• Home
  • Bike Maryland updates

December 19th - Bike Maryland Legislative Task Force Meeting


Please join Bike Maryland in a discussion of our state legislative agenda. At the upcoming legislative task force meeting we will discuss pro-bike priorities and set a strategy for action!

Monday, December 19, 2011
6:30 to 8:00 pm
Maryland Department of Transportation Headquarters/Harry Hughes Transportation Building
Richard Trainor Conference Room - 1st Floor
7201 Corporate Center Drive
Hanover, MD 21076


Please RSVP - this is my email link click here to RSVP even if you will be calling in to the conference call - conference call number is: 410-865-1298

The Maryland General Assembly meets in Annapolis each year for 90 days to act on more than 2300 bills including the State's annual budget. The 430th Session begins January 11, 2012. The General Assembly has 47 Senators and 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts.

While the Maryland General Assembly is in session we have a tremendous opportunity to promote state level pro-bike legislation. Bike Maryland seeks active advocates to assist with the promotion of pro-bike legislation during this short and fast paced legislative session. Active advocates can assist by contacting legislators, obtaining support from business, government and community leaders, performing research and increasing grass roots support!
Priorities:
•    Dedicated funding for bicycling - requiring a dedicated percentage of funds from a potential Gas Tax increase be used to enhance and increase the number of bicycling lanes and paths (especially to connect existing sections of paths), improve signage relating to bicyclists’ use of the roads and three feet to pass, and to implement plans for cycling infrastructure already included in the State’s Master Plan.
•    Strengthen Passing Legislation by requiring motorists to pass cyclists safely, including a combination of:

  1. Slowing Down: perhaps to within 15 mph of the speed of the cyclist
  2. Moving Left: to allow three feet to pass
  3. Crossing a Solid Line: when it is safe to do so (applies to any slow-moving vehicle)
  4. Waiting: until it is safe to pass and allow three feet of clearance

•    Distracted driving legislation to make a driver’s use of a hand-held mobile phone a primary offense.
•    Other items of interest (research assistance is needed here): determining a fair transportation enhancement match, allowance of bicycles on MARC trains, development of ICC bicycle infrastructure, strengthen enforcement of the Complete Streets statute in road design, 24 hour trail access for bicyclists for commuting purposes and more.

Continue Reading

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Larry's Ride and the Tour du Port!




Bike Maryland

Larry's Ride - it's Next Weekend - September 24th!

Cyclists choose a 15, 35, or 63 mile route. Runners participate in a 3.6 mile run - or do both!

For the second year, Bike Maryland is teaming up with Tami Bensky and dedicated friends to promote bike safety and driver awareness in loving memory of Larry Bensky, Tami’s husband and a dedicated rider who was tragically killed two years ago on Butler Road in Baltimore County.
So, lace up your sneakers and pump up those tires and meet us at Spring Meadow Farm on September 24th for a terrific tour! During the celebration, be sure to take your free t-shirt, enjoy the music and the delicious Italian lunch catered by Lil' Tony's and Papa Gil's along with a hamburger and hot dog cookout! It’s our way of thanking you for your support.
Proceeds go back to YOU as this fundraising effort supports bike safety, increased driver awareness and pro-bike legislation! This is a terrific bike tour - please register today!

Please Click Here to Register!


Bike Maryland hosts the
18th Annual Tour du Port on October 9, 2011
Learn more about the Tour du Port and REGISTER HERE
Cyclists choose from 13, 23, 40, 50 and 65 mile routes.
All proceeds support bike advocacy and awareness in Maryland.
Save the date, get the discounted rate
register by September 22nd.

Learn more about the Tour du Port and REGISTER HERE

Tour du Port takes cyclists of all levels on a tour of Baltimore’s historic neighborhoods, waterfront, and parks! Routes may take you by the Baltimore Aquarium, through Patterson Park, and as far out as North Point and Rocky State Parks in Baltimore County. Choose the distance that bests suits you and your friends and/or teams! 
After you’ve worked up a sweat, come back to Canton Waterfront Park (start and finish happen here), where lunch on the lawn will be provided by Fells Point’s Slainte Irish Pub & Restaurant. Live music by the Everyman Band will keep spirits high as cyclists compete in the Fix-A-Flat competition or hold their raffle tickets tight in anticipation of winning the new travel bike provided by Bikes at Vienna! (You can purchase raffle tickets at the registration and Bike Maryland table for $1).
Thanks to our sponsors and friends, this event is fully supported with rest stops and snacks, an extra tube or pump if you need it, and of course, our dedicated sag and safety crew volunteers!
 
