November 2009 Update



One Less > Car

Greetings!

One Less Car (OLC) works throughout Maryland to reduce automobile congestion and pollution by decreasing car usage. Our goal is to help people get to where they need to go efficiently. OLC works to increase walking, biking, carpooling, public transit, telecommuting, and flex scheduling opportunities. These smart transit choices promote physical activity, emotional and physical well-being, social interaction, livable communities, equity and environmental stewardship.

In this issue:

One Less Car Legislative Task Force
OLC Event Calendar
Dangerous by Design - Transportation For America's Report
By Popular Demand - T-shirts Available
City Council Public Hearing
Sunday Streets
Seeking "3Ts" - Board Members
MBPAC Resolution and Cover Letter to Maryland State Police
 


November 18th One Less Car Legislative Task Force Meeting

Date: Wednesday November 18th
Time: 6-8:00 PM
Location: Conference Room on the 3rd Floor at Maryland Department of Transportation; 7201 Corporate Center Drive, Hanover, MD 21076
Conference Call Number: 410-865-1020
Directions
RSVP Here by Nov. 16th

The Task Force will discuss new bill language, potential sponsors and strategize for the upcoming 2010 General Assembly session.  Focus will be on the following legislative priorities as well as the upcoming February 3rd 2010 Smart Transportation and Bicycling Symposium:

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 General Assembly has 47 Senators and 141 Delegates elected from 47 districts. The 427th Maryland Legislative session is 90 days in length and starts January 12, 2010. Learn more.

We will meet before the legislative session and monthly throughout the session to develop a time-line, clearly define and assign tasks, prioritize legislative matters, strategize and more. To learn more please contact Barry Childress or Carol Silldorff.

Save the Date! February 3rd, 2010 - One Less Car Annual Symposium in Annapolis, MD

The 2010 Thirteenth Annual Symposium in Annapolis will be a little different this year! The Symposium will be more inclusive covering bicycle and pedestrian topics, as well as, presentations on transportation as a whole. Topics/presentations may include Complete Streets policy, Safe Routes to School, Rails to Trails Initiatives, Payment in Lieu of Parking, Explanation of Commuter Choice, Finding the Best Carpool Matching Site, Guaranteed Ride Home…..and more!

The Symposium is the perfect setting to inform our state delegates and senators that Maryland’s communities need smart commuting opportunities and safe bicycle access to be fully sustainable and livable. The Symposium is designed as an opportunity for people to meet and share information with advocates, planners, state and local officials, and community leaders. There are educational exhibits and presentations throughout the day!


One Less Car Event Calendar

Check it out - HERE.  Learn about upcoming events and meetings pertaining to alternative transportation, smart commuting and bicycle and pedestrian matters. 

Next Event:
Monday, November 16th 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. -  2010 Legislative Preview
Hosted by the Maryland League of Conservation Voters - What happens in Annapolis doesn’t stay in Annapolis; it affects all of us, every day!
Goucher College, Hyman Forum, The Athenaeum -- 1021 Dulaney Valley Road, Baltimore, MD 21204-2794

The Legislative session starts in January and the decisions made by the General Assembly affect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the land where our children play.

We want Maryland to be a place with many efficient alternative transportation opportunities! 


One Less Car (OLC) is working throughout Maryland to reduce automobile congestion and pollution by decreasing car usage.

Learn about the issues from leaders in the environmental community, share what you think should happen in Annapolis, and hear from our elected officials. Click here to learn more.

You have two opportunities to learn more:
November 16, 2009 at Goucher College in Baltimore
November 19, 2009 at the Avalon Theater in Easton


Dangerous by Design - Transportation For America's Report
Solving the Epidemic of Preventable Pedestrian Deaths (and Making Great Neighborhoods)

Transportation For America issued a report Dangerous by Design in which it highlighted that Maryland ranked 49 out of 50 for per capita spending on bicycling and walking projects. As well as ranking the Baltimore metro area 45 out of 52 for per capita spending of Federal money for biking and walking. Additionally, the Fatality Analysis and Reporting System ranked Maryland the 6th worst for the pedestrian fatality rate.

