Month: February 2013

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Los Ginger Ninjas and The New Woman: Annie “Londonderry” Kopchovsky – Mar 06, 2013 6:00 PM

[B’ Spokes: One of my friends was on that tour with the Ginger Ninjas, cycling rocks in a lot of ways.]

At US Navy Memorial Heritage Center
Washington , DC

LOS GINGER NINJAS

Mexico / 2012 / 76mins / directed by Sergio Morkin
At 2 a.m. November 1, 2007, an unknown Northern California rock band called the Ginger Ninjas set out from home on a seven month tour to southern Mexico. They had no van and no gigs. Instead, they hauled their instruments, camping gear and human-powered sound system on special load-carrying bicycles.  Intent on living a life of gritty adventure,  promoting the bicycle as a cooler-than-car cure for global warming and propelled by the mindful cultivation of blind faith and deeply resonant, kick-ass music, they pedaled 5,000 miles and played 100 shows.  This documentary is an intimate exploration of youthful freedom, emotional transformation, and the interpersonal relationships that develop among the travelers in their multi-season odyssey.

THE NEW WOMAN: ANNIE “LONDONDERRY” KOPCHOVSY

USA/2013/27mins/directed by Gillian Willman
The story of a fiercely independent and free-thinking young woman, who found freedom by reinventing herself as the daring “Annie Londonderry” entrepreneur, athlete, and celebrated globetrotter. Described by the New York World on October 20, 1895, as “the most extraordinary journey ever undertaken by a woman,” the unprecedented ’round the world odyssey was reportedly set in motion by a novel, high-stakes wager made by two wealthy clubmen in Boston. Annie’s challenge was not only to circle the globe by bicycle in 15 months, but also to earn $5,000 en route. This was no mere test of a woman’s physical endurance and mental fortitude; the venture was a test of a woman’s ability to fend for herself in a man’s world.

https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/335559

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Connect Downtown Columbia with Lake Elkhorn

Via: Let’s Make Columbia Awesome

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It’s budget season for Howard County Government, and there are a few notable projects in the proposed budget that could help make Columbia awesome. We’re particularly excited about a proposed pathway (pictured) that would connect Downtown Columbia with Lake Elkhorn and the Patuxent Branch Trail that runs all the way to Savage. There is also funding to continue construction at Blandair Park and for renovations at the Central and East Columbia Libraries.

If you support any of the projects, please make your voice heard! Attend the public hearing on March 11 or submit testimony online here: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/budgettestimony.htm All you need to say is: “I support the Patuxent Branch Trail Extension/Library improvements/Blandair Park because it/they would help make Columbia awesome!”

Yes, it’s that easy. And yes, you will make a difference.
Continue reading “Connect Downtown Columbia with Lake Elkhorn”

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Ride to remember: Nathan Krasnopoler – Update, date change

UPDATE: *** Now Wednesday February 27, 2013 7:00PM. BRING LIGHTS ***.

The Broadview 116 W. University Pkwy, Baltimore, MD

This will be a short memorial ride for one of our own. We will adjust details about the ride as the date approaches. Please keep checking back. Comments are welcome.

Two years ago we lost JHU engineering student Nathan Krasnopoler in a tragic bicycle accident. He was biking in a bike lane with all the proper cycling gear right across from his university when an elderly driver hit him. His parents continue to fight for meaning in his death, and for the rest of us as well. The Krasnopolers are launching an organization, Americans for Older Driver Safety, to help prevent this tragedy from happening again. Let’s show our support, both for Nathan and his family’s initiative by doing what we do best…riding together.

Here are articles regarding the accident:

https://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-02-26/news/bs-md-crash-victim-walk-20120226_1_nathan-krasnopoler-mitchell-krasnopoler-hopkins-student

https://www.wbaltv.com/Crash-Victim-s-Family-Against-Driver-s-License-Renewal-Change/-/9380084/11034298/-/bs5pkoz/-/index.html

Event page: https://www.meetup.com/Biking-in-Bmore/events/103976342/

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Is ped enforcement campaign "blaming the victim"?

by David Alpert, Greater Greater Washington

District agencies are running a much-needed, but brief, sting operation today to enforce the laws against making U-turns across the Pennsylvania Avenue bike lanes. Meanwhile, a number of readers have written in with worries that a pedestrian enforcement campaign is targeting the wrong people for the wrong behavior.

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Reader David Joseph wrote:

I walk this intersection twice a day and without fail drivers make illegal turns, pull into the crosswalk, or otherwise endanger pedestrians. I recently asked an MPD officer who was giving warnings to pedestrians why they werent talking to drivers who are the real danger. His answer was simply that they were given orders to talk to pedestrians and issue tickets for jay walking, and he was following those orders.

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With driver speeding, especially with the latest speed camera bill, we’ve made a decision to tolerate a certain amount of unlawful speeding (10 mph over the limit)
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The District needs to focus on the most unsafe behavior. Sometimes, that’s pedestrian behavior, but more often it’s not.
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https://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17541/is-ped-enforcement-campaign-blaming-the-victim/

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Undercover bike officers target unsafe drivers

[B’ Spokes: Yup, you guessed it, we will probably not have anything like this here, so filed under "News you will not see in Maryland. It really saddens me when we passed the three foot law we were hoping for something like this but instead we got MDOT saying in essence "Whenever you cannot safely pass a cyclist you can unsafely pass.", We need something better then this!]
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by: Lauren Lea, WOAI

SAN ANTONIO – Undercover officers are targeting unsafe drivers in a sting operation, to enforce the city’s "Safe Passing" ordinance.
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"It’s a scary thing because they have this vehicle that’s $2,000 pounds and I’m on this 20-30 pound bike. My life is in their hands," Officer Roger Zuniga said.
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The next cyclists you see could be undercover officers because they plan to continue this sting over the next several months. Officers say they want to educate the public and keep cyclists, and other road users, safe. If you’re ticketed, you could have to pay up to a $200 fine.

https://www.woai.com/news/local/story/Undercover-bike-officers-target-unsafe-drivers/UED1eeJUBEC_Id1LBbXAAw.cspx

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Despite “Fix-It-First” Rhetoric, Obama Still Promoting Highway Expansions

by Angie Schmitt, Streets Blog
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But when it comes to promoting the kind of projects America should be building, the Obama administration has touted some real stinkers in addition to some very laudable stuff.
Today’s Fast Lane blog post from U.S. DOT is a great example of the cognitive dissonance between the administration’s expressed priorities and what happens in practice.
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https://streetsblog.net/2013/02/22/despite-fix-it-first-rhetoric-obama-still-promoting-highway-expansions/

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Montgomery police blame victims for pedestrian deaths

by Ben Ross, Greater Greater Washington
After three pedestrians died in three weeks in Montgomery County—one walking on the sidewalk, and the other two in crosswalks where they had the legal right of way—county police could only blame the victims.
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Telling those on foot to dress like hunters in the woods will not make streets more walkable. Nor will it prevent the deaths of people who are walking on the sidewalk or standing in a median strip. Lives will be saved when drivers obey the law by stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks. Montgomery County police must change their attitudes and issue tickets to those who fail to yield.
https://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17785/montgomery-police-blame-victims-for-pedestrian-deaths/