A For Your Information, if you are interested in this sort of thing:


The link to the spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzcxzCMh1GMhanltUWtNemhRR3M/edit?usp=sharing

Some nice coverage of one of our local trails.

http://www.baltimoremagazine.net/bikeshorts/2013/04/daytrip-riding-the-historic-b-a-trail-to-annapolis-and-back

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[B' Spokes: I saw only two cars come to a complete stop where they are legally required to stop. I'll share one of my assertions, When a motorist goes from 30 mph to 10 mph it looks like they are being cautious but when a cyclist going 10 mph slows to 8 mph it looks like they haven't done a thing and are not being cautious. This is wrong! People are people no matter what vehicle they drive and what people feel is a cautious speed is roughly the same. So please stop singling out cyclists, this is a society problem and not unique to cyclists at all.]

By CHRIS MCCAHILL AND NORMAN GARRICK, The Atlantic Cities

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We found that cities with higher rates of driving have fewer people – a difference of more than 4,000 people per square mile for each 10 percent change in automobile use. As the Penn model suggests, this has to do with the amount of land used to move and store all those cars.

As it turns out, the amount of land used for parking is a key indicator of how seriously automobile infrastructure has impacted an urban environment. We were able to determine the amount of off-street parking in each of our cities by looking at aerial photographs. What we found was shocking. In cities with higher rates of automobile use (roughly 30 percent more driving), about twice as much land is committed to parking for each resident and employee.
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As it turns out, the amount of land used for parking is a key indicator of how seriously automobile infrastructure has impacted an urban environment. We were able to determine the amount of off-street parking in each of our cities by looking at aerial photographs. What we found was shocking. In cities with higher rates of automobile use (roughly 30 percent more driving), about twice as much land is committed to parking for each resident and employee.
...

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2013/02/cars-and-robust-cities-are-fundamentally-incompatible/4651/

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[B' Spokes: Two notes: If we can't get police to enforce the 3' law then advertising on the back window would be a good option. Texas gets 6' for passing trucks while Maryland wants to give trucks less then 3', something is wrong with that.]

B' Spokes: So besides contributory negligence working against us, Maryland has a cap on pain and suffering that applies to all personal injury cases. :/

http://www.marylandinjurylawyerblog.com/2007/01/wrongful_death_settlements_and.html

B' Spokes: Washcycle has a great writeup of the new Street Smart Campaign which should be coming to Baltimore Metro Area as well, though I have not seen any coverage yet. It also echoes my support for the enforcement program that comes with it, my big question is will our local police follow through?

http://www.thewashcycle.com/2013/04/street-smart-reminds-people-that-hitting-others-with-your-car-is-bad.html

B' Spokes: If you haven't heard what happened on Guilford...

http://www.baltimorebrew.com/2013/04/12/rash-of-assaults-raises-concern-among-city-bike-riders/

Be careful out there folks and I'll note if you see suspicious activity examine all avoidance options including making a u-turn and riding against traffic for a bit.

Baltimore Velo has an update: http://baltimorevelo.com/2013/04/15/guilford-ave-update/

B' Spokes: I would like this idea a lot better if it also included biking. Imagine "Regular Burger - biking 10.4 miles" and people think, you know maybe I will bike to work so I can eat better. Well that's my two cents.

The Scientific American article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=labels-that-translate-calories-into-walking-distance