Per the Baltimore Sun, the State explains how the money they do spend on bike/ped projects is under reported, while this is true but as the old joke sort of goes: twice of next to nothing is still next to nothing but the real question is the State doing what is necessary to reduce the pedestrian fatality rate which is now at an all time high? In the League of American's Bicyclists report they highlighted how no Congestion Management and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds were spent on bike/ped projects in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area and these funds must be spent in areas whose air quality is classified as non-attainment such as the Baltimore Metropolitan Area. But wait there's more, the State failed to commit $14.5 million in CMAQ funds so that went back to the Federal Government.

Read More...


By Popular Demand - T-shirts Available

Three types of t-shirts are available for purchase:

Purchase of t-shirt includes a free year of OLC membership. All t-shirts cost $25.  Shipping is included in the cost. 

To order a t-shirt via credit card go to:  http://onelesscar.org/page.php?id=146 - minimal donation for t-shirt is $25.  After completing form go to contact us and specify the size, color and type of t-shirt you would like to purchase.

To order via check - send check payable to One Less Car at 1209 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.  Minimum donation is $25.  On the check write the size, color and type of t-shirt you would like to purchase.

Only the sizes listed above are available (no smalls available).


Hearing on Baltimore City's Equal Rights for Bikes Task Force Summary

First off our thanks go out to City Council Persons Bill Henry and Mary Pat Clarke for their participation and interest in this topic. To highlight some of the points discussed:

With the latter City Council will hold another hearing to discuss how to better serve recreational use of our reservoir areas, so stay tuned.

All cyclists in Baltimore and who use the Reservoir areas thank those who came to show support and those who testified, especially Nate Evens the City's Bike/Ped Planer extraordinaire, Gary Letteron of the Department of Planning. Also testifying, Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee, Baltimore Bicycling Club, One Less Car and Mid Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts.


Street Becomes Mall for Strollers on an Autumn Morning -- 'Sunday Streets' Tested in Roland Park to Delight of Cyclists, Skaters...

For five hours of a perfect autumn morning, half of Roland Avenue went to the dogs. To the bikes. To the runners and the walkers and the stand-around-and-schmoozers. And the skateboards, baby carriages, wagons, skates, at least one unicycle and a three-wheeled, scooter-like contraption called a Trikke. Anything but motor vehicles.  Read full BALTIMORE SUN article here.

It is Time for Sunday Streets to be a Weekly Program!  Sunday Streets is a free weekly program where recreational activities abound and people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds have a great time together! Participants move along the route at their own pace, they can start wherever they wish, for as long as they wish. It’s an opportunity to enjoy Baltimore from a new perspective, get some exercise, and have some fun! If you want to see this program exist in Baltimore, please call Baltimore City leadership and express your thoughts!

Sunday Streets promotes:

During Sunday Streets, Baltimore’s 33rd street and connecting streets from Lake Montebello to Druid Hill Park will be partially closed to vehicles and opened up for people to play, walk, bike, run, skateboard, roller-skate, socialize and have fun. See link- the route is approximately 5 miles one way: http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-states/md/baltimore/122352372164

Take Action:  Go to http://cityservices.baltimorecity.gov/citycouncil/ and mayor@baltimorecity.gov to contact your representative and the Mayor express why a Sunday Streets program is needed in Baltimore.  


OLC seeks New Board Members

One Less Car seeks new board members with the 3 T's - Time, Treasure and Talent - and of course a passion for OLC's mission. Click here to learn more about our existing board. If you are interested in becoming a board member, please contact Carol Silldorff (OLC Executive Director) or Greg Cantori (OLC President).


MBPAC Resolution and Cover Letter to Maryland State Police

Thank you to the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for the following action, resolution and helping to clarify that cyclists do not have to ride in a shoulder no matter how narrow, and cyclists should not be weaving in and out of shoulders with multiple hazards.

View the resolution.
 


Support OLC

Please support One Less Car. OLC is a 501c3 non-profit organization and your contribution is tax deductible. The OLC volunteer Board of Directors and Executive Director provide direction to a diverse group of volunteers, along with minimal staff, who advocate for providing safe and effective transportation alternatives for all citizens through education, lobbying, and facilitation between our communities, governments, and state and local representatives. We believe that Maryland can be an example of the economic and social good that comes from a society where everyone – regardless of age, physical condition or economic background - has the opportunity to bike, walk or use mass transit to get where they need to go. 

DONATE HERE. 

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Baltimore Spokes
https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20091113130926881