• Home
  • Biking in Maryland

Google

Bicyclists welcome at Obama's inauguration January 20

[Stay tuned, there maybe a bike convoy leaving from Baltimore.]

By Gary Boulanger, US editor - Bike Radar

Record crowds are expected in the National Mall of Washington, DC on January 20, 2009, as Barack Obama is sworn in as the 44th President of the United States, and a record number of bicyclists are expected as well, which may cause some two-wheeled congestion problems without prior planning.

"Cyclists will be able to bike to the inauguration," Henry Mesias, Program Assistant for the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), told BikeRadar Thursday. "There will be a security perimeter set up that bicycles will not be allowed through. That security perimeter will have all metal detectors that everyone will have to go through. WABA is working with local authorities, including the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) to provide bike valet parking areas for those that wish to bike to the event, but the decision to have a bike valet is not official yet."

Continue Reading

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

From MdTA: No bikes on ICC shoulders

The Maryland Transportation Authority (MdTA) has decided not to allow bicycling on the shoulders of the ICC. Here is their response to Nancy Breen who had asked on behalf of the Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee that bicycling be allowed on the shoulders for those portions where the ICC trail will not be built.
- Jack Cochrane

December 1, 2008

Dear Dr. Breen:

Thank you for your follow-up email regarding bicyclist use of the shoulders on the Intercounty Connector (ICC). As Transportation Secretary and Maryland Transportation Authority Chairman, I am once again pleased to respond.

As you are aware, legislation was passed during the 2008 legislative session that allows me, as Authority Chairman, to decide on a case-by-case basis whether bicycle use will be permitted on Authority facilities. To that end, staff members completed a review of the matter and took several issues into account, including shoulder use, high-speed ramp crossing, motorist expectancy, toll collection/violations and facility design. Based on staff findings and further examination, I have made the decision not to allow bicycle use on ICC shoulders. Local viable alternatives exist to allow a bicyclist to cross the county, including trail segments that will be built during ICC construction. The Authority has committed to and will continue work at the local level to allow additional trail segments adjacent to the ICC.

Thank you again for your follow-up email and for taking the time to write. If you have any further questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Dennis Simpson, Acting Director of Capital Planning, Maryland Transportation Authority at 410-537-5650, toll-free 1-888-754-0098 or via email at mdta@mdtransportationauthority.com.

Sincerely,

John D. Porcari

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Does Maryland's drivers test cover bicycling well?

The one bike related question I got while taking the MD driver test on-line:
image
If a bicycle rider near you is a child:
* Expect the child to know Maryland’s bicycle laws.
* Expect the child to be in total control of the bicycle.
* Expect anything could happen and adjust your driving.

[What do you think, are MD drivers being trained and tested in regards to the rights of cyclists and the duties of driver's of vehicles toward cyclists? Also if you take the test (its only 20 questions) let us know what was the one question you got.]

Continue Reading

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

SHA at work!

Just sharing some recent examples of SHA Bike Route signing and Planning with Bicycle Retrofit Funds.

Planned: MD 144 between Oella Ave. and River Rd. (resurfacing to provide suitable shoulder for cycling) connecting the Trolley Trail No. 9 w/River Rd. Bike Route aka PHG Bike Route
Planned: US 1 Southwestern Blvd. Tom Day Blvd to Ramp 2 - will include marked bike lanes


Planning:
Harford County Signage/new route designation
MD 22 between Bel Air to Route 40
MD 543 from STR Bus. US 1 to MD 22 - pos. redo to incorporate Bus US 1 to Route 40


District 6 –Summer 08
Were on the map but are now signed
MD 67 from US 40 Alt to US 340
US 340 from MD 67 to WV State Line
US 40 alt from City of Hagerstown limits to MD 67


Not on the map - NEW
MD 34 from US 40 Alt to WV State Line
next set loops
MD 64 from City of Hagerstown limits (west side) to MD 418
MD 418 from MD 64 to MD 60
MD 60 from MD 418 to City of Hagerstown limits (north side)




Evaluating/Planning for 2009:


* Signing/Marking - Designate Bike Routes - Existing
- Verify existing signing/marking along bike routes per October 2007 Statewide Bicycle Map
- Coordinate with District Traffic to provide signage along designated routes
- Recommend Bike Route Signs with Destinations/Mileage at the following locations:
* MD 500
* MD 197
* MD 212
* US 301/US 50/MD 18
* US 29/Old Columbia Pike
* UMD - Bike to Campus Routes
* MD 564 – Bowie -

* Identify location for Sharrow and bike lane markings along designated routes
- MD 702
- MD 700


* Identify New Routes
- Identify Community Groups - PAZ - BAZ
- Evaluate other State Routes for their potential inclusion
* MD 704
* MD 214
* MD 202
* MD 218
* MD 458
* MD 953


* Connect Routes/Trails
* o ICC Master Plan Amendment
* o ECG - Belle Grove Road
* o National Harbor

Also City of Greenbelt, limits along MD 193.

