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SHA to hold meeting on Rolling Road concerns

from Getting There by Michelle Deal-Zimmerman

The State Highway Administration will hold a public meeting to present the results of a traffic study of MD166 (South Rolling Road) between Frederick Road and Blooomsbury Avenue in Catonsville. The meeting is set for 7:30 pm on Sept. 29 at Hillcrest Elementary School (cafeteria).

SHA says that residents have expressed concerns about speeding, aggressive driving and pedestrian safety along MD166. In response, traffic engineers have studied options to modify driver behavior. Those options will be presented and citizens will have the opportunity to comment.

Those who can't make the meeting or who want more information in advance can contact asst. district engineer Erin Kuhn or traffic team leader Eric Tombs at 410-229-2380.

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Seriously, get involved or suffer car centricity

Public Comment Periods

Currently, the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board has 3 open Comment Periods (below). Comments are welcome through Tuesday, September 14.

o        Amendments to FY 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Program
www.baltometro.org/transportation-planning/2011-2014-tip-amendments

o        2010 Update to the Human Services Coordinated Transportation Plan
www.baltometro.org/transportation-planning/coordinated-transportation-plan

o        Draft Goals for Plan it 2035
www.baltometro.org/transportation-planning/goals-for-plan-it-2035

 

Citizens Advisory Committee

The BRTB is seeking new members to serve on their Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC).  We are looking for members from all parts of the Baltimore Region, but are particularly interested in more members from Anne Arundel, Howard, and Carroll Counties.  A posting about the openings is included below.

 

BRTB SEEKS MEMBERS FOR CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEES

Share Your Ideas. Help Others Be Heard. Make A Difference.

Apply to volunteer on the CAC todayThe Baltimore Regional Transportation Board is currently seeking members for their Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). 

The CAC is a diverse group of citizens, representatives of community organizations, and industry professionals that promote public engagement and provide independent, region-oriented advice regarding regional transportation planning and related issues.

Why serve on the CAC?

Transportation in our region should reflect how transportation impacts you, your neighbor, and everyone else in the region. This can only be done if you get involved, learn how transportation planning works and voice your opinion. Volunteering to serve on the CAC is a great way to directly provide input to decision makers.  Additional benefits include:

·         Helping your community or your organization get their voice heard

·         Getting information and discuss important planning issues directly with staff and BRTB members

·         Sharing new ideas or provide input that can impact regional planning

New members will be appointed for 3-year terms, starting in January 2011.  Shorter terms may also be available.  Meetings of the CAC are generally held on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in Baltimore City. In addition, the CAC has 3 standing subcommittees, which meet at various locations or by telephone/e-mail. The total volunteer commitment is approximately 2-5 hours per month.

Applications will be accepted until September 10, 2010.

>> Download an application or get more info about the CAC
http://www.baltometro.org/get-involved/citizens-advisory-committee
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Boy, 10, robbed

Four teens assaulted a 10-year-old boy and stole his bicycle in Brooklyn Park on Thursday evening, county police said.

The boy was riding his bike in the 4000 block of Audrey Avenue around 6:20 p.m. when the teens shoved him off, knocking him to the ground.

They stole the bicycle - a gray Mongoose with gold pegs on the front tire and silver pegs on the back tire - and ran away.

They were last seen running across Doris Avenue.

The child was taken by ambulance to Harbor Hospital in Baltimore with minor injuries.

The teens are black, between 16 and 18 years old, and were all wearing black basketball shorts and white T-shirts.
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Young cyclist hurt

County rescue personnel received a call at 8:48 p.m. Friday for a seriously injured bicyclist on the BMX track at Severn-Danza Park in Severn.

Upon arrival, they found a 12-year-old male rider who had suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries, Rostek said.

Paramedics transported the boy by ambulance to Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore.

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Anne Arundel County and Howard County crime report

ASSAULTS

ROUTE 175 AND DISNEY RD., 10:46 p.m. Aug. 13. A male teenager was shot by a projectile while riding his bike. The projectile came from a dark four-door vehicle occupied by two males. The bicyclist rode home, realized his head was bleeding and was taken to a hospital.

ROBBERIES

OLD SOLOMONS ISLAND RD. AND FOREST DR., 4:30 p.m. Aug. 15. A bicyclist was hit with a piece of wood and robbed by two people. The bicycle, groceries and cash were taken. The bicyclist was treated at a hospital.

THEFTS/BREAK-INS

BROACH CT., 600 block, 8:50 p.m. Aug. 13. A group of juveniles entered a residence's back yard and took a bicycle from a porch. A resident went to investigate, and the juveniles fled with the bicycle.

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Carroll Co. cyclist killed after collision with truck

Charges pending against driver who police say failed to yield

By Liz F. Kay, The Baltimore Sun

A Carroll County cyclist was killed Tuesday afternoon after he was struck by a tractor-trailer while riding in Union Bridge, according to Maryland State Police – the latest cycling fatality on Baltimore-area roads.

