W&OD in VA needs your help


<img width="160" height="116" align="left" src="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/images/articles/20051211133821265_1.jpg" alt=""><img width="160" height="116" align="right" src="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/images/articles/20051211133821265_2.jpg" alt="">&lt;-- What kind of trail would you rather ride? --&gt;

(Please note the legal battle that needs your financial help in the comment below.)

The message below is from the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority which owns and operates the W&amp;OD Trail. To convince the State Corporation Commission to approve a route for Dominion's electric transmission line extension in western Loudoun that does NOT use (and degrade) the W&amp;OD Trail, trail users must speak out against a transmission line extension within this regional park. Please take this simple action. Together, we WILL prevail.

Allen Muchnick

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An important victory for cyclists everywhere


November 28, 2005
Kentucky Supreme Court has struck down a decision blaming a cyclist for being on the road when a passing vehicle hit her. In reaching this decision, the Supreme Court specifically noted that a driver's duty when passing a cyclist such as the plaintiff in this case requires that the driver not pass "unless he can do so without interfering with the safe operation of [the] bicycle, and that if, in fact he did pass [the cyclist] that he not drive to the right until he was reasonably clear of [the cyclist]."

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Have you seen this pickup truck?


A bicyclist was struck and very seriously injured two weeks ago (Sunday October 30, the day before Halloween) on Randolph Road at Sherwood Forest Drive, just west of New Hampshire Avenue, in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was a hit and run -- the driver didn't stay at the scene and didn't give any aid to the injured cyclist. The cyclist was riding in the right lane and was apparently struck from behind. The incident happened at 3 pm, on a very sunny day as I recall.

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Bike Jam Once Again Apart of the National Race Calendar


<img width="160" height="45" align="left" src="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/images/articles/20051118080054440_1.gif" alt="">Baltimore, MD - USA Cycling has announced that Bike Jam featuring the Kelly Cup, Baltimore's only professional cycling race, is apart of the 2006 National Racing Calendar. This marks the third straight year that Bike Jam has been on the calendar. The National Race Calendar, now in its 10th season, features 45 events in 2006 and represents a collection of the most prestigious road cycling events on American soil. The 2006 version of the event will take place on Saturday, May 27.

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Speed and pedestrian safety


<img width="134" height="120" align="left" src="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/images/articles/20051116120103843_1.gif" alt="">Faster speeds not only reduce the amount of time pedestrians and vehicles have to react to each other, but also increase the likelihood of a pedestrian being killed in a crash. A pedestrian hit by a vehicle traveling at 40 mph has an 85 percent chance of being killed; at 30 mph, it goes down to 45 percent, while at 20 mph, it is only 5 percent.

- U.K. Department of Transportation, Killing Speed and Saving Lives, London, 1987.

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What's in YOUR bike bag?


<img width="160" height="99" align="left" src="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/images/articles/2005111408462188_1.gif" alt="">-Rita Zeidner on the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club list serve

Here, in response to popular request and in no particular order, a summary.
* * * * * * * *
Peter at minkhollow

Absolute minimum? A cell phone, to call my wife and ask her nicely to come out and pick me up. If I'm riding way out in the country, I stick with my Verizon phone, since they have more coverage, and it has an analog mode. (Don't leave it on -- analog mode runs the battery down quickly.)

If I need to be more independent:

- Small (but powerful) pump that can actually pump up a tire in a reasonable amount of time - Spare tube - Tire levers - All-in-one tool with hex wrenches, screwdrivers, and a chain tool.- Piece of old tire casing to use as a boot in case of major tire failure

I carry more than that, but those are the things I feel I need.

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