Monday's Bike Forum summary
It was very encouraging to see ~70 people show up and attend the meeting. Here is my brief summary of the highlights followed by some of the disappointments.
Highlights:
1: Safety: Peter Moe - Maryland Highway Safety Office
If you remember after trying to get the three foot safe passing bill through the legislature last year we were promised a safety campaign and we got to see how this is unfolding. Elements include: a pamphlet "Bicycle Safety: It's a two-way street." core message: Bicycles are legitimate [road] users; simple strategies for sharing the road; Transit advertising; email blast; web support and Driver share the road video.
2: Data & Initiatives: Stephanie Yanovitz - MdSHA
2.a: On October 23rd SHA will hold a Complete Streets Training Workshop for SHA's lead staff in Planning, Design and from each District Traffic Office. [Hopefully more training sessions we be held for all involved in the process of (re)designing our streets.]
2.b: Maps are provided for each SHA district that highlight the Bicycle Level Of Comfort (or the lack thereof) as well as bicycle and pedestrian crash locations, in short, a great little aid in highlighting where there is need for better accommodations.
2.c: At all public presentations of upcoming projects a Bicycle FAQ board will be presented, which covers bicycles being allowed on the road, our helmet law, riding on sidewalks, rules regarding sidepaths, common courtesy and common motorist errors around cyclists.
3: Trails: Sylvia Ramsey - MDOT
Maryland Trails: Strategic Implementation Plan <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20080729093118564">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20080729093118564</a>;
.
Disappointments:
1: The transportation budget crises: because people are and most likely will be driving less we need to accommodate cars more and bicycles less???
2: The question was asked who was in charge in setting goals in lowering crash rates and increasing the modality share and no one from the panel (which included the State Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, SHA Bike/ped coordinator, the Administrator for SHA) could answer that question. And if you read critically the last attainment report on the State's 20 Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Plan we are already the best state to bike and walk in as we have attained or are very close to obtaining all performance measures. But if you walk or bike you know we have a long ways to go so the basic issue is while positive things are happening the net result is very little to no progress is being made in critical areas and ways to modify measurable goals seemed not to be a topic for debate or discussion.
3: Who knows better National bicycling experts or Maryland Transportation Officials?
This question seems to be behind a lot of issues, mandatory bike lane and shoulder use, MDOT knows best; MDOT knows best by revising Federal Aid policy so on-road bike projects have a hard time qualifying for funding and off-road recreational trails qualify for non-recreational use funding; MDOT knows best by saying that Federal Aid should not go where there is a need but should only go to those who can pay above and beyond what Federal Aid recommends for accommodating bicyclists.
If you want to see a change comment on this article and/or email the Governor governor"at"gov.state.md.us