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County Police to SHA on Henson Trail crossing: "I told you so"

Via The WashCycle

...
Captain Thomas Didone, who heads the county police department’s traffic division, is blunt about it.

“People trying to cross are universally ignored by drivers,” he said. “We have done many, many crosswalk stings at that location and every time we go we write as many tickets as we can handle.”
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http://www.thewashcycle.com/2015/12/county-police-to-sha-on-henson-trail-crossing-i-told-you-so.html

[B' Spokes: I'm posting this because I'm tiered of pedestrian "safety" messages that blame the victim and "cross only in the crosswalk". Crosswalks are totally useless and if you are the one that needs takes responsibility for your own safety then crossing mid-block has fewer conflicts and better visibility, so they call that illegal jaywalking but just one problem, jaywalking is not illegal, it's crossing between consecutive streets controlled by lights that's illegal. - But more to the point if people are dying or injured here slow the cars down! With big awful speed bumps and lots of them, Or maybe for each person seriously hurt trying to cross the road one speed bump will be placed. That way motorist will get the idea that they are the ones that are making driving conditions worse and maybe they just might do what they are supposed to when they come across other types of road users.]
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Improvements coming to intersection where bicyclist died

B' Spokes: On one hand it's nice to see them doing something but on the other hand it's just lipstick on a pig, the substance of the problem remains. Bigger stop signs, come on, that's not going to do a thing. The issue is basically that if you accommodate a behavior, you get that behavior. In this case a right turn to an acceleration lane is the problem.

To explain further, people stop if there is cross traffic, no cross traffic little to no compliance for coming to a full and complete stop, too much like the wide radius right turns they put everywhere so people turning right don't have to stop, heck they don't even have to slow down.

The cheap fix would be to put a raised crosswalk in to make sure turning trucks slowed down significantly before turning (I believe the cost to be around $500). A better option would be to get rid of the acceleration lane and put a stop light in (I believe the cost to be around $2000.)

So there you have it, to prevent another cyclists death is not worth $2000. So sad that either of these options are not considered viable solutions.

WBAL's coverage: http://www.wbaltv.com/news/improvements-coming-to-intersection-where-bicyclist-died/35801248
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Hogan Announces $14M For Pedestrian, Bike Projects Throughout Maryland

HANOVER, Md. (WJZ) — Governor Larry Hogan announced Tuesday that Maryland has received $14.9 million in grants for bicycle, pedestrian and multi-use trail projects across the state.

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) is awarding a total of 63 grants, including $2.77 million in Bikeways Program grants, $1.03 million in Recreational Trails Program grants, and $11.1 million in Transportation Alternatives Program grants.
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http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/09/29/hogan-announces-14m-for-pedestrian-bike-projects-throughout-maryland/

[Includes a link to a complete list of projects.]
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Suburban-style streets don't fit a busy Bethesda corner

[B' Spokes: There are a lot of good points and logic that can be applied elsewhere around the state in this article. We need to get rid of this cars first even at the expense of other modes of travel attitude from too many traffic engineers. There are solutions that work well for everyone.]

...
The real problem is the traffic engineering doctrine

One fix after another has failed here because Montgomery County remains wedded to old-style traffic engineering. Two of the profession's basic tenets are to blame. First, engineers design streets for cars and see other users as obstacles. Second, they design the roads to minimize rush-hour delays rather than to work best at all hours. When you measure success by counting cars in rush hour, wide streets and slow lights are solutions rather than problems.
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http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/28136/suburban-style-streets-dont-fit-a-busy-bethesda-corner/
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Ride For Natasha

[B' Spokes: Just to note I plan on going.]

From BikeWashingtonDC
[ In Memory of Natasha Pettigrew - 5th Anniversary] Ride For Natasha
Posted by: "Kenniss Henry"
Date: Tue Aug 18, 2015 7:15 pm ((PDT))

All,
Heartache and pain come from all directions (although folks are quick to say, "sorry for your loss") it never ends!!!

During last year's ride I was told by both the Campus Police and volunteers who are County employees that I *must *obtain a Special Event Permit. While I have aggressively worked for six months to get the elusive permit I have yet to encounter anyone who knows the process!!! Like a rubber ball, I have been bounced and bounced but nothing else!!!!

I have decided to declare *riders' civil disobedience.* I will not let
this the 5th anniversary of the *death* of my baby go unceremoniously.

Yes, there will be a *"Ride For Natasha,"* and no, there will not be any formal registrations...show up, keep coming, tell everyone you know to come ready to ride!!!

Let's send a message that "organized bicycle riding" will come to PG County. Let's send a message that not just this ride but many other rides will come to PG County!!!

We will say that bicyclists are people and they matter!!! Share the roads, share the resources!!!

see attached fliers.



2 of 2 File(s) https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/BikeWashingtonDC/attachments/1626325913

Our Story - Ride for Natasha 2015.docx
RIDE FOR NATASHA2015.pptx
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Construction Closes Main and Church Streets in Prince Frederick for Eight Weeks

Via Calvert Co. Gov. News Briefs

Portions of Main and Church streets in Prince Frederick are closed as the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) makes road improvements. The project involves numerous improvements including: installing a raised brick island to create a right-turn lane from Main Street to Church Street; constructing brick sidewalks on Church Street between Heritage Boulevard and Main Street and on Main Street between Old Field Lane and Armory Road; installing bicycle lanes; improving drainage and resurfacing the roadways.
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http://somd.com/news/headlines/2015/19641.shtml
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Maryland Highway projects to improve Route 1 and build lots of shoulders, a bike lane and a path

Via The WashCycle

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The US 1 College Park Pedestrian, Bicycle and Safety Improvements project will spend $30 million to reconstruct US 1 to a four-lane divided highway with a raised median and enhanced bicycle and pedestrian accommodations from College Avenue to MD 193.

And just outside the immediate area, near Fort Meade, Annapolis Road (MD -175) between Reece Road and Disney Road will be expanded from two to six lanes, with a median, on-road bicycle lanes in each direction, a 5-foot sidewalk on the north side and a 10-foot, shared-use path on the south side of MD 175.
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In Baltimore County, northbound MD 140 will be widened from Painters Mill Road to Garrison View Road to accommodate an additional third travel lane and a bicycle-compatible shoulder.
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http://www.thewashcycle.com/2015/07/maryland-highway-projects-to-improve-route-1-and-build-lots-of-shoulders-a-bike-lane-and-a-path.html
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A Maryland road widening will be more costly than the transit it replaces

By Ben Ross, Greater Greater Washington

Maryland governor Larry Hogan wants to build roads with money saved from cancelling the Baltimore Red Line and cutting back the Purple Line. The governor says the two light rail lines cost too much. But his marquee highway project, a wider Route 404 on the Eastern Shore, looks to be far less cost-effective than either.
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http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/27316/a-maryland-road-widening-will-be-more-costly-than-the-transit-it-replaces/
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Another case of car lanes too wide and bike lane too narrow

"Ten-foot lane widths would mean ample room for safer, buffered and protected bike lanes. On the other hand, making travel lanes wider would lead to higher vehicle speeds that'd then make it more difficult to make downtown College Park walking and biking-friendly."

There's plenty of room for safe bike lanes in College Park
http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/26574/theres-plenty-of-room-for-safe-bike-lanes-in-college-park/
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