  
 

2010 Tour du Port images - credit Photos in Motion
  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Two Bike Maryland Events


[B' Spokes: Seriously folks, advocacy does not happen by itself, register for these events. Thanks!]
 
Bike Maryland is your bicycle advocacy organization. Tour du Port and Larry's Ride and Run are Bike Maryland's Annual Fundraisers. There are bicycle rides for hundreds of causes - but these bike tours directly support increased bicycle infrastructure, safety and education. Please register now - to increase Maryland's bike-ability!

Larry's Ride and Run - September 24th - A Premier Baltimore County Bicycle Tour 
Pump up those tires and lace up those sneakers, Larry’s Ride and Run is back for its second year and will be held at Spring Meadow Farms (Baltimore County) on Saturday, September 24, 2011. Larry’s Ride and Run continues to honor avid biker Larry Bensky who tragically lost his life while biking in 2010. This year’s event includes new bike routes and a 3.6 mile run that meanders through scenic Baltimore County. Following the bike rides and run, celebration activities will including a lunch and music for all registered participants attending the event, including non-bikers and non-runners. All friends and family are welcome to attend, participate and enjoy the day! Register Here - http://bikemd.org/page.php?id=409

Tour du Port - October 9th - Registration is Open - Save the Date and Get the Discounted Rate! 
TOUR DU PORT - Canton Waterfront Park (Baltimore City) - A Super Cool Bicycling Event Promoting a Terrific Cause - Bicycling!
Register Here - http://bikemd.org/page.php?id=398
During the Tour du Port you will experience Baltimore's historic neighborhoods, waterfront areas and beautiful parks in a way that can't be experienced from the seat of your car. Tour du Port is a superb way to intimately tour Baltimore. Routes: 13 to a new 65 ride! This fully supported tour includes lunch, refreshments at rest stops and a post-ride celebration with live music at Tour's end. 

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Early Registration Rate Now for Two Bike Tours That Support Your Right to Bike!


Bike Maryland 

There are bicycle rides for hundreds of causes - but the following two bike tours directly support increased bicycle infrastructure, safety and education. Please register now for the early bird rate - to increase Maryland's bike-ability!  Both tours travel through beautiful Maryland areas and end with fun celebrations that include music and lunch!  Larry's Ride and Run - September 24th - A Premier Baltimore County Bicycle Tour 

 

 Pump up those tires and lace up those sneakers, Larry’s Ride and Run is back for its second year and will be held at Spring Meadow Farms (Baltimore County) on Saturday, September 24, 2011. Larry’s Ride and Run continues to honor avid biker Larry Bensky who tragically lost his life while biking in 2010.This year’s event includes new bike routes and a 3.6 mile run that meanders through scenic Baltimore County. Following the bike rides and run, celebration activities will including a lunch and music for all registered participants attending the event, including non-bikers and non-runners. All friends and family are welcome to attend, participate and enjoy the day!

 Register Here

Help raise awareness of bicyclists and bicycle safety issues to prevent similar tragedies by celebrating Larry’s life, one mile at a time.


Tour du Port - October 9th - Registration is Open - Save the Date and Get the Discounted Rate! 

 

TOUR DU PORT - Canton Waterfront Park (Baltimore City) 
A Super Cool Bicycling Event Promoting a Terrific Cause - Bicycling!

Register Here

During the Tour du Port you will experience Baltimore's historic neighborhoods, waterfront areas and beautiful parks in a way that can't be experienced from the seat of your car. Tour du Port is a superb way to intimately tour Baltimore. Routes: 13 to a new 65 ride! This fully supported tour includes lunch, refreshments at rest stops and a post-ride celebration with live music at Tour's end.  Over 100 volunteers are needed for the Tour du Port. Please contact Carol here to volunteer or to learn about our outstanding sponsorship opportunities.  We Need You!


We give a huge THANKS to our generous event SPONSORS.  Please view the sponsors HERE and thank and support them! Please spread the word about these bicycling events to your friends, bike club-mates and associates. Also, if you have a face book page please post the events for us!


Cycle Maryland Survey

If you haven't already done so, please take the Cycle Maryland SURVEY - click here. The survey helps us learn more about your bicycling endeavors and interests.


Get Involved or Subscribe .

