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SHA closing bike route to BWI trail for 12 weeks

According to the Baltimore Sun "The Hammonds Ferry Road bridge over Maryland Route 295 will close for about 12 weeks starting next Wednesday"

I'll check with SHA to see if there will be any consideration for cyclists. (I just got notice to expect a response Monday or Tuesday.)

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Hit-and-run defense points to stress disorder

By Keith L. Alexander - Washington Post

The woman whose SUV struck and killed a Columbia woman in Dupont Circle in October was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder when she hit the woman and then drove home, her attorney told a D.C. Superior Court jury Tuesday.

Prosecutors say Jorida Davidson, 31, was drunk during a hit-and-run that killed Kiela M. Ryan, 24. Prosecutors charged Davidson with several counts, including voluntary manslaughter, leaving the scene of a collision and driving under the influence. She faces a maximum of 30 years in prison.

But in his opening statement, Davidson’s attorney Joseph Hannon Jr. told the jury she suffered from childhood trauma associated with growing up in war-torn Albania and did not remember the accident.
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Another key witness for the prosecution is expected to be a bicyclist who saw Ryan leave the vehicle and an SUV hit her. The cyclist followed the SUV until he could get the model, color and license plate number, then texted the information to his girlfriend at the scene.
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Baltimore County and Click-it-or-Ticket

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Baltimore County Police Chief James Johnson

Chief Jonson is in the news about how wearing seat belts saves lives. And I'll add "[people] drive more carefully when more stringent seat belt laws are in effect, and this leads to less involvement of pedestrians in accidents."

Click It or Ticket campaign has one simple goal: saving lives
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Catonsville Cyclists Ride For Rails To Trails

By Ed Davis - Patch

Ever wonder what happened to the "Streetcar Named Desire"? The car itself is living a life of retirement in New Orleans, but if Catonsville Rails To Trails had its way, its old trolley line would now be a bike path.

On a pleasantly warm, partly cloudy day on Sunday, local area bike riders got together at the Catonsville Farmers Market to embark on a 14-mile ride hosted by Catonsville Rails To Trails, an advocacy group for the conversion of old streetcar lines to bike paths. The ride was free, and went at a relaxed pace, covering the distance in about two hours.

The bike route interwove neighborhood streets with old trolley lines that have been turned into walking and biking trails. The organization has been working for more than a decade on the goal of re-purposing these relics of a bygone era, along with lobbying for more bike lanes on local streets and easier walking access on bridges and highways.

Patch got on its saddle and took pictures and video of the outing, and worked up some good healthy sweat in the process.

[There's pictures in the linked article.]

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Lock your bike

I've been seeing a lot of stolen bikes in my news feed so make sure your bike is locked to something secure, even if it is in a shed or garage.
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IKEA Workers, County Celebrate Bike to Work Day

About 14 workers biked from CCBC Essex to the IKEA in White Marsh.
By Emily Kimball

The distance between the Community College of Baltimore County Essex and the IKEA in White Marsh is about 3.5 miles.

In celebration of National Bike to Work Day Friday morning, about 14 IKEA employees used pedal-power, rather than horsepower, to make the trip.

"Some of the local workers rode from their homes. But for the rest of us, it was really a symbolic ride to work, to help raise awareness," said Bill Meiswinkel, IKEA public relations manager.

The event was a collaborative effort of IKEA, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, Baltimore County government and CCBC Essex, which helped map a practical bike route, Meiswinkel said.

County Councilman David Marks met with cyclists at the store following the ride. His first sponsored bill in office created the Baltimore County Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.

"Bicycling is important. Not only is it good for physical fitness, but it provides an alternative form of transportation. Trails can help promote tourism, as well," Marks said.

Ralph Wheeler, a county transportation engineer, also spoke to cyclists about government efforts at promoting bike-friendly road design and park trails.

In December 2010, the IKEA corporation issued 12,000 bicycles to American employees as a holiday gift. About 180 of those were given to workers in the Baltimore area, Meiswinkel said.

He said he expects even more employees to participate in the biking event next year.

"It really was a fun time," Meiswinkel said."It was great to have such a co-worker friendly event."

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Annapolis bicycle plan

The city of Annapolis is working on a master plan for bicycle routes, with the goal of creating a long-term bicycle transportation blueprint.

To get involved:

Go to an interactive map at communitywalk.com/annapolisBikePlan. Sign on: username is “Annapolis” and the Password is “bikeplan” -- you can put in a route as well as your comments. Input will be accepted until June 13. There are also two public workshops scheduled. Both are set for Thursday (that's May 26) at the Market House at City Dock. Times: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the presentation at noon, and 6 to 9 p.m. with the presentation at 7 p.m.

More info is at ci.annapolis.md.us/Home.aspx

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County approves mountain bike course at Rockburn park

Recreation and parks board vote unanimous

By Larry Carson, The Baltimore Sun

A private group will be allowed to build a mountain bike training course in Rockburn Park in Elkridge, following a unanimous Wednesday vote by the county's Recreation and Parks Board to go ahead with the contested project.

The board had delayed a March vote on the matter after a contentious two-hour hearing in which people opposed to the project said it would bring more traffic, parking problems and loitering, as well as nighttime activity and drug use. Opponents also complained that the project had been rushed through without sufficient notice.

"I know there's opponents, but there's a whole lot more support," said board member Lowell Adams. Board Chairman Joel Goodman said he was "excited and hopeful that Howard County parks were going to provide a model for other communities."
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Yard Thefts Continue With Warmer Temperatures

By Ron Cassie - Dundalk Patch

Property crimes increased 3.3 percent overall in 2010, with thefts up 6.7 percent.
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However, as much as 26 percent of all property theft in Precinct 12 is related to people not locking bicycles, storage sheds, car doors and homes, according to Capt. Woodland M. Wilson, III, commander of the North Point Station.

The Baltimore County Police Department suggests all bike owners engrave their bikes. If necessary, owners can go to the local precinct and borrow an engraving tool, Baltimore County police said in a recent press release.

Police say using the ID numbers from a driver's license or Maryland ID card is the best way to mark your bike. Never use a social security number as an ID number, they caution.

Police also suggest when storing a bike in a shed or garage, lock and attach it to a lawn mower or other heavy, bulky equipment. Thieves break into sheds and garages, but attaching a bike to a piece of heavy equipment makes it more difficult to just walk or ride away from the area.
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To the fella commuting by bike on Reisterstown Rd in the reisterstown/owings mills area...

Via Reddit

You are my hero. Every time I see you I get jealous that I am not on my bike, pedaling away. You are also smart about it! You wear bright and reflective clothing (plus proper cold weather gear) and when I've seen you at night you've had proper lighting, too! If only more cyclists were like you.
I wish I was not too much of a coward to brave Reisterstown Road!

Maybe, just maybe he'll see this, and he'll know that at least someone out there isn't raging in their car because he is riding his bike on a busy street.

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