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Maryland Federal Investment in Biking and Walking


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Source: http://www.bikeleague.org/conferences/summit12/factsheets/State_MD.pdf

B' Spokes: Note: Of that $12 million available Maryland has been spending near zilch of Federal funds. To Maryland's credit they have been spending their own money on bicycling... roughly $3 million a year, starting this year.

Something does not seem right especially when you consider the National average of % bike/ped fatalities is 14% vs. Maryland's 22.7% . Ref: http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesCrashesAndAllVictims.aspx#ctl00_PageContent_ctlStYrStCrVic6_lblTableName (Combine Pedestrian Pedalcyclist percentages.)
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Testimony on Transportation Infrastructure


[B' Spokes: I can't help but comment on our 32 minute average commute time, is our life really going to be so much better when that drops by 5 minutes to be more in line with everyone else? Granted people want more infrastructure then what we can afford and that is a problem but I have to ask when will our infrastructure http://www-fars.nhtsa.dot.gov/States/StatesPedestrians.asp">stop killing so many pedestrians?

I'm personally sick that the State is too cheep to even paint decent crosswalks (most of the time) let alone take steps to ensure the safety of vulnerable road users. Will more money help with this? I can only hope.]

March 14th, 2012

Here’s a PDF version of the speech.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to testify today.

As we consider the urgent question of transportation funding, let me begin with three facts about our shared reality:

  • Fact #1: As a State, we now have the longest average daily commute in America,… Longer than New York.  Longer than New Jersey.  Longer than Illinois.  Longer than California1.
  • Fact #2: These ever growing congestion costs are the direct result of an ever declining revenue source – a flat, fixed rate per gallon tax.  Meanwhile, the real purchasing power of the gas tax has declined by 80% since 1992.  And it now costs more to paint the Bay Bridge than it did to build the first span2.
  • Fact #3: Even if we were to apply the 6% sales tax to a gallon of gasoline, Marylanders will be paying a smaller portion of their gas bill to taxes now than we were in 19923.

We  Pay for That Too,…

Progress is a choice;  job creation is a choice; allowing worsening congestion to rob of us of ever greater amounts of our time and of our money and of our productivity,… this too is a choice.  We make our own future, we govern ourselves; and to govern is to choose.

A couple of days ago, I was talking to a businessman from Southern Maryland who was in Annapolis for Leadership Maryland, and he said to me: “Governor, let me just say: I’m against all taxes,…but we pay for that too.”

Indeed we do,…  We pay for that too.

None of us wants to pay more at the pump.  We do not have to do this.  But, you here know, that if we don’t,… we will pay for that too.  Inaction has a cost.

We don’t have to widen 301,… but if we do not, inaction has a cost, and we’ll pay for that too.

We don’t have to move forward on congestion relief at Indian Head Highway,… but if we do not, we’ll pay for that too.

We don’t have to rebuild the Dover Bridge,… but if we do not, we’ll pay for that too.

We don’t have to do the Corridor Cities Transit Way, the Red or Purple lines… we don’t have to repair the bridges that feed the Port of Baltimore,… but if we do not, inaction has a cost and we’ll pay for that too.

Roads do not upgrade or maintain themselves.  Bridges do not repair themselves or rebuild themselves. Minneapolis, Kentucky, Ohio are not the only places where bridges crumble as they get older.  Our transportation infrastructure here in Maryland does not grow broader or stronger with age.

The Ever-Increasing Cost of Doing Nothing

No one has wanted to address this problem for twenty years, and every year therefore our people are paying an increasing cost for this inaction,…and in so many different ways.

As the Baltimore Sun editorialized: “Higher prices at the pump may be unwanted, but a deteriorating transportation system is costly, too. Not only in mere congestion but also in lost economic opportunity.”

It is the cost of time lost sitting in traffic when we should be at home with our families. It is the cost of gasoline and money lost idling in bumper to bumper beltway traffic that looks a lot more like a parking lot than it does like a highway,… in  at rush-hour and at non-rush-hour as well.  It is the cost of lost productivity at work,…

… It is the ever increasing cost of  damage to our air and environment.  It is the cost we incur to our very quality of life,… all of which effects our economic competitiveness as a people and as a State; that is, our ability to attract and retain more and better jobs for ourselves and our children.

