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Cyclist Hurt After Crash on Davidsonville Road


Medics transported a 21-year-old man to Shock Trauma after the collision at about 8 a.m. Monday.
By Tim Lemke, Crofton Patch

A bicyclist was seriously hurt Monday morning after a collision on Davidsonville Road.

Lt. Cliff Kooser of the Anne Arundel County Fire Department said units responded at about 8 a.m. Monday to a report of a crash involving a car and bicycle in the 2100 block of Davidsonville Road.

Medics transported a 21-year-old man to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Kooser said the man's injuries were described as serious, but not life-threatening.

Kooser said officers from the Anne Arundel County Police Department and Crofton Police Department also responded to the scene.

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Exercise Your Body And Mind At Bikeabout 2012


Did you know bicycling has been linked to improved mental health? Come exercise your mind and body at the 12th annual Columbia BikeAbout on Saturday, September 15, starting between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. at the Downtown Columbia Lakefront.

BikeAbout is a 13-mile, history-filled journey through Columbia. Participants will experience a self-paced ride that uses Columbia’s pathways and street connections where necessary.

Features on this year’s BikeAbout will include:

  • Blandair Park: Phase 1 is open — what’s next?
  • Woodlawn Slave Quarters: CA’s sensitive restoration helps interpret Howard County history
  • Oakland Ridge Industrial Park: Columbia’s first industrial area has become a hidden marketplace
  • Thunder Hill: From Sleeping Dog Lane to Soaring Hill, the story behind the street names
  • Jackson Pond: From farm pond, to experimental storm water retention, to neighborhood amenity
  • Symphony Woods and downtown redevelopment: Past, present and future

Here are three reasons why you should participate in BikeAbout 2012:

  1. Great exercise. Biking helps improve cardiovascular fitness and burns off calories. Not to mention, it has been linked to improved mental health (as mentioned above)
  2. It’s a fun history lesson. There is so much history in your own backyard. Learn about the history of Columbia in areas including Oakland Ridge Industrial (Columbia’s first industrial area), Jackson Pond, Symphony Woods and more.
  3. Save gas. Why drive around Columbia when you can ride your bike? Let’s face it, gas isn’t cheap anymore. Save your gas.

Pre-registration for the BikeAbout is encouraged. Registration can be done online at Bikeabout.eventbrite.com/. Online registration ends September 13.

Columbia BikeAbout is hosted by Columbia Archives. For more information, go toColumbiaArchives.org, email Columbia.Archives@ColumbiaAssociation.org or call 410-715-6781.

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Man on bicycle taken to hospital after car accident


[B' Spokes: Typically from my experience "bike collided with a vehicle" means the cyclist was right hocked and the police are looking to make sure the driver faces no charges. Shameful if you ask me but there is not enough information to state this one way or the other but then why the statement in favor of the motorist?]
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The Capital Gazette

A 54-year-old was taken to the hospital after the bike he was riding collided with a vehicle Sunday afternoon in Pasadena.
...

they found the man suffering from serious but non-life threatening injuries, fire department spokesman Division Chief Michael Cox said.

Preliminary reports from police indicate that the man was involved in an accident with a Lincoln Town car, police spokesman Justin Mulcahy said.
...

<a href="http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/for_the_record/man-on-bicycle-taken-to-hospital-after-car-accident/article_25138856-0b50-5279-bd2a-373243aef881.html">http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/for_the_record/man-on-bicycle-taken-to-hospital-after-car-accident/article_25138856-0b50-5279-bd2a-373243aef881.html</a>;
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Annapolis Police catch 2 bicycle thief suspects


Annapolis police said they charged a 19-year-old and a 17-year-old in two separate bicycle thefts on Monday.
...

When officers located Cain a short time later, he admitted that he had been riding the bike but told officers &quot;it should be OK because I gave the bike back to the guy.&quot;
...

<a href="http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/for_the_record/annapolis-police-catch-bicycle-thief-suspects/article_dc87d164-03a4-5e91-8071-6f29f56b4997.html">http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/for_the_record/annapolis-police-catch-bicycle-thief-suspects/article_dc87d164-03a4-5e91-8071-6f29f56b4997.html</a>;
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State Approves Grant for Towson 'Bike Beltway'


[B' Spokes: There is no doubt that Governor O'Malley's Cycle Maryland program is doing some good, 20:80 match rather then 50:50 match and on-road bicycling facilities are also up for this grant rather then just trails. As good as this is, there is still more that can and should be done, stay tuned while I invigilate our options.]
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By Tyler Waldman, Towson Patch

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The $100,000 grant will go towards construction and signage on the bike loop around central Towson.

