{"id":197289279,"date":"2011-04-03T10:34:39","date_gmt":"2011-04-03T10:34:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=197289279"},"modified":"2011-04-03T10:34:39","modified_gmt":"2011-04-03T10:34:39","slug":"appalling-lack-of-bike-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/?p=197289279","title":{"rendered":"Appalling lack of bike access"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Matt Pacocha, US editor, in Boulder, USA
\n…
\nAt points the group found peaceful corridors through rough and ragged neighborhoods, while in other areas there was an appalling lack of bike access. \u201cIn Maryland, on our way into Baltimore, we followed this road that pops out on the Susquehanna River \u2014 it\u2019s half a mile wide or more, it\u2019s huge \u2014 and there\u2019s no way to get across it,\u201d says Johnson. \u201cThe sign says, ‘pedestrians, bicycles prohibited’. The story gets even better. We\u2019re sitting there for, like, 20 minutes looking at this sign that says \u2018no bikes\u2019 and we\u2019re just about to start hitchhiking when a cop car pulls up.
\nHe throws the lights on and asks us what\u2019s going on. We got through the ‘hey, get the heck out of here thing’, I kind of explained what we were doing and he said, \u2018how fast can you go on those things?\u2019 I said 25- to 30mph, and he said, \u2018if any of you drop below 30, I\u2019m going to give you a ticket\u2019. This thing was two lanes, jersey barriers on both sides, not one inch of extra room, and we blasted across this thing with him giving us a police escort from behind\u2026 It was a lot of fun. He hooked us up.\u201d
\nRarely do riders have police escorts to get across auto-only bridges, though. \u201cYou look at the map\u2026 and that\u2019s the only thing within 15 miles," says Johnson. "To find a bridge to ride across would have taken 25 miles. It was impossible. Whether it\u2019s a bridge or a four-lane-wide road in front of a mall, the barriers [to bikes] are there.\u201d
\n…
\n****************************************************
\nB’ Spokes: In the linked article there is a lot of "up" stuff about Tim Johnson\u2019s Ride on Washington including pictures and a video. But if you are appalled as I am about the lack of bicycle access over the Susquehanna and why the State "needs" two bike prohibiting high speed toll bridges a mile apart, write Michael Jackson mjackson3@mdot.state.md.us
\nFor a decade we have had a state law "The Department shall ensure that the State maintains an integrated transportation system by working cooperatively to remove barriers, including restrictions on bicycle access". When is that going to happen exactly?
\n
\n****************************************************
\nTim Johnson\u2019s Ride on Washington: https:\/\/www.bikeradar.com\/news\/article\/interview-tim-johnson-the-unlikely-bicycle-advocate-29685<\/a>
\nAnd if you do need or want to get across this bridge contact Biller’s Bikes: https:\/\/www.baltimorespokes.org\/article.php?story=20100331111916157<\/a>
\nAnd I really have to question why the State feels they need to keep Biller’s Bikes a top secrete and\/or why they can’t make arrangements so we can all get police escorts across the bridge. Remove the barrier as required by State Law, please.
\noldId.20110403103439279<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Matt Pacocha, US editor, in Boulder, USA … At points the group found peaceful corridors through rough and ragged neighborhoods, while in other areas there was an appalling lack of bike access. \u201cIn Maryland, on our way into Baltimore, we followed this road that pops out on the Susquehanna River \u2014 it\u2019s half a … <\/p>\n

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