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Driver in Diane Whitman fatality gets $400 in fines


via The WashCycle

Thanks to Joe for pointing this out. Heather Simmons, the driver who hit Diane Whitman from behind on Olney-Latonsville Road/Route 108, killing her, was found guilty of Negligent driving and "Not Keeping 3 Feet" and charged $400 in fines. That may be the first prosecution of the 3 feet rule in the region.

There doesn't seem to be any sign of points or loss of license. There may be a civil case that follows, but still it looks like 2 tickets for $400 is the extent of the punishment.

<a href="http://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/11/driver-in-diane-whitman-fatality-gets-400-in-fines.html">http://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/11/driver-in-diane-whitman-fatality-gets-400-in-fines.html</a>;
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Every university should have these kind of problems


B' Spokes: First let me congratulate UMD for getting to this point of "too many" bikes. This is a great accomplishment and one they should feel proud of. This is good news!

image
From a campus arborist, ". The real concern is that the bike(s) will scar or damage the bark. Once the tree is damaged the tree must overcome that wound and there is the possibility the wounds can be so severe that the tree can die. There is also added foot compaction to the soil around the tree which limits the productivity of the roots. Overall it is best to keep items that cause mechanical damage away from the trees. "
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151076582051497&set=o.113115015368119&type=1&relevant_count=1


I'm sorry but saying there is a danger to trees from bikes parking against it is like saying there is a danger of bleeding to death from a paper cut. Granted I am not an expert here but the "dangers" of soil compaction caused by bikes has come up in various bike meetings and those in the know have always refuted the idea.

Don't get me wrong I love trees! And if there was adequate bike parking this would not be an issue. But some perspective is needed here: 1 bike replaces 1 car but it takes 250 trees to makes 1 car carbon neutral. I hate to sound snobbish here but bikes are saving the planet, so simple and yet they do so much, so their use should be encouraged, not discouraged!

In my previous critic of UMD bike parking regulations I strongly encouraged "If cyclists become such a "problem" then that shows that they need more accommodations" and they responded noting that they earned " Bronze level Bicycle Friendly University" from the League of American Bicyclists... well let's look at that:
The League of American Bicyclists has designated University of Maryland- College Park as a Bicycle Friendly University at the bronze level. ... Four significant measures the university should take to improve cycling in the campus are:
* Increase the amount of secure bicycle parking throughout the campus. We encourage you to expand the parking so that each commuter has a secure spot to park a bike and parking is placed in areas around campus according to demand. In addition, implement an ordinance that requires bike parking. Ensure that bicycle parking adheres to APBP standards.
...
http://bikeumd.wordpress.com/2011/05/25/league-of-american-bicycles-bicycle-friendly-university-feedback/


So again, more bike parking please.

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A meeting for the bicycle and pedestrian community


Cycle Maryland

The Maryland Department of Transportation, along with the State Highway Administration and the Motor Vehicle Administration will be holding a community meeting for the bicycle and pedestrian community on Monday, November 5th beginning at 4:30 PM in the Harry Hughes Suite of the Maryland Department of Transportation, 7201 Corporate Center Drive, Hanover, MD 21076.

This is designed to:
• Introduce Acting MDOT Secretary Darrell B. Mobley:
• Hear from MVA Administrator John Kuo and SHA Administrator Melinda Peters
• Present recent and planned initiatives designed to promote bicycle and pedestrian access and safety
• Receive feedback from the public on concerns regarding bicycling and walking in Maryland

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Salisbury, State Formalize Bike Path Details


Using inmate work crews to save money and a $90,000 grant for signal light for a trail crossing... just a couple of highlights.