How Much Less Would Be Good for Maryland?

As we search for common ground and a way forward, as we look for the good intentions of one another, let’s ask ourselves, if doing less will address this problem?

Let’s ask ourselves if getting along with less will help us avoid these ever escalating costs?

With our increased population, how many fewer highway lane miles do we need? How many fewer MARC trains?  How many fewer Metro lines do we need; how many can we shut down?  How many fewer jobs do we need?  How many of those 106 structurally deficient bridges do we no longer need; how many of them can we shut down?  How many fewer hours do we need with our families, or at work?

Everything has a cost.  There is no way to construct a $100 million bridge for $10 million.  There is no way to buy a 2012 model hybrid car for 1991 prices.

We cannot maintain, or build out, a 21st century transportation system for a population our size with a level of investment that was fixed 20 years ago.

Yes we are all against taxes,…but we pay for that too; and in this case, doing less will actually cost us more.

Our  Proposal

Through the years, there have been many recommendations on funding options. Most have gathered more dust than support.

Our proposal would phase in —  at no more than 2% a year over the course of the next several years — the current State sales tax of 6%.

Our proposal protects consumers with a braking mechanism should the price of gas spike beyond 15% in any given year.

It protects new revenues from being used for priorities other than their intended transportation purpose.

It helps our county and municipal governments by restoring some of the funding lost when State grant programs were cut in the final budgets of  the recession.

It protects the health and safety of every citizen in Maryland not only through more structurally safe bridges and roads, but also with an investment in the Maryland Emergency Systems Operations Fund,…

Finally, it  puts 7,500 moms and dads back to work (mostly) in our hard hit construction trades – building needed roads, and public transit throughout our State.  And it paves the way for future job creation, economic growth and opportunity in  Maryland that is smart, green, and growing.

Less traffic, better transit, and an upgraded infrastructure and a better quality of life make a big difference for our top priority of retaining, attracting and growing jobs in Maryland; it makes a big difference in terms of the expanded opportunities we are able to give our children

The bill you consider will create jobs and improve the conditions that allow businesses to create and save jobs; it will allow us to better protect the public’s safety on highways and bridges; and, it will allow us to grow our economy, create better jobs, and expand opportunity to greater numbers of our people.

Forward or Back?

In conclusion,.. to create jobs, a modern economy requires modern investments; investments that we can only make together;  investments by all of us for the benefit of all of us.  That’s not a Democratic or a Republican idea; it’s an economic and historic truth. It was true for our parents, it was true for our grandparents, and it is a truth that has built our State and has built our country.

Progress is a choice.

None of us want to look back someday – as bridges start collapsing and closing in our own State – and tell our kids that we could have done something, but we chose not to,… we chose instead to simply kick the can down the road.

Yes, we’re all against taxes,… but we pay for that too.

Given the shared realities we face, the cost of inaction is greater than the cost of action,…

So let us move forward.

For greater jobs and greater opportunities, for a better quality of life for Maryland, the choice is ours.

________________________________

1 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Marylanders have an average daily commute of almost 32 minutes, passing New York and
New Jersey for the longest average daily commute nationally in 2011.

Estimates based on the highway and street construction specific portion of the Producer Pricing Index (PPI) project an approximate 80 percent decline in the purchasing power of motor fuel revenue from 1993-2015.

3 State and federal taxes would amount to 17 percent of the per gallon cost of fuel should the sales tax be applied to gasoline
purchases, below the effective motor fuel tax rate at the time of the last transportation revenue increase in 1992.

