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A Cure for Nature Deficit Disorder-Technology? (or the bicycle?)

Riding my bicycle down the Baltimore &amp; Annapolis Trail, I passed a small family group. Mom was on her cell and Dad engrossed with his blackberry. Just another example of societies disconnectedness to the natural world, I thought. Reading Louv’s Last Child in the Woods (<a href="http://richardlouv.com/">http://richardlouv.com/</a>;) has had a deep impact on me and I can not resolve this. What was once taken for granted, days of childhood play and exploration over local hill and dale, has been replaced by endless hours in front of a screen.
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Bike Symphony of Lights - December 30, 2009

Please pass the word on this event to your clubs and let’s see if we can get a great turnout of our bicyclists – and family’s - to celebrate the Holidays at Symphony Woods. Thanks to Trevor Miller who organized and got permission for this bike event. Note that proceeds go to Howard County General Hospital and cost for cars is $20 so this is also a cost effective way to see the Lights.

More Info/Directions at: <a href="http://www.hcgh.org/content/symphonyoflights.htm">http://www.hcgh.org/content/symphonyoflights.htm</a>;

Howard County’s Symphony of Lights BY BICYCLE!!!!!

When: Wednesday, December 30th from 4 PM until 6 PM

Where: You can start at the gate or meet at the Savage Ram’s Head Tavern at 3:45 for a trail/road ride to the event!

Details: To ride the 1.7 mile route you must sign a waiver and the cost is $5 per person. All ages are welcome! Please bring your training wheels, trail a bikes, and trailers! This is a family event!
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Proposed Bike Program in Annapolis needs a moment of your time

[From our mail bag:]

Pardon the interruption.

Can everyone please take a few minutes and sign up to vote (three times per email address) for a Revolution Kids project in Annapolis that supports Bicycling opportunities?

Vote on this page: <a href="http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/72">http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects/72</a>;
All projects: <a href="http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects">http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects</a>;

It’ll be a fight to the finish for a small pot of money so Annapolis can use your support.

Pass it on!
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Vote for Annapolis Bicycle Project!

The Brighter Planet is an organization that makes it easier for anyone to get involved in the fight against climate change. Simply put, they help people manage and mitigate their environmental footprint.

They also provide funding for community projects that aid in growing the climate movement from the ground up. In coordination with the Dept. of Rec &amp; Parks, APD and DOT, the City of Annapolis have submitted the Revolution Kids project for funding.

The mission is to promote opportunities for bicycling in the City of Annapolis through the education of youth and youth mentors. Elementary through High School students will have opportunities to earn bikes and learn about safe cycling through a variety of hands-on programs. The objectives include

1) increasing youth opportunities to safe cycling as a mode of transportation and a form of healthy physical activity; and

2) providing at-risk teens with skills necessary to repair broken bicycles and gain job opportunities while giving them a chance to earn a bicycle.

The funding comes through a competition however, where website visitors vote for their favorite project. As such we need to the get the word out to vote for &quot;Revolution Kids&quot;. The voting begins on Dec 1st at <a href="http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects">http://brighterplanet.com/project_fund_projects</a>; and ends on Dec 15th. Please vote and spread the word. Thanks.

Iain J. Banks, PTP
Personal Transportation and Parking Specialist
Department of Transportation
City of Annapolis
<a href="http://www.annapolis.gov/bikeannapolis">www.annapolis.gov/bikeannapolis</a>;
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Loch Raven Night Riders Beware

Passing this along as a PSA to those who ride the trails at Loch Raven after dark.

It has been reported that the Park Police snagged 6 to 10 riders on the Providence Rd singletrack climb off of the fireroad from the Seminary loop. This happened on Wed night.They were halfway down the climb when they surprised the night riders between 7P and 730P. All riders were given tickets ($100) and were required to ride the road to where ever they parked their car.

Spread the word not to night ride in those areas.
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Bicyclist dies after group ride

This past weekend, a bicyclist had a heart attack shortly after completing a group ride in Harford County. After completing a ride from Harford Community College to Havre de Grace, the group decided to hit Starbucks to get their caffeine fix and while there Greg Krause had a &quot;medical emergency.&quot; He was taken to Upper Chesapeake where he passed away a short time later.

Anyone who knows Greg or just wants to pay respects to a fellow bicyclist, you can see information on the planned gathering at <a href="http://www.chesapeakespokeswomen.com/">http://www.chesapeakespokeswomen.com/</a>;.

