Month: February 2014

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Lifting the Veil on Bicycle & Pedestrian Spending

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Via https://www.advocacyadvance.org/docs/LiftingTheVeil_AllStates.pdf

[B’ Spokes:
D- DESCRIPTION CLARITY This is a big bugaboo for a sampling see My Comments for the 2014 – 2017 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) How are we are supposed to comment on projects that have virtually no description? And if there is such a general effort and general acceptance of detailed-less hohum projects then of course we are going to have a hard time making progress because the reality is we need more stress on the details then on the money. Money is really only needed to make up for projects that forgot about the bike/ped detail.]

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Chris Boardman: "Helmets not even in top 10 of things that keep cycling safe"

British Cycling policy advisor says it’s time to stop distracting helmet arguments and concentrate on real safety issues
by John Stevenson, Road CC
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Talking to road.cc at the London Bike Show, Boardman said, “I think the helmet issue is a massive red herring. It’s not even in the top 10 of things you need to do to keep cycling safe or more widely, save the most lives.”
You’re being shot at, put on body armour
Boardman returned to an analogy he has made before, and which even he admits is a bit melodramatic, though it gets the point across
“It’s a bit like saying ‘people are sniping at you going down this street, so put some body armour on,’” he said.
Government encouragement to wear helmets was therefore “a big campaign to get people to wear body armour, by the people who should be stopping the shooting.”
Widespread use of helmets, he said, sends the wrong message.
“Once you see somebody wearing body armour, even if there’s no shooting, you think ‘Christ I’m not going down there if they’re wearing body armour to go down that street.’ It scares people off.”
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https://road.cc/content/news/111258-chris-boardman-helmets-not-even-top-10-things-keep-cycling-safe

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Announcing the best Complete Streets policies of 2013

by Smart Growth America

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Fifteen agencies led the nation in creating comprehensive Complete Streets policies in 2013. These policies are a model for communities across the country. They are:
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#6. Baltimore County, MD
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https://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2014/02/18/announcing-the-best-complete-streets-policies-of-2013/
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[B’ Spokes: Now to see if they follow through or if this is just lip service.]

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Worst Drivers By State

In this report by Car Insurance Comparison Maryland did very good overall, that is till you look at the Careless Driving table… and oh look Maryland comes in the top ten (worst) states. 🙁

State Pedestrians Killed Pedacyclists Killed Population (Thousands) “Pedestrian Fatality Rate per 100,000 Population” “Pedacyclist Fatality Rate per 100,000 Population” Total (Pedestrians + Pedacyclist) Rank
Florida 490 125 19058 2.57 0.66 3.23 51
South Carolina 113 15 4679 2.41 0.32 2.73 50
Arizona 147 23 6483 2.27 0.35 2.62 49
Louisiana 88 18 4575 1.92 0.39 2.31 48
New Mexico 41 4 2082 1.97 0.19 2.16 47
Delaware 18 0 907 1.98 0 1.98 46
California 625 114 37692 1.66 0.3 1.96 45
North Carolina 160 25 9656 1.66 0.26 1.92 44
Nevada 46 4 2723 1.69 0.15 1.84 43
Maryland 102 5 5828 1.75 0.09 1.84 42
Hawaii 23 2 1375 1.67 0.15 1.82 41
Mississippi 47 7 2979 1.58 0.23 1.81 40
Texas 421 43 25675 1.64 0.17 1.81 39
New Jersey 142 17 8821 1.61 0.19 1.8 38
New York 287 57 19465 1.47 0.29 1.76 37

(This rest is continued in the read more.)
Continue reading “Worst Drivers By State”

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NEW PLAN REVEALED FOR KEY HWY. AND LIGHT ST. INTERSECTION

By Kevin Lynch, South Baltimore

At an open house on Wednesday, December 4th, the Baltimore Department of Transportation (DOT) revealed new plans for the poor-performing intersection at Light St. and Key Hwy.,which serves as a gateway into Federal Hill from Downtown.

Previously a traffic circle was planned for the intersection, but the project became too large and expensive and presented concerns regarding pedestrian safety. “They are able to use the same amount of money to make improvements from Conway all the way to Covington, as opposed to just that one intersection,” Councilman William Cole told SouthBMore.com.
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https://southbmore.com/new-plan-revealed-for-key-hwy-and-light-st-intersection/
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[B’ Spokes: I’m glad someone got the message about pedestrian safety with the old design.]

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Cumberland awarded $75,000 bikeways grant

By Greg Larry, Cumberland Times-News
CUMBERLAND — A new $75,000 grant, with plans to add bicycle lanes to Frederick and Bedford streets, has been awarded to the city from the Maryland Bikeways Program.
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“We have now become a place where a lot of bikers come,” said John DiFonzo, city engineer.
DiFonzo said that cyclists come mainly for the C&O Canal Towpath and Great Allegheny Passage.
“But they are also riding our streets,” said DiFonzo.
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https://www.times-news.com/local/x1708326494/City-awarded-75-000-bikeways-grant
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[B’ Spokes: Trails are great but they don’t remove he need to go the same places as cars.]