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HISTORIC ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS RIDE


Via Adventure Cycling

Long time Adventure Cycling leader and all-around good guy Larry Brock of Cumberland, Maryland, is organizing a fundraising event called the Great Gap Ride. His mission is to develop and promote cycling trips along the Great Allegheny Passage, in order to showcase the history and modern vitality of this great route. "This will be a fundraising ride for two great [trail] organizations," Larry said, adding that he hopes "to help share my love of bicycle travel, while promoting and further developing the longest traffic-free trail in the U.S." Adventure Cycling is helping sponsor Larry's ride, which will go from Cumberland to Pittsburgh on August 31 through September 3. He plans to cap participation at 22 riders. You can learn more at the link below.
<a href="http://www.gaprides.com">http://www.gaprides.com</a>;
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GOVERNOR O’MALLEY ANNOUNCES THE FIRST BIKEWAYS GRANT WINNERS


MDOT Press release

HANOVER, MD – As part of the O’Malley Administration’s Cycle Maryland Initiative, Governor Martin O’Malley today announces 20 winners of his new Bikeways Program Grants.  He announced the new Maryland Bikeways Program in November as a program to support planning, design and construction of projects that create and improve bicycle connections in Maryland to key destinations, like work, school and shopping.  Governor O’Malley’s new program will provide $2.5 million this year to 10 counties, Baltimore City and various municipalities for a variety of projects in different stages of development from feasibility assessment and design to construction.  The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) also has just opened up the application process for the 2013 Bikeways Grants.

“These grants are a great way to help local jurisdictions make key connections to build a more comprehensive bike network that will benefit our citizens,” said Governor O’Malley.  “By getting out and taking a bike ride, we can learn to enjoy more of Maryland’s natural treasures, help reduce the impact on the land, improve our fitness and well-being, and enhance our quality of life.”

The grant winning projects include:  on and off-road bicycle route connections, bike route signage, bike racks and safety improvements.  A complete list of projects is available at this link:

http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/Office%20of%20Planning%20and%20Capital%20Programming/Bike/Images/Update_March_2012/First%20Bikeways%20Projects%20for%20web.pdf

Some of the winning projects are:

-     the Chestertown Rail Trail connecting Washington College to the Chestertown business district and waterfront in
      Kent County on the Eastern Shore;
-     the completion of on-road bike links in the City of Frederick;
-     the signed, on-road bike route connecting Bowie Town Center and local parks in Prince George’s County;
-     the signed bike route connecting Montgomery Mall and Naval Medical Center and Bethesda Metro stations to
      support new BRAC jobs in Montgomery County
-     the signed on-road bike route and striping from Columbia to Fort Meade to support new BRAC jobs in Howard
      and Anne Arundel counties;
-     the design of the north extension of the BWI Trail to the Nursery Road Light Rail Station; and
-     high-density, covered bike racks at Penn and Camden train stations in Baltimore City.

The largest award of $1 million was announced by Governor O’Malley in November for the missing trail link connecting Maryland’s Anacostia Tributary Trail to Washington, D.C.’s Riverwalk Trail.  The current plan is to break ground in 2012 on this final missing link that when complete will offer nearly 60 miles of contiguous trails along the Anacostia River Tributary System, including 39 miles in Maryland and 20 miles of completed and planned trails in the District of Columbia.

APPLICATIONS FOR 2013 ARE NOW BEING ACCEPTED

MDOT is now accepting applications for the 2013 Bikeways Grants.  The Maryland Bikeways Program grants are reviewed and awarded to projects that will support plans and projects that maximize the use of Maryland’s existing bicycle facilities, make needed connections and support Maryland’s bike sharing efforts. The Bikeways Program will address key funding gaps for bicycle projects. Program flexibility will help ensure that the best possible bicycle routes can be developed, by utilizing local and state roads, off-road trails, parks and other available pathways. Through strategic investment in the bicycle network, Maryland and our partners hope not only to stimulate the economy, but also to achieve cost savings for households and government agencies.

Governor O’Malley kicked off his Cycle Maryland Initiative to consolidate and coordinate bicycle programs in Maryland in an effort to make bicycling a true transportation alternative and to encourage more Marylanders to get out and ride. The goal is to support Maryland’s economy, to provide a cleaner environment and to encourage a healthier lifestyle and a better quality of life for all Marylanders.   

