Criminal Law - Manslaughter by Vehicle


HB 291 looks like another bill we should support, any comments?

Synopsis:
Making it a misdemeanor for a person to cause the death of another as a result of the person's driving, operating, or controlling a vehicle or vessel in a criminally negligent manner; establishing the circumstances under which a person is considered to act in a criminally negligent manner for purposes of the Act; establishing that it is not an offense under the Act for a person to cause the death of another as a result of the person's driving, operating, or controlling a vehicle or vessel in a negligent manner; etc.

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The beginning of One Less Car


<img width="77" height="120" align="left" src="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/images/articles/20070215074504321_1.jpg" alt="">After arriving to the Annapolis area, a young woman named Therese Quaranta quickly found her bicycle trips along Route 2 a frightening experience due to traffic. She single-handedly surveyed 1,000 area residents with the question:

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It does not look like we are going to get the amendment specifying 3 foot minimum safe passing distance into the bill. So currently the bill does not really add anything to current law. But issues raised during testimony of this bill may help to set in motion educational campaigns to help reduce motorists harassing cyclists and make motorists aware of cyclists rights.

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10th Annual Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Symposium summary


John D. Porcari, who has been nominated to be Secretary of Transposition, spoke at the symposium. He was previously the Secretary of Transportation under Governor Glendening.

Secretary Pocari stressed that there are two vital elements to change anything in the state government: (1) A strong grass roots movement and (2) Someone in government who can change policy. Those elements were present when the &quot;Bicycle and Pedestrian Access Act of 2001&quot; was passed.

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Section of B&A Trail is closed


By Ken Philhower (BBC)

Cyclists who ride on the B&amp;A Trail in Anne Arundel County should be aware that a 0.4-mile section of the trail between Severna Park and Arnold is closed due to a washout. The section in question extends from milepost 4.0 southward to the intersection of Hoyle Lane, which is just north of milepost 3.5. This section of the trail will remain closed until repairs can be made. (I'm guessing this probably won't be until the weather gets a little warmer.)

The following detour is posted around the closed section:

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Brief Overview/Synopsis-Bike/Ped Symposium


This Summary was compiled by Bill Kelly 2-1-07

Hi Bike/Ped Folks, We just finished our 10th Annual Successful Bike/Ped Symposium in Annapolis on Friday Feb 9, 2007. Many of you attended and many more were unable to attend so we would like you know what you missed. This Symposium is untaken with great efforts from/by Jim and Jane Hudnall, Oxon Hill Bicycle &Trail Club and OLC. For the past nine years the Symposium was always held on the first Wednesday in February, many asked why we changed to Friday and this year at the request of the Bicycle Advisory Committee it was changed to Friday to accommodate their Annual Annapolis Meeting, but to our frustration they did not meet at the Symposium, but across town. Several MBPAC members did show up in the afternoon-Richard Cushwa-Jim Titus-David Whitaker-Sgt. Janet Harrison-Jim Swift-Dave Dionne(6 out of 21) Many of the attendees and elected officials were asking about the MBPAC. Sec. John Porcari(Newly Appointed Sec. of Trans-MDOT) was there early about 8:00AM and spent over an hour talking with and answering questions about Bike/Ped Travel in Md. All were very excited about John returning to MDOT and carrying on the great Bike/Ped Policies from the Gov. Glendening Administration. There were over 20 Displayers from around the State with many great handouts and info on local projects. St. Mary's Co. was displaying their Three Notch Trail., Frank Stevens from Bowie(The Best Bicycle City) had an outstanding displays of the Bowie's very progressive Bike/Ped Advancements. Barbara Kliefort from WABA /Met Branch Trail,,Adam Schwartz UofM/ Cooperative Bike Extension, Fred Shaffer MNCPPC had a very nice update on Prince George's Co. Inventory of past Bike/Ped Completions and Plans in works. Glen Harrison from WABA was there with the Washington DC Regions Plans/Displays and accomplishments and Eric Gilliland from WABA was answering questions and working with Andy Clarke from LAB on a joint Panel on Bicycle Friendly Communities & Complete Streets. Baltimore Bicycling Club-BBC, Oxon Hill Bicycle & Trail Club-OHBTC, College Park Area Bicycle Coalition-CPABC and many more groups had very informative displays. You didn't have time to see all of them. Too much good conversation.

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HB 827 - Vehicle Laws - Right-of-Way - Penalties for Failure to Yield


This bill was introduced in the Maryland General Assembly for the 2007 session on behalf of ABATE of Maryland which is a grass-roots motorcyclist organization. Motorcycle riders experience visibility and vulnerability issues that are similar to those experienced by bicycle riders.

In an effort to increase the consequences for motor vehicle drivers who cause these accidents and hopefully minimize their occurrence in the future, we are continuing a three-year effort to get legislation through the Maryland General Assembly that will increase penalties for right-of-way violations to include higher fines and license suspension when an injury or fatality is the result of a right-of-way violation.

This bill applies to all vehicles including bicycles.

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BaltoCo trail study suport


By Bob Carson (BBC)

Please write your councilman urging him to support a trail study for a bike/ped facility concept that is being proposed by Baltimore County Planning along Cromwell Bridge Road/Minebank Run that would provide a nonmotorized link between Towson neighorhoods and the major recreational destinations just north of us. This concept is part of the Eastern Baltimore County Bike/Ped plan. A trail study would be the next step now that the concept has been proposed within the plan. The most important councilmen to contact are from the 3rd and 5th district as the proposed trail goes through their district.

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