Month: August 2014

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Eastpoint Mall highlighted for the nation’s highest pedestrian fatality rate

[B’ Spokes: I have commented before about the poorly marked crosswalks and the abundance of freeway like ramps for motorists "convenience" at the peril of pedestrians at this location. Congratulations State Highways for your continued ignoring the pedestrian problem in this state, you got some national attention for being #1. :/]
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Neighborhoods with the Highest Pedestrian Death Rates
View maps of a few of the nation’s deadliest places for pedestrians.

BY MIKE MACIAG, Governing

…
Baltimore County, Maryland, Census Tract #452400

Of all tracts with at least 3,000 residents, this tract in Baltimore County recorded the highest death rate. Nine pedestrians lost their lives, with most occurring in the area surrounding the Eastpoint Mall west of downtown Baltimore.

The large shopping center is flanked by an eight-lane highway to the south (where four deaths occurred) and a six-lane roadway to the north.
…

https://www.governing.com/topics/public-justice-safety/gov-deadly-neighborhoods-pedestrian-deaths-maps.html

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Drivers cited for not yielding to officer in traffic cone costume

[B’ Spokes: How they do pedestrian safety in California but not here.]
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More than a dozen motorists were cited for allegedly failing to see an undercover officer dressed as a giant traffic cone during a pedestrian crossing sting. (Riverside County Sheriff’s Department)

https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-deputy-traffic-cone-costume-sting-20140814-story.html

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Just living close to Walmart makes you fat

"According to the report, broad, multi-laned streets, characteristic of suburban sprawl, are linked with higher levels of obesity and diabetes. Same goes for “big box” stores, which are associated with 24.9 percent higher rates of diabetes and 13.7 higher rates of obesity. The reason? Both factors indicate that the neighborhood is less friendly to pedestrians."
https://grist.org/news/just-living-close-to-walmart-makes-you-fat/

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Columbia BikeAbout Returns on September 13

BIKEABOUT2 

Mark your calendars and join Columbia Association’s (CA) Columbia Archives for the fun and informative annual Columbia BikeAbout, which will be held on Saturday, September 13.

This year’s free, family-friendly ride will begin at 9:30 a.m. at a new location — Wilde Lake Park. Riders will be able to start up until 10 a.m. and are expected to complete the ride by 1 p.m. They will embark on a 10-mile route that winds through the villages of Wilde Lake, Harper’s Choice and Hickory Ridge. The route takes them into the neighborhood that James Rouse, Columbia’s founder, called home, and then brings them along the stream that feeds Wilde Lake, and then into the Middle Patuxent Valley.

Columbia BikeAbout highlights the history of Columbia, as well as the extensive pathway system and open space that contribute to Columbia’s high quality of life. This year’s features during the ride include fun facts about Rouse, a look at some of CA’s newest improvement projects, and a closer look at the future of Symphony Woods.

The end of the ride will bring a special treat: an old-fashioned picnic hosted at Wilde Lake Park by the Wilde Lake Community Association and CA. Riders will be able to purchase refreshments from a variety of food trucks and enjoy free entertainment.

Pre-registration for the BikeAbout is encouraged. Registration can be done online at BikeAbout.EventBrite.com. For more information, email Columbia.Archives@ColumbiaAssociation.org or call 410-715-6781.

Via https://www.columbiaassociation.com/Home/Components/News/News/506/17?backlist=%2f

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Register Today! Early bird prices end August 31st!

Bike Maryland Logo

 

Early bird registration has been extended!

 

photo credit: smilygrl/Alliance for Biking and Walking

2014 Tour du Port Important Date Change to September 28

Due to a schedule conflict with Baltimore City Rec and Parks, the date for Tour du Port has moved one week later to September 28, 2014. We apologize for the inconvenience and have extended early-bird prices until September 1st! We’ll use the extra week to serve up an extra special ride!  Stay tuned for exciting new ride features and updates in the weeks to come.

Sign up today: 2014 Tour du Port Info    Registration

Here’s a preview of what you can expect on the 50 mile Raven Challenge route:

  • Start on the Jones Falls Trail. After a quick jaunt east from Canton Waterfront Park, the Raven Challenge route picks up the Jones Falls Trail. You’ll ride along the Fallsway working your way north
  • Bike through Johns Hopkins, Loyola and Beautiful Baltimore Neighborhoods. The route continues north through Johns Hopkins Homewood campus, Loyola and classic Baltimore neighborhoods featuring stately homes.
  • Ride through Loch Raven and the Rolling Hills of Baltimore County: You filled up your water bottles before the ride, now see where that water originated!   The route crosses Loch Raven Reservoir and heads east for a nine mile loop past Boordy Vinyards and returning to Loch Raven. 
  • Head Back through Morgan State and around Lake Montebello. After passing through the Loch Raven watershed twice, you start to return south, heading through Morgan State University and around Lake Montebello.

 

Larry’s Ride is Back on September 14th and Better Than Ever

Registration is open now!  Joint registration with Tour du Port is available for $60. Hurry early bird registration ends September 1st!

