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County Plans Bike 'Beltway' Around Central Towson

[B' Spokes: Not to be critical of initial efforts (as we all need to start somewhere) but I would be a lot happier if the initial offering stressed the beginnings of network looking more like tick-tack-toe then a loop. We need north/south streets, we need east/west streets that intersect, we need routes that bring people in and out of the downtown area.]
By Tyler Waldman, Patch

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Call it the inner-inner loop.

A committee of local bicyclists has submitted a plan for Towson's own "bike beltway," to be created by adding bike lanes to some county roads in central Towson, County Councilman David Marks announced Monday.

"My goal was to make Towson as bike- and pedestrian friendly as possible and these are some really simple improvements we can make to reach that goal," Marks said.

The 4.2-mile route would loop past county government buildings, shopping centers, schools and colleges. Potential extensions could add spurs into the Towson roundabout and extend to the Towson Family Center Y, Rodgers Forge Elementary School, Loch Raven High School and North Baltimore.
...

http://towson.patch.com/articles/county-plans-bike-beltway-around-central-towson
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Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plan Newsletter May 31, 2012

PLANNING BOARD ADOPTS WESTERN PLAN
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The Baltimore County Planning Board unanimously approved the Western Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plan on April 19, 2012. The plan has been transmitted to the Baltimore County Council for adoption as an amendment to the County master plan.

Planning office staff thanks the many people who took the time to attend the public hearing held earlier in April. The Planning Board made two changes based on the comments they received. The amendments revised the location of a recommended bicycle route in the Villa Nova community and a shared use path in the Woodlawn area.

The approved plan is available at <a href="http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/westbikeped">www.baltimorecountymd.gov/westbikeped</a>;.

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BIKE ROUTE/LANES PROPOSED ON EDMONDSON AVENUE
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The Baltimore County Department of Planning has been awarded a Maryland Bikeways Grant to install bike lane striping and bike route signs along Edmondson Avenue in Catonsville. Together with the existing striping and signage west of Dutton Avenue, the new improvements will provide a continuous bike route from the No. 9 Trolley Trail to the Gwynns Falls Trail.

A citizen input meeting on the proposal will be held:

Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 7 p.m.
Fellowship Hall, Christian Temple Church
5820 Edmondson Avenue
Catonsville MD 21228

If you have any questions, or would like more information, please contact Kathy Schlabach at kschlabach@baltimorecountymd.gov or 410-887-3521.
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Police say teenage cyclist hit a car - comments say otherwise

[B' Spokes: After reading the comments something sounds suspicious here.]
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By: Cheryl Conner, ABC 2 News

Rod - A scary accident for a 14-year-old boy, who Baltimore County police say was crossing York Rd. in Rodgers Forge on his bike when he ran into a car. He was taken to Johns Hopkins Pediatric with non life-threatening injuries.

The boy was with a friend, who was not injured. Ginger Parsons comforted the boy before paramedics arrived.

&quot;I looked in my rearview mirror and saw the parts going up in the air,&quot; Parsons said. &quot;He was saying my legs, my legs, it's my legs. And then he has cement burns on his elbow,&quot; she said.

Police say the driver stayed at the scene and called 911.


Read more: <a href="http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/homepage_showcase/police-say-teenage-cyclist-hit-a-car">http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/homepage_showcase/police-say-teenage-cyclist-hit-a-car</a>;
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Towson University's bike rental program off to a fast start

By Randi Weitzman, Examiner

Towson University students know how to save every penny while preserving the precious resources of the planet. As part of Earth Month, which derived from Earth Day, April 22, the Department of Student Affairs began the Bike Rental Pilot Program on Friday, March 30.

The program allows students to sign up for free bike rental with the objective of promoting a more affordable, healthier, and more efficient mode of transportation around the Towson campus. With gas prices hovering at around $4.00 per gallon, this idea seemed like the perfect way to combine the community activities coordinated around saving natural resources with budgeting expenses.

With 25 bikes available on a first come first serve basis, all of the two-wheelers were rented out within minutes of the noon kick-off. This was an obvious solution for those tired of waiting for gas-guzzling shuttle buses; paying for limited parking and wasting petrol looking for a coveted empty spot on the crowded campus; and a more efficient way to navigate from class to class with regards to being on time for class.


Continue reading: <a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/towson-university-s-bike-rental-program-off-to-a-fast-start">http://www.examiner.com/article/towson-university-s-bike-rental-program-off-to-a-fast-start</a>;
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Pedestrian safety slogan exhorts but does not educate

[B' Spokes: Just to note we generally share the same cambaign with DC, so this is applicable here as well. I also wounder when they will alow public comment on these cambaigns before they hit the streets? Oh people who have contributed to Maryland having the 4th highest pedestrain fatality rate know what they are talking about... right. :/ Seriosly, lets start with a public comment period, OK?]
by Ben Ross. Greater Greater Washington

No one questions the need for public education about pedestrian safety, but Washington-area agencies are missing a real opportunity to educate the public in this year's annual "Street Smart" safety campaign.

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Photo from Street Smart.

Both drivers and pedestrians are ignorant of some important rules of sharing the road and only dimly aware of others. With the slogan "Obey pedestrian & traffic safety laws" now visible all over the city, Washington-area transportation agencies have substituted empty exhortation for education. Their publicity campaigns should teach pedestrians and drivers how to share the road.

Few drivers understand when they must yield to pedestrians and when pedestrians must yield to them; few pedestrians know when they can and cannot cross a street in the middle of a block.

...

