Top state bike transportation stories of the decade
Here is my take on the top bike issues The Good:
* The Great Allegheny Passage - extending the C&O Canal to Pittsburgh
* Woodrow Wilson Bridge opens with a bike path
* Baltimore City's Bike Master Plan and continued support
The Bad:
* Maryland's pedestrian fatality ranking by the Federal Analysis and Reporting System (FARS) started this decade as #20, we now rank #6 worst state in the union.
* The lack of spending much Federal Aid on bike/ped projects.
* State Policy in administering Federal Aid that is NOT in alignment with Federal Policies that essentially make the localities first prove they don't need the funding before getting any funding.
* Lower then the National average in bike commuting
* Hatem Bridge - We "need" two fast car only bridges about a mile apart not to mention the local residents "enjoy" all the 24/7 heavy truck traffic that utilizes the low cost yearly pass to bypass the tolls on I-95.
The Ugly (Things that should have worked out better then what they have):
Near the start of this decade we got:
* § 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 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; ...
* Maryland Statewide 20-Year Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Master Plan - we are almost half way though the time period, how are we doing in making Maryland the best state for bicycling?
* § 2-603. Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access.
The most laughable assertion by the State:
The ICC a $4 billion highway (more expensive then the Bay Bridge) is both economical and environmentally friendly while the "planed" hiker/biker trail is nether economical nor environmentally friendly.
[Feel free to add your own in the comments.]
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