Thanks,
Stephanie

Stephanie Yanovitz
MD SHA Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator
  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

The League is Sticking Up for Cyclists!

[Having been involved with some of the conversations between LAB and the State and with LAB and the City of Baltimore I can say LAB is starting to make a difference in Maryland, please consider your support.]

image

 

 

We know the holiday season is a busy time, and that this year everyone is taking a much harder look at what they spend.

 

The League relies on your membership dues and additional contributions for the majority of our income – and over the years members like you have given us an incredible boost by closing out the year with a generous gift to help us continue our work on your behalf.  

 

Just before Thanksgiving, we mailed you a summary of the progress we’ve made this year thanks to your support: here are the highlights. We:

 

 

We also identified some of the incredible opportunities (and challenges) ahead of us in 2009.

 

Consider this:

 

A new Congress and Administration will commence work in just 30 days on three absolutely critical, and potentially transformative initiatives – a massive economic stimulus package, a new transportation funding bill, and climate change legislation. Taken together, these will direct more than one trillion dollars of infrastructure investment in the next five years – shaping our nation’s future every bit as dramatically as the New Deal, World War II, and the Interstate Highway System.

 

Our programs that we have built with your support provide a roadmap – better still, a bike map – for ensuring this investment creates sustainable, bicycle-friendly communities for the future. We can’t afford to pour all that money into 1950’s-style highway projects and programs.

 

We have to have a voice at the table, and your support now is critical.

 

If you have already sent an end-of-year contribution, we thank you, and we look forward to serving you – promoting and protecting the rights of cyclists – in the year ahead.

 

Sincerely,

 

Andy Clarke

President

League of American Bicyclists

 

Continue Reading

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Why bicycling should be a top priority for the State

* Per US DOT survey 73% would welcome new and improved bicycle facilities#1
* Per NHTSA survey 89% of bike trips begin at a residence and only 7% at a recreational site#2
* Over 75% of all car trips in the US are for distances under ten miles and nearly 60% are for distances under five miles.#3 (Easy biking distances for a reasonably healthy adult.)
* Per recommendations of TFAH and RWJF increase access to safe, accessible places for physical activity in communities. Examples include creating and maintaining … bike lanes and providing incentives for smart growth designs that make communities more livable#4
* School districts in Maryland are consolidating bus stops, canceling field trips and forcing students to walk longer distances to school to control fuel costs.#5 (But in reality it will be putting more cars on the road.)
* Parents driving their kids to school contributes as much as 20% of rush hour traffic#6
* Bicycling is a major source of childhood injuries but being a passenger in a car is the leading source of childhood injury#7
* Motor vehicle traffic fatalities is the leading cause of death for the ages 1-34#8
* The second leading cause of death in the United States is inactivity just behind tobacco#9


Sad stats for Maryland:
* Maryland has had statistically significant increases in the obesity rate for three years in a row per the F as in Fat Report.#10
* Maryland ranks the 6th worst state (up from number 9) for bicycle and pedestrian fatalities per all traffic fatalities per FARS#11
* Maryland ranks 35 out of 50 for bike friendliness per the League of American Bicyclists.#12
* Maryland ranks the 5th lowest bike/ped spending per capita for the last 3 years, spending $1.61/capita/year with the National average of $6.14 and the National high of $38.16.#13
* Maryland spends 0.62% of its Federal Funds on Bike/ped projects the National average is 1.78% and a National high of 5.40%#14

So we wounder why is our state below the national average of the modal share of biking to work?

Federal Law requires that a bike network be identified - and a decent one has been identified but not funded.#15 Without funds, area bike plans have laid dormant for years.
Despite policies to improve bicycle access and projects to improve bicycling in the area the net gain is virtually nil, more attention is needed.