Highway agencies recognize that education about pedestrian safety must accompany engineering and enforcement. But our region, especially outside the District and Arlington, has a spotty record in engineering and enforcement. That makes educating the public about pedestrian safety all that more important.
[Emphisis mine sinse this goes double for the Balto Metro area.]

http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/14348/pedestrian-safety-slogan-exhorts-but-does-not-educate/
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Register for Bike To Work Day

Bike to Work Day 2012 Banner

Bike to Work Day 2012, sponsored by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, will be celebrated in the Baltimore region and across the nation on Friday May 18, 2012.

This year marks the 15th annual event in the Baltimore region and will feature events at locations around the region

Up-to-date details will be posted in the Bike Ped Beacon e-newsletter and on our Facebook page! Sign-up today!

Register For Bike To Work Day 2012

Our registration system has changed for 2012. Please click on the link below for where you plan to attend a Bike To Work Day 2012 event.

Annapolis
Baltimore City
Bel Air
Columbia
Towson
Westminster

White Marsh



Read more: http://www.baltometro.org/commuter-options/bike-to-work-day
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It's hard to make Harford bike and pedestrian friendly

BY ERIKA BUTLER, Baltimore Sun

It would be wonderful if we, as a society, weren't so dependent on our cars.
...

Maybe if some sidewalks were installed along Route 543, I'd be more apt to walk to Rite Aid or Burger King and pick up dinner. As it is, it's dangerous enough navigating that area in the car, forget about on foot.

Perhaps that's part of the big push to make Harford County more bicycle and pedestrian friendly. If I knew I'd be safe, I just might do a little more walking and a little less driving. Maybe I'm not the only one. If we had more time in our busy days and busy lives, walking and biking for things other than exercise might become the norm, not the exception.

I think that's what we all need to do, just slow it down a little bit.

Harford County wants to become more bicycle and pedestrian friendly, and is developing a master plan to address some of the issues with doing such.
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Anticipated to be a year-long process, development of the plan will include opportunities for public input. In addition to public workshops, citizens will be able to follow the process and provide comments online at the Department's website, <a href="http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/planningzoning">http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/planningzoning</a>;, until April 16.
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Just because a place is pedestrian-friendly, though, doesn't mean it's safe. I think downtown Bel Air is an easy place to walk, but getting most drivers to stop at pedestrian crosswalks is close to impossible. I run from our office to the Ma &amp; Pa Trail, crossing Main and Bond streets where they come together, a few times a week, and I can't tell you how many cars pass right by me at those crosswalks each time.
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New Road Bike Riders! Road Biking 101 Clinic on 4/29!

Classes are intended for novice road riders -- those who can already ride a bicycle but want to learn basic skills and techniques for doing so safely and effectively on the road. Local bike shops will do bike safety checks.

Register here: <a href="http://bikehoco.org/register-for-road-biking-101/">http://bikehoco.org/register-for-road-biking-101/</a>;

Class size is limited to no more than 60 participants so please register early. This is a FREE class but BAHC will greatly appreciate donations ($5 or more) through the paypal link on the Bikehoco.org web site.
DATE Sunday, April 29, 2012
TIME 8:30 am - Noon
SCHEDULE 8:30 am - 9:00 am Sign In &amp; Bike Safety Checks
9:15 am - 10:30 am Classroom
10:30 am - Noon On The Road Practice
LOCATION Howard County Health Department, 7178 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, MD 21046-2147
WARNING: All Participants must bring a helmet and a bicycle in working condition.Participants under 18 must be accompanied by or bring a waiver signed by a parent.

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The Path Forward – Cycling Innovations from Across the US

Wednesday, April 25, 2012 from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM (ET) Columbia, MD

Event Details

Hear Jennifer Toole – a nationally-recognized expert in bicycle and pedestrian planning and design on April 25, 7:30PM, at Slayton House as part of Columbia’s Community Building Speakers' Series*
A revolution is occurring across the country and that is a good thing! Cycling is on the rise and more and more communities are making investments to make cycling easier and safer. 

Come hear Jennifer Toole describe innovative communities across the US and how they are making way for bicycling. 

Last year we heard from Gil Penalosa about what’s going on in European cities. Now – on April 25 - come learn about communities in the US and their successes creating greenways, safe bike lanes, and other changes that make these communities more livable, enjoyable, and more economically competitive. Jennifer Toole is the lead consultant for the Connecting Columbia project and founder of Toole Design Group. The Twitter hashtag for this event is #CASpeakersSeries.  

More About Our Speaker
Jennifer Toole is a national leader in multi-modal planning and design. She established Toole Design Group –a planning and engineering firm that specializes in bicycle and pedestrian planning and design. The firm is nationally-recognized for this expertise and has worked on bicycle planning, design, and implementation projects throughout the United States. This national experience is complemented by substantial local knowledge and experience in the Baltimore-Washington region. The firm’s body of work also includes national guidelines for bicycle and pedestrian facilities.  

The firm has offices in Silver Spring, Boston; Seattle, and Madison. 

Toole, a Columbia resident, has been involved in several national publications, including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide to the Planning, Design and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities, and AASHTO Guide for Development of Bicycle Facilities. Jennifer has authored content for the Federal Highway Administrations Coursebook on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation, and Safe Routes to School Programs. Toole has served on many boards and associations including three terms as the President of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals. In addition, she has volunteered her time and expertise to organize Walk to School Day at her children’s elementary school in Columbia. Jennifer Toole has a Bachelor degree (Cum Laude) in Environmental Design in Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University (1990). She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planner (AICP) and the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA).  

*More on the Speakers Series: CA’s Community Building Speakers' Series hosts thought-provoking speakers on topics that stimulate us to discuss, engage, and build our sense of community here in Columbia.*



To reserve your spot: http://cycling-innovations.eventbrite.com/
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