Follow the link for additional information. A strong showing from the cycling community would be great. We've said that we are willing to perform regular trail maintenance. We are in the process of determining which trails, so in the meantime Project Clean Stream is a good cause and an opportunity to show our support.

The nation's transit systems hosted 10.2 billion trips last year, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reported yesterday. While that figure represents a 3.8 percent decline from 2008, APTA's data showed light rail ridership rising in nine cities and the long-term increase in transit use continuing to outpace growth in population and vehicle miles traveled.

APTA President William Millar portrayed the new ridership figures as a win for transit, given the economic recession and the fact that fuel prices declined last year relative to their 2008 highs.

"Considering that nearly 60 percent of riders take public transportation to commute to and from work, it is not surprising that ridership declined in light of the many Americans who lost their jobs last year," Millar said in a statement.

Since 1995, APTA has reported a 31-percent increase in transit ridership nationwide, compared with a 15-percent increase in population over the same period and a 21-percent increase in highway miles traveled.

Nine cities reported light-rail ridership increases to APTA: Baltimore; Oceanside, CA; Memphis; Seattle; Philadelphia; Tampa; San Francisco; Portland; and New Orleans. Heavy rail networks in Los Angeles, D.C., Chicago, and Philadelphia also saw more riders last year.

March 27 - April 11, 2010

By WashCycle

WABA will again have its bike valet, and Bike and Roll and NPS will again do tours of the blossoms, via the going out gurus.

And if you can't wait to take out that fixed-gear you bought because it was cool, hit the free, three-hour ranger-led bike tours of the cherry blossoms offered Saturdays and Sundays through the festival. Tours begin March 27. Want to hop off and walk some of the way? The Washington Area Bicyclist Association is bringing back its cherry blossom bike valet: You can park your bike with them free on Saturdays and Sundays for the length of the festival (March 27-April 11).

Even if you don't have your own bike, you can throw your name on the list to rent a bike and take tours during the festival. Bike and Roll offers rentals, as well as two-hour, six-mile Bike the Blossoms tours that begin and end at the kiosk on Pennsylvania Avenue. New this year -- and ideal for locals and serious cyclists -- is an approximately 15-mile, Blossoms by Bike River Ride, which starts in Old Town and runs along the Mount Vernon Trail into Washington.

Photo by Tom H. Jones

I'm posting this more for the title then anything else but there are some nice photos to be found:

...
President Obama has justified his proposed $55 billion in taxpayer-backed loan guarantees for new nuclear reactors by misrepresenting nuclear reactors as the largest "carbon-free" energy source in the United States. That's like saying McDonald's should be put in charge of a nationwide obesity campaign because it's the largest restaurant in the U.S. that sells salads.
...

In the last 15 years, 76,000 Americans have been killed by while walking or crossing a street – too many of our roads are built for cars only.

But Rep. Earl Blumenauer just introduced a piece of legislation that could set aside $2 billion for grants to fund safe networks for biking and walking in communities all across the country.

Urge your representative to co-sponsor the Active Community Transportation Act. Sign the letter below and we'll deliver your message to Capitol Hill.

[Please note the draft of Part One of the Bike Master Plan is up for reveiw.]

Richard Layman, Bicycle & Pedestrian Planner
410-887-3521
rlayman@baltimorecountymd.gov

Introduction

The Western Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plan will be an "action plan" for constructing pedestrian and bicycle improvements in the urban sections of the western part of Baltimore County.

The main impetus for undertaking this plan comes from Baltimore County's Master Plan 2010.  The master plan describes the need to improve the variety of transportation options available to its citizens.  It calls for a county-wide plan for developing and improving bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

Master Plan Goal for Pedestrian Facilities:  Develop and maintain pedestrian facilities that provide desirable levels of accessibility and safety for pedestrians, and encourage walking for both utilitarian and recreational purposes.

Master Plan Goal for Bicycle Facilities:  Develop and maintain bicycle facilities that provide an adequate level of convenience, mobility, and safety for bicyclists at all levels of experience, and encourage bicycle trips for utilitarian, recreational and commuting purposes.

Western County Planning Activities

The plan is being developed by an advisory committee composed of representatives from the community and county and state government, and will be based on the needs and desires expressed by the citizens who live or work in the area. It will identify specific projects to be implemented and provide recommendations for phasing and funding. 

The committee is currently reviewing a draft of the first section of the plan concerning "Engineering/Facilities for Walking and Bicycling."  Because the file size is large, it is available for viewing as Part One (PDF) and Part Two (PDF).

Pedestrian and Bicycle Planning E-newsletter

Sign up to receive the latest information about pedestrian and bicycle planning activities by subscribing to the County Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plan E-Newsletter.

Walking and Biking Survey

Please take this online survey to identify areas for walking and bicycling improvements in the Western plan area.