The FHWA says:
* Provide 20:80 match to "create more walkable and bicycle-friendly communities." #16
* Bicycle projects must be "principally for transportation, rather than recreation, purposes.#17
* Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists,#18

But MDOT says:
* Federal Aid should only go to jurisdictions that are in the least need of Federal Aid by upping the matching requirements to 50:50 (Jurisdictions with the most need generally get less funding) (Priorities need to be established to get funding (in order of need) to Baltimore City, Montgomery, Baltimore, Prince George's and Anne Arundel Counties.)
* Transportation Enhancement funding can only be spent on recreational trails.#19
* The inclusion of quality material in the State's Drivers' Manual for the responsibility of motorists in regards to bicyclists and pedestrians safety as well as the rights of bicyclists and pedestrians is too expensive (it will add additional pages) and adding more then 20 questions to the drivers test will make it too hard.

Additionally, more attention is needed to enforce, prosecute and levy fair and just punishments to those who disobey traffic laws (no more hand slaps #20) as well as enforcement of bicycle and pedestrian safety. This also has the added benefit of reducing crime.#21

Continue Reading

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

New foundation seeks to cut Maryland traffic deaths in half

By Len Lazarick Examiner Staff Writer 10/31/08

Charles Stoecker, a Baltimore County farmer who founded the Baltimore City Farmers Market, was killed this past year when a teen driver who was speeding and texting on a cell phone struck the car he was driving.

A pair of his shoes was among the 615 empty pairs lined up for the announcement of the new Maryland Highway Safety Foundation. Each set of footwear came from a victim killed in road accidents this past year

Maryland officials announced a new driver safety initiative Thursday amid a pair of shoes from every state resident killed on the roads last year.

The new foundation is hoping to “change the culture” of Maryland drivers, David Nevins, a public relations executive and co-chairman of the new foundation said, during a news conference in Annapolis.

Most Marylanders don’t own guns, collect knives or routinely handle other deadly weapons, “except when we get behind the wheel of a car,” he said.

“Our problem is cultural and behavioral,” said foundation Co-Chairman Fred Mirmiran.

Mirmiran, president of Johnson Mirmiran & Thompson, an engineering consulting firm, had pushed the idea of the foundation on the 100th anniversary of the State Highway Administration.

“We want to cut that [615 number] in half,” he said.

One solution is having at least 100 Maryland businesses, representing a total of at least 100,000 employees, to take a pledge to encourage safer driving by their workers.

Mirmiran said that would include mandating:
» Not serving alcohol at corporate events;
» No texting while driving and no speeding;
» Driver training for any employee who gets a speeding ticket on the job.

Maryland traffic deaths are down again this year, as they were last year, and the state ranks 42nd in the country in terms of fatalities, said Gov. Martin O’Malley, but “let’s chase after that No. 50 ranking.”

Judge Katie O’Malley, the governor’s wife, is honorary chairwoman of the new foundation.

[While traffic fatalities may be down, pedestrian fatalities are up, Maryland now ranks the 4th worst state (up from #8 last year) with the highest percentage of pedestrian fatalities.]

Continue Reading

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Safety group calls for cell phone driving code

[As a cyclists a good percentage of my emergency avoidance situations are caused by motorists on cell phones.]
...
The Maryland Highway Safety Foundation said it hopes to recruit 100 businesses with a cumulative 100,000 employees to adopt policies covering such matters as cell phone use, texting while behind the wheel, driving while intoxicated and other traffic offenses. Foundation co-chairman David Nevins announced the effort at a morning meeting that drew some of the state's top political leaders, including Gov. Martin O'Malley, House Speaker Michael E. Busch and Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger.

After the meeting, O'Malley said his administration would become one of the employers to adopt such rules for users of state-owned vehicles. "Stay tuned. It's in the offing," he said
...
Neither cell phone use nor texting while driving is explicitly banned under Maryland law, even though either could possibly be covered under the state's negligent driving statute. The General Assembly has so far resisted passing legislation addressing cell phones or texting except in the case of novice drivers.
...
[Maryland ranks the 8th highest in pedestrian traffic fatalities it's time the General Assembly started to do something about it.]

Continue Reading

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)

Bike lanes, paths or trails, where should the State be putting its efforts?

According to the National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior:

The change most desired in the community among all cycling frequencies was to increase bicycling facilities such as more bicycle lanes (38%), more bicycle paths (30%), and more bicycle trails (14%).

Yet Maryland seems to emphasize trails and paths sometime to the expense of bike lanes or bikeable shoulders. I will strongly assert that the main reason for this is that there is currently no set funding mechanism and procedures for bike lanes as there is for paths and trails.

Continue Reading

  • Currently 0.00/5
Rating: 0.00/5 (0 votes cast)