Month: May 2013

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Why 20mph School Safety Zones can have minimum impact on child road safety and will encourage inactive travel to school.

On the face of it, having a 20mph speed limits around a school entrance seems an sensible idea.
However, a closer inspection may lead us to a very different conclusion
First some background and key facts –
* Only a small minority of child road casualties occur on the way to or from school (Just 20%).
* Very few casualties occur outside the school itself.
* The mean radius of school safety zones is just 300m, yet the mean distance travelled to school is 1.8km.
. Hence the school safety zones apply to only 17% of the journey.2
* At exit gateways to school safety zones drivers are reminded of an increase in speed limit to 30mph.
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Read more: https://www.8-80cities.org/images/res-streets-articles/how-school-safety-zones-are-not-a-priority.pdf

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Explore Columbia – Family Bike Club and Adult Walking Club (Columbia, MD) – Meetup

Explore Columbia inspires and motivates people of all ages to explore the Columbia paths and Howard County trails by bike and on foot.

We are two social recreational clubs: a biking club for families and a walking club for adults. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors and would like to explore the extensive network of paths within our community is welcome to join us. We are a diverse group for all paces and ability levels.

All walks and bike rides are guided. Our emphasis is on fun, camaraderie and friendship!

About the Kids Bike Club.

Biking with your family is fun! Family bike rides are of different lengths to accommodate families with different age kids. Typically rides are for these age groups: 5 – 6, 7 -9, 10-12 and 13 – 15. All rides will be on the paths and side streets of Columbia. One parent must attend with kids. HELMETS are REQUIRED. We’ll visit streams, lakes, and local points of interest. Younger age groups will visit playgrounds and older age groups will do longer routes that go through tunnels and use pedestrian bridges. Safe cycling and your child’s enjoyment of bicycling is our top priority! Parents please read the PAGES section for more on what to expect.

About the Adult Walking Club and adult bike rides.

Walking with friends is fun! Now you can exploreimage different Columbia neighborhoods and even visit the neighborhood bakery. Walks will be on different days and times and of different lengths. Find a group of walkers convenient to your schedule. We will have groups of seniors, stroller moms (and dads), adults and even singles. Some groups may go for coffee or food and drink afterwards.   Please read the PAGES section for more info.  If there is interest we may also do casual paced adult bike rides occasionally.

For more info: https://www.meetup.com/ExploreColumbia-org/

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Cut speed limits to get millions more cyclists on the road, urge MPs

By NIGEL MORRIS, The Independent
The speed limit in towns should be cut to 20mph and more dangerous drivers jailed in an effort to persuade millions more people to take up cycling, MPs of all parties say in a report today.
They are also calling for a ban on heavy lorries using city centre streets at the busiest times, along with more bike parking at stations and the construction of cycling lanes with their own traffic lights.
Politicians are urged to take immediate action – including a vast increase in spending on cycling – with the aim of achieving a 10-fold increase in bicycle journeys.
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/cut-speed-limits-to-get-millions-more-cyclists-on-the-road-urge-mps-8585277.html