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Cycle Maryland 2011


Bike Maryland

Bicyclists - Show the Governor Your Appreciation of Cycle Maryland! 
Governor O'Malley is Promoting Bicycling - Let's Support Him!


Governor O'Malley rides with Carol Silldorff (Bike Maryland ED)
at the Cycle Maryland Kick-Off

Please join Governor O’Malley at the 65th Annual Catonsville July 4th Parade to help promote Cycle Maryland. The Governor will be walking the parade route, which goes from Montrose Avenue, down Frederick Road, and finally turning onto Bloomsbury Avenue and ending at Catonsville High School. We are looking for about 10-15 bicyclists to follow the Governor either on foot walking your bike, or riding your bike, while wearing a stylish Cycle MD t-shirt. The parade is from 3 - 5 pm, with line up from 2 - 2:30 pm. After the parade, stay and continue to enjoy the festivities at the Family Fun Fest, with a spectacular fireworks show at dusk. Click here for more information on the Catonsville parade, festival and fireworks. If you would like to participate in the Catonsville Parade with Governor O’Malley, please contact Tracey Hartman via email here or (410) 974-2316. 

Governor O’Malley is very eager to continue to promote Cycle MD and is excited about the opportunity on the 4th of July in Catonsville, when approximately 60,000 people will be watching. Cycle Maryland officially launched on Saturday June 18th, in beautiful Queen Anne’s County. Read more about the kickoff here. Click here to learn more about Cycle Maryland. 



Carol Silldorff tells the crowd, ""We promote bicycling because planning and public health research all indicate that the best places to bike are the best places to live," said Silldorff. "We know that bike friendly places allow people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds to enjoy healthy recreational opportunities and to travel via bicycle to and from destinations in their communities." 

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Excerpts from Bike Maryland's June 2011 newsletter


June 30 - Bike Commuter Workshop and Party!

This event is hosted by Bike Maryland in partnership with the Waterfront Partnership. Bike Maryland will cover the basics of commuting by bike and bike safety. Time - 5:30-7:50pm in Harbor East - exact location to be posted soon here.  Please rsvp to Beth Laverick via email here.  Light refreshments will be served.  Anyone who bikes to work or is thinking about biking to work will get a lot out of this talk. We will have advice on getting started, equipment, choosing routes, staying safe on the road, bicycling in various types of weather and more. Tell your friends! All attendees will be entered to win a TREK 700 hybrid bike! 

If you are unable to attend, but are interested in scheduling a bike commuter workshop at your workplace, email us here. Scheduling is flexible and can be tailored to your organization’s specific needs.


 
Bike Maryland Membership - You WILL improve Maryland's bike-ability by becoming a member of Bike Maryland. Please Join Now Here. 

We represent over 19,000 Maryland bicyclists. Bike Maryland depends on bicyclists like you to continue our work making bicycling a healthy and more sustainable means of transportation and, of course, an all out fun recreational activity. Bike Maryland is the nonprofit organization that has been instrumental in improving bicycling conditions and protecting the rights of bicyclists and organizations across Maryland. We are the only organization actively promoting pro-bike legislation on the state level in Maryland. We improve conditions on the county and city level too.

Thanks to the support of our members, what we've accomplished and continue to do is truly remarkable:

  • Passage of six state pro-bike bills in the last two years
  • Passage of the three foot rule
  • Passage of the manslaughter bill - now there are higher penalties and potential jail time for drivers who cause fatalities
  • Working with multiple communities, businesses and universities to promote a Bike Friendly Maryland
  • Bus racks on MTA buses
  • Host of the Annual State Bike Symposium
  • Co-host dozens of free or inexpensive educational workshops with incredible guest speakers
  • Bike Awareness Campaign to reduce youth crash and fatality rates
  • Free Bike Commuter Programs for businesses, universities and communities 
  • Your advocates toward increased motorist education and awareness
  • Promoting open streets for bicyclists and fun, sustainable trails
  • Achievement of a League Bike Friendly Ranking of #10 in the U.S.
  • Host Tour du Port 
  • We are the Voice of Maryland's Bicyclists and much more!

Your support goes directly toward pro-bike legislation, pro-bike improvements, increased education and enforcement and much more. Bike Maryland is currently staffed by only one full time person. More support is needed. Your support will help us increase the capacity necessary to continue to make Maryland a great place to live and bike!

Become a Member - Join Bike Maryland - Click Here - We Stand Up For You!

