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This space is dedicated to a bike related project that has died. Though the original dream has made the press both here and in the printed media, the process of its demise is something those behind the project have kept to themselves. It maybe true that the demise may be a simple and logical Governmental mechanics issue (too expensive) and that is that but there is more to the story in that this project does not have to be as expensive as it is especially if they follow what other cities have done.

I am an optimist, I believe someday we will have the power to do reasonably cool things with and for bicyclists but that will only happen with the involvement of Government and its citizens. The days of backroom deal making were never really ours to enjoy so I do not understand why some groups and individuals take the lone warrior tactic, especially when the outcome results in a blank page.
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Bike trail for ICC may go unfinished

Adam Tuss, WTOP Radio
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"Here's what people like myself struggle with -- how can this be the environmental tipping point given what we are doing and the protections that are necessary?" A frustrated Councilmember Roger Berliner says. "And how can the costs be that much greater to add 15 feet on a six lane highway, in which we pledged to the community that we are going to make this piece connected?"
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Hello Grand History Trail Partners!

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) and the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program are completing the initial planning phase of the Grand History Trail (GHT). We hope you’ll join us for our final stakeholders meeting in Baltimore this spring. Attendees will get a preview of the final web site and project report which include:

* GHT suggested route maps & GIS data
* Resource inventory of historic sites
* Media and Marketing Toolkit for trail promotion
* Trail gap analysis

The afternoon meeting will be an opportunity to make final comments and suggestions on the proposed routes and will also be a working session to gather ideas about marketing and promoting the trail.

DATE/TIME: Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 from 1pm – 3pm
LOCATION: Baltimore Rowing and Water Resource Center Baltimore Rowing and Water Resource Center (Located in Middle Branch Park , 3301 Waterview Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21230, along the Gwynns Falls Trail, <a href="http://www.gwynnsfallstrail.org">www.gwynnsfallstrail.org</a>; Trailhead #8, T8)

Formal meeting agenda to follow.

Also, if anyone is interested in a post-meeting bike ride (bikes provided) along the Gwynns Falls Trail please let me know!

RTC will be presenting the Grand History Trail concept at the upcoming Maryland Bicycle Symposium on Wednesday, February 4th in Annapolis , MD. The symposium will bring together advocates, planners, and elected officials who want to improve the conditions for cyclists in Maryland – best of all, registration is free!

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Law enforcement officials urge passage of negligent driving bill

STEVE LASH - Daily Record Legal Affairs Writer - January 28, 2009 6:12 PM

ANNAPOLIS — Law-enforcement officials urged Maryland legislators to close a “gaping hole” in state law that allows some drivers to escape with only a traffic citation after causing a fatal collision.

Testifying Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee, Montgomery County Police Cpl. Greg Lewis voiced frustration that all too often his only recourse is to issue traffic citations to a driver whose extreme carelessness took another person’s life.

“I prosecuted them to the fullest extent of the law,” Lewis told the committee. “I wrote them [traffic] tickets.”

Maryland law treats vehicular manslaughter — a wanton or reckless disregard for human life — as a felony, while any motorist offense short of that, absent alcohol or drugs, is regarded as a traffic violation.

Lewis testified in support of House Bill 97, which would close what he called “that big gaping hole” between felony and traffic violation by making it a misdemeanor when a driver kills someone through a “substantial deviation from the standard of care … exercised by a reasonable” motorist.
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A Tragedy in the Commons – Satire on the state of bicycle planing and funding

I have been struggling with how to get around the states double speak on bike/ped funding and I was inspired to write the following. Let me know your thoughts if this is effective or not.

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In a time not too far past in a place much like this one, in fact exactly like this one. A problem was brought to the attention of the appointed Grand Puba of All Things Much More Important Then This (GPATMMITT) and that problem was there was a higher demand for food subsidies then funds available.