<a href="http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/articles/2012/10/26/Top-Stories/Salisbury-State-Formalize-Bike-Path-Details">http://www.mdcoastdispatch.com/articles/2012/10/26/Top-Stories/Salisbury-State-Formalize-Bike-Path-Details</a>;
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Selected Vehicle Characteristics, Requirements, and Restriction in Maryland Law


Motorcycles Motor Scooters Mopeds Bicycles Motorized Minibikes, Pocket Bikes, etc
Defined as Motor Vehicle? Yes 11-135a No 11-135b No 11-135b n/a Yes 11-134.4
Defining Characteristics Motive power, seat or saddle, no more than 3 wheels, designed for speeds > 35 mph, is a type that must comply w/ all m/c Fed Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 11-136 Seat, step-thru chassis, 2 wheels 1 wheel = 10” = 2.7hp or = 50cc auto transmission Excludes off-road vehicles 11-134.5 2 or 3 wheels Pedals drive rear wheels, 1 wheel >14” = 1.5hp or = 50cc See Bicycle 11-134.1 Designed to be human powered 2 or 3 wheels, rear drive 1 > 14” 11-104 2 or 3 wheels not a motor scooter, moped, or farm tractor 11-134.4
Titling Required? Yes Yes, Effective October 1, 2012 Yes, Effective October 1, 2012 No No
Registration Required? Yes Titling Decal Required to be affixed to the rear of the vehicle Titling Decal Required to be affixed to the rear of the vehicle No, but locals can 25-102a8 No See locals permits 25-102a 15
Drv’s Lic Required? Yes Class M Drv License or Moped Oper Permit 16-101b Drv License or Moped Oper Permit 16-101b No No
Helmet Required? Yes 21-1306b Yes, Effective October 1, 2012 Yes, Effective October 1, 2012 If < 16 yrs Also Locals 21-1207.1 No
Passenger Allowed? If designed, & has seat & foot rests, for passenger 21-1302 & 1305 If designed, & has seat & foot rests, for pass 21-1203 If designed, & has seat, for passngr 21-1203 If designed, & has seat, for passenger 21-1203
Liability Insurance Required Yes Yes, operator must provide proof of insurance upon stop Yes, operator must provide proof of insurance upon stop No No
Allowed on Public Roads? Yes, except if =< 1.5hp or < 70cc prohibited from control access hwys & where SL > 50 mph 21-1303.1 Not on expway, Not on roadway if SL > 50mph or a smooth shoulder or a bike lane, w/exceptions 21-1205.1 Same as for Motor Scooters Same as for Motor Scooters No 13-401b
Road Position Requirements Same as other MVs Far right w/exceptions 21-1205 Far right w/exceptions 21-1205 Far right w/exceptions 21-1205 Not permitted on roadway
Allowed on Sidewalks? No 21-1103a No 21-1103a No 21-1103a By local ordinance 21-1103b No 21-1103a
Allowed on Paths & Trails? No 8-409e No 8-409e No 8-409h Yes 8-409e No 8-409i
Vehicle Equipment 21-1305 & Title 22 21-1207 21-1207 21-1207
Other Operator must sit astride the cycle 21-1302d Max speed 30 mph 21-1205.1c

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Maryland MVA: Bikes may use full lane so give them three feet.


By Jim Titus, The Washcycle

The brown mailing envelopes in which Maryland drivers receive their registration or drivers license renewal forms this month include the message "Give bikes THREE FEET when passing, IT'S THE LAW" along with the standard sketch showing a cyclist to the right of a compact car. The message runs about 30% of the length of the envelope, right above the address window, so alot of people will probably notice it.  Running along the bottom of the envelope the entire length of the address window is the message "Share the road,  You could save a life."

The Motor Vehicle Administration has also created a public service message in which MVA director John Kuo explains that cyclists may use the full lane before he introduces himself.  That explanation is provided over about 18 seconds of video shot from a bicycle while cars pass safely.  Mr. Kuo goes on to explain the importance of leaving three feet while passing a bike, with more footage of cars passing bikes, including a bike in the middle of a door-zone bike lane

Although some advoates have argued that the presence of a double yellow line allows drivers to ignore the three-foot rule, that is clearly not the view of the Maryland Department of Transportation: several of the shots show drivers crossing the double yellow line to leave a safe passing distance.