&quot;These grants will help local jurisdictions build key connections that make bicycling a true transportation option,&quot; Gov. Martin O'Malley said in a statement announcing Tuesday's grants. &quot;Bicycling is a win-win for all of us by helping us learn to enjoy more of Maryland’s natural treasures, reducing the impact on the land, improving our fitness and well-being, and enhancing our quality of life.”

Baltimore County Councilman David Marks, a transportation consultant and former MDOT staffer, said he was &quot;thrilled&quot; to hear of the grant approval.

&quot;We have a lot of congestion in Towson,&quot; Marks said. &quot;It's difficult to add highway capacity, so we have to do whatever we can to maximize the use of the current road network and that is what this is doing.&quot;
...

<a href="http://towson.patch.com/articles/state-approves-grant-for-towson-bike-beltway">http://towson.patch.com/articles/state-approves-grant-for-towson-bike-beltway</a>;
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Cyclocross Fall Class 9-17 yrs / Sep 20 / $30


Cyclocross Instruction
9-17 yrs / Sep 20 / $30
Boys and girls learn the basics of cyclocross, a blend of road and mountain biking in a fun and safe environment. No experience required. Students must (1) be able to ride without assistance; (2) have a bike that is suitable for off-road use (mountain bikes are OK); (3) have an approved helmet; and (4) have a local bike shop do a free safety check of bike prior to first class.
Instruction given by experienced cyclists. Focus is on racing techniques and building confidence by riding through a cyclocross race course. Students with regular attendance receive prizes and free admission to the Howard County Double Cross Race. Read concussion information on
<a href="http://www.howardcountymd.gov/concussioninformation.htm">http://www.howardcountymd.gov/concussioninformation.htm</a>;.

Review of this information is required by law before you are allowed to register for sports programs.
Registration: 410-313-7275. Information: Mike Blevins, 410-313-1691.

RP5920.101 Rockburn Branch Pk – Pavilion 5-6 PM Th

Thanks,

Michael Blevins
Sports Manager
Howard County Recreation &amp; Parks
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Howard County Bicycle Master Plan


Howard County is developing its first Bicycle Transportation Master Plan. The Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) is the lead agency administering the planning process. To ensure a comprehensive look at bicycling, DPZ has secured the involvement of a number of other county agencies including the Office of the County Executive, the County Council and Department of Public Works. Visit the Technical Advisory Group page for a list of agencies and representatives involved.

The master plan will address bicycling for both transportation and recreation; and will look at on-road and off-road bicycling facilities. A variety of methods will be used to gather public input, including a series of public workshops in the Fall of 2012 and availability of an interactive on-line map. The master planning process is expected to last a year from June 2012 – June 2013.

Bicycle Master Plan Goals & Objectives
  • Identify and develop countywide system of bicycle facilities to foster connectivity within and between the following: villages, communities and neighborhoods throughout the County, as well as neighboring cities and counties, parks and recreation centers, schools and educational institutions, commercial and employment centers, and regional and local transit facilities.
  • Facilitate recreational and transportation trips by bicycle in the County and improve safety for all types of bicyclists.
  • Recommend County policies that will support bicycling, including bikeway facility design.
  • Build public support for implementation of the Plan.


http://bikehoward.com/
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Teen Bicyclist Sent to Hopkins After Collision with Car


By Marc Shapiro, Owings Mills Patch

A 13-year-old boy was sent to The Johns Hopkins Hospital Friday after he collided with a car while riding his bike at 7:14 p.m., police said.

“The bicyclist was heading west on Academy Avenue,” said Lt. Stephen Doarnberger, assistant commander of the Baltimore County Police’s Franklin Precinct. “The car was traveling north on Highfalcon [Road] and the bicyclist did not stop at the stop sign.” [B' Spokes: How do we know this? Driver testimony only?]

The teen was thrown from his bicycle after colliding with the 2005 Acura TL, which was driven by a 60-year-old Reisterstown man. The severity of his injuries is unknown, but he was conscious at the scene and able to speak with police officers, Doarnberger said.

