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Columbia working on plan to improve network of pathways

By Yvonne Wenger, The Baltimore Sun

Community drafts plans for livable, walkable neighborhoods

Columbia will develop by June a vision for a network of interconnected pathways that will allow residents to ditch their vehicles and use nearly 100 miles of trails to walk, bike or run to their destinations.

Some 130 community members turned out this week to a couple of public meetings to provide feedback to the Toole Design Group as the Hyattsville-based engineering firm drafts the "Active Transportation Action Agenda" to coincide with Howard County's forthcoming bicycle master plan. The improvements have no price tag assigned so far, but estimates are expected to be included in the consultant's report, said Jennifer Toole, president of the design group.

When Columbia was developed 45 years ago, James Rouse had about 94 miles of pathways built. By comparison, Washington has about 50 miles of pathways. Baltimore has about 39 miles of trails. But Columbia's trails do not meet modern safety or accessibility standards. In places, the paths are short and disconnected, steep and narrow.

The goal is to provide the community's 100,000 residents an alternative to the average $20,904 drivers spend annually to own and operate a vehicle, Toole said. The plan is intended to also enable residents to reduce their carbon footprint and encourage exercise. Twenty-nine percent of Maryland's children are overweight or obese, and 58 percent of the state's adults are overweight or obese, she said.
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B' More Involved January 2012

[B' Spokes: If I could make a request that some people attend the Mayor's FY 2013 Budget Workshop as we have more pedestrian fatalities then we do drivers of automobiles fatalities not to mention too few who bicycle in the city. We need to make sure these needs are adequately addressed through the budget. Thanks.]

B'more Involved - Produced by the BMC for the BRTB | www.baltometro.org
January 2012
Greetings!
Thank you for subscribing to B'More Involved!  B'More Involved is designed to provide you with helpful information on transportation planning, opportunities for public involvement, and environmental justice. This important information, e-mailed out on a regular basis and now posted on Facebook and Twitter, is a great way for you to learn more, stay up-to-date on important events and news, and, of course, let you know how you can B'More Involved!

  
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In this issue:

  • Comments Welcome through January 23 on Baltimore City and MTA Projects
  • Connecting Columbia - Get Involved!
  • Carroll County is Seeking Your Input
  • Annapolis Bicycle, Auto, and Pedestrian Safety Study Topic of January 19 Presentation
  • Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan
  • US Dept of Transportation Exploring Use of Mobile Applications for Public Transit
  • Clean Air Partners Poster Contest
  • Plan It 2035 Approved by the BRTB
  • Upcoming Events
  • In The News

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Remembering a Life Lost Too Soon in Middle River

[B' Spokes: Very shallow safety advice given in this article, please see the links we provide for better information on how to ride defensibly <a href="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/links/index.php?category=Must+read+for+bike+safety">http://www.baltimorespokes.org/links/index.php?category=Must+read+for+bike+safety</a>; ]
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Blaine Susnowitz, who would have turned 18 on Jan. 3, was killed while riding his bike along Martin Boulevard at Middle River Road on Nov. 28, 2008.
By Ron Snyder - Patch

Blaine Susnowitz should have been thinking about graduating from high school this year.

The Middle River teen loved being outside, especially when it came to riding his bicycle. That’s exactly what Blaine was doing as he went looking for a friend whom he thought was on the other side of the street when he rode his bike across Martin Boulevard at Middle River Road on Nov. 28, 2008.

But, that decision turned out to be fatal as Blaine was struck by a pick-up truck and killed.
...
“He wasn’t much into video games of sports, he just loved riding his bike and being outdoors with his friends,” said Dawn Susnowitz, Blaine’s mother. “While it’s still really hard to know Blaine’s gone, it was so special to have so many people come together and remember him. It showed me how much he was loved.”
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Advanced Bicycle Maintenance Class February 20 & 22

Date: Monday, February 20 and Wednesday, February 22.

Time: 6:30pm-9:30pm.

Session 1(Monday): fundamentals of a bike, what tools are good to have, basic maintenance tips, full drive train cleaning and repair assessment.

Session 2 (Wednesday): brake adjustment, derailleur adjustment, bottom bracket, hub and headset adjustment and the replacement/repair of any simple repair needed on your bike.

Students are encouraged to bring and work on their own bike. The cost is $125 which includes a copy of &quot;The Haynes Bicycle Book&quot; - my favorite repair manual. :-)

Class is limited to 8 students. Come join us. Everyone learns a lot and it's great fun. Please call the shop at 301-441-2928 to reserve your spot.
Here's to a great new year!

