according to demand. In addition, implement an ordinance that requires bike parking. Ensure that bicycle parking adheres to APBP standards.
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https://bikeumd.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/league-of-american-bicycles-bicycle-friendly-university-feedback/

So again, more bike parking please.
Continue reading “Every university should have these kind of problems”