No charges will be filed in the incident.

http://owingsmills.patch.com/articles/teen-bicyclist-sent-to-hopkins-after-collision-with-car
[B' Spokes: I am under the opinion that at fault discussion should exist on both sides of car/bike collisions, so I am concerned that there is no mention (consideration) that the driver may be at fault in this case. Granted this is a kind of intersection that cyclists might be prone to not fully stop for but I will assert we rarely ride in front of a car that we can see coming.

My next assertion is that motorist in Maryland rarely obey the speed limit, with 10 to 15mph above the speed limit being rather typical, and that is rarely seen as illegal behavior by the police, this concerns me a great deal especially on roads where cyclists and pedestrians are present. Speed can make the critical difference between life and death and between a crash and no crash.

It is known in traffic engineering circles that intersections need "daylighting" (be free of obstructions) so cross traffic can get an adequate look down the road so they can cross safely. How much clear space is needed depends on the speed of the road. But what if the cross traffic speed is exceeding the designed speed of the clear zone? The cross traffic would be invisible until it was too late to react.

And that's what I speculate might have happen here (or more correctly, I would feel a lot better if the speed of the motorist was carefully looked into.) From my Google Earth snapshot below I drew a 4 second line (2 second reaction time + 2 second stopping time) for a car that is traveling 35mph. It looks to me as the cyclist approached from the east (top of photo) a 35mph motorist was hidden behind the tree but would have been visible if the motorist was traveling 25mph.
image

§ 21-101.(t) Right-of-way. -- "Right-of-way" means the right of one vehicle or pedestrian to proceed in a lawful manner on a highway in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian.

I'll note that I have yet to see this portion of legal code applied to crashes with cyclists and pedestrians, to summarize, a motorist loses their legal right-of-way when breaking the law (such as speeding.) My point in this is a cyclist/ped should not be at fault if a motorist zips around a corner and hits them. We need time to react to traffic and we should not have the legal obligation of having to yield to traffic traveling too fast for conditions.

Conclusion: Cyclists, please keep in mind that not all low traffic intersections are created the same, some hide speeding traffic too well and give you very little time to react, use your hearing to hear approaching traffic. Motorists, please 35-40mph in residential is not acceptable. Police, please enforce the traffic laws. Thanks to all who help make this world a little safer.]


Somewhat related:
Cokinos, who was 23 at the time, was speeding at 56 miles an hour in a 30-mile-an-hour zone when he struck Luis -- who was crossing Springtown Road in front of his home.

Seven months later in November, a Montgomery County District Court judge found Cokinos not guilty of negligent driving or contributing to an accident.
http://www.kindleboards.com/index.php?topic=42800.0;wap2
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In Metro Portland, Car Collisions More Costly Than Congestion


If that is true in the Portland metro area how much more so for Baltimore County?

Population
Portland Metro 2,226,009
Baltimore County 805,029

Fatal crashes from 2007-2009
Portland Metro 151
Baltimore County 270

So with 61% of the population of Portland Metro we have 179% more fatal crashes. Yet we spend more time and money in trying to &quot;solve&quot; congestion then improving safety. Priorities need to change!

Portland metro crash info: <a href="http://streetsblog.net/2012/06/21/in-metro-portland-car-collisions-more-costly-than-congestion/">http://streetsblog.net/2012/06/21/in-metro-portland-car-collisions-more-costly-than-congestion/</a>;
And <a href="http://bikeportland.org/2012/06/20/metro-state-of-safety-report-collisions-cost-region-958-million-per-year-73564">http://bikeportland.org/2012/06/20/metro-state-of-safety-report-collisions-cost-region-958-million-per-year-73564</a>;

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Be on the look out for a Nissan light silver or gray with front end damage


Cyclist Struck Near Furnace Avenue in Hit-and-Run
An investigation indicated that Shenefiel was struck by a Nissan (possibly a Sentra) built before 1993. The color of the parts recovered at the scene are light silver or gray, possibly with pearl in the paint, police said.

The car could have damage to the front bumper on the passenger side, and may have damage to the right front headlight and marker light. The car is also missing part of the housing to the mirror assembly on the right side.


Citizens are asked to contact 911 or the Anne Arundel County Police Traffic Safety Section at 410-222-8573 with any information.
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