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Booby traps found


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Frederick Bicycle Coalition
Be careful people, after Sunday's trail work a fellow rider stopped by the parking lot and dropped these booby traps off which were found on a trail in the Watershed. Besides 2 flat tires he stepped on another device when he was walking out. The boards have razor blades embedded in them and are buried in the ground so they are hard to detect.

We've gotten several reports of these over the last several months. Stay safe out there and keep your eyes and ears out for the perp.

Here is the message from DNR on what to do if you any type of trail traps in the woods:
Quote:
I have discussed this trail sabotage incident with our Natural Resources Police (NRP) and have the following to offer. First, when anyone finds something like razor blades in boards within the Watershed, please do not disturbed this important piece of evidence and call the Frederick County Sheriff’s office at 911 as this appears to be a criminal act. If anyone encounters a hunting or natural resources violation, please call 410-260-8888 as this is the number to DNR’s central communication office who will relay any complaints to our NRP officers.

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Just how much do motorist contribute to "their" roads


Well according to this report from Tax Foundation Maryland drivers pay just 45.8% in special fees and taxes, with a ranking of 33rd (which means Maryland is close with other states where motorist contribute the least for their roads.)

<a href="http://taxfoundation.org/blog/statelocal-road-spending-covered-user-fees-user-taxes-categories-separated-out">http://taxfoundation.org/blog/statelocal-road-spending-covered-user-fees-user-taxes-categories-separated-out</a>;
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ROAR for Autism


FAMILIES COME TOGETHER TO “ROAR” FOR AUTISM RESEARCH
Kennedy Krieger adds a new 5K run and family fun walk to its 9th annual ROAR for Autism event; bike ride and family festival also to return

BALTIMORE, MD—Kennedy Krieger Institute will mark Autism Awareness Month with its 9th annual ROAR for Autism event on Sunday, April 28, at Oregon Ridge Park in Cockeysville, MD. Families and friends will come together to bike, run, walk – and most importantly – break the silence surrounding autism with a united ROAR to raise awareness and funds for autism research. Back by popular demand is the 25-mile bike ride and family festival, and new this year is a partial road/partial cross country 5k run and a family fun walk.

Autism is a brain-based developmental disability affecting the ability of 1 in 88 children to communicate and form relationships with others. As one of nation’s leaders in autism research, Kennedy Krieger Institute strives to provide earlier diagnosis and develop successful treatments by discovering how autism affects the brain.

With activities for the entire family, ROAR for Autism is a fun-filled day with meaningful purpose. For the first time, the event will feature a 5k run for those who want to hit the pavement feet first. Participants can also take part in the 25-mile bike ride for cycling enthusiasts or a 1-mile family fun walk. After biking, running or walking, families will enjoy a festival featuring music, children’s entertainment, carnival games, refreshments and more!

Participants and teams may go online to register, join a fundraising team and build personal fundraising pages—all in support of autism research. Want to support ROAR for Autism, but can’t attend on April 28th? Just register to “Snore for ROAR” and raise awareness and funds while you sleep in.

Additionally, an iPad mini valued at $330 will be raffled off at the event. Tickets can be bought online or at the event for $5 each or three for $10.

For more information about ROAR for Autism, or to register, visit <a href="http://www.ROARforAutism.org">www.ROARforAutism.org</a>; or call 443-923-7300.

What:
ROAR for Autism 2013
25-mile Bike Ride, Partial Road/Partial Cross Country 5k Run, 1-mile Family Fun Walk &amp; Family Fun Festival

Where:
Oregon Ridge Park
13401 Beaver Dam Road
Cockeysville, MD 21030

When:
Sunday, April 28, 2013
6:30 a.m. - 25-mile bike ride registration opens (7 a.m. start)
7:00 a.m. - 5k registration opens (8:30 a.m. start)
8:00 a.m. - All 25-mile bike riders must be on course
8:45 a.m. - 1-mile Family Fun Walk begins
9:00 a.m. - Family Fun Festival

Cost:
Advance Online Registration (by April 26)
Adults - $25.00
Children 12 and under - $10.00
Register by April 10 and receive a free t-shirt!

