SB 388 Baltimore City - Vehicle Laws - Speed Monitoring Systems


Authorizing the placement of speed monitoring systems on specified highways in Baltimore City; making specified provisions of law relating to the enforcement of speed limit laws with speed monitoring systems applicable in Baltimore City; etc.

[Note that Montgomery County already has this law.]

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Letter to the Editor-LAB


Dear Editor, I would like to respond to Steven Leiby's letter "Breaking The Rules" in the Jan/Feb 2009 LAB American Bicyclists. His letter is right on and timely for the situations we are dealing with on our busy roadways. I have been the Chairman of the College Park Area Bicycle Coalition-CPABC for over twenty years and the most asked question about Biking is "Why do Cyclists Break so many of the Rules of the Road when riding their Bikes?". Mr Leiby's letter points out the concern by other Cyclists when they see others doing stupid things when riding their Bikes and seem reluctant to tell the lawbreaker rider to obey the traffic laws. Every motorist stopping at the red lights see these stupid Cyclists doing stupid/dangerous things and its reflects on all the Biking Society, Along these lines when a Cyclists goes to court for their due rights they are often rebuffed by juries because the jury remembers the Stupid Cyclist on their main street and feel you constantly break the laws and now you want the law to work for you. We are now working at our State Capital, Annapolis for a 3' Bubble Bike Passing Bill to keep our Cyclists safer on the road and we are told why do you want more laws to protect you when you don't obey the laws already on the books.

In closing I would like to tell Mr. Leiby and other concerned Cyclists to approach the Stupid Cyclist and tell them we don't appreciate their unlawful behavior because it reflects on all of us. The Bike is a legal vehicle in all 50 states and must obey all rules of the road and they are subject to $50.00 fine for running a stop sign, $65 for running a stop light and $125 fine for passing a stopped school bus. It is our job as sensible Cyclists especially on group rides to correct the Stupid Cyclists and other times we see these unlawful actions because peer presure certainly works. Hopefully the discussion will continue on this important issue. Thanks Bill Kelly Chair-CPABC
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Nearly $3.8 Billion in Stimulus Aid to Maryland


Cardin Annapolis Reports

Delegate Jon S. Cardin  District 11, Baltimore County

Week 6 Annapolis Report (2/20/09)

On February 13th Congress passed the $789 billion Economic Recovery Act. For numerous reasons, including our proximity to Washington and the numerous federal agencies and military installations located here, Maryland stands to receive a significant influx of capital and programming money. I expect to see road and bridge projects ($600 million), Medicaid stipends ($1.2 billion), education ($1 billion), and renewable energy jobs among others growing in our state because of this important federal initiative.
 
We will receive nearly $3.8 billion over three fiscal years.  While this is an incredible amount of money, much of the funding is based on federal formulas or block grants and will not be part of the state's general fund budget. This will require us to be careful and creative when using these funds, with an eye towards using the money to sustain ongoing concerns, not creating new programs.

[Unless we change MDOT policy bicyclists will NOT be getting their fair share of this.]
...
This is the fourth year for HB 496 - my bicycle safety bill - a law that would require a safe three-foot bubble around a cyclist when being passed by a car. Whether in a car or on a bike, this is a common-sense rule which would keep all parties from mishaps. A little bit of patience and attentiveness goes a long way in avoiding accidents. The hearings in the House and Senate went well, and now I encourage all of you bike enthusiasts to remind your legislators to pass this nationally recognized and effective safety effort.

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HB 25 Motor Scooters - Prohibited Roads for Operation - dead in House, yea!


Altering regulations relating to the operation of motor scooters on roadways so that a person may not operate a motor scooter on a roadway where the posted maximum speed limit is more than 30 miles an hour and may not operate a motor scooter at a speed in excess of 30 miles per hour.

>>>Unfavorable Report by Environmental Matters

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WABA's take action page


The Maryland General Assembly is now considering several bills that are important for cyclists. Three in particular are being debated by the House Environmental Matters Committee and are particularly deserving of attention. Below is a list of the relevant bills along with a summary of each, and the position WABA is urging you to take on each. At the bottom of this page is a sample letter that you can send to the committee to express your opinion on the legislation. Please note that while WABA has provided you a sample letter below, personal stories are much more effective. It is also recommended that you reach out to your particular House member. A list of members on the Environemental Matters Committee can be found here.

These bills are:

Bill: House Bill 437-Protective Head Gear
WABA Position: Oppose
Summary: This bill would raise the mandatory helmet law age from 15 to 17. While WABA supports the use of bicycle helmets, and helmets are effective in reducing traumatic brain injuries during crashes, helmets to not prevent crashes from happening in the first place. Instead of pursing mandatory helmet laws, which are difficult to enforce, the state should focus on bike education efforts and on policies that foster safe roadway design. Currently, less than 1% of highway safety funds given to the state are used on bike and pedestrian projects.

Bill: House Bill 496-Three Foot Passing Law
WABA Position: Support
Summary: Would establish required motorists to give at least three feet of space when passing cyclists. This bill would also require drivers to yield right of way to cyclists traveling in a bike lane. WABA feels that by establishing a formal safe passing distance drivers can be better educated on how to properly pass cyclists.