For more information on Cycle Maryland efforts or to download a Bikeways Program Grant Application, please visit www.cycle.maryland.gov.  Applications are due May 4th with final grant winners to be announced this summer.

Contact:   

MDOT
Jack Cahalan
Erin Henson
410-865-1028

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Maryland Bicycle Symposium: Greening Our Cities


by Roland Oehme, sierraclubgreenhome.com


ANNAPOLIS, MD — I attended the annual Maryland State Bicycle Symposium in the beautiful capitol of Annapolis on February 22. This annual event is open to everyone, and encourages the public to learn the latest in bicycle advocacy issues statewide.

During the symposium, I sensed an appreciation for past accomplishments as well as a strong desire to increase bicycle safety and awareness, and improve bicycle facilities and infrastructure.

In the United States (with the exception of a few regional examples like Portland, Oregon) most people cannot use bicycling as a safe and convenient commuting method. Bicycling is still rather an anomaly, used by only a few strong souls to commute and by suburbanites who recreate by first driving to bicycle trails– and they frequently have to drive many miles, since trails are not always located where people live.

This despite the fact that bicycle-friendly communities in any setting, whether urban, suburban, or rural, promote a stronger connection to local places and people, a healthier lifestyle, and cleaner air.

Have you ever wondered why visiting Americans become enamored with European cities? In general, Europe’s cities are much more compact, and therefore bicycle-friendly, than our sprawling American urban centers. Bicycling to work and to run errands is a normal part of life for many Europeans, and it is possible because public policies are always updated to allow for easy bicycling.

In fact, many European cities (like London) are realizing that they can achieve an even better quality of life by limiting or completely restricting car access to city centers and enhancing the bicycle and pedestrian access. Bike commuting is very feasible in many parts of Asia as well.

Many at the symposium were asking: can our cities place the same value on walking and bicycling as these other places do?

Carol Silldorff, executive director of the organization that runs the symposium, will give her perspective on some of these issues tomorrow. Check back for an in-depth interview!

Roland Oehme is a green and healthy living landscape architect and writer. Read his blog at: <a href="http://www.greenharmonydesign2007.blogspot.com/">http://www.greenharmonydesign2007.blogspot.com/</a>;

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Maryland Bicycle Injury Accidents: What Bicyclists and Motorists Need to Know


by By Goldberg, Finnegan & Mester, LLC, Maryland Injury Lawyers Blog

Spring hasn't hit yet, but we have had some uncommonly good weather. It's only natural for thoughts to turn to warmer days. Some readers of this blog may be bicyclists, whether recreational or professional. Certainly, bike riding can be fun, healthy and environmentally-conscious. However, there are numerous safety concerns when sharing the road, and we encourage Maryland bike riders to be safe. Here's what you need to know about Maryland bicycle laws. Most Maryland laws on bicycle (and motor scooters) operation are found in the Transportation Code at §21-1201 to §21-1213.

Bicycle Rules of the Road
For most purposes, bicycles in Maryland are treated the same as motor vehicles. Here is an overview of key safety laws (there are some exceptions not covered here), with some important ones in bold:

