Biking in Baltimore
[B’ Spokes: And remember everyone pays close to the same in “road tax” so that means urban dwellers are paying for rural drivers. Which should put a end to the argument that rural drivers are paying for mass transit that they don’t use.]
https://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/11/11/study-sprawling-areas-require-3-times-as-much-pavement-per-person/
[B’ Spokes: Vallario is still insisting that the state be lenient with drunk drivers. š ]
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/redistricting-looms-but-vallario-retains-old-school-grip-on-md-house-judiciary-committee/2013/03/03/f5356544-81f7-11e2-8074-b26a871b165a_story.html
B’ Spokes: On one hand it’s nice to see them doing something but on the other hand it’s just lipstick on a pig, the substance of the problem remains. Bigger stop signs, come on, that’s not going to do a thing. The issue is basically that if you accommodate a behavior, you get that behavior. In this case a right turn to an acceleration lane is the problem.
To explain further, people stop if there is cross traffic, no cross traffic little to no compliance for coming to a full and complete stop, too much like the wide radius right turns they put everywhere so people turning right don’t have to stop, heck they don’t even have to slow down.
The cheap fix would be to put a raised crosswalk in to make sure turning trucks slowed down significantly before turning (I believe the cost to be around $500). A better option would be to get rid of the acceleration lane and put a stop light in (I believe the cost to be around $2000.)
So there you have it, to prevent another cyclists death is not worth $2000. So sad that either of these options are not considered viable solutions.
WBAL’s coverage: https://www.wbaltv.com/news/improvements-coming-to-intersection-where-bicyclist-died/35801248
Via Adventure Cycling Newsletter
Speaking of the C&O Canal and the GAP, the Allegheny Trail Alliance is currently soliciting ideas and feedback on the launch of roll-on bicycle service on Amtrak’s Capitol Limited route. The train runs between Chicago and Washington, D.C., joining in alongside the GAP and the C&O as it goes. According to a representative of the Alliance, which serves on the Amtrak Bicycle Task Force, “We are looking to see how the service can improve, while also asking the public: Where should roll-on service go next?” You can begin the survey by clicking on this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QL787TF
-> The Institute for Transportation Engineers (ITE) has released a guide of best practices on interchange designs that accommodate pedestrians and cyclists in the United States and Canada. It identifies precise dimensions, safety features, signage, pavement markings, and design geometries as best practices that may provide insight into future updates of statewide or federal highway design manuals. (Recommended Design Guidelines to Accommodate Pedestrians and Bicycles at Interchanges: https://bit.ly/1LhAuyH)
from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
[B’ Spokes: Note state law calls for “best engineering practices” so here you go. Ref: https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20111025010622931 ]
-> A study of 100 census tracts with the highest levels of bicycle commuting in the country used American Community Survey (ACS) journey-to-work data to identify neighborhoods with the highest levels of bicycle commuting. It paired each with a randomly selected census tract from the same county to uncover what factors influence bicycle commuting. https://1.usa.gov/1LhAP4F (Neighborhood Characteristics that Support Bicycle Commuting: Analysis of the Top 100 United States Census Tracts: https://bit.ly/1L5T35n)
from CenterLines, the e-newsletter of the National Center for Bicycling & Walking.
[B’ Spokes:Of the six cases that Streetsblog could find all were caused by at fault drivers so natch blame the victim. It is scary to me that this seems to be a national trend with “safety” professionals to not even address driver behavior that kills but to solely blame the victim. If we ever truly want to put an end to death by automobile this has to change!]
https://www.streetsblog.org/2015/09/16/nypd-to-brooklyn-seniors-stop-getting-killed-by-motorists/
By ERIC JAFFE, City Lab
“Thatās the frustrating conclusion one gets from a new case study about implementing a road diet on Livingston. The analysis finds that the safety benefits of reducing automobile space and speeds on the street would far outweigh any losses from driver delay. But the reportās authors state that officials were concerned from the start about upsetting the car-centric status quo”
https://www.citylab.com/cityfixer/2015/10/the-benefits-of-slower-traffic-measured-in-money-and-lives/408472/
Via Baltimore Heritage
October 11 @ 9:00 am – 11:30 am | $15 | Register
Explore historic places that tell of the struggles and partnerships between Baltimoreās Jewish and African American communities during the Civil Rights movement and beyond.
Weāll see synagogues and social halls, corner stores and tennis courts that tell the story of Baltimoreās Jewish community in the late 19th and early 20th century and the African-American community that succeeded them in the neighborhoods around Druid Hill Park. Join Eli Pousson from Baltimore Heritage on a fall ride tour of African-American, Jewish and Civil Rights landmarks from Eutaw Place to Park Heights.
https://baltimoreheritage.org/event/black-and-jewish-civil-rights-heritage-by-bike/
By Adele Peters, Fast Coexist
Investing in a network of fully separated bike lanes could save cities huge sums in the long-term. But too little investment in wimpy infrastructure could actually decrease enthusiasm for cycling.
For every dollar spent to build new separated bike lanes, cities could save as much as $24 thanks to lower health care costs and less pollution and traffic, according to a new study from researchers in New Zealand.
…
https://www.fastcoexist.com/3034354/the-cities-that-spend-the-most-on-bike-lanes-later-reap-the-most-reward?partner=rss