On-Site Registration (April 28)
Adults - $30.00
Children 12 and under - $15.00

Children 4 and under participate for free!

Snore for ROAR
Adult - $30
Children 12 and under - $15

Additional Visit <a href="http://www.ROARforAutism.org">www.ROARforAutism.org</a>; or call 443-923-7300.
Information: ROAR for Autism is on Facebook! <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ROARforAutism">www.facebook.com/ROARforAutism</a>;.

About Kennedy Krieger Institute
Internationally recognized for improving the lives of children and adolescents with disorders and injuries of the brain and spinal cord, the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD serves more than 19,000 individuals each year through inpatient and outpatient clinics, home and community services and school-based programs. Kennedy Krieger provides a wide range of services for children with developmental concerns mild to severe, and is home to a team of investigators who are contributing to the understanding of how disorders develop while pioneering new interventions and earlier diagnosis. For more information on Kennedy Krieger Institute, visit <a href="http://www.kennedykrieger.org">www.kennedykrieger.org</a>;.

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Montgomery police blame victims for pedestrian deaths


by Ben Ross, Greater Greater Washington

After three pedestrians died in three weeks in Montgomery County—one walking on the sidewalk, and the other two in crosswalks where they had the legal right of way—county police could only blame the victims.
...

Telling those on foot to dress like hunters in the woods will not make streets more walkable. Nor will it prevent the deaths of people who are walking on the sidewalk or standing in a median strip. Lives will be saved when drivers obey the law by stopping for pedestrians in crosswalks. Montgomery County police must change their attitudes and issue tickets to those who fail to yield.

<a href="http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17785/montgomery-police-blame-victims-for-pedestrian-deaths/">http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/17785/montgomery-police-blame-victims-for-pedestrian-deaths/</a>;
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Maryland's Driver Education Is Still a Joke for Bicycling


I had an interesting conversation with the League of Illinois Bicyclists about motorist education. They shared their initiatives:

In Illinois and elsewhere, we have a considerable educational gap – for both cyclists and motorists – on how to properly share the road.  Motorists make mistakes or act aggressively towards cyclists. Bicyclists make other mistakes or blatantly ignore laws. The result: too many injuries and deaths, too many people afraid to bike, and anger and resentment on both sides. Public resentment is a big concern and even a potential risk to cyclists’ road rights, since we are in the minority. For example, we have heard many calls for bicyclist licensing, which may help with education, but with negative consequences.

While lessons for swimming – and other skills arguably less practical than bicycling – are routine in a child’s education, most kids and young motorists are not adequately learning about car-bike interactions.  Most teachers, Driver’s Ed instructors, and parents generally lack the knowledge themselves, beyond basic advice like “wear a helmet” and “watch out for cyclists.” Even where expert instruction is available, programs like in-depth training for young cyclists must compete with an overcrowded school curriculum.

Despite being armed with only a relatively superficial level of knowledge, most motorists and current/would-be cyclists do not perceive a need for more training.  Many motorists do not realize    mistakes they make around bikes, even on the overcautious side.   Taking bike safety classes – or even picking up bike safety materials – is not done by enough cyclists.

http://www.bikelib.org/about-this-issue%E2%80%A6/


And their draft questions for the motorist module of our online bike safety quiz challenge, and other safety purposes.

One sample:
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Now contrast that with Maryland's driver test question:
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Which do you think will do the most to help the safety of cyclists?


On the flip side I shared what we have done with the Drivers' Manual. And they loved it. So here's hoping we can get their bike questions for our drivers' test and they can get our bike section in their driver's manual.
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Driver in fatal accident receives fine [$140???]


By Joe Aiello, Capital Gazette

The driver in an accident that killed a 24-year-old Bowie woman in 2011, pleaded guilty to negligent driving and received a probation before judgement and a $140 fine.
...

At the time of the accident there were no negligent homicide laws that Goad could have been charged with so the most serious charges filed against her were negligent driving.

John Erzen, communications director for the State’s Attorney’s Office said, “Our charging decisions are based on the evidence we have.”
...

