Warning: MDSHA is till trying to kill cyclists


What is it with Maryland road crews? Why can't they post adequate warning about road surface irregularities?
This morning, at approximately 6:20am, I was travelling on Taylor Avenue heading toward Perring Parkway--my normal bike commute route to work. Monday through Thursday's commute went by without any problems. Friday was shaping up to be the same. I'm about 10 minutes away from work.

The road is downhill approaching Perring Parkway. I was exceeding 20 MPH as I approached the intersection, positioned in the drops of my handlebars, accelerating because I see that the traffic control light is in my favor. I enter the intersection. My attention is on what other road users are doing around me. I didn't see any warning signs about road surface irregularities, only orange barrels. Then, I realize there's a 1-2 inch square-cut elevation in the road surface. I hit it dead on, full force. I hear my water bottle skitter across the road behind me. Something gives. It's my handlebar. The left handlebar drop breaks away, but the handlebar tape keeps my weight from shifting off center too much. I quickly grab the tops of the handlebars and slow down using the rear brake expecting one or both of my tires to go flat. I managed to shift the front deraileur to the small ring. I keep on going. I'm forced to use the rear break for stopping as all controls on the left have nothing to brace against. Another mile up the road, I realize that my front wheel is out of true and my rear tire is going flat.

By approximately 6:35pm, I get to work. I'm livid about the damage done to my bike and having to take time off from work to get it repaired all because Maryland road crews can not post adequate warning for all road users. Why is that? I could very well have gone down in the middle of Perring Parkway, acquiring major road rash, and braking bones.

I hope there is someone out there, who reads this board and can do something about this situation. This is not the first time that unmarked road surface irregularities have been written about. (Ref. BBCTalk listserv)

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[State Law:] § 2-602. Public policy. The General Assembly finds that it is in the public interest for the State to include enhanced transportation facilities for pedestrians and bicycle riders as an essential component of the State's transportation system, and declares that it is the policy of the State that: (1) Access to and use of transportation facilities by pedestrians and bicycle riders shall be considered and best engineering practices regarding the needs of bicycle riders and pedestrians shall be employed in all phases of transportation planning, including highway design, construction, reconstruction, and repair as well as expansion and improvement of other transportation facilities; (2) The modal administrations in the Department shall ensure that the State maintains an integrated transportation system by working cooperatively to remove barriers, including restrictions on bicycle access to mass transit, that impede the free movement of individuals from one mode of transportation to another; and (3) As to any new transportation project or improvement to an existing transportation facility, the Department shall work to ensure that transportation options for pedestrians and bicycle riders will be enhanced and that pedestrian and bicycle access to transportation facilities will not be negatively impacted by the project or improvement.
Yes, I missed the misspelling/usages in an attempt to get the word out quickly. Usually, I'm a stickler for proper grammar and spelling. This time I failed. I noticed other mistakes (i.e., the use of pm vs. am), mainly becaused I rushed and could not go back and edit what I posted. --- iodaniell
According to the comment by our Human Car friend, the dry-reading policy indicates that they did not do their job of informing the road users properly. You may be able to sue city hall, so to speak. You certainly have property damage and your life was put in peril. I have heard of a book called "take yourself to court" (to represent, not sue, yourself). You may also consider looking up who represents you in the state house and senate and find out what kind of action is needed for you to get compensated for the SHAs improper and dangerous methods. And one other thing that I don't like to bring up, but you need to do everything possibly to shore up your credibility. Bikes are seen as toys and people who commute with them are sometimes considered nut jobs. It doesn't help when you misspell basic words. "Braking" is the act of decelleration. But "breaking" is the act of fracturing. I have seen others write "I road my bike" (has the bike been paved over?) instead of the proper "I rode my bike". Contact your state representative and senators. Their job is to be your servant, so you must be the boss, the leader. They are paid by your taxes and it is their job to help you. Don't some of us think that politicians are 'tools'? Well, now they are your tools, your professional advisers, to help you get compensation under the law.
It should read "everything possible". What, me make as mistake?
Baltimore County's Executive Jim Smith has been good in the past at following up on bicycling incidents. Personally I think locally the governments are better then the "bikes are toys" level but they are sort of floundering around the "clueless" level. So while they are doing some positive things for bicyclists other negative things are happening just because people are not paying attention to detail. The law quote earlier is to show that taking cyclists into account is a stronger requirement then just a good thing to do.