  • §21-1103: Driving on Sidewalk--bicyclists cannot ride on a sidewalk (except driveways) unless permitted by local ordinance. If permitted, bicyclists can also ride through crosswalks.
  • §21-1205: Bicyclists shall ride as near to the right side of the road as possible when going below the speed of traffic, unless making a left turn, going down a one-way street, passing a vehicle, where the right lane is a turn-only lane, and where the lane is too narrow for a bicycle and motor vehicle to ride side-by-side.
  • §21-1205.1: Bicyclists cannot ride on roads where the maximum speed limit is over 50 mph. Where there is a bike lane, it must be used in most circumstances.
  • §21-1206: Bicyclists may not ride when carrying anything that prevents putting both hands on the handlebars (this may include cell phone use).
  • §21-1207: Lighting--bikes must have lights and reflectors when the conditions are such that objects are not discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet.
  • §21-1207.1: Helmets: Helmets are required for all bicyclists (except in Ocean City between the inlet and 27th street during certain hours).
  • §21-1209: Drivers of motor vehicles must exercise care to avoid colliding with bicyclists, and must leave at least three feet when passing a bicyclist; a driver of a motor vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a bicyclist in a designated bike lane or on the shoulder when the driver is entering or crossing the bicyclists lane of travel.
  • §21-1210: Headphones--bicyclists may not wear headphones or earplugs that cover both ears, with some exceptions.
Safety
We see two main types of Maryland bicycle accidents:
  1. The bicyclist is riding on a sidewalk or street against traffic, and a driver pulling out of a perpendicular driveway, parking lot or street does not see the bicyclist because he is looking at traffic coming in the other direction; and
  2. The bicyclist is riding on the road or sidewalk as allowed, and crosses an intersection when a motorist coming in the opposite direction makes a left turn and pulls in front of the bicyclist.
In each of these cases, the driver is negligent and has failed to pay attention. The first example is a harder case, because the bicyclist may be negligent for going the wrong way. However, our lawyers are experienced at arguing that the bicyclist's negligence, if any, was not a direct cause of the accident. It could have been a pedestrian, lawfully walking, that the driver hit.

Bicyclists should be especially aware of other cars in these situations. Extra caution may help bicyclists to avoid inattentive drivers.

As an aside, I'm proud to be a member and former past president of the Maryland Association for Justice. Every year since 2000 we team up with the Safe Kids Coalition to raise money and purchase bike helmets for elementary school students. We take a day every year to visit a school and properly fit the helmets on the children as part of a bike safety campaign. We have supplied over 6,500 helmets.

Personal Injury Protection (PIP) for Bicyclists
Bicyclists are entitled to Personal Injury Protection (PIP) benefits. PIP is no-fault insurance coverage that pays medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses, up to $10,000. The amount of PIP coverage depends on the insurance policy--the most common amount of PIP in Maryland is $2,500. When a bicyclist is injured in a Maryland car accident, he or she can usually go through the PIP insurance of the other vehicle, regardless of fault. One significant exception is where the other driver has waived PIP coverage, or where the other vehicle is a bus, taxicab or motorcycle (most insurance companies do not provide PIP for motorcyclists).

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Insurance
In most cases, when a person is in an accident, and the at-fault driver is either (a) uninsured; or (b) has less insurance than the injured person, the injured person's UM/UIM insurance will apply. Uninsured and Underinsured motorist coverage are somewhat deceptive names. As drivers, part of our premiums go toward this insurance to make sure that we are protected when other driver does not carry enough insurance. Fortunately, this insurance is available to injured bicyclists. Because bicyclists are at higher risk for significant injuries when involved in a car collision, we recommend that they get the highest UM/UIM insurance that they can afford.

Property Damage
Like any Maryland automobile accident, the at-fault driver's insurance is responsible for the cost of repair or fair market value of any property damaged or lost in an accident. For bicyclists, this usually includes the bike, clothing, and any personal property they were carrying at the time. Importantly, the helmet is also covered, and should not be reused after a bicycle accident. Helmets that sustain any sort of impact may have unnoticeable defects that increase the risk of injury in a later accident. If you are involved in a bike accident, do your best to keep track of the cost of repairs and the cost to replace any lost items.

Contact Us
If you have been injured in a Maryland bike accident, and you have questions about insurance or a bike accident lawsuit, please contact us at 1.888.213.8140, or online. We would be pleased to discuss your concerns over the phone or at one of our convenient locations in Silver Spring, Reisterstown or Columbia.

...
http://www.marylandinjurylawyersblog.com/2012/03/md-bicycle-injury-accident.html
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Put a lock on transportation funds or put a lock on general funds?


B' Spokes: I would like to point out many of the fees that go into the transportation trust fund are tax free so support for ancillary services such as police, fire and other first responders services for motorists that are paid from the general fund are not paid for by motorists even though servicing the state's annual average of 97,023 auto crashes takes up a heck of a lot of resources paid for by the general fund.