<a href="http://www.capitalgazette.com/bowie_bladenews/news/driver-in-fatal-accident-receives-fine/article_41f75466-f15f-5ef4-9c2c-deceb3bb13ec.html">http://www.capitalgazette.com/bowie_bladenews/news/driver-in-fatal-accident-receives-fine/article_41f75466-f15f-5ef4-9c2c-deceb3bb13ec.html</a>;
**************************************************************************************************************************************************************
[B' Spokes:
§ 2-210. Manslaughter by vehicle or vessel -- Criminal negligence

(a) &quot;Vehicle&quot; defined. -- In this section, &quot;vehicle&quot; includes a motor vehicle, streetcar, locomotive, engine, and train.
(b) Prohibited. -- A person may not cause the death of another as the result of the person's driving, operating, or controlling a vehicle or vessel in a criminally negligent manner.
(c) Criminal negligence. -- For purposes of this section, a person acts in a criminally negligent manner with respect to a result or a circumstance when:
. (1) the person should be aware, but fails to perceive, that the person's conduct creates a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such a result will occur; and
. (2) the failure to perceive constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care that would be exercised by a reasonable person.
(d) Exception. -- It is not a violation of this section for a person to cause the death of another as the result of the person's driving, operating, or controlling a vehicle or vessel in a negligent manner.
(e) Violation. -- A violation of this section is criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle or vessel.
(f) Penalty. -- A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding $ 5,000 or both.


Let's see if I get this right, failing to drive in your lane + driving on the shoulder is NOT a conduct that creates a substantial and unjustifiable risk to cyclists??? And that is NOT a gross deviation from the standard of care that would be exercised by a reasonable person???

And the State legislature want's to require us to wear a helmet while drivers get a $140 fine for killing a cyclist with a helmet??? This is not right!]
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Maryland in the national news


...
Incomplete Intersections – Injuries and fatalities at intersections are often a result of intersection design that ignores the needs of all users. This is especially true for those who must walk along and across wide, fast-moving arterial roads without walking-friendly facilities, such as frequent crosswalks and pedestrian medians. Recent pedestrian injuries at a large intersection in Rockville, Maryland prompted online conversations about the most dangerous intersections in the country. Among the intersections nominated as the nation’s worst by readers of Streetsblog include those in Florida, Nebraska, and Missouri, which have over 30 (!) lanes of traffic, confusing signage, and few to no safe facilities for those on foot. Just reaching the opposite side of these intersections can be confusing and lengthy journeys and often do not provide easy access to bordering shops, schools, or employment centers. People on foot, frustrated by these difficult intersections, then try to take the most direct route (rather than walking over a mile in some cases to the closest crosswalk), often resulting in dangerous collisions.
...

<a href="http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2013/02/20/complete-streets-news-february-2013/">http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/2013/02/20/complete-streets-news-february-2013/</a>;
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Sierra Club's Bicycle Statement


[B' Spokes: We live in a society where we tell drivers one thing and something opposite to pedestrians and cyclists and this needs to be corrected. Too many times I've heard "Cyclists/pedestrians have to yield to cars." (A practical (but wrong) interpretation of "Don''t be dead right.") I will strongly assert that it is the parents (auto drivers) that teach their kids how to "safely" bike or walk which includes perpetuating the myth that wrong way riding is safer and other fallacies. This needs to be correct, so with that I'll highlight how the Sierra Club put it:]
  1. Make a complete network
  2. Be context-appropriate
  3. Provide comfort
  4. Safety
  5. Engage the public
  6. Education

6. Education

All road users, whether they are cyclists, pedestrians or drivers, should understand their rights and responsibilities and the rights and responsibilities of others. In addition, the general public must see walking and biking as legitimate forms of transportation. This can be accomplished with an educational campaign focused on the rights of all road users, on safe travel habits and on the benefits of biking and walking.

  • Teach bicycle and pedestrian safety in the driver's education curriculum, ensuring that young people know how to safely interact with all road users as drivers and can be more responsible bicyclists and pedestrians.
  • Candidates for a driver's license should be required to answer and pass questions about bicycle and pedestrian safety.
  • Incorporate bicycle and pedestrian safety into Montgomery County Public Schools' curriculum as well, potentially in physical education classes or in the health classes currently taught in 5th, 8th and 10th grades.

http://maryland.sierraclub.org/montgomery/support_bicycles.html
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