Symposium Pics

From Bill Kelly: Hi Bike Folks. Just need to give a short Update/Report on our 12th Annual Bike Symposium in Annapolis yesterday. It was great success in the most difficult snowy weather we have had so far. We had over 125 pre-register and some where in the 400 to 500 attendees during the day from 8:30AM to 4:00PM. The weather did not slow attendance, but seemed to bring the more hardy Bike Folks out to meet each other andf meet their Elected Officials and their counter-parts from across the State. Folks attending stated that they was a very postive/upbeat feeling with eveyone attending throughout the day. Close to 20 exhibtors showed their projects and engaged the audience with their success in their comunities and offered advice on how to make it work in their communities. Greg Cantori Chair of OLC welcomed the hardy souls, John Porcari Sec. Of MDOT gave upbeat report on MDOT's work on Bike Projects in Maryland and Del. Jon Cardin Chair of ther Bike Caucus gave an overview of the many Bike Bills being considering this Session in Annapolis. Carol Silldorff new director of OLC had all the pieces of the day fitting together like she did all of this before. Jim and Jane Hudnall did their wonderful grand support with coffee and bagels and a nice support group from the Oxon Hill Bike Club to help set-up and man to reception desk. The hot item of the day was Jim Hudnall's Yellow Book Directory" with 211 names and contacts of the most active Bike Connections in Md. Monica Irmler chaired the reception desk group, had all the name tags in order and help get the 25 pizzas out for lunch that fed the multitudes. It was interesting to watch the House Pages in their gray jackets and the staffer s follow the aroma of the pizzas into Bike Symosium and help themselves to the great Popa-John Pizzas. There was more than enough to feed everyone there. Before lunch all the presenters(Stephaniie Yanovitz-America Bikes-WABA-Toole Design) had all the audience in thier seats giving out great Bicycle Safety and Improvements Info and answering questions. After lunch it was Award Time. Sen. Jim Rosapepe presented Sen. Brian Frosh with an outstanding Bike Accomplishment award from OLC and Jim and Jane Hudnall recieved a special OLC Award for all their many years of making these Symposium successful. Bill Kelly even recieved a special State Proclaimation for his many years of Bike Service to the State from Sen. Rosapepe. All in all this Symposium was probably the best ever and if you could not make it you missed a Great Get-Together of many of the Real People Who make Biking Work in Md. I can not name all the wonedrful folks who braced the snowy weather, but John Wetmore video-ed the entire six hours proceedures and maybeyou can view it on John,s Pedestrain Web-Site or Neil Sandler's Spokes Mag with Neil and Ron Cassi attending and reporting. Linda and Larry Black had Bike 's there and Bill Kelly once again road his trustyTrex Bike in from the Navy Stadium, never missing a Bike Ride to the Sympsium of posting his Bike at the front entrance of the Miller Office Bldg. Afetr the Symposiun ended many were saying this event was as good as a Pro Bike Conference or Bike Summitt with all the important info and it was FREE with a more than ample FREE LUNCH. Many adjoured to the wonderful resturants in Annapolis in the evening for more BikeTalk and plans to try to keep Md. in a Leadership role in Bicycle Advancement.. After a nice recap with Randy Mardres at the Rams Head Inn , Bill Kelly was able to hop aboard hus trusty Trex Bike and head out Rowe Blvd. across Spa Creek to the Navy Stadium with great feeling of a job welldone with another Bike Symposium for the records. Thank you all for many many jobs welldone. Mark your calendars Monday Oct, 5, 2009 for the Fall Bike Forum at JHAPL 6:00 to 9:00 PM Bill K.

The 2009 Maryland Bicycle Symposium was a big success - good
attendance, terrific speakers, informative displays, lively
discussions, persuasive legislative visits, and much more.

Many advocates spoke with their delegates and senators about local
bike issues and asked them to support several bills benefiting
cyclists, especially the 3-foot bill requiring vehicles passing
cyclists to give them at least three feet of clearance and to yield to
cyclists in bike lanes. Senate Bill 428
(http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0428.htm) and House Bill
496 (http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0496.htm)will have
hearings on Thursday, February 9. Similar bills have been rejected in
past years by the Transportation Subcommittee of the House
Environmental Matters Committee. If you live in the district of a
delegate on that subcommittee, please ask your delegate to support HB 496.

The bill for a mandatory helmet law for all ages does not appear to be
going anywhere. (http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0187.htm) I
understand no one spoke for or against the bill at its hearing
Tuesday. Cycling organizations have let legislators know that while we
strongly encourage all cyclists to wear a helmet, we oppose a law
making helmet use mandatory for adult cyclists. After the bill's
hearing, another bill appeared that would change the current Maryland
law requiring cyclists under the age of 16 wear a helmet to requiring
those under age of 18 wear a helmet. House Bill 496
(http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0496.htm) will be heard
February 19. Montgomery County already has a county requirement that
requires cyclists under the age of 18 wear a helmet, and Howard County
requires anyone under 17 wear one.
-JH