The moral of this story is that while we are in better shape than the average person (because of our love for bicycling), keep up with you medical wellness check-ups for those medical problems that may not be obvious!

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Upgrades to Robert E. Lee Park

from the Baltimore Sun:

Meeting tonight on Upgrades to Robert E. Lee Park in Baltimore County

The Baltimore County Dept of Recreation and Parks will hold a public meeting at 7 pm Tuesday to discuss improvements to Robert E. Lee Park, a 415-acre property along Lake Roland that the county leases from the city. Topics include replacement of a pedestrian access bridge, which is under way,as well as development of a dog park and picnic areas. The county received $3 million in state funding and has budgeted an additional $3 to address upgrades to the park. The meeting will be held in the cafeteria of Dumbarton Middle School, 300 Dumbarton Road in the Rodgers Forge area. Information: 410-887-3871.

I plan to address bicycle acccess to the park via the Greenspring Branch ROW, Woodbrook Lane, and the Jones Falls Trail, all potential routes for the East Coast Greenway to get from Mt Washington up into the County. The voices of additional cyclists would be welcome.

Greg Hinchliffe
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Annapolis Bicycle Friendly Community Feedback

The League of American Bicyclists is please to present Annapolis with an honorable mention in response to its Bicycle Friendly Community application. Reviewers were impressed with the potential and commitment to make Annapolis a great place for bicyclists, though considerable work remains to be done. Highlights of the application included hiring of a bicycle coordinator for the city; Safe Routes to School programming in 11 Annapolis schools; Bike Loaner program; and the Mayor’s proclamation and participation in Bike to Work Day.

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Columbia (Mo.) mayor says it's time to put pedal to metal

[Baltimore Spokes: Note they used Federal Funding, we have a hard time getting Federal Funding because of State Policies.]

Says Columbia (Md.) needs to develop its bicycling potential

By Sarah Breitenbach - Colombia Flier

Columbia could learn a thing or two from a Missouri city that shares its name.

Darwin Hindman, the mayor of Columbia, Mo., visited Columbia, Md., Wednesday to tour the area and to talk about strategies for making Howard County more bike-friendly.

Hindman was invited to town as a guest of Columbia Tomorrow, a nonprofit dedicated to revamping downtown Columbia.

His visit included a two-wheeled tour on area bike paths and roads, and a lunch with representatives from nonprofits, businesses and local government.

“One of the things you've got to do if it’s going to work is take the people who don’t ride bikes now and get them interested in it,” he said.

Hindman told the group of 30 how his city used a $22.5-million federal grant to build bike paths, improve intersections and host city-sponsored bicycle safety courses.

“It’s beautiful here,” he said. “You’ve got an awful lot to build on.”

Hindman emphasized the health benefits of biking and its ability to decrease congestion when used as a means of commuting.

David Yungmann, founder of Columbia 2.0, an organization that seeks to involve younger people in the downtown redevelopment process, and a participant in the morning bike ride, said Columbia’s roads are not conducive to commuters on bikes.

“We were in people's way,” he said. “People are trying to park, trying to drive.”

County councilwoman Jennifer Terrasa, a Democrat who lives in Kings Contrivance, said while the county’s roughly 100 miles of bike paths are great for recreation, routes are not well connected.

“It’s almost like a strategic plan,” she said. “You have to go ‘OK, how am I going to get across (U.S. Route) 29? I can get over here, but how am I going to get across that road?' ’”

Terrasa said funds are not readily available to develop more bike paths or create dedicated lanes for cyclists, but bike usage will be a part of the planning process to redevelop downtown Columbia.

Earlier this week, the Howard County Council introduced legislation outlining General Growth Properties Inc.’s plan to bring 5,000 residential units, 5 million square feet of office space and 1.25 million square feet of retail space to downtown Columbia.

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RIDING WHEN IT'S DARK

JOIN Joe's Bike shop TO CONQUEROR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME! JOE'S BIKE SHOP and LIGHT &amp; MOTION will be hosting a demonstration of their commuter and Mountain bike light systems. TUES. NOV. 17TH 5:30PM-8:30pm AT THE INTERSECTION OF DULANEY VALLEY RD &amp; SEMINARY AVE. You will have the opportunity to test out the lights to see what works best for your type of riding.
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