Over simplified, part of the problem is when the state puts the wrong emphasis on just building fast roads for cars the increase in crashes causes an increase spending from the general fund. And the reverse is also true, put the emphasis on safe streets for all users and smooth travel for cars and there is less demand from the general fund for ancillary services of our roads.

So in short the true cost of our roads cannot be defined by pennies on a gallon of gas and a small fee per driver and per motorized vehicle. This is the problem and not the small sloshing back and forth of funds to and fro from the general fund and the transportation trust fund.

I will also not that:
While congestion is an important issue facing the nation, an equally, if not more important issue facing the country and states is how to pay for transportation infrastructure improvements. Most transportation funding at the State and federal level is derived from the gas tax. However, State and federal gas taxes have not been increased since the early 1990s. As a result, the purchasing power of transportation revenues has declined as the price of construction materials has grown dramatically.

Transportation financing in Maryland was partially addressed during the 2007 special session. A portion of the sales tax was dedicated to transportation,....
http://dlslibrary.state.md.us/publications/OPA/I/Bumper_Analysis.pdf

So we essentially have it's OK to steal from the general fund but some are offended when it goes the other way??? Really, what's more important, education or more roads?

So now let's get into the article that I am reacting to http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=131915
Maryland Sen. David Brinkley is seeking to amend the state constitution in an effort to protect the transportation trust fund, a pot of money fueled by gas and car titling taxes, as well as fees and other revenue sources. In past years, the state has siphoned dollars from the fund to bolster the general fund, a practice Brinkley said needs to stop.

"The integrity has to be restored to the transportation 'mistrust' fund," the Republican lawmaker said in an interview. "You can't go harvesting dedicated funds to balance the budget."

I would like to ask just how many dedicated funds do we have anyway? Just one? And why does that one rate to be a dedicated fund anyway?

Let's make back to school supplies sales tax exempt but charge a small fee to go to a dedicated educational fund, let's make shoes tax exempt and make a small charge to go into a sidewalk fund. Let's do this for anything and everything that's important, dedicated funds for all! OK that's silly but no more silly then trying to keep a source of revenue that is already raiding the general fund from putting some of it back.


But Brinkley said this is not the time to talk about raising fuel costs.

Sorry this is exactly the time to talk about this: economic conditions since 2008 have partly contributed to recent decreases or no change in VMT.

The "need" for more highways is not what it once was. Just because we still have projects on the books from the time when Maryland’s VMT has outpaced population does not mean they are still a valid "need."

We really need to end this car first mentality! Keep what we have in good repair and what money is left over use for improvements. We can do this now with no increase in taxes. The problems come in when we stress "improvements" over and above all other things, we can do some improvements but how many is enough? Well if what we can afford isn't good enough then get sales tax out of the highway trust fund NOW! And raise taxes on those who want more road improvements. Oh ya, and let's start charging the trust fund for ancillary services while we are at, after all a dedicated fund for all things motoring should pay for all things motoring right?
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Cycle Maryland survey results shared at Bike Maryland forum


About 75 percent of the 2,300 Maryland bicyclists who responded to the online Cycle Maryland survey last year said they use paper maps and those who use the Maryland Bicycle Map find it useful. At the same time, 85 percent said they use online maps and 80 percent print those maps. The bicyclists also said getting outdoors, enjoying nature and traveling to restaurants, shopping and tourist attractions were their most popular biking activities.

Those were some of the findings that Rebecca Dougherty Goldman, research and performance metrics manager at the Maryland Office of Tourism, shared during her presentation at the 15th annual Maryland Bike Symposium, Feb. 22 at the Miller Senate Building in Annapolis.

The tourism office conducted the survey with the State Highway Administration primarily to evaluate the existing state bicycle map during Gov. Martin O'Malley's Cycle Maryland campaign – a six-month period that highlighted bicycle events and an awareness of biking in Maryland.

Bike Maryland – a nonprofit advocacy group – hosted the free, all-day symposium, which this year featured 15 expert presenters. Topics of discussion included: Bike Maryland's legislative agenda, Maryland Bikeshare Program, Bike Friendly Maryland Program, Bike-Minded Program, bicycle tourism and the new Maryland Bikeways Program.

