{"id":120677096,"date":"2008-10-28T17:24:56","date_gmt":"2008-10-28T17:24:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=120677096"},"modified":"2008-10-28T17:24:56","modified_gmt":"2008-10-28T17:24:56","slug":"one-less-car-october-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=120677096","title":{"rendered":"One Less Car October Update"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s Time to Finally Stop the ICC<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/div>\n

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<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
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\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\nMTA Cuts Could Slash Commuter Service in Baltimore & D.C. Areas<\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\nYour Input Needed for Baltimore Bicycle Map<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\nPublic Hearings on Baltimore’s Red Line Coming Up<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\nChecklist of Maryland’s Bike Problems<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\nOLC Executive Director Speaking Engagements for November<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

\"Richard<\/span><\/div>\n

Barry Childress of Baltimore
\nSpokes<\/span><\/a> took some
\ngreat photos of Tour du Port 2008. See them<\/p>\n

here<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
Bike Parking at Train Stations Around the World<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

\"BikesTrain\"<\/span><\/div>\n

Take a look at this cool article<\/span><\/a>.
\nEver see
\ntrain stations with this much bike parking in
\nthe USA?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

\"Winter<\/span><\/div>\n

It’s getting cold out there! Here’s some
\ngreat Wintertime
\nbicycling tips<\/span><\/a> from the
\nGreat White North<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
SIDEBAR TITLE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

\"Subway\"<\/span><\/div>\n

MTA’s Trip
\nPlanner<\/span><\/a> is up and running! Just type in
\nyour starting point and destination and
\nyou’ll get information on the quickest
\ntransit route there<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
SIDEBAR TITLE<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

\"MD<\/span><\/div>\n

The Consolidated Transportation Program is
\nMaryland’s six-year capital budget for
\ntransportation projects. If it’s not in the
\nCTP it probably won’t get built. Learn more
\nabout the CTP and the public input process here<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
Purple Line Hearings set for November<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n
\n <\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Purple<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The Purple Line is a major transit project
\nthat will be connecting Bethesda to the New
\nCarrollton Metro. Find out about the schedule
\nfor public hearings on the Purple Line here.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\n <\/td>\n

\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n\"image\"<\/td>\n\n

<\/p>\n

Everyone,<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

The Intercounty Connector<\/span> (ICC) is an 18.8
\nmile toll road<\/span> currently under construction
\nin Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
\nThis enormous highway project will cost
\nMarylanders more than $3 billion
\ndollars<\/b> to
\nbuild and will destroy thousands of acres of
\nforest, farm land and wetlands. It’s
\nconstruction will also lead to hundreds of
\npeople losing their homes.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Exactly why Marylanders need this road is not
\nentirely clear. The concept that traffic
\ncongestion<\/span>
\ncan only be alleviated by more highway
\nconstruction is a 1950’s era belief that has
\n– for some strange reason – continued to
\nflourish among our business leaders and in
\nthe halls of power in Annapolis. Maybe they
\nforgot that the Baltimore and D.C. beltways,
\nI-270, I-83 and just about every other major
\nroad project in the state was supposed to
\nmake traffic jams<\/span> a thing of the past. They
\ntold us that more roads would mean less time
\nstuck in our cars. Were they right?<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Even more wrongheaded is the claim from the
\nstate’s business leaders that the ICC will
\nbring greater
\neconomic growth to Central Maryland. This is
\na flawed
\nassumption at best and fails to recognize the
\nenormous
\nenvironmental and social ills that come from
\nputting more cars on our roads.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

What makes the ICC even more of a risky
\ngambit is our state’s current financial
\nsituation. Due to a major projected budget
\nshortfall, Governor O’Malley cut $1.1
\nbillion from transit and road projects and
\n$300 million more from education, public safety,
\nhealth and environmental protection. The MTA
\nsystem alone is slated
\nto see dramatic cuts to commuter bus and rail
\nservice (see next article). But for some
\nreason Maryland keeps
\nthrowing millions in taxpayer dollars at the
\nICC<\/i>.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

In FY 2009, the Governor plans to take $65
\nmillion from
\nthe General Fund (which should fund
\nschools, health, safety and other needs), and $30
\nmillion from the Transportation Trust Fund,
\nand put it towards the ICC. This money should
\ninstead be used to shore up the MTA.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Although the State has already begun to clear cut
\nforests and bulldoze houses for the ICC,
\nthe Governor and the Maryland General
\nAssembly<\/span>
\ncan still cancel this destructive, wasteful
\nproject and liberate billions
\nin funding and debt capacity to invest in
\nreal transportation alternatives<\/span>.<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

If you think Maryland<\/span> has better priorities
\nthan building destructive highways, tell
\nGovernor O’Malley. You can send him an email<\/p>\n

here<\/a>.
\nOr you could call his office at 1-800-811-8336<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