Jill DiMauro
Proteus Bicycles in College Park. <a href="http://www.proteusbicycles.com">www.proteusbicycles.com</a>;
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Western County Pedestrian & Bicycle Access Plan

Open Houses Scheduled for Citizen Comment on Revised Plan

After several months of preliminary review by citizens, business groups, and county and state agencies, a revised draft is ready for a final general review before being submitted to the Baltimore County Planning Board and County Council for formal adoption as an amendment to the county's master plan.

Two informational open houses on the Western Plan are being held so that citizens will have a chance to view the plan and discuss it with county planning staff.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012 from 6-8 p.m.
Benjamin Banneker Museum, Almanac Hall
300 Oella Avenue, Baltimore 21228

Wednesday, January 25, 2012 from 6-8 p.m.
West Towson Elementary School Cafeteria
6914 North Charles Street, Towson 21204

Citizens will have an opportunity to comment on the plan at either of the open houses.  Written comments can also be submitted until January 27, 2012 to:

Kathy Schlabach, Project Manager
Baltimore County Department of Planning
105 West Chesapeake Avenue, Suite 101
Towson, MD 21204

or

 kschlabach@baltimorecountymd.gov

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Unified voice of activism resonates for a Greater Towson

By Loni Ingraham - Baltimore Sun

The Greater Towson Council of Community Associations is a part of Towson's &quot;shadow government,&quot; according to Mike Ertel, a former president of the organization.

He notes that Towson may be the Baltimore County seat. But it is not an incorporated municipality.

&quot;We don't have a mayor and we're not going to have a mayor,&quot; Ertel said. &quot;Groups determine what goes on in Towson.&quot;
...
Grate expectations

Dick Parsons, a past president and a founding member of the GTCCA, says it was founded in 1975 as the brainchild of former Burkleigh Square resident Randy Richardson.

&quot;He believed the neighborhoods were being played for suckers by developers and their lawyers,&quot; he said.

Initially, Richardson pulled together representatives of eight associations. They met in each other's houses.

The first big accomplishment was getting grates put in over storm drains on Towsontown Boulevard to prevent them from catching bicycle wheels.
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BRTB BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY GROUP September 7, 2011 Minutes Highlights

* Mr. Dan Reagle of the Maryland Transit Administration said that MTA applied for a grant from the Federal Transit Administration to construct a 700 foot path connecting the Lutherville Light Rail station to the neighborhood

[B' Spokes: This could make for a bike route in the area as topography and lollipop development makes getting through there a bit challenging by bike.]


* By a vote of 6-1-1, Ms. Jessica Keller was selected as the committee’s choice to nominate to the BRTB as the new citizen-pedestrian representative.

[B' Spokes: very cool, someone who I know and this position has been filled.]


* Ralph Wheeler noted that Baltimore County had submitted only projects on county-owned roads, while other jurisdictions had submitted requests for state roads. It was noted that instructions for submitting bicycle and pedestrian projects should be clarified for future long range plans.

[B' Spokes: Indeed, better communication and planning between State, county and Metro Planning Organization for bicycle and pedestrian access is needed.]

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Jan 10, 11 Connecting Columbia Open House Meetings

As an active member of the Columbia community, we thought you’d be interested in attending CA’s upcoming Connecting Columbia opening house meetings on January 10 and 11.  The goal of Connecting Columbia is to create an active transportation action agenda that will result in a more interconnected bicycling and walking circulation system for health, recreation and transportation purposes. We hope you will attend and help us spread the word about the meetings, which will be held on Tuesday, January 10, at the Owen Brown Community Center, located at 6800 Cradlerock Way; and Wednesday, January 11, at Slayton House, located at 10400 Cross Fox Lane. Both meetings will be held from 7:30 to 9 p.m. and will feature the same content with a presentation at 8:00p.m. Although registration is not required, it is very much appreciated.

Please view CA’s press release and event flyer. If you have questions regarding the meetings, please contact Scott Templin at scott.templin@columbiaassociation.com or 410-715-3166. For more information on the project, visit ColumbiaAssociation.org/ConnectingColumbia. Thank you and enjoy the holidays.

Jane L. Dembner, AICP
Director of Community Planning
Phone: 410-715-3107
Email: Jane.Dembner@ColumbiaAssociation.com
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