BIKES vs CARS TRAILER from WG Film on Vimeo.
Kamenetz Announces 23 Miles of New Bicycle Routes
Towson, Maryland (October 8, 2013) – Bicycle riders in Baltimore County will have over 23 miles of new bikeways thanks to $229,600 in grants awarded to Baltimore County from the Maryland Department of Transportation Bikeways Program.
"In this era of high gas prices, traffic congestion and a renewed emphasis on physical fitness, designating bike routes really make sense," said Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz. "We thank the State for its support of our growing network of trails and bikeways."
New or expanded bicycle routes are planned for Dundalk, Towson, Lansdowne, Baltimore Highlands, Woodlawn, Catonsville and Arbutus.
Improvements
The improvements are based on current pedestrian and bicycle access plans, and include striped bike lanes, bike route signs, and "share the road" pavement markings. The Baltimore County departments of Planning and Public Works will be meeting with community groups to review and refine each community’s improvements before implementation.
https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/News/releases/1009bicycle.html
Bike on the Street, Not on the Sidewalk [video]
[B’ Spokes: Nice introduction to safe cycling from Chicago. While this has a lot of nice tips for the novice cyclist, for me I would love it if something like this was shown to the drivers around here… cycling on the sidewalk is not always as easy as it sounds.]
Louis CK – Different Set of Values [video]
Caution: Language but of course he’s talking about driving.
[B’ Spokes: Seriously this should be part of Drivers’ Ed and periodic public service announcements.]
Repurposing Streets for All Users in Portland — Maine
[B’ Spokes: Can you imagine if they did something like this on, oh let’s say Northern Parkway or really lots and lots of streets in Baltimore where obstacles like poles and traffic control boxes are in the way of pedestrians on a already narrow sidewalk.]
by Angie Schmitt, Streets blog
On St. John Street in Portland, Maine, a lane of pavement was replaced with a landscaped walkway. Photo: Rights of Way
…
https://streetsblog.net/2013/10/01/repurposing-streets-for-all-users-in-portland-maine/
Standoff – PeopleForBikes [video]
[B’ Spokes: This is what we are working to achieve. ;)]
Petition: Enact a Law to Protect Bicyclists from Driver Harassment
Update: This is going out to a more appropriate group of people, please sign even if you signed the other one:
https://www.change.org/petitions/enact-a-law-to-protect-bicyclists-from-driver-harassment
*******************************************************************************************************************************
I am a woman who commutes by bicycle (and train) daily from my home in Baltimore City to my office in Washington, D.C. I am urging you to enact a lifesaving law to protect bicyclists from driver harassment. Each morning I am forced to risk my life in order to choose a healthy, environmentally friendly and fiscally responsible mode of travel in Baltimore City. This is unfortunate as I do not face this same level of danger while traveling in Washington, D.C. Several times a week, despite using marked bicycle travel lanes and obeying all traffic laws drivers honk, scream, enter my lane of travel, pass too closely and brake suddenly in front of me for the sole purpose of communicating to me that I do not belong on the road. I have had drivers nudge me with their bumpers while screaming at me to "Get on the sidewalk" or "The speed limit is 35 mph, if you can’t do 35 get off the road". This is terrifying, unfortunate and a real barrier to increasing this healthy and sustainable method of travel among all residents, but especially among women. Despite having clear descriptions of drivers, their vehicles and their license plate numbers, Baltimore City Police refuse to take reports of these aggressive drivers who are clearly displaying road rage. I’m told that unless a driver actually hits me and causes me injury that requires transport to the hospital or damage to my bicycle that I am unable to file a report of this behavior. In response to similar experiences around the nation, many local government groups have drafted new laws to protect cyclists from this life threatening behavior. Please send a message that all users have rights to our roads and should be protected from dangerous and aggressive drivers and help to pass a law to protect me and support cycling in Maryland.
Continue reading “Petition: Enact a Law to Protect Bicyclists from Driver Harassment”
Heads up Howard County District 9b – Anti-Bike candidate running for delegate
That’s right the man that thinks that the underperforming (#1) ICC six lane highway is environmentally friendly and a bike trail is not good for the environment (#2) is running for District 9b state delegate.
On the issue of transportation:
"Even before the ICC was approved Flanagan was busy stealing money from routine bike/ped accommodations and from mass transit" (#3)
From his website he states "One of the saddest consequences of tax and spend policies…" – Yet you can say our increase in the gas tax was a direct result of Flanagan pushing for the very, very expensive ICC highway which we could not afford, (#4) – That’s not responsible nor is his statement honest as one of Maryland’s biggest and expensive boondoggles was something he pushed for.
And another point on taxes could the rain tax have been averted if we included modern state of the art stormwater management with all major highway projects? Maybe not but still not including them with a very significant source of impervious surfaces when he was in charge of Transportation projects only served to make the problem worse.
He goes on trying to make a case that he supports senior citizens… and I’ll assert that cannot be done with so little support for mass transit, walking (walkable communities) and biking. My mom at 75 was doing a lot of biking in Arizona and she’s doing a lot better than people in their 60’s, active retirement, something we should think about and supporting here in Maryland.
But what really gets my goat was at a meeting of Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (#5) about the ICC "full and complete bike path" word came down that any government employee that did not vote the way that Flanagan wanted would be fired. Could he do that, well I guess but that’s not how I want to see government run… essentially sticking their fingers in there ears and going "Lalalalala, I can’t hear you." – Government works best when it listens to the people, and in my opinion that’s not Flanagan.
Continue reading “Heads up Howard County District 9b – Anti-Bike candidate running for delegate”
The C&O Canal National Historical Park will be closed for the duration of the government shutdown.
During the shutdown, the Park is closed. This includes the towpath and all facilities. Visitation is strictly prohibited.
- Visitor traffic, whether on foot, bike, or horse, is strictly prohibited.
- Bicyclists planning rides from Pittsburgh to DC on the GAP and C&O Canal should plan to turn back at Cumberland.
- All Visitors Centers are CLOSED.
- Hiker/Bikers and campgrounds are CLOSED.
- The Canal Quarters lockhouses are CLOSED.
- All restroom facilities, both permanent and portable, are CLOSED.
- Handles have been removed from all well pumps.
- The only Park staff that will be on duty will be law enforcement rangers.
- The portion of the Capital Crescent Trail that runs parallel to the towpath in DC is managed by the C&O Canal NHP and is CLOSED.
- All access roads to the Park are CLOSED. This means you will not be able to trailer boats to boat ramps along the towpath.
- Interpretive and educational programming in the Park will be temporarily suspended. School field trips to the Park will need to be rescheduled once Park staff has returned.
- Volunteer events and events requiring special use permits will not be able to take place.
- All volunteers working in an official capacity should cease volunteer activities immediately and not enter the Park’s premises.
https://canaltrust.org/trust/index.php?page=government-shutdown
DO YOU SUPPORT KURT RIEGEL’S GREEN INITIATIVES?
[B’ Spokes: we all know that promoting biking is NOT about taking away anyone’s car (as his opponents claim) but giving all modes equal opportunity. So please if you are on Facebook show some bike love and like Kurt Riegel’s page.]
Position
Mobility. Parking needs smarter management helped by modern technology. Too many sidewalks are missing, broken, obstructed by poles or fail Disability Act standards. Annapolis’ bicycle master plan needs smart and speedy implementation. Transit needs better Ward 2 coverage and Circulator-type agility to serve residents better, not just visitors.
Via Capital Gazette
Kurt Riegel for Alderman, Annapolis Ward 2 Faccebook page