Our Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Accesses spotted at 2013 NCUTCD Summer Meeting
Michael Jackson is the one second from the left.
Via John Brooking
Michael Jackson is the one second from the left.
Via John Brooking
Maryland deaths from air pollution highest in U.S.
by Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maryland ReporterLong-term exposure to air pollution leads a higher percentage of the population in Maryland to die prematurely than in any other state, according to a new study on the impact of air quality on health.
In a study released in late August, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that emissions from cars, trucks, industrial smokestacks, trains, boats, and commercial heating systems contribute to the death of 113 people per 100,000 population per year in Maryland—more than any other state.
Acute problem in Baltimore
The problem is particularly acute in Baltimore, which boasts the highest emissions-related mortality rate of large cities in the country, according to the study. Of every 100,000 residents in the city, the study found that 130 were likely to die prematurely each year of causes related to air pollution, more than in New York City, Los Angeles, and the entire Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
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Other Maryland cities even worse than Baltimore
Other cities in Maryland fared even worse than Baltimore, according to the study. Frederick, Reisterstown, and Montgomery Village all have rates close to Baltimore’s, while Magnolia—a small town in northeastern Maryland—leads the state with an emissions-related mortality rate of 140 deaths per 100,000 people per year.
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<a href="http://marylandreporter.com/2013/09/13/maryland-emissions-related-deaths-highest-in-u-s/">http://marylandreporter.com/2013/09/13/maryland-emissions-related-deaths-highest-in-u-s/</a>;
State’s update of bike and pedestrian plan could change funding priorities
State is halfway through re-evaluation processby Elizabeth Waibel, Gazette
The state is updating its Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, which could influence how easy it is to get around by bike or by walking in communities across Maryland.
The plan, adopted in 2002 and now midway through a substantial update process, sets policy goals that affect funding for things like capital improvement projects.
Kate Sylvester, a community planner with the Maryland Department of Transportation, said the department is required by law to update the plan along with the Maryland Transportation Plan, which is also being updated. Over the past decade, however, people have prioritized improvements to make bicycling and walking easier in their communities.
“Ten years have passed, and an awful lot has changed for bike and pedestrian priorities,” Sylvester said.
Since 2002, more data has testified to the economic value and public health benefits of bicycling and walking, Sylvester said, and Maryland residents have made it known that they want infrastructure that supports biking and walking.
...
<a href="http://www.gazette.net/article/20130613/NEWS/130619482/1094/state-x2019-s-update-of-bike-and-pedestrian-plan-could-change&template=gazette">http://www.gazette.net/article/20130613/NEWS/130619482/1094/state-x2019-s-update-of-bike-and-pedestrian-plan-could-change&template=gazette</a>;
KEEP MARYLAND SMART ON CLIMATE (by marginalizing bicycling???)
B' Spokes: Really, no mention of increasing bicycling in the plan? Shame on you. Our bicycle modal share is below average. The amount of state roads that meet the BLOC goal in the Attainment Report has remained unchanged and below the goal for decades (and the goal was set too low to begin with.) TOD with our really high pedestrian fatality rate, like that's going to work out well. Livable communities with no way to bike or walk out of them, another failure to see the big picture. Electric cars to the rescue? What's the biggest contributor to greenhouse gases? Again another failure to see the big picture. - Sign the petition and request more attention on bicycling.The petition to say "thank you": <a href="http://www.movingmdforward.net/action/keep-maryland-smart-climate-fb">http://www.movingmdforward.net/action/keep-maryland-smart-climate-fb</a>;
The plan to address climate change: <a href="http://climatechange.maryland.gov/site/assets/files/1184/mde_ggrp_execsummary_2013.pdf">http://climatechange.maryland.gov/site/assets/files/1184/mde_ggrp_execsummary_2013.pdf</a>;
The 2013 "Attainment" Report: <a href="http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/News/1%20News%20Documents/Attainment_Report_2013_FINAL.pdf">http://www.mdot.maryland.gov/News/1%20News%20Documents/Attainment_Report_2013_FINAL.pdf</a>;
MARC: Allow regular bicycles on trains, not just folding bikes [petition]
By Rino Sanchez To be delivered to: The Maryland State House, The Maryland State Senate, Governor Martin O'Malley, The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama
Petition Background
MARC trains only allow folding bicycles, which are typically heavier and more expensive than regular bikes, and bikes are one of the best ways of making public transportation practical, by helping people make up for gaps and problems in that transportation system. Especially in this tough economy, allowing regular bicycles would enable more people to adapt to available public transportation, rather than waiting for transportation to adapt to them. In other words, this would allow Maryland to get the most bang for its transportation bucks.
