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Is “Safe” Road Design Killing Bicyclists and Pedestrians?`


BY JOSH COHEN, Next City

In 2012, 4,743 pedestrians and 726 bicyclists were killed in the United States, up 6 percent from the previous year. Rep. Rick Larsen, of Washington, has a sneaking suspicion that road design — specifically designs that make things safer for cars — are a big part of the problem.

To find out for sure, Larsen along with Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (of D.C.) and Peter DeFazio (of Oregon) sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office in late December asking for an investigation into trends and causes of crashes involving bicyclists and pedestrians and recommendations for improving safety.

The request centers on the question of whether or not road designs that make driving safer are putting bicyclists and pedestrians at greater risk — at a time when cities around the country are creating more bike lanes and promoting walkability.

Their letter says, “Roads are designed and built with wider, straighter lanes and have fewer objects near the edges, more turn lanes, and wider turning radii at intersections. While these practices improve driving safety, a suspected unintended consequence is that drivers travel faster when they feel safer. Greater speeds can increase the frequency and severity of crashes with pedestrians and cyclists who are moving at much slower speeds and have much less protection than a motorized vehicle affords.” (In an effort to stop pedestrian deaths, in November, NYC tackled the speed issue by reducing the city’s default to 25 mph.)
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<a href="http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/road-design-pedestrian-safety-bicyclist-safety">http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/road-design-pedestrian-safety-bicyclist-safety</a>;
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The Bishop, the Cyclist and a Death on the Road


By Jennifer Steinhauer, New York Times

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“This type of thing is your worst fear,” said Jed Weeks, president of the board of Bikemore, a Baltimore cycling advocacy group. “You are in a bike lane and you are struck and killed from behind by someone who doesn’t even remain at the scene. That worst fear realized has galvanized us.&quot;

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/10/us/baltimore-bishop-charged-in-hit-and-run-case.html">http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/10/us/baltimore-bishop-charged-in-hit-and-run-case.html</a>;
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Biking advocates bemoan slow pace of promised safety improvements


[B' Spokes: A lot of talk about the need for infrastructure and cycling fatalities. Nothing against facilities especially if we are going to have them everywhere. What? They are not going to be everywhere, well then how about some more stress on education and enforcement then. Between this Baltimore Sun article and Bike Maryland's policy statement (<a href="https://www.bikemaryland.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Bike_MD_PolicyPaper.pdf">https://www.bikemaryland.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Bike_MD_PolicyPaper.pdf</a>; ) I feel like screaming EDUCATION and ENFORCEMENT are needed as well!]
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By Kevin Rector, Baltimore Sun

As the number of bicyclists has risen in Baltimore and across the nation in the last decade, city planners and other government officials have responded with a broad range of initiatives.

They've set aside millions of dollars for designated bike lanes. They've enacted laws to better protect cyclists. And they've made bicyclists and pedestrians more of a priority in urban renewal and so-called complete streets transportation projects.

Still, bicyclists, biking advocates and families devastated by serious accidents say real progress has been slow — leading to tragic incidents such as the recent collision that killed avid cyclist Thomas Palermo in Baltimore. Despite programs to improve safety, bicyclists in Maryland are regularly forced to travel on dangerous roads designed almost exclusively for cars and trucks, the advocates say.
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<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-biking-safety-20150103-story.html">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-biking-safety-20150103-story.html</a>;
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Md. Bishop Charged In Death Of Cyclist Tom Palermo


Via CBS Baltimore

Newly appointed Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby said Bishop Heather Cook will be charged in the death of cyclist Tom Palermo at a press conference Friday.

Cook was charged with vehicular manslaughter, DUI, texting and leaving the scene of the Dec. 27 accident, which took the life of the 41-year-old father of two was hit and killed while riding his bike on Roland Avenue.
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<a href="http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/01/09/baltimore-city-states-attorney-to-address-death-of-cyclist/">http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2015/01/09/baltimore-city-states-attorney-to-address-death-of-cyclist/</a>;
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On Palermo tragedy, 'Agony in the Garden' and the Next Baltimore


[B' Spokes: A well written piece from Dan Rodricks about the future of Baltimore becoming accomidating of cyclists, along with special kudos to the Episcopal Diocese and their unusually candid series of public statements.]

<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-rodricks-0108-20150108-column.html">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-rodricks-0108-20150108-column.html</a>;
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Boys Latin students were first to stop to help injured cyclist Palermo


By Fern Shen, Baltimore Brew

The first people to stop and try to help cyclist Thomas Palermo – some Boys Latin students on their way to the school to play soccer on a sunny Saturday – did not see the car crash that threw the 41-year-old from his bike and ultimately kill him.

All they saw was a man lying in the street, on the southbound side of Roland Avenue, his head on the sidewalk curb, and they went to see if he needed help, said Matt Manzoni, a Boys Latin senior.
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What He Saw

“We saw somebody on the side of the road, so we did a U-turn at Lake” Avenue, said Manzoni, speaking last night. “It was a man lying alone. No one was around.”
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<a href="https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2015/01/08/boys-latin-students-were-first-to-stop-to-help-injured-cyclist-palermo/">https://www.baltimorebrew.com/2015/01/08/boys-latin-students-were-first-to-stop-to-help-injured-cyclist-palermo/</a>;
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Planning improvements for San Martin Drive


San Martin Drive near JHU is a cycling gem, both as a commuter route and a scenic pleasure ride. JHU is in the process of rebuilding it, and it is imperative that the new design accommodate bikes. Attend the public meeting and make your desires known.

San Martin Drive Improvements Meeting
Wednesday, January 7
6:30 pm
Johns Hopkins Keswick
3910 Keswick Road
Classrooms A &amp; B, South Building

Johns Hopkins University is planning improvements for San Martin Drive, including improved safety for all user groups,
upgrading conditions and appearance, and creating a better first impression while entering the Johns Hopkins campus from the West.

