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Maryland's first female Episcopal bishop exposed as hit-and-run driver 'who killed young father' two days after Christmas

B' Spokes: This is being reported across the pond, it's that tragic.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2889726/Maryland-s-female-Episcopal-bishop-kills-cyclist-gruesome-hit-run.html


And coverage by our favorite paper, Baltimore Brew

https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2014/12/28/grief-and-anger-at-scene-of-fatal-bike-crash/


And there is a memorial ride Thursday January first at 3:30, 3636 North Charles Street

https://www.facebook.com/events/745500648869284/


And my photos of Mondays memorial ride:

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Avoid holiday theft by documenting bike, electronic serial numbers

By Kelly Rule, WMDT

To prevent the successful theft of gifts this holiday season, police are urging you to take some simple steps.

They recommend for everyone to document and take pictures of the serial numbers on all bicycles and electronics, new or old.
...

<a href="http://www.wmdt.com/news/more-local-news/Avoid-holiday-theft-by-documenting-bike-electronic-serial-numbers/30374944">http://www.wmdt.com/news/more-local-news/Avoid-holiday-theft-by-documenting-bike-electronic-serial-numbers/30374944</a>;
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[B' Spokes: I also heard engraving your driver's licence number on your bike can help recovery by the police as well.]
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You can now bring your bike to Baltimore on weekend MARC trains

by Gregory Billing, Greater Greater Washington

Starting this weekend, you can take your bike on select MARC trains running between Baltimore and DC on the Penn Line. MARC outfitted two rehabilitated passenger cars to carry passengers and their full-size bicycles. The bike cars will run on weekends between DC and Baltimore, for now.
...

<a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/25159/you-can-now-bring-your-bike-to-baltimore-on-weekend-marc-trains/">http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/25159/you-can-now-bring-your-bike-to-baltimore-on-weekend-marc-trains/</a>;
[Includes pics of the inside of the train and some people who were on the first run of the bike car.]
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[B' Spokes: Excursion idea, Saturday take the morning train to DC, bike north on the C&amp;O Canal at least ~10 miles for the primitive camping sites (and ~ every 5 miles after that) or ~ 60 miles up to Harpers Ferry for a B&amp;B or the Youth Hostel (Season 2014 was April 15th to December 1st.) Bike back Sunday and then take the evening train back to Baltimore. Or heck, DC is a fun place to play tourist on a bike. In short use this service if you like to see more bike accommodations!
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21 Measures for Pedestrian Safety (in Baltimore or Anywhere)

By Klaus Philipsen, FAIA, Community Architect

There is hardly a city left in America that doesn't have a Complete Streets policy, and Baltimore is no exception. Unfortunately, while talk is universal, action is much harder to find.
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(Just the headings)
1. No right on red anywhere in the central city or where pedestrian traffic is heavy
2. No rush hour lanes directly abutting a sidewalk
3. Well-marked and well-lit crosswalks everywhere, especially mid-block
4. No pedestrian signals requiring push-button activation anywhere downtown
5. Full enforcement of the pedestrian right-of-way laws at crosswalks
6. Longer crossing signal times, especially on wide streets
7. No signals without pedestrian heads
8. All pedestrian signals should provide the “go” signal two seconds before vehicles get green light
9. No pedestrian phase should be so short that it takes two phases to cross a street
10. No inner city bus stop should be without extra space, shelter, and amenities
11. Fewer parking garages in downtown areas of desirability
12. Fewer curb cuts across sidewalks with high pedestrian volume
13. No construction sites that simply close the sidewalk, saying &quot;Pedestrians use other side&quot;
14. No sidewalks with less than 5' of actually usable space, free of obstructions
15. General maximum speed limit of 30mph within city limits, except designated expressways, and 20mph in residential streets and near schools
16. No crosswalk without curb ramps, per ADA
17. Reinstate the red light and speed camera system
18. No large parking lot or garage without marked pedestrian routes and refuges.
19. Each downtown block must have some visual interest point for pedestrians
20. Install Pedestrian rest areas and trailblazing throughout the city.
21. Reduce number of one-way streets.
...

<a href="http://archplanbaltimore.blogspot.com/2014/12/21-measures-for-pedestrian-safety-in.html?m=1">http://archplanbaltimore.blogspot.com/2014/12/21-measures-for-pedestrian-safety-in.html?m=1</a>;
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Arrogant cyclists? No, they're following the rules.

By Alan Solot, Arizona Daily Star

“Arrogant bicyclists feel they own the road” is a common lament of motorists. Since El Tour de Tucson is on Saturday, I think it’s a good time for this discussion.

To state the most important point: All road users — motorists, cyclists, pedestrians — must comply with the law, and use the road safely.
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Many motorists seem to believe (I may be incorrect in saying this) that cyclists’ use of the road is not as important as motorists’ use. But, the law doesn’t provide that any road user’s reason for being on the road is more important than others’, unless it’s a police car, fire truck or ambulance responding to an emergency. Cyclists and motorists have equal right to use the road; that right has nothing to do with why they are using the road.
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<a href="http://tucson.com/news/opinion/column/guest/arrogant-cyclists-no-they-re-following-the-rules/article_722bd26d-4447-5f3b-badc-76fe2296cfe8.html">http://tucson.com/news/opinion/column/guest/arrogant-cyclists-no-they-re-following-the-rules/article_722bd26d-4447-5f3b-badc-76fe2296cfe8.html</a>;
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Interim Executive Director Greg Hinchliffe

Via BikeMore

Bikemore is naming Greg Hinchliffe the Interim Executive Director of Bikemore. Greg is a Baltimore City resident, recently retired Captain at American Airlines, and has been a lifetime advocate for bicycle infrastructure improvement in Baltimore City.