Enjoy the beautiful scenic and challenging terrain at the 5th Annual Larry’s Ride event.  Larry’s Ride features four beautiful yet challenging routes through rural Baltimore County out of Camp Milldale. Choose from Larry’s Rolling Ramble (22 miles), Larry’s Rural Rampage (35 miles), Larry’s Reservoir Roll (60 miles) and the brand new route: Larry’s Rural Ruckus (75 miles).
 
After the ride, stay in Camp Milldale for a barbeque lunch, beer vendors, socializing, music and more!
 

Bike Maryland’s New Executive Director, Meet Nate Evans

As a life long bicyclist and Marylander, Nate knows the current cycling conditions of the state and the challenges we face to make our home more bike-friendly. 

Nate got his start biking at a young age when he discovered the freedom and fun of biking in suburban Baltimore. Unlike his classmates who were buying cars, Nate bought a Trek bicycle which he still owns to this day.  After college, he worked as a consulting civil engineer to the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) before joining Baltimore’s Department of Transportation as the city’s first full time bicycle and pedestrian planner. Today, Nate is excited to continue working with advocates across Maryland in his new
capacity as executive director. With his knowledge of bicycle planning, engineering and funding, Nate hopes to empower advocates with the tools they need to make their Maryland communities more bikeable. 

Read more about Nate’s accomplishments here and stay tuned to hear about Bike Maryland’s strategic plan and vision for improving bicycling state-wide.

Upcoming Maryland Bicycle Events

 
 
 
August 30: 19 Annual Bay Country Century
​An event from Annapolis Bicycle Racing Team touring Chesapeake Bay’s western shore with four routes 25, 50, 62 and 100 miles. Early registraton closes August 27 with same-day registration also available.
 
September 7: Indian Head 100
A ride through the scenic Potomac Heritage area of Southern Marlyand with five route from 16 – 100 miles. Pre-register until September 5, walk up registration available.
 
September 20: Music to Your Gears
Bikemore’s second annual free celebration featuring great live music, food trucks, relaxed cycling and general good times out of Druid Hill Park in Baltimore City from 4:00-9:00 PM.
 
October 11-12: MOCO Epic
A mountain biking event in Montgomery County hosted by MORE offering flowing sigle track through 11 parks with distances ranging from 25-65 miles and full blown festivities.
 
October 19: Lifeline 100
A first annual Anne Arundel County century ride hosted by BikeAAA with 15, 56 and 100 mile routes featuring views of downtown Annapolis, the Severn River, southern Anne Arundel County and more. 

Support bicycling initiatives. Join Bike Maryland

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Bicycle Route 66 and Amtrak Bicycle Task Force

COME TO CUMBERLAND
If you happen to be in the area, please come to our special get-together in Cumberland, Maryland, on Thursday, September 4th. Ginny Sullivan and Saara Snow, both from our Travel Initiatives Department, will be there to discuss progress on Bicycle Route 66, the new Idaho Hot Springs Mountain Bike Route, the latest developments in the U.S. Bicycle Route System, and national advocacy projects, including an update from the Amtrak Bicycle Task Force. Food and refreshments will be provided. The event takes place at the Cumberland Trail Connection, 14 Howard Street, from 5 to 7 p.m. If you’re able to attend, please RSVP at info@adventurecycling.org or (406) 532-2751 by September 1st. For full details, visit this link:
https://www.adventurecycling.org/about-us/calendar-of-events-adventure-cycling-association/cumberland-md-adventure-cycling-event/?month=9&year=2014&categoryID=&relatedID=
Via Adventure Cycling Newsletter

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Cities Need Traffic Laws Recognizing Cyclists As The Most Important People On Earth

[B’ Spokes: First the streets were public places, then came the car and with that streets became unsafe for everyone but cars. But that is a lie, car on car killing of people is at an outrageously high level but no one bats an eye at all the death. They play lip service in "improving" safety for pedestrians with crosswalks, like two thin and faded lines are going to make an improvement. They play lip service to improving bicycle safety by first telling cyclist not to ride close to parked cars and then installing a mandatory use bike lane in that very space they told us not to ride in. It seems to me they are doing "safety washing" by saying something is done for "safety" but the reality is it either encourages more speeding cars or does nothing to slow them down, all and all the streets remain "unsafe for all but cars" or at least that is the general perception.
We need to get the streets back from cars, we need streets as public spaces and bicyclists are the best to make that transition. Bicyclists are in a way half car, half pedestrian, the perfect intermediary to make this transition. Bicyclists are the indicator species of a happy healthy society, we need to see more kids on bikes… do I hear you interrupting with "But the roads are uns…" Stop! Stop right there, what you are really saying is "The roads should be unsafe so I can drive fast." This is wrong! Drive fast on the interstates, fine but on the local streets we need a new attitude, a new cyclists first attitude.
Maybe the following article goes a bit overboard with the cyclists first attitude but I think it is a conversation we should be having, at least to get better compromises then what we are currently seeing.]
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https://www.clickhole.com/blogpost/cities-need-traffic-laws-recognizing-cyclists-most-811