Introducing Bike Maryland!

Last week One Less Car changed its name to Bike Maryland! 

Bike Maryland's mission is to encourage and promote bicycling, increase safety, improve conditions, and provide a voice for all bicyclists in Maryland. 

Bike Maryland supports public transportation programs but our serious focus will be on supporting bicycling programs, initiatives and advocacy campaigns throughout the state of Maryland.  A current Bike Maryland goal is to increase the number of bicycle friendly communities, universities and corporations in Maryland. 

Does your community, university or place of work support biking?  Is it a commuter friendly environment with bike racks, bike facilities, showers or more?  If so, please contact us and let us know about your special bike friendly environment.  If you live, work or study in a place that isn't bike friendly, future newsletters will definitely address this topic. 

Your Right To Use Single Track Trails is in Jeopardy!
Emergency Public Meeting this Thursday October 28th.   

Trail users, local communities, outdoor groups, business and ALL who are enriched by the recreational trails at Loch Raven Reservoir are invited to an emergency public meeting on Loch Raven Reservoir trail use changes. The meeting will be held on Thursday, October 28, 2010, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Timonium Fairgrounds in the Fasig-Tipton building. 

• The goal: Raise awareness about access and recreation issues and convince lawmakers that we need their support to keep single track trails accessible to ALL user groups.
• The issue: Department of Public Works (DPW) Reservoir Natural Resources Section Police officers have begun enforcing an old and restrictive 1998 Mountain Biking Plan. Single track trail users have been informed that the intent is to restrict access to ALL users!
• The urgency: Restrictions to single track access have been made by DPW without the public’s knowledge, input or the opportunity for real collaborative problem solving.

Click here for directions, additional information and updates. Contacts: Bob Compton and Dave Blum, MORE, Loch Raven Trail Liaisons at LochRaven@more-mtb.org.

Please sign this petition to tell Baltimore City's Mayor, the City Council and the Department of Public Works that you want Single Track Trails at Maryland’s Loch Raven, Liberty and Pretty Boy Reservoirs to be legally open to ALL users including mountain bikers, hikers, runners, bird watchers and fishermen.

CLICK HERE to sign the petition.

The Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (over 5,000 members, 950 volunteer hours at Loch Raven this year alone), the International Mountain Biking Association, Bike Maryland (17,000 members), local businesses, local schools, the boy scouts and the citizens who use the trails want and often already work to correct poor trail conditions, remove liter, protect the environment and our municipal water supply. These groups have expertise in building sustainable trails, provide a substantial volunteer base to maintain a world class trail system, and have a history of achieving results. DPW is being asked to partner with organized volunteer groups to help maintain the trails.

Baltimore’s watershed areas are among the largest open spaces accessible to Maryland residents. They are a valuable recreational resource we cannot afford to lose!

Have you been in a bicycle crash recently or know someone who has? We need your help to gather data on bicycling injuries and fatalities in Maryland.

Please take a moment to send us your answers to the following questions:

1. Where did the crash take place?
2. Was the accident caused by a bicyclist, motorist, faulty infrastructure, conditions/weather, another reason or combination of the above?
3. How old was the bicyclist?
4. Was the bicyclist injured or killed?
5. Was the bicyclist obeying the rules of the road?
6. Did a police officer respond to the incident? What was the protocol followed?
7. Was the bicyclist a frequent rider or new to biking?

Thank you for taking the time to give us your input during the data gathering phase of the new Maryland Bicycle Ambassadors Program. Our goal is to make Maryland a safer place to bike for everyone!