If you would like to tell you local state
\ndelegate or state senator how you feel,
\nplease send them an email as well. You can
\nfind your state representatives in Annapolis
\nhere<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Thank You!<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Richard Chambers, Executive Director<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Richard<\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/p>\n

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\"image\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n


\n MTA Cuts Could Slash Commuter Service in Baltimore & D.C. Areas<\/span>
\n <\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

At a time when record numbers of Marylanders
\nare turning to buses and trains to avoid high
\nenergy costs, the State of Maryland has
\ndecided to make dramatic cuts to it’s already
\nstrained mass transit system.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Included on the chopping block is ending all
\ncommuter bus service on the #310 & #311 from
\nColumbia to Baltimore, the #412 from Bel Air
\nto Baltimore and the #921 from Annapolis to
\nNew Carrollton Metro. Other commuter bus and
\nMARC rail routes would see either decreased
\nservice or total elimination.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

To see a complete list of proposed cuts click<\/p>\n

here<\/span>
\n<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Without effective mass transit Maryland
\ncannot become a healthier, wealthier and more
\nsustainable place to live. These proposed
\ncuts are draconian and will certainly lead to
\nmore traffic, more stress and more pollution.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

Hearings will soon be held for the public to
\ngive its input on the cuts. The hearings
\nschedule can be found here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

TELL THE GOVERNOR TO STOP THE CUTS TO MTA!
\nContact his office via email here<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/a>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Your Input Needed for Baltimore Bicycle Map<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

One Less Car is in the process of developing
\na Baltimore Bicycle Map. Our hope is that
\nsome of you will be able to help us.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Take a look at a draft of the map here
\n<\/a> and give us your view on our proposed
\nroutes. Tell us about your route to work or
\nschool. Do you have a better way to go?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/a>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Public Hearings on Baltimore’s Red Line Coming Up<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The Maryland Transit Administration in
\nconjunction with the Federal Transit
\nAdministration will hold four public hearings
\nregarding the Red Line Corridor Transit Study
\n– a proposed 14 mile east-west transit system
\nthat would serve Baltimore from Woodlawn in
\nthe west to Johns Hopkins Bayview Campus in
\nthe east.<\/span><\/p>\n

The project aims to increase transit mobility
\nand accessibility, improve connections to
\nexisting transit systems, and stimulate
\ncommunity revitalization and economic
\ndevelopment. The hearings will be on the
\nfollowing dates:<\/span><\/p>\n


\nThursday, November 6th, 4PM – 9PM,
\nLithuanian Hall, 851 Hollins Street,
\nBaltimore, 21201
\nSaturday, November 8th, 10AM – 3PM,
\nEdmondson-Westside High School, 501 N. Athol
\nAvenue, Baltimore, 21229
\nWednesday, November 12th, 4PM – 9PM, UAW
\nHall, 1010 Oldham Street, Baltimore, 21224
\nThursday, November 13th, 4PM – 9PM,
\nWoodlawn High School, 1801 Woodlawn Drive,
\nBaltimore, 21229
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/a>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Checklist of Maryland’s Bike Problems<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

\n <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Below is a list of some of the reasons why
\nthe League
\nof American Bicyclists ranked Maryland a
\nlowly 35th in their annual ranking of
\nbike-friendly states. One Less Car
\nstrongly <\/i>encourages you to read over
\nthe list and demand that the Maryland
\nDepartment of Transportation address these
\nissues. We believe that this checklist should
\nserve as a workplan for MDOT staff as they
\nmove forward on improving bike accessibility.<\/span><\/p>\n


\nNo 3ft or greater safe passing law
\nExistence of a discriminatory mandatory
\nbike lane law<\/p>\n

No Complete Streets or Bicycle and
\nPedestrian Accommodation policy (Note: the
\nstate has language encouraging bike\/ped
\naccommodations, but no plan for ensuring that
\nthese accommodations are actually built)
\nNo Mountain Biking Plan
\nNo CO2 Reduction Plan that includes
\nbicycle usage
\nNo policy requiring bike parking at state
\nowned facilities
\nNo system in place to determine
\npercentage of state highways that have paved
\nshoulders
\nNo dedicated state funding source for
\nbicycling projects or programs
\nNo questions regarding the
\nresponsibilities of motorists towards
\ncyclists on driver’s test
\nBicycle safety is not addressed in
\nHighway Safety Plan
\nNo education of officers on cyclist
\nrights & responsibilities through academy or
\ncontinuing education<\/p>\n

Information on cyclists rights and
\nresponsibilities not made available to
\ntraffic judges
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n

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<\/p>\n

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\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>
\n <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

OLC Executive Director Speaking Engagements for November<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n


\n <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n