Action alert: Three foot legislation
As I get older and wiser (hopefully) I realize there is a bit of a contradiction in advocacy. One part is I need to motivate you to write, that generally involves a sense of outrage, the other part is the the letters you write need to be positive in order to be effective. So...
Be outraged enough to be motivated to write or call, what's being said in the halls of Annapolis is enough to make you steaming mad but don't have that come across in your letters. Be positive and supportive of your representative and try to make your appeal palatable to someone who does not bike. Try to be short and to the point and ***please stay on topic, focus on safety and mention that HB 496 only applies to bicyclists that act lawfully.*** Also we have MDOT's support this year on this bill, that is significant!
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The following is a list of Delegates in the Motor Vehicles and Transportation Subcommittee of the House Environmental Matters Committee, some are friends and some are foes but they all need to hear from their constituency on this matter. If you are not sure who your representatives are: <a href="http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/">http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/</a>;
More information on the bill (all CAPS is what's being added): <a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb0496f.pdf">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/bills/hb/hb0496f.pdf</a>;
Be sure to include:
Sub: Support HB 496 Vehicle Laws - Bicycles, EPAMDs, and Motor Scooters - Rules of the Road
Your full name, address and phone number
JAMES E. MALONE, JR. e-mail: james.malone@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3378, (301) 858-3378
SAQIB ALI e-mail: saqib.ali@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3021, (301) 858-3021
ALFRED CLINTON CARR, JR. e-mail: alfred.carr@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3110, (301) 858-3110
BARBARA A. FRUSH e-mail: barbara.frush@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3114, (301) 858-3114
CHERYL D. GLENN e-mail: cheryl.glenn@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3257, (301) 858-3257
ANNE HEALEY e-mail: anne.healey@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3961, (301) 858-3961
H. WAYNE NORMAN, JR. e-mail: wayne.norman@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3284, (301) 858-3284
ANDREW A. SERAFINI e-mail: andrew.serafini@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3447, (301) 858-3447
DANA M. STEIN e-mail: dana.stein@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3527, (301) 858-3527
PAUL S. STULL e-mail: paul.stull@house.state.md.us (410) 841-3288, (301) 858-3288
Related article: <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20090316140750810">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20090316140750810</a>;