{"id":196420994,"date":"2011-03-24T09:23:14","date_gmt":"2011-03-24T09:23:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=196420994"},"modified":"2011-03-24T09:23:14","modified_gmt":"2011-03-24T09:23:14","slug":"guest-post-penny-troutner-on-cycling-advocacy-in-baltimore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=196420994","title":{"rendered":"Guest Post: Penny Troutner on Cycling Advocacy in Baltimore"},"content":{"rendered":"

From Baltimore Velo <\/p>\n

\"Light<\/a><\/p>\n

In light of the recent Krasnopoler tragedy and the frustrating situation over at Loch Raven, it has become obvious that despite the strides we\u2019ve made as a cycling community in Baltimore, we still have a long way to go.  So where do we go from here?<\/p>\n

Penny Troutner, owner of Light Street Cycles<\/a>, has an idea of where we can start.  Penny has put together her thoughts about cycling advocacy in Baltimore in a guest post for Baltimore Velo.  It\u2019s definitely worth the read,….<\/p>\n

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

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\nI used to do some lobbying<\/strong><\/span><\/big> for a health care non-profit, trying to expand heath care coverage in Maryland.  The message, that increasing affordable health care is a moral and economic imperative, is a tough sell, you know.  Someone with a corporate or government job may have no idea what it is like to go without health care.  And getting the message through is quite a challenge \u2013 the political world is full of advocates, and it\u2019s difficult to get a coherent idea through all the noise.  There was no room for apologies regarding the problems of Medicare fraud, or disputes about whether we\u2019re going in the exact right direction, or complaints that our own personal health care issue wasn\u2019t being addressed.   The message had to be organized, focused, positive, and relentless<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Bicycle advocacy is a tough sell also.  Most government administrators don\u2019t know what it is like to use a bicycle for commuting, rigorous exercise, competition, socializing, exploration, or escape (from life\u2019s frustrations \u2013 not the other kind, \u2026although, there\u2019s that).<\/span><\/p>\n

Anyway, just when it seemed as though Baltimore City was poised to make real progress in our direction, we have been dealt blow after blow of disappointments.  A very obvious and tragic case of a car not yielding the right of way to a bicyclist in a bike lane is still not resolved by the police.  Loch Raven Reservoir, long loved, long ridden, and consistently maintained by mountain bikers is being yanked away \u2013 every proposal and partnership offer from the mountain bike community being immediately dismissed.  A resolution by the Baltimore City Council for Complete Streets design is rejected by the City Administration.   Pretty lousy, right?  So, we could whine about it\u2026 or we could do something.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say we should do something \u2013 it has to be the right thing<\/em>. The bicycle advocacy movement needs operate in the same manner as any good lobbying effort. The group needs to be organized, focused, positive, and relentless to break through the noise and earn respect outside it\u2019s domain.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not there yet.  There are significant hiccups.  Here are some of our common, negative actions:<\/span><\/p>\n