<a href="http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/marc-allow-regular-bicycles">http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/marc-allow-regular-bicycles</a>;
Where people ride (Strava heat map)
http://raceshape.com/heatmap/
[B' Spokes: first look at the difference between Baltimore and DC. (Can I cry?) DC is so far ahead of us it just crazy... Baltimore the city of firsts... unless it has something to do with bicycles. :( ]
Transit Police outreach at College Park to reduce bike theft
[B' Spokes: For us in the Baltimore area this is the other transit agency not serving Baltimore area. :( ]*******************************************************************************************************************
Free U-Locks Tuesday morning for riders who register bikes with MTPD
As part of their ongoing effort to reduce bike theft, Metro Transit Police (MTPD) will host a special outreach event tomorrow (Tuesday) morning at UMD-College Park Station where riders who register their bike with MTPD will receive a free U-Lock.
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<a href="http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5555">http://www.wmata.com/about_metro/news/PressReleaseDetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5555</a>;
Observations from an occasional cyclist
By Brian Bieretz, Smart Growth MarylandBicycling has many advantages to the individual from health to pleasure. To the city, bicycling can help spur development and promote economic vitality by getting people to interact with community around them. Many of those benefits are enumerated elsewhere. Instead, this article looks at the areas of tension that occur between cars and bicyclists
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Public Awareness
People typically become aware of the rules only after they’ve personally broken them or seen the terrible results of breaking then on the news. A knee-jerk reaction to policy does little to make people safer. Local jurisdictions and the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) need to get out in the streets and inform the public about bicycle safety and rules.
Public awareness will also help drivers and cyclist navigate intersections. Many drivers aren’t cyclists and don’t appreciate the feeling of danger a cyclist can feel from an aggressive driver and the difficulty in accelerating from a stop to the speed of traffic.
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<a href="http://smartgrowthmd.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/car-versus-bicycle/">http://smartgrowthmd.wordpress.com/2013/06/27/car-versus-bicycle/</a>;
The Blanks Family Fund
Tom Blanks was cycling early in the morning on July 16th and was struck by a hit and run driver. He was thrown 35 ft., sustaining massive injuries, and was airlifted to a near by hospital. Tom is a loving husband of 13 years to Blair and father to their three children. Cycling is an integral part of Tom’s family life as he shares his passion with his children. Tom and his son have been building a racing bike together, with plans to race together in the fall, plans which have been cancelled.
Tom’s injuries are extensive, he sustained a broken pelvis and fractures to his sternum, ribs, and both lumbar & thoracic vertebraes in his spine. He will remain in a back brace and unable to walk without crutches for many months and hopes of riding a bike again will certainly require hours of painful therapy. Despite his injuries, Tom has amazed his family, friends and hospital staff with his positive attitude and strength of character.
Making the roads safer for cyclist is a huge part of who Tom is. He is an active member of Rodgers Forge's Safe Routes to School committee, which promotes safety for the neighborhood's students who walk to school and he has served on the board for the advocacy group, Bike Maryland.
Tom’s passion for cycling is matched only by his drive to provide for his family. It is not hard to imagine the strain the careless acts of a reckless driver has placed on the Blanks family. The family was on vacation when the accident occurred. Toms' wife Blair remains by his side commuting from a nearby hotel, they are unable to transport him back home to Maryland for care at this time.
It may not seem like a lot but $5 here, $10 there, EVERY donation counts - even if Tom is a stranger to you - he is someone's husband, father, son and friend. The kindness of strangers is a powerful thing! Every donation is so appreciated.
<a href="http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/the-blanks-family-fund/73726">http://www.youcaring.com/medical-fundraiser/the-blanks-family-fund/73726</a>;
Maryland launches safety effort to curb car-on-truck aggression
By Candy Thomson, The Baltimore Sun...
State and federal transportation and law enforcement officials have begun a summer initiative as part of the Smooth Operator program aimed at motorists who tailgate, speed and cut off big commercial vehicles.
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<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/commuting/bs-md-aggressive-driving-20130716,0,2935491.story">http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/commuting/bs-md-aggressive-driving-20130716,0,2935491.story</a>;
[B' Spokes: Well, it's a start at least.]