 

Barry Childress deserves credit for regularly speaking with Mr. Kuo during 2010-2011 to get MVA to promote bike safety.  Then last year, the highway safety office was moved to MVA, which put Mr. Kuo in a position to do more. 

 (Jim Titus is on WABA's Board of Directors and represents Prince George's County on the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.  The views expressed here do not represent the official position of either WABA or MBPAC)


http://www.thewashcycle.com/2012/10/maryland-mva-bikes-may-use-full-lane-so-give-them-three-feet-1.html
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If Maryland Counties were a metro area and how it compares in pedestrian issues


B' Spokes: I'll first point out that my assertion is if the road design is well balanced for all uses that traffic fatalities should be in the percentage of the local transportation mode share. If pedestrians are getting killed in a higher percentage of their mode share then the street design needs to be made more pedestrian friendly (not to mention enforcement should center on the thing that kills i.e. cars.) This should be the basis of splitting road safety money.

The problem is of course how to identify the worst spots and in some ways we rely on national efforts to find and correct major issues as this is an emerging field. While the Dangerous by Design report has helped tremendously bringing attention to pedestrian issues nation wide but it seems to miss Maryland. The answer to this is rather simple, our worst pedestrian areas are split up between two different metro areas and Baltimore's metro area gets combined with counties that are not that bad, so our averages seem better then what they would be if broken down by localities.

Not to say anything bad about Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) but they are a quasi federal agency stuck between state agencies and local agencies. And in the case of Maryland (at least) it is the State that holds most of the money to fix these issues and it is the locality that pushes for fixes to get this money. So my point here is we to convince the State as well as the locality that there is a real issue here that needs to be addressed. Hence this report... This is how Maryland localities look up against the top ten worst metropolitan areas as identified by Dangerous by Design:

CountyFatalities % that are pedestrian
ANNE ARUNDEL (3)32.4
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJPA31.10%
MONTGOMERY (31)29.8
ST. MARY'S (37)27.3
Los Angeles-Long BeachSanta Ana, CA27.20%
BALTIMORE (5)27.1
San Francisco-OaklandFremont, CA26.10%
BALTIMORE CITY (510)25.6
WASHINGTON (43)25
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA24.90%
PRINCE GEORGE'S (33)24.7
CARROLL (13)22.2
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA21.80%
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL21.60%
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL21.50%
Detroit-Warren-Livonia, MI21.10%
Maryland Total20.5
Buffalo-Niagara Falls, NY19.30%
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV19.10%
HARFORD (25)17.4
CHARLES (17)16.7
CALVERT (9)12.5
CAROLINE (11)12.5
FREDERICK (21)12.5
GARRETT (23)12.5
CECIL (15)11.8
QUEEN ANNE'S (35)9.1
WORCESTER (47)8.3


In this table I just threw in some metro areas for comparison.
LocationPedestrian Fatality Rate per 100,000 Population
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL3.5
GARRETT (23)3.33
CAROLINE (11)3.02
Orlando-Kissimmee, FL3
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL2.9
ST. MARY'S (37)2.84
Jacksonville, FL2.8
WASHINGTON (43)2.71
PRINCE GEORGE'S (33)2.54
Las Vegas-Paradise, NV2.5
New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, LA2.4
CARROLL (13)2.39
Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ2.3
San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA2.1
QUEEN ANNE'S (35)2.09
ANNE ARUNDEL (3)2.04
CHARLES (17)2.04
Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, TX2
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana, CA2
BALTIMORE (5)1.99
CECIL (15)1.98
WORCESTER (47)1.94
New York-Northern New Jersey-Long Island, NY-NJ-PA1.9
Baltimore-Towson, MD1.8
Maryland Total1.75
HARFORD (25)1.63
BALTIMORE CITY (510)1.61
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX1.6
MONTGOMERY (31)1.43
Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC1.4
FREDERICK (21)1.28
Birmingham-Hoover, AL1.2
CALVERT (9)1.12
Indianapolis-Carmel, IN1.1
Note: Both tables omitted Maryland Counties with no pedestrian fatalities.

