Santa Claus spreads Christmas cheer in Baltimore on his Rudolf-the-red nosed bicycle. Directed and filmed by Anastasia Tantaros and Natan Lawson.
11 Reasons Why Bicycling in the U.S. Is Exceptionally Dangerous
By MATT PHILLIPS, The Atlantic Cities
… Here are a few interesting—if morbid—takeaways. Pedal safely!
OECD
- Roughly “17% of all cycling fatalities were involved in a hit-and-run crash in which one (or several) of their crash opponents fled the scene (2005-2011, FARS) – presumably the motorist(s). This is nearly four times the rate of hit-and-run involvement for all recorded traffic fatalities over the same period in the United States (4%).”
- “Investigating officers on the scene of fatal bicycle crashes in the United States found no contributory factor on the part of the motorist in 46% of cases.”
- “An overwhelming majority of fatal bicycle crashes occur in dry or clear atmospheric conditions – 94% in the USA and 87% in Europe.”
- “One quarter of (deceased) cyclists for which an alcohol test was performed returned blood alcohol values above 0.08 mg/ltr which constitutes a drink-driving offense in all 50 US states.”
- “In the United States, most fatal bicycle-vehicle collisions involved a passenger car or light truck (Sports Utility Vehicle) though 10% of fatal bicycle collisions involved a large truck.”
…
- “In the United States, 36% of all fatal bicycle crashes for the period 2005-2011 occurred in junctions with another 4% in driveways (commercial and private) most likely caused by entering or exiting motor vehicles.”
- “In the United States, the share of fatal bicycle crashes occurring in low-speed zones was lower than in Europe – possibly because low-speed traffic calmed zones are relatively less common in the United States.”
- “In the United States, 27% of deceased cyclists for which helmet use was recorded wore helmets in 2010 and 2011.”
- “Red light running by cyclists … is an often-cited contributory factor in fatal and serious injury bicycle crashes (at least in the United States).”
- “Motorists were charged with traffic violations in nearly one third of all fatal bicycle crashes and investigating officers identified a crash-contributing factor on the part of the motorist in over half of all fatal bicycle crashes.” [B’ Spokes: Just to note two things to take into account on these stats, kids are way over represented in at fault crashes and police officers often receive incorrect (or non existent) training for bicycling laws.]
- “Data from the United States indicate that cyclists were imputed with an improper action in 68% of fatal bicycle crashes (though, as noted earlier, this may be biased as the cyclist was not able to give their version of events).”
Jones Fall Trail connects cyclists, walkers with Baltimore’s hidden gems
By Rona Kobell, Bay journal
…
Both natives and newcomers can discover this part of town on the Jones Falls Trail. This nine-mile trail begins near Cylburn Arboretum in the northern Baltimore neighborhood of Pimlico, about a half-mile from the famous racetrack. It meanders through leafy expanses before reconnecting with city roads and depositing riders at the Inner Harbor. It’s open for walkers and bikers, though it seems most of the people using it are on two wheels — they can cover more ground that way.
The ride is a rare opportunity to see a city as it could be: Shops and restaurants fully integrated with green space, a place where one can hop on a bike in the morning and, depending on how fast one rides, be at the Inner Harbor in an hour having a deli sandwich and watching the yachts go by.
…
https://www.bayjournal.com/article/jones_fall_trail_connects_cyclists_walkers_with_baltimores_hidden_gems
CONSTITUTIONAL LAW: The Orphaned Right: The Right to Travel by Automobile, 1890-1950
By : Roger I. Roots, J.D., Ph.D.
“The right to make use of an automobile as a vehicle
of travel,” wrote Justice Ladd, “is no longer an open question.” n39 “The owners thereof
have the same rights in the roads and streets as the drivers of horses or those riding
a bicycle or traveling by some other vehicle.”
The Kansas Supreme Court struck down the Topeka ordinance and
reversed Swift’s conviction, declaring that
[each] citizen has the absolute right to choose for himself the mode of conveyance he
desires, whether it be by wagon or carriage, by horse, motor or electric car, or by
bicycle, or astride of a horse, subject to the sole condition that he will observe all
those requirements that are known as the “law of the road.”
The right to
travel by the vehicle of one’s choice was thought to be as important as any personal
freedom recognized under the Constitution.
The ninety and nine of every hundred people of this and other countries will not
abandon the public thoroughfares to a single class comprising less than 1 per cent of
all the population. If a selfish, reckless, and indulgent class must run faster than the
majority of mankind, let them build their speedways and kill each other if
they will, but they must not be permitted to continue to terrorize and kill the people
whose toil and tax maintain the public thoroughfares.Representative Cousins stated that fines and arrests did little to deter speeders, who
simply paid the fines and continued speeding. n98 “Horrible and gruesome incidents are
of almost daily occurrence,” and the recklessness of automobilists “has bespattered
boulevards with blood.” n99 Representative Cousins went on to state,
it should be said in justice to many automobilists, that after running over people they
have stopped and rendered quick assistance and have furnished flowers for the
funerals of their victims, although in a great many instances it appears that the
greatest utility which high-speed gearing accomplishes is getting away from the
corpse before the machine numbers can be detected.
