My husband and I have lived in Mount Airy for seven years, and have continuously been touched by the compassionate nature of this community.
A recent tragedy in our family has prompted me to speak out about a serious problem I have noticed over the past few years. A little over a month ago, my husband’s youngest brother was killed while riding his bicycle on Butler Road in Baltimore County.
He, and his best friend, who was riding directly in front of him on the edge of a country road similar to Buffalo Road, were hit by a motorist who saw them and thought that she moved over enough not to hit them. My brother-in-law died instantly, and his friend was seriously injured. There was not a car coming the other way that prevented the driver from moving all of the way over into the other lane to avoid hitting them.
Here’s how this relates to Mount Airy: numerous times when my husband and I have chosen to walk our dog along Buffalo Road outside of our neighborhood, we have been almost hit/run off the edge of the road by people who refuse to move over to give us some extra room for safety.
I could go into details, but that would be a whole article. This stretch of Buffalo Road, coincidentally, is the same stretch of road that runs along the property that Dr. Full wanted to develop as a recreation center that children from town could walk or ride their bikes to.
On Saturday morning, on the way to the Garden Club’s plant sale, I was behind a bicyclist in a bright yellow jersey. I stayed behind him going down Main Street from Buffalo Road, and saw a minivan pull out of Prospect Road dangerously in front of him.
I followed him through town, heading up the hill getting ready to turn left into the church parking lot. The person driving the car behind me got visibly annoyed at the fact that I was not passing the bicyclist because I guess he was in a hurry to get up the hill.
Sorry, man. I’m not taking any chances with someone else’s life because you are in a hurry to get somewhere.
Everyone needs to be aware that pedestrians and bicyclists have the legal right to use the roads. The "three-foot" rule passed the Maryland legislature, and will be law starting Oct. 1.
Three feet is a minimum from the outer edge of your side mirror. Please start obeying this law immediately. It is really just common sense.
It is too late for my dear brother-in-law, who was 10 days short of his 44th birthday. He left behind a wife, two young daughters, many family, friends, neighbors, business associates, fellow avid cyclists and a wonderful life. Think about that when you encounter a fellow human being walking or riding along the road.
You are protected by tons of steel and air bags. They are vulnerable. By the way, bicycle helmets do not protect you from a crash of that magnitude.
Sherry Bensky, Mount Airy
https://www.gazette.net/stories/05132010/fredlet161921_32555.phpoldId.2010052015205381
Biking in Baltimore