There is plenty of free visitor parking after 5 pm at the South Building (under the overhang),
To access the parking lot:
--From 37th Street go up the hill and park under the overhang
--From Keswick Road (at Craybombe) turn right and drive up the hill and park under the overhang
Be prepared to sign in and show ID at the building entrance which will be in front of you once you park

Please contact if you plan to attend:
Jennifer Mielke, Director
Office of Community Affairs
Johns Hopkins University
Jmielke3@jhu.edu

Via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/bikebmore/763031053751119/?ref=notif&amp;notif_t=group_activity">https://www.facebook.com/groups/bikebmore/763031053751119/?ref=notif&amp;notif_t=group_activity</a>;
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Police Building Criminal Case Against Bishop Heather Cook for Fatal Hit-And-Run; Church Says Her Fate Is Out of Their Hands


BY LEONARDO BLAIR, Christian Post

The Baltimore Police Department confirmed Monday that it's building a criminal case against Bishop Heather Cook, 58, the second-highest ranking official of the Episcopal Church of Maryland, after she crashed into a married father of two as he cycled along a local roadway then fled the scene as he lay dying two Saturdays ago.
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[Detective Howard] &quot;In the interest of preserving the investigation and not contaminating a jury pool we will not release any aspects of the case prematurely. ... We don't want facts and evidence about things floating out in space before a person is charged for the crime,&quot; he said.

&quot;Investigations of this nature are typically a methodical process. There's a lot of forensic evidence that has to be reviewed and evaluated … so it's still an active and open investigation,&quot; he added.

Addressing the deceased's supporters' concerns that Cook be swiftly charged with murder, he said that investigators needed as much time as necessary to prove that a crime was committed and there's no specific date on when this would happen.
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<a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/police-building-criminal-case-against-bishop-heather-cook-for-fatal-hit-and-run-church-says-her-fate-is-out-of-their-hands-132122/">http://www.christianpost.com/news/police-building-criminal-case-against-bishop-heather-cook-for-fatal-hit-and-run-church-says-her-fate-is-out-of-their-hands-132122/</a>;

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Call for Final Public Review of Baltimore's Bike Master Plan


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BALTIMORE CITY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Is updating the BICYCLE MASTER PLAN
Call for Final Public Review before Adoption!

Since the original Bicycle Master Plan was adopted in 2006, the City of Baltimore has created over 100 miles of on-street bikeways with 39 miles of off-road trails. Numerous ordinances and programs have been established to make Baltimore a better place to bike. The Department of Transportation will host an open-house at the
Enoch Pratt Central Library
400 Cathedral Street
Auditorium
Wednesday, January 28th
5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Baltimore City DOT is providing an Open House opportunity for final public review of the Bicycle Master Plan Update. Please come by, review proposed projects and policies in the plan and give us your final input.

Questions, Comments or Suggestions?
Please contact Caitlin Doolin at caitlin.doolin@baltimorecity.gov or 410-396-6856 or Jeffrey Fleming at jeffrey.fleming@baltimorecity.gov or 443-984-4095

Via Central Baltimore Partnership
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The bishop and the cyclist


Posted by Elizabeth Kaeton, Telling Secrets

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So, let us be very clear here:

Leaving the scene of an accident is a felony.

Period.

Whatever else she did or didn't do, she has admitted to leaving the scene of an accident. Doesn't matter that she returned. She left. She is already a felon awaiting conviction.


Whether or not she will also be charged and convicted with vehicular homicide (pending the results of the investigation), she was directly involved with the death of a young man with young children.

Nothing changes that.

She will have to live with that fact for the rest of her life. If your imagination needs some exercise, try to imagine that for yourself.

The record reflects that, since her ordination in 1987, she has been a good priest with lots of skills and talents, creativity and imagination - good enough to be elected as Bishop Suffragan despite being thoroughly and vigorously vetted by the diocese.

I can't imagine the personal, spiritual and psychological hell she (and her family) must be going through, knowing that her actions resulted in the death of another human being (My God!), knowing she's probably going to go to jail (Sweet Jesus!), will probably be asked to resign as bishop and just may, in fact, lose her orders (Come, Holy Spirit!).

I also can't imagine the unbearable grief the deceased man's family must be feeling. I hope and pray they are getting the spiritual, emotional and psychological support they need at this time.

My prayers are with the Palermo family - including a wife and two children - as well as prayers for compassion for Bishop Cook, which must be provided side by side with accountability and forgiveness.

Now - right now, in these dark days - is time for the community to gather and rally and provide help and support for both of these families, for whom - in the twinkling of an eye and the gentle beat of the human heart - life was changed and transformed and will never again be the same.


It's just so tragic, on so many levels, for so many people.

No one comes out a winner in these situations.

So, why the mean-spirit and conjecture and 'trial by media'?

I don't get it.

Not for Christians.

Not for Episcopalians.

What a huge test of our baptismal promises - especially &quot;striving for justice AND peace among ALL people&quot; and &quot;respecting the dignity of EVERY human being&quot; - which includes the deceased and the bishop.

Suddenly, those promises don't sound quite so rote or simple, do they?
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<a href="http://telling-secrets.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-bishop-and-cyclist.html">http://telling-secrets.blogspot.com/2014/12/the-bishop-and-cyclist.html</a>;
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[B' Spokes: My two cents: we desperately need drivers to wake up and pay attention when around cyclists, so I hope the bishop faces some serious charges... if the court decides to be lenient that's one thing and quite the other for the charges to be lenient from the get go and all the bishop would face is a hundred and change in fines. I have had enough of that!!! Let's get serious about outrageous driving behavior that ends a life.]
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