Biggest Bonehead (Please vote for Baltimore)
The city of Baltimore, for running a 180-mph car race through the streets of downtown, at great risk and annoyance to pedestrians.
Vote here by midnight on New Year’s Eve: https://dc.streetsblog.org/2013/12/20/streetsie-awards-peoples-choice-vote-for-the-best-and-worst-of-2013/
Some Guy Almost Killed Me Yesterday
by The Chop, The Baltimore Chop
A strange thing just happened to me riding my bike home yesterday. Some guy in a car almost ran me over. Not that there’s anything strange about that, unfortunately. It was his ultimate reasoning for doing it that was utterly baffling to me.
…
And here’s where it gets bizarre. What do you think he said to me? He said :
“You were going way too fast.”
Now, I know exactly how fast I ride around Baltimore. On average it’s about 13 mph.
…
https://thebaltimorechop.com/2013/12/19/some-guy-almost-killed-me-yesterday/
MBPAC Advocates for Bicycles on MARC Trains
Via Bike Maryland
The Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (MBPAC) is responsible for advising State government agencies on issues directly related to bicycling and pedestrian activity including funding, public awareness, safety and education. MBPAC passed a resolution at the December 13, 2013 meeting, which urges the Maryland Area Regional Commuter rail system (MARC) to consider carrying non-folding bicycles on its newly inaugurated week-end service on the Penn Line.
While many commuter rail systems around the United States and the world accommodate bicycles on their trains, MARC does not, with the exception of folding bicycles, which must be folded and encased. The primary reason given for the prohibition of non-folding bicycles has been the lack of available space on the crowded trains. However, MARC has recently inaugurated week-end service on the Penn Line, which has not been as heavily used. Given this newly available space on the trains, and given that there is likely a market for recreational travel between Baltimore and Washington for people who would like to take conventional bicycles with them, the MBPAC urges that MARC consider a pilot program to permit conventional, non-folding bicycles on the week-end service.
Bike Maryland’s Executive Director, Carol Silldorff is a participating committee member of MBPAC and encourages MBPAC to meet with officials of MARC to discuss the issues which affect the ability to offer this service. Bike Maryland will continue to report on this as the organizations come to a resolution.
Utilities as Neighbors: PEPCO vs. Transcontinental
[B’ Spokes: The major problem with adding bikeways to roads is the limited right-of-way but we have miles and miles of under utilized right-of-way under power lines that would make excellent connections for cyclist. But the utility companies in Maryland have no interest in even allowing accommodations for cyclists This needs to be corrected!!!]
How does a trail benefit a utility company?
-
Paved trails give utilities a free access road for their maintenance
trucks. -
Trail users act like a volunteer security patrol, discouraging illicit
activity like vandalism just by their presence. -
With laws and agreements shielding the utilities from any liability
and costs for the trails, there is virtually no down side. -
“In our 35 years of planning, designing and constructing trails,
we have always found the utility companies around here to understand
that the trail users constitute unpaid “eyes and ears” to
deter vandalism. Further when we design trails we often facilitate
their use by the utility companies for maintenance of their lines.
With a good trail, restored or replacement bridges and the like, the
companies realize their cooperation will save them money.” Bob
Thomas, Campbell Thomas & Co., Philadelphia PA
With trails providing mutual benefits to both the public and the utility
companies, why do some utility companies embrace trails, while other utility
companies with identical ROWs oppose them?
Simply put, the main obstacle to building trails along power lines is
the attitude of the utility company.
If the utility company sees the public as friends and neighbors, and
it wants its ROW to be a positive amenity for the surrounding community,
it will find a way to allow trails to be built. It will take full advantage
of its state’s Recreational Use Statute. It will reach out to local governments
looking for opportunities to build trails along the ROWs, and actively
negotiate agreements that protect and benefit all sides. Trail inclusion
becomes the default condition, instead of being the rare exception.
If the utility company sees the public as a threat, or it just doesn’t
care about the surrounding community, it will find an endless list of
objections to building any trail. Opportunities will be squandered. Sadly,
its ROWs will be as attractive as living next to a state prison, with
nothing but No Trespassing signs to greet you.
Be lit up like a christmas tree…
[B’ Spokes: … Just because it looks cool. And don’t worry no LEDs were harmed in making this video, other things not so much. 😉 ]
Maryland a net loser as taxpayers migrate
[B’ Spokes: This is why I support bicycling… not many really want to live in a place where you "need" a car to get around. Now add to that getting around by car here is misery. Instead of using anything close to a grid road system there is some rule here that east west roads cannot be longer than a few miles and they idealize lollipop development (too many minor streets close off when they reach a development), too much stress that business cannot share parking lots unless a strip mall and each business "needs" at least two bidirectional driveways but ideally three or four. All this makes for a very unpleasant biking and walking experience as well as an unpleasant driving experience, too many opportunities for conflicting movements. Being overly car centric not only hurts biking and walking it creates driving misery as well.]
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Via Maryland Reporter
… with Maryland losing $5.5 billion in taxable income along with 66,000 residents. [Ranking of 43, that’s really bad.]
…
https://marylandreporter.com/2013/08/21/maryland-a-net-loser-as-taxpayers-migrate/