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Another pro-bike bill passes


The most important thing I found while working on HB363 (the manslaughter by vehicle or vessel – criminal negligence bill) was to continually form partnerships, keep an open mind, keep discussions factual rather than personal and never give up. It took 7 years for the bill to be voted on by the House Judiciary Committee. Seven years – although the list of supporters and Committee members in support of the bill was long. The House Committee Chair held it hostage and never allowed it to come to a vote (they have authority to do this). Finally, after more deaths and an incredible hearing that included testimony from 21 individuals/organizations, the House Judiciary Committee Chair brought the bill to a vote. A unanimous vote occurred and the bill moved to the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee where the Chair, a long time supporter and bicyclists, shockingly held the bill hostage and in a face to face discussion informed me that he would not bring the bill to a committee vote. All advocates/partners in support of the bill then worked passionately to get hundreds of people to call and email the Chair and other Senators. To add to the story, the State’s Attorneys, which were long time supporters of the bill, no longer agreed with the amended language. They were working to kill the bill. Finally the bill received a positive Senate vote! We then thought, we had won, but learned that the State’s Attorneys had contacted the Governor asking him to veto the bill. More work with partners, letter writing and call campaigns took place.

A day before the bill signing ceremony, we learned that the Governor would sign the bill into law! Bike Maryland and many partners attended the signing ceremony and believe me, we were all smiling! Most of all, I’m so grateful that many of the testifiers who had lost a loved one experienced this victory. It will never bring back their beloved or sooth their pain but they do know that a movement toward an increasingly just system for bicyclists, pedestrians and many vulnerable users will exist as of October 1st (the day the bill becomes law)!

Thanks,
Carol

Carol Silldorff
Executive Director
Bike Maryland
  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

We won - the Governor Signs HB363 into Law!


Bike Maryland

Thanks to your great work, we won! 

House Bill 363 - the Manslaughter by Vehicle - Criminal Negligence bill was signed into law today by Governor O'Malley. Bike Maryland gives thanks to the many dedicated partners (Delegate Simmons and the Maryland General Assembly, Mid-Atlantic AAA, City of Rockville, Washington Area Bicycle Association, League of American Bicyclists and more) and the advocates that worked together to bring this legislation to fruition. 


      Governor O'Malley, aside many bill supporters, signs HB363 into law.

HB 363 increases justice and safety for all vulnerable groups, including bicyclists and pedestrians, by sending a clear message to motorists to obey the law - now just punishment exists.  There have been far too many bicycle and pedestrian fatalities, caused by motorists, on Maryland roads.  HB363 fills an important loophole in the law and prosecutors will now be able to seek higher penalties for those who cause the fatality of a bicyclist/pedestrian. 

The bill will become law on October 1, 2011.  Click here to go to the Maryland General Assembly HB363 bill information page. 

 

Carol Silldorff, Bike Maryland Executive Director, presents Delegate Luiz R. S.
Simmons (sponsor of the bill) with a certificate of excellence for his personal
commitment, dedication, leadership and support of bicycle and pedestrian
safety and justice in Maryland. 

 
Edward Kohls, Adiva Sotzsky, Delegate Simmons, Carol Silldorff & Tamara Bensky.
Ed, Adiva and Tamara experienced the tragic loss of a loved one. They worked
passionately and diligently in their promotion of HB363. We profusely thank
them for their courage and dedication toward making Maryland a safer place
to bike.

 

Get Involved or Subscribe

Continue Reading

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

All advocacy is local


Bike Maryland

Please register for the May 13-15, Winning Campaigns Training by this Tuesday April 19th at 8am. The training will be canceled if registration does not increase by this deadline.  Baltimore is one of six U.S. cities awarded to host this training. We worked to bring this opportunity to Maryland and we hope that for $100 (depending on your membership status) you will register for this three day action-oriented workshop that gives novice and veteran advocates the tools to create and manage powerful campaigns to increase biking and walking in their communities. Please don't let this opportunity pass.

Curriculum will be taught by longtime advocates and national experts with first-hand experience conducting — and winning — bicycle and pedestrian campaigns. 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER AND LEARN MORE! 

Location: Baltimore, MD; Friday, 5-9 p.m., Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

Take advantage of this vital, affordable training this spring in Baltimore! Hosted by: The Alliance for Biking and Walking and Bike Maryland.

Register now please and play an important role in making Maryland the best place it can be to live, work and BIKE!

Thank you.

Get Involved or Subscribe

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)