Bill: House Bill 1197-Removal of Mandatory Use of Shoulders for Bicyclists
WABA Position: Support
Summary: It explicitly permits cyclists to continue to ride in a shoulder if one is present and that is where the cyclist would prefer to ride, but permits cyclist to take the lane. This is essential when shoulders are less than AASHTO recommended width for safe cycling and the existing law does not address narrow shouders. It removes the ambiguity to determine if a shoulder is of adequate width to require use.

WABA

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House Bill 1197 - needs your support and testimony


[From Jon Morrison]
All

Del Carr introduced House Bill 1197 last week. <a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb1197.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb1197.htm</a>;
I will be in Annapolis Thursday before and after the 3 foot passing hearing, seeking additional sponsors for HB 1197 - it would help immensely if you would reach out to your delegates and get the to support the bill, let them know I'll be stopping by (and let me know if they have a preferred time) and then let me know who I should see!

In the bill draft - [bracketed is proposed removal] BOLD is proposed addition to current law
11-104 - removes configuration restriction for 3 wheeled cycle
21-101 - permits bikes on shoulders
21-304 - allows bikes to pass on shoulders
21-501.1 - permits cyclists to use crosswalks
21-1205.1 - removes the mandatory use requirement for shoulders.

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Dueling Helmet Bills


The House has two bills in regards to bicycle helmets; one requires helmets for all ages of cyclists (HB 187) and the other increases the (under) age from 16 to 18 for those who are required to wear helmets (HB 437.) May the better law win.

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ACTION: Mandatory Helmet Law - oppose


HB 187 would extend current law requiring helmets for cyclists under age 16 to cyclists and motor scooter drivers of all ages. It also defines a mo-ped as being a bicycle. It looks like someone wanted to make sure the bicycle helmet law includes mopeds and motor scooters, and while at it they removed the “under 16” so it would apply to everyone. If passed, this would make Maryland the first state with a state-wide mandatory helmet law for adult cyclists.

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Various Bills that you might be interested in


SENATE BILL 38 Synopsis:
Authorizing a county, municipality, or other public body that has the authority to enact laws and adopt local police regulations relating to traffic to decrease a maximum speed limit in a business district or a residential district to not less than 25 miles an hour without conducting an engineering and traffic investigation.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0038.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0038.htm</a>;

SENATE BILL 98 Synopsis:
Prohibiting a person from using a text messaging device to write, send, or read a text message while operating a motor vehicle.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0098.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0098.htm</a>;

SENATE BILL 103 Synopsis:
Prohibiting a driver of a school vehicle from using a handheld telephone under specified circumstances; prohibiting a holder of a learner\'s instructional permit or provisional driver\'s license who is 18 years of age or older from driving a motor vehicle while using a handheld telephone; prohibiting a driver of a motor vehicle that is in motion from using the driver\'s hands to use a handheld telephone except under specified circumstances; establishing penalties; etc.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0103.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0103.htm</a>;

SENATE BILL 143 Synopsis:
Prohibiting a driver of a specified school vehicle from using wireless communication devices; prohibiting a holder of a learner\'s instructional permit or provisional driver\'s license who is 18 years of age or older from driving a motor vehicle while using wireless communication devices; prohibiting a driver of a motor vehicle that is in motion from using the driver\'s hands to use wireless communication devices; providing exceptions to the prohibitions; etc.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0143.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0143.htm</a>;

SENATE BILL 219 Synopsis:
Requiring a court to order the Motor Vehicle Administration to initiate an action to suspend the driving privilege of a child for specified periods of time on making a finding that the child has committed specified violations relating to alcoholic beverages, leaving the scene of an accident, or fleeing or eluding a police officer; providing that the Administration may not issue restricted licenses to individuals whose drivers\' licenses are suspended under specified circumstances; etc.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0219.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0219.htm</a>;

SENATE BILL 250 Synopsis:
Authorizing the driver of a motorcycle at an intersection where traffic is controlled by a traffic control signal to proceed through a red signal under specified circumstances if a visible vehicle sensor operating the traffic control signal does not detect the presence of the motorcycle.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0250.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0250.htm</a>;

SENATE BILL 262 Synopsis:
Requiring the Motor Vehicle Administration to suspend for a specified period the driver\'s license of a person who has been convicted of specified drunk and drugged driving offenses within a specified time period after a previous conviction for specified drunk and drugged driving offenses.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0262.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0262.htm</a>;

SENATE BILL 277 Synopsis:
Authorizing in all counties of the State and in specified highway work zones the use of speed monitoring systems to enforce specified highway speed laws under specified standards and procedures; restricting the use of specified revenues generated under the Act; etc.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0277.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0277.htm</a>;

HOUSE BILL 152 Synopsis:
Requiring a police officer to arrest with or without a warrant a person who the police officer has probable cause to believe has committed a specified offense of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in bodily injury or death.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0152.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0152.htm</a>;

HOUSE BILL 172 Synopsis:
Establishing that a person is guilty of the misdemeanor of recklessly contributing to an accident in a highway work zone if the person is driving a motor vehicle in a specified manner in a highway work zone and the driving contributes to an accident; establishing the number of points to be assessed for recklessly contributing to an accident in a highway work zone; etc.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0172.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0172.htm</a>;
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