[From the Maryland League of Conservation Voters]

The 423rd session of the Maryland General Assembly ended April 9 and it was a great year for the environment. What a difference an election can make!

The General Assembly passed two major pieces of legislation that will reduce pollution from vehicles and control stormwater runoff, as well as a number of other important bills to increase the state's use of solar energy and eliminate phosphorus.

While campaigning last year, legislators heard that Marylanders wanted solutions to global warming. This year, they acted swiftly and passed the Clean Cars Act within the first six weeks of session! This bill is a significant step and moves Maryland toward becoming a national leader in the fight against global warming. Addtionally, they passed the Stormwater Management Act--the nation's strongest stormwater legislation--that requires developers to use environmental site design to manage stormwater.

Unfortunately, some important legislation failed to pass this year--like the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays Green Fund and the Global Warming Solutions Act--but we made great strides in educating legislators and the public. The Maryland League of Conservation Voters will be back next year to pick up where we left off. We hope we can count on you to join us!

[A recreational trail in need of public support:]

The Lower Susquehanna Heritage Greenway (LSHG) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to stimulate local economic activity by developing a linkage between our natural, historic and cultural resources. This linkage is a series of land and water recreational trails that weave our past into our future while promoting an understanding and appreciation for the character of this region.

Once you experience all the Lower Susquehanna Heritage Area has to offer, we believe you will share our vision to create 40 miles of continuous public recreation trails connecting Harford and Cecil Counties.

WashCycle is running a story on One Less Car's Greg Cantori idea about closing closing off downtown Baltimore to traffic on a sunday. In Theory I love the idea, the reality is I don't think it can work with out major changes to the traffic patterns of Baltimore, then there is issue of parking for locals. The Articles referenced don't give a lot of details on how he would propose making the change. I lived through the changes in Edinburgh that closed the major shopping street to only buses, taxies and cyclists, the one benefit they had over Baltimore is alternative wide streets that could absorb the displaced traffic. I just don't think Baltimore has the public transportation infrastructure to handle such a closing.

Now here is something the City can do, convert the old tram line in to a dedicated bike path that runs round the inner harbor. That way we don't have to fight with the ducks and tourist buses that currently use it as a pickup drop off point and force cyclists onto the busy and dangerous Pratt Street. Then install quality U style bike racks close to all the major shopping areas in the Inner Harbor, Canton and Fells Point. Then as a bonus install bike rental bus shelters. When we have that locals and Tourists will want to bike round the city.

The fifth annual "Tour dem Parks, Hon!" bicycle ride happens Sunday, June 10 from 8:00 a.m.-12 noon. This is a fun ride for anyone who would like to see Baltimore's better-known parks and neighborhoods as well as those that are quietly tucked away. It is a chance to bike ride with family and friends, both old and new. Riders can choose from 10, 20, or 30 mile routes, all starting and ending at Carroll Park in southwest Baltimore.

If you have been thinking about taking a ride but are not feeling as energetic as you need to be out there on the streets, this is a great opportunity to cycle with others and learn new routes. The ride promotes cycling in Baltimore and awareness of its many lovely green spaces, with proceeds going to parks groups throughout the city.

Early registration is $25, day of $30. Kids under 10 ride for $5; teens, for $15. Register online at www.tourdemparks.org. For more information, call Gary at (410) 396-4369.

Our legislative session comes to an end and with sadness we bid farewell to another cyclists

- San Francisco Chronicle - Steve Rubenstein, Chronicle Staff Writer
Saturday, April 14, 2007

A bunch of bike riders pedaled through San Francisco on Friday night, and nobody got mad at anybody.

The cyclists were polite. The motorists were respectful. The pedestrians were happy. The cops were incredulous.
...
"We're making a statement tonight," she said. "We believe in sharing and being nice."

To all riders, May 20th is the Women's Housing Coalition 2007 Great Bike Ride. Come ride the beautiful Baltimore County roads early Sunday morning. The ride leaves from Oregon Ridge. You can ride 13, 24 or 50 miles. After your ride come join the after party, music ,food, yoga a bicycle museum and more. The proceeds benefit WHC. Check out their web-site. www.womenshousing.org I hope to see you all there!!!!

Tuesday, April 17th, at 6PM at Park HQ, 2600 Madison Street, across from Druid Hill Park.

AGENDA:

MEET EVA KHOURY, THE CITY'S NEW BIKE/PED COORDINATOR ! ! ! (Read more from her in comments)

Bike 2 Work Day
Bike to the Ballpark Day (to see dem Aayos, hon)
Bike Master Plan
Jones Falls Trail Input
East Coast Greenway stuff
Ducks
other stuff I've forgotten

Be there or be a totally unsuitable shape for a bike tire !

Toronto, ON - [This is totally and absolutely unbelievable (with pics in the link.)]
...
i did not see the beginning of this, but the report goes as follows:
motorist throws food out of window. courier, disliking littering, picks up food and throws food back in car. motorist dumps coffee on courier. courier scratches car with key. road rage ensues.

the courier is female. i 'got away' with taking pics by just doing it openly. nobody noticed me because the focus is obviously on the altercation at hand.

i followed the motorist back to his car to photograph his license plate number. he proceeded to open his trunk, take out a baseball bat, and charge me. i walked away, and was one of only two witnesses to stay at the scene and give a statement to police.

For Immediate Release, Please forward to all bike related newsgroups, fitness, family, and neighborhood groups

Patterson Park welcomes back BikeJam Festival and Races for 9th year on May 26, 2007

BikeJam (www.bikejam.org) is the Mid-Atlantic's largest festival of bicycling, and it returns to Patterson Park on May 26, 2007. This day in the park is fun for the whole family. The RecRide(http://www.bikejam.org/documents/2007_RecRide_FlyerWEB.pdf) is a chance for any rider to enjoy city routes on Memorial Day weekend. The Kelly Cup Bike Race, in Patterson Park , offers a full day of competition for every level of racer. The Toyota Family Fun Fest area and Carefirst helmet giveaway add to the fun.

The high point of the day is the Kelly Cup, an NRC race, with a Men's and Women