Critique of the reports "Pedestrian Danger Index"...

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Facilitating cars not going anywhere trumps bike lanes


B' Spokes: I never really understood why it's governments obligation to provide parking for businesses free of charge. If a business wants a parking let them pony up ~$2000 a spot every few years (IIRC). If businesses were actually paying for their parking we could move it from on-street to a vacant lot turned into a parking lot, we would have options to accommodate all users but as it is there is barely money to keep the status quo. Think about this: Exactly how much gas tax is generated by a stopped and parked car?

I know home owners that are charged for sidewalk repairs and alley repairs, so why are business exempt from on-street parking repairs?

Bike lane in LaVale is an uphill journey
Cost, parking logistics throw a monkey wrench in the works
<a href="http://times-news.com/local/x766439664/Bike-lane-in-LaVale-is-an-uphill-journey">http://times-news.com/local/x766439664/Bike-lane-in-LaVale-is-an-uphill-journey</a>;
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Adult Obesity Rate in Maryland Could Reach 58.8 Percent by 2030, According to New Study


Related Health Care Costs Could Climb by 21.3 Percent

Washington, D.C., September 18, 2012 - The number of obese adults, along with related disease rates and health care costs, is on course to increase dramatically in Maryland over the next 20 years, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2012, a report released today by Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
...

&quot;This study shows us two futures for America's health,&quot; said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, RWJF president and CEO. &quot;At every level of government, we must pursue policies that preserve health, prevent disease and reduce health care costs. Nothing less is acceptable.&quot;

The analysis, which was commissioned by TFAH and RWJF and conducted by the National Heart Forum, is based on a peer-reviewed model published last year in The Lancet. Findings include:

Projected Increases in Obesity Rates

If obesity rates continue on their current trajectories, by 2030, the obesity rate in Maryland could reach 58.8 percent. According to the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2011, 28.3 percent of adults in the state were obese.
...

Projected Increases in Disease Rates

Over the next 20 years, obesity could contribute to 741,358 new cases of type 2 diabetes, 1,540,592 new cases of coronary heart disease and stroke, 1,488,428 new cases of hypertension, 968,487 new cases of arthritis, and 222,932 new cases of obesity-related cancer in Maryland.
...

Projected Increase in Health Care Costs

By 2030, obesity-related health care costs in Maryland could climb by 21.3 percent, which could be the seventh highest increase in the country. Nationally, nine states could see increases of more than 20 percent, with New Jersey on course to see the biggest increase at 34.5 percent. Sixteen states and Washington, D.C., could see increases between 15 percent and 20 percent.
...

How Reducing Obesity Could Lower Disease Rates and Health Care Costs

If BMIs were lowered by 5 percent, Maryland could save 7.6 percent in health care costs, which would equate to savings of $ 13,836,000,000 by 2030.

The number of Maryland residents who could be spared from developing new cases of major obesity-related diseases includes:

* 158,413 people could be spared from type 2 diabetes,
* 129,330 from coronary heart disease and stroke,
* 126,707 from hypertension,
* 70,406 from arthritis, and
* 10,841 from obesity-related cancer.

&quot;We know a lot more about how to prevent obesity than we did 10 years ago,&quot; said Jeff Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. &quot;This report also outlines how policies like increasing physical activity time in schools and making fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable can help make healthier choices easier. Small changes can add up to a big difference. Policy changes can help make healthier choices easier for Americans in their daily lives.&quot;

Report Recommendations

On the basis of the data collected and a comprehensive analysis, TFAH and RWJF recommend making investments in obesity prevention in a way that matches the severity of the health and financial toll the epidemic takes on the nation. The report includes a series of policy recommendations, including:
...

* Fully implement the National Prevention Strategy and Action Plan;
[<a href="http://www.healthcare.gov/prevention/nphpphc/2012-npc-action-plan.pdf">http://www.healthcare.gov/prevention/nphpphc/2012-npc-action-plan.pdf</a>; ]
...

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