Arthur John Martin Jr., 51, of New Windsor was riding his bike on Shepherds Mill Road when a tractor-trailer driven by Anthony Edward Woodie, 37, made a right turn onto Route 75 in front of him, police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Based on preliminary investigation, troopers say that Woodie failed to yield to Martin when turning, but do not believe alcohol or high speeds were a factor.

Charges are pending against the truck driver.

Since 1999, an average of eight people have been killed in Maryland annually in bicycle accidents, according to the State Highway Administration.

Earlier this year, one cyclist was killed and another severley injured when they were struck by a car while riding near Butler and Falls roads in Baltimore County.

That accident helped spur the General Assembly to pass a new law clarifying the rights of bicyclists to use travel lanes instead of just the shoulders of roads. The law requires drivers to maintain a 3-foot buffer zone while passing a bicyclist.

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ANNAPOLIS AREA Man hit, robbed

A 66-year-old Boxwood Court resident told police he was robbed on his way home from the grocery store on Sunday, police said.

The victim, who did not report the incident until Monday evening, said he was riding a bicycle home from Shopper's Food Warehouse around 4:30 p.m. Sunday when two men came up from behind and struck him with a large piece of wood, knocking him off the bike.

The two stole the victim's bike, $150 in cash and his groceries.

The victim did not report the crime until Monday, when he started to feel pain from the blow. The city Fire Department was called and took him to Anne Arundel Medical Center. He was released from the hospital Tuesday.

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Safety Reminder from Annapolis Police and County Schools

Monday August 23th Marks the Beginning of New School Year

Anne Arundel County Schools begin the new school year on Monday, August 23, 2010. Parents, students and drivers should take extra precautions during this period.

For Drivers
Maryland law requires drivers to stop for school buses when the driver uses the flashing red lights. Drivers may not be able to see everyone who got off of the bus so proceed slowly until you are clear of the bus and pedestrians. The law also requires drivers to yield (stop) for pedestrians who are in a crosswalk. Failure to obey these laws may result in a citation but may also lead to an injury which could have been prevented.

For Parents
If your child is riding to school in a bus or car please be sure to have him or her use a seatbelt. (see note below) If using a car, all children under 13 years of age should ride in the rear seat. If you must drive more children than can fit in the rear seat (when carpooling, for example), move the front-seat passenger’s seat as far back as possible and have the child ride in a booster seat if the seat belts do not fit properly without it.

If your child is riding a bike to school, your child should always wear a bicycle helmet, ride in the same direction as auto traffic, use appropriate hand signals and respect traffic lights and stop signs. Make sure to educate your child about the rules of the road and make them wear bright colors to increase visibility.

Finally, for those students who are walking to school, parents should walk the route to make sure your child’s walk is a safe route with well-trained adult crossing guards at every intersection. Parents should be realistic about your child’s pedestrian skills. Because small children are impulsive and less cautious around traffic, carefully consider whether or not your child is ready to walk to school without adult supervision. Children should wear bright colored clothing to make your child more visible to drivers. And finally, in neighborhoods with higher levels of traffic, consider starting a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children walking to school.

We can have a safe school year if we follow these simple rules.

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Back-to-School Equals Backed Up Traffic

[B' Spokes: Remember half of all school children are driven to school by personal automobile so designing roads so kids can't bike or walk to school and can only be driven isn't work out so well for those of you who do drive. Maybe we should tax kids for road improvement "they" need. In the mean time have fun sitting in car centric traffic because there are too many cars on the road. ]
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* By: Kimberly Brown - ABC

Its bad enough Baltimore ranked #16 last year in the nation for worst congestion (up from #21 in 2006). However, as class will soon be in session, expect tens of thousands of additional cars on the roads, plus increased bicycle and pedestian traffic as well. Those factors could add as much as an extra 30 minutes to your commute. Here's a few tips to make your back-to-school commute safer and easier:

- Try to leave for work before the height of rush hour. You might be waking up earlier, but it could equal less minutes sitting behind the wheel. Adjust your route to avoid schools and high congestion areas.

- Keep those speeds down through school zones! Nearly one million kids will be returning to classes in Maryland and some of them may not have the best traffic safety awareness. Remember that the speed limit is usually 25 miles per hour near schools and police are serious about enforcing it. Parents, make sure your child also knows the rules of the road.

- Pack your patience! Spending an extra 30 minutes (that's one-way, mind you) on your daily ride, is no one's idea of fun. We live in a highly populated region and some people travel long distances to get to work. To "rush" during rush-hour could be an oxymoron.

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Ben Sollee "Ditch the Van" Bike Tour

By bicycles and bike trailers, rising star pop/folk musician Ben Sollee will deliver his genre-bending cello and vocal act and community message from San Diego to hometown Kentucky. Two shows are booked at Biller's Bikes SUN Stage in Havre de Grace, MD. The tour includes intimate club venues, as well as large halls and festivals, in MD, PA and Washington, DC.

See <a href="http://www.bensollee.com/tour.html">http://www.bensollee.com/tour.html</a>; for Ben Sollee Ditch the Van bike tour dates. See <a href="http://www.billersbikes.com/events.html">http://www.billersbikes.com/events.html</a>; for Havre de Grace ticket info.

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