Howard County Cyclists support the Bicycling Master Plan

The e-mail below is from a senior (17 year old) from Glenelg Country School who has taken the initiative to try to improve road safety for cycling in the County. BAHC has been working with the County at our Bicycling Advisory Group (BAG) Meetings on improving planning as a key component in developing a safer environment for cycling. But often a dedicated student may be able to have more impact on County decision makers than we ‘mature’ cyclists.

The Facebook page she established and her survey are intended to support development of a Howard County Bicycling Master Plan. I encourage all of you to take the survey and to “like” the group on Facebook

The Facebook group is: ‘HoCo for a Bicycle Master Plan’ <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/HoCo-for-a-Bicycle-Master-Plan/118337214856355">http://www.facebook.com/pages/HoCo-for-a-Bicycle-Master-Plan/118337214856355</a>;

Ten question survey: <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M36K9MQ">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M36K9MQ</a>;


Please ensure that this gets out to Club and other listserves:

Dear Mr. Guarneri,

Since our meeting on April 28th, I have been aggressively trying to gain support for a Bicycle Master Plan. If I walked away with one thing, it was the need for such a plan to accomplish our larger goals and I have begun two initiatives to that end. First, I created a Facebook group, “HoCo for a Bicycle Master Plan,” and recently began lobbying for students and faculty at my school to “like” the group. My plan is to cite the group and number of Facebook fans in the formal letter to County Executive Ulman that I will be sending this week. I have also created a 10-question quiz on the service, Survey Monkey, asking about general safety, the worst roads to bike, and, most importantly, interest in a Bicycle Master Plan. It is my belief that the first step to having the planning for the plan begin is to prove to County officials that their constituents want it.

That being said, the more people who “like” the group and fill out the short survey, the greater the impact my letter will have at the top and I need your help. As President of BAHC, you have greater access than I to people with a vested interest in this project and it would be much appreciated if you sent out and e-mail (or a phone call) to your key contacts, asking those who are on Facebook to “like” the page and asking everyone to take the short survey and spread the word. You never know! Sometimes the largest projects, like the Maryland Helmet Law, develop from these types of student initiatives. Your assistance would be much appreciated. Again, the name of the group on Facebook is “HoCo for a Bicycle Master Plan” and the survey can be reached through the following link:
<a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M36K9MQ">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M36K9MQ</a>;

Sincerely,

Megan Neunan, Glenelg Country School Senior