“Ah, that's an easy problem to solve.” said the GPATMMITT “We'll simply have the recipient of subsidies pay more and we'll pay less so the funds go further.” And the court was in awe of the GPATMMITT wisdom and so enacted the policy of the wise GPATMMITT.

But soon there was a murmur among the smallest of smallest group of those that received food subsidies. “Oh Grand Puba of All Things Much More Important Then This while your policy may work well for farmers and such but those who are having trouble feeding their families on limited incomes cannot afford to pay more for their food and more people are starving, both the young and the old because of this new policy. So the GPATMMITT agreed to study the matter.

After looking into the matter the GPATMMITT pronounced “We have done polls and surveys and found that most people prefer steak and caviare but those using these funds spend it on trivial things like milk, bread, eggs and cheese. This is not right, funds from this office is about improving the quality of life by empowering purchase of things that are expensive so from now on only steak and caviare will be funded.” “But your Pubaness this will have a devastating effect on 3 out 5 of our members.” cried the smallest of smallest group. “That does not matter.” said the GPATMMITT “For every 5 we helped before we can help 12 now whether they actually need the help or not.”

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Public Comment Being Accepted on Montgomery Council Bill 35-08 Relating to Public Safety

[Now if we could just get other jurisdictions to take traffic enforcement seriously and fund safety programs.]

Montgomery Council, on November 18, 2008, introduced Bill 35-08: Miscellaneous Provisions – Funding for Public Safety Programs. The Bill is sponsored by Councilmembers Andrews, Knapp, Ervin, Trachtenberg, and Floreen. This legislation proposes to use revenues generated from police enforcement with speed cameras and traffic signal cameras to fund Fire and Rescue Apparatus, pedestrian safety programs, and traffic safety programs. The Bill also allocates a portion of the revenues to municipalities that have a traffic control signal monitoring or speed monitoring devices but do not have a police department (Town of Poolesville).

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Inauguration Day - D.C. Maps & Restrictions

Link to Google map showing details of what roads are open and closed:
<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=116706197888210191894.00045c99ce5e0c584a191&amp;ll=38.881412,-77.004547&amp;spn=0.241602,0.341949&amp;z=11">http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=116706197888210191894.00045c99ce5e0c584a191&amp;ll=38.881412,-77.004547&amp;spn=0.241602,0.341949&amp;z=11</a>;

[From another list:]
I'm posting this because I figure some readers may be either
interested in the prospect of riding a bike in a car-free day in DC,
or are otherwise interested in getting to DC for the inauguration, or
are at least interested in how a city handles something like this.
If anyone has info on Baltimore's inauguration planning, please point
me to it.
- LW

**************

It looks like the Secret Service and DDOT have released their maps of
what the restricted areas and transportation options will be for DC on
Inauguration Day. There is going to be a lot of car-free pavement (but
probably not empty) out there open to walking and bicycles only. If
you've ever wanted to bike around a car free DC, this may be your
chance. The parade route is restricted to 300,000 so once that many
show up they'll turn people away (I have no idea how they plan to
count them). The Mall will not be limited. WABA is preparing to park
1000 bicycles - for 3 million people, so it's possible they'll be
completely overrun.

Combined Google Map including Secret Service Map, DDOT MAP and WABA
Bike Valet Locations Here -
<a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;g=20003&amp;hl=en&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=10255">http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;g=20003&amp;hl=en&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=10255</a>;...

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Maryland bikes on Perils For Pedestrians

Tuesday, January 13, The Universityhouse Channel will show Episode 144 of &quot;Perils For Pedestrians&quot;.

Contents of Episode 144 (2008):
--Maryland DOT Secretary John Porcari on access to bridges;
--David Dionne in Annapolis on trails in Anne Arundel County, MD;
--Michael Jackson, the Maryland Director of Bicycle and Pedestrian Access, on Bike To Work Day in Bethesda;
--MD DOT Deputy Secretary Beverly Swaim-Staley on The Purple Line;
--A pair of advocates on drivers behaving badly in Silver Spring, MD.

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