He is a member of the Maryland Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee, is the State Chair of the East Coast Greenway Alliance, a member of the Gwynns Falls Trail Council, the former Chair of the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee, and he helped organize Tour du Port for the past 12 years.
"Having worked with Greg for many years on bike issues both large and small, I'm encouraged with the direction Bikemore is taking. Greg not only has a solid vision for what a truly bikeable Baltimore can be, but knows how to make it a reality. I look forward to working with him in his new role at Bikemore."  - Nate Evans, Bike Maryland
Greg will continue Bikemore’s daily advocacy work while we launch a national search for a new permanent Executive Director.

If you know of anyone passionate about bicycles with a demonstrated track record of advocacy and fundraising success, please let us know. Bikemore will publish a formal announcement and job description for that position soon.
 
Thank You to Chris Merriam
From initially sparking the idea of a Baltimore-focused bicycle advocacy organization at evening meetings with a small group of dedicated volunteers, Chris Merriam grew Bikemore into a professional advocacy organization that--while still in its infancy--has moved the needle significantly on projects in Baltimore City, and recently expanded into Baltimore County with progress on the I-70 trail connections and the opening of Towson bicycle facilities.

While Chris is stepping down as Executive Director, we look forward to his continued involvement in the organizational mission, vision, and strategy as a founding member.
 
Jed Weeks
President, Bikemore


http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=9ae12933a17d8c1c4a22924d6&id=8d609fb28a&e=83fc0acd76
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American Insurance Association Opposes Contributory Negligence in DC

Via The WashCycle

Contributory Negligence Bill unlikely to get out of committee. Expanded to include peds and wheelchair users.

From the Post 

Council members Tommy Wells, chair of the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety, and David Grosso (D-At-Large), the bill’s main sponsor, said at a press conference Thursday that the bill is long overdue. They acknowledge the bill is unlikely to advance out of the committee — this is the third time it has been introduced –and already were talking about trying again next year.

Ward 6 CM-elect Charles Allen has already promised to support it.

When introduced, the bill only covered cyclists, but since its September hearing, it has been expanded to also cover pedestrians and people with disabilities, including those who use wheelchairs.

Another amendment is likely to be added that protects joint and several liability . Why won't it pass?

But the American Insurance Association says the change is unnecessary and would result in significant cost increases to D.C. drivers.

Where is the all-powerful bike lobby when you need it?



http://www.thewashcycle.com/2014/11/contributory-negligence-bill-unlikely-to-get-out-of-committee-expanded-to-include-peds-and-wheelchai.html
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Cause of anti-cycling bigotry

[B' Spokes: Lets look at society as a whole and what it thinks what safe cycling looks like, ride against traffic, ride with traffic and ride on the sidewalk. We have all seen cyclists do all the above but somehow when motorists speak they avoid the most basic "controversy" and go right to the "indisputable" facts... hold it right there, every mode of transportation flouts the law, people are people. The problem is the lack of traffic enforcement. And don't tell me motorists are lawful, I drive the freeways at the speed limit, I stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, l stop before making a right on red and so on but I rarely see my fellow motorists being as lawful.

I just want to scream at all this blaming the victim stuff when motorists and they way they drive kill, I mean kill a lot. Cyclists are not a major problem, motorists are. If and only if the police start doing crosswalk stings and on our side, start doing some 3 foot violation stings then maybe start enforcing our laws but in the mean time we are all just trying to survive in a sea of lawlessness.]
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Bicyclists Belong In The Traffic Lane
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Action Alert from Bikemore

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What is the I-70 Trail Connection all about?

The purpose of the I-70 Trail Connection, a joint project of “The I-70 Trail Connectors” and Bikemore , is to ensure a safe, direct, and comfortable crossing of Security Boulevard (MD 122) from the Gwynns Falls Trail and communities on the east side of Security Boulevard to the proposed I-70 Red Line station on the west side of Security Boulevard.

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The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), as part of their planning for the Red Line transit line, has proposed removing Interstate 70 inside the Beltway (I-695). They have also proposed moving Gwynns Falls Trailhead #1 from its current location east of Security Boulevard to a new Red Line station west of Security Boulevard, physically separating the Trailhead from the trail itself.  

The I-70 Trail Connectors, the group of neighbors and advocates in Western Baltimore City and County promoting a bridge crossing, and Bikemore have proposed using the existing interstate highway bridge infrastructure to create a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Security Boulevard.

The MTA and the State Highway Administration (SHA) do not support the local residents’ proposal and have instead recommended ‘at-grade’ crossings of Security Boulevard, meaning pedestrians and cyclists would have to cross this busy roadway while navigating car, bus, and truck traffic. Would you want your kids crossing Security Boulevard on foot or on a bike?

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Tack action here http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=9ae12933a17d8c1c4a22924d6&id=59dbe6a15c&e=454e16693f
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