<a href="http://visitmaryland.org/Newsletter/Insights/02.22.12/index.html">http://visitmaryland.org/Newsletter/Insights/02.22.12/index.html</a>;
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ROAR for Autism


BIKING, WALKING AND “ROAR”ING FOR AUTISM

For the upcoming Autism Awareness Month families will join together, on bike and by foot, at Kennedy Krieger Institute’s annual ROAR for Autism event on Sunday, April 29. With a united “ROAR”, participants will help to break the silence surrounding autism, a condition affecting the ability of nearly 1.5 million American children to communicate, understand language and form relationships.

In an effort to raise critically needed funds for autism research, Kennedy Krieger Institute will host the eighth annual ROAR for Autism at Oregon Ridge Park. Kennedy Krieger, one of the nation’s leaders in autism research, strives to provide earlier diagnosis and discover how autism spectrum disorders affect the brain in order to develop successful treatments.

A day full of fun family activities, ROAR for Autism will feature several bike rides, including 50- and 25-mile rides for cycling enthusiasts, a 10-mile ride for recreational bikers, a 5-mile ride for beginners and a youth fun ride for the next generation of cyclists. Rather ditch the wheels? Attendees can also take a scenic walk on Oregon Ridge Park’s family friendly trails. Finally, after your ride or walk, relax your heels and wheels at the Family Fun Festival and enjoy music courtesy of DJ Kopec, children’s entertainment and carnival games, along with healthy snacks provided by Wegmans.

Participants and teams may go online to register, join a fundraising team and build personal fundraising pages—all in support of autism research. Don’t think you can drag yourself out of bed for a 6:30 a.m. bike ride, but still want to support ROAR for Autism? No problem! Snore for ROAR allows you to register and fundraise while you sleep in.

Additionally, an iPad2 valued at $600 will be raffled off at the event. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10.
For more information about ROAR for Autism, or to register, visit <a href="http://www.kennedykrieger.org">http://www.kennedykrieger.org</a>; or call 443-923-7300.

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Highlights from Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee December Meeting Minutes


...

3. R4-11/Bicycles May Use Full Lane Signs Status Update

Michael Jackson reported that SHA finalized their guidelines for use of the R4-11/Bicycles May Use Full Lane signs and had begun compiling a list of roadways for consideration for sign installation. Their initial list consists of arterials leading out of the District of Columbia and Taneytown in Carroll County. SHA is open to receiving other recommendations and anticipates installing the first signs next spring.


4. Law Enforcement Bicycle Training Video Update

Michael Jackson said revisions on the Law Enforcement Bicycle Training video would resume following authorization of additional funding, an issue that he is currently working on. He said he wished to schedule a meeting with traffic safety experts and bicycle advocates regarding the importance of enforcement as it relates to changing unsafe behaviors associated with traffic crashes prior to resumption of the video revisions. Jim Titus said that the Washington Area Bicyclist Association does not have a problem with police officers ticketing bicyclists for riding on the wrong side of the road, riding at night without lights, failing to yield, or failing to stop for pedestrians in a crosswalk, but that enforcement should be even-handed. He recommended that officers target the most serious violations that cause crashes and injuries. Beverley Malone and Greg Hinchliffe also supported citing bicyclists who violate traffic law.


5. Maryland Bikeshare Program Announcement

On November 4th Governor Martin O’Malley announced that Maryland would be funding eighty percent of the costs of the acquisition of materials needed to start bike station programs in Maryland or eighty percent of the costs to conduct feasibility studies for bike station programs according to Michael Jackson. He passed out Maryland Bikeshare Program brochures and said it is his understanding that Maryland is the first state to fund bikeshare programs at a statewide level. He said the deadline for applications is December 15, 2011.


6. Promoting Bicycling and Walking in Cherry Hill
...
He [Michael Middleton, Chairman of the Cherry Hill Community Coaltion, ] asked for assistance in developing programs where residents could acquire subsidized bicycles in exchange for money or volunteer service. At the end of his presentation the audience gave a round of applause.

...

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