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Bike To Work Day Last Update


Update:

Bike To Work Day is Friday, May 17, 2013!

Bike to Work Day 2013, sponsored by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, will be celebrated in the Baltimore region and across the nation on Friday May 17, 2013.

This year marks the 16th annual event in the Baltimore region and will feature events at locations around the region.

 

Online Registration is Closed, but You Can Still Ride Up + Register! 

Online registration is now closed, but you can still ride on Friday!  Just join us at one of the rallies or pit stops below and register on-site for freebies, prizes, food and more. The first 1,400 registered riders that attend an event will receive a mesh hat. Some rallies will also have free bike checks, prizes, t-shirts, and other great info and giveaways.

  • Annapolis (City Dock, 7 to 9 am)


  • Baltimore City
  • Baltimore Bicycle Works
  • Baltimore City Health Department
  • Brooklyn
  • Harbor East
  • Inner Harbor
  • Johns Hopkins Medical Campus (Armstrong building)  
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Joe's Bike Shop (Mt. Washington)
  • McHenry Row (Locust Point)   
  • MD State Highway Administration
  • University of Maryland Medical Center   



Bel Air (Harford County Govt Admin Building, 7 to 9 am)


Catonsville (Santa's House @ Catonsville Fire Dept)


Columbia (The Mall in Columbia, 7 to 9 am) 


Towson (Towson Courthouse, 7 to 9 am)



Don't want to bike alone? Join a Convoy!

Volunteers from around the region are stepping up to lead convoys of Bike to Work Day riders to locations around the Baltimore area and beyond. Check out our B2W Day Convoys page for more info or, if you'd like to volunteer let us know @ b2w@baltometro.org.

Also, check out this great Facebook page by Bikemore -- it is a great place to ask your questions and get some info from seasoned riders about the best route to ride for bike to work and more. Plus, get the 411 on this year's Bike FROM Work Day Party at the Pratt Street Ale House! 

>> Learn more about the Bike From Work Day Party

 

Why Bike To Work Day?

Bike to Work Day is an event celebrated across the United States each May to encourage and celebrate bicycling to work and promote public awareness of bicycling and bicycle safety.

Locally, B2WD promotes a “clean commute” and is part of the region's Clean Commute Initiative, which begins in April. Late Spring is the start of the ground-level ozone season, when we hear about Code Red and Orange Ozone Action Days. On those days, the air is dangerous to breathe – especially for the young and for the elderly. Emissions from single occupancy vehicles contribute significantly to our region's dangerous ozone levels. Bike commuting can improve the air we breathe.

Stay up-to-date with Bike to Work Day and other great bike events from around the Baltimore region through the BikePed Beacon E-Newsletter or follow us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter ! Sign-up today!

 

Learn more...

 

For more information: Russ Ulrich, rulrich@baltometro.org, 410-732-9575

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Baltimore Co Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee Seeks Community Input


Citizen Input Meeting

Towson, Md. (March 22, 2013) - County Executive Kevin Kamenetz announced that Baltimore County's Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC) is seeking community input as they begin to move forward on implementing a number projects identified in the recently adopted Eastern and Western Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plans. Members of the public are invited to voice their preferences on which projects to fund first at a Citizen Input Meeting.

Tuesday, April 16 at 5 p.m.
Jefferson Building Hearing Room (Room 104)
105 West Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, MD, 21204.

Prioritized Plans

The projects in the Eastern and Western Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plans have been prioritized based on a short, medium, and long-range scale. The PBAC plans to take a closer look to identify initial projects that will provide County citizens with the greatest benefit at the lowest cost, using state, federal, and private grants.

Criteria

While implementation is not guaranteed, identifying these initial projects is an important first step. The big challenge is to come up with projects that would meet these criteria:

  • Relatively low in cost. Due to the many capital needs that have to be met throughout the County, the availability of County funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects is limited. Grant funding, however, can be sought to pay for projects such as bike route signage, bike lane striping, and feasibility studies for shared use path projects, as well as sidewalks, crosswalks and other small pedestrian improvement projects.
  • Link to significant destinations. Improvements that provide many residents with safer pedestrian or bicycle access to schools, libraries, parks, shopping centers, employment areas or transit stations are especially desirable.
  • Community support. Not all communities are ready to become walkable and bike-friendly. The PBAC wants to target the initial projects to neighborhoods that really want them, and will use them.

"Home buyers today want to live in communities that are sustainable with a strong quality of life," said Baltimore County Council Chair Tom Quirk. "Communities that create places where people can walk, bike, work, live and recreate are areas that will thrive and succeed. I appreciate the County Executive's efforts in working closely with the Council and community in moving forward in this very important direction." 

More Information

Pedestrian and bicycle planning information is available at www.baltimorecountymd.gov/bikeped. The interactive map showing details of the plan for bicycle facilities can be viewed through the My Neighborhood application. For more information, e-mail Kathy Schlabach in the Department of Planning, or call 410-887-3521.

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Baltimore County Rural Roads Meeting


[B' Spokes: A few cyclists should attend just to remind hem we are out there using these roads.]

For Immediate Release                                                           Contact: David Fidler

                                                                                                410 887-2171

Fifth Annual

Rural Roads Meeting

April 25

 

(Towson, April 2, 2013) The Department of Public Works will hold its fifth annual public meeting to discuss rural roads, bridges, repaving and traffic issues at the Oregon Ridge Park Conference Center (The Sequoia Room), 13401 Beaver Dam Road in Cockeysville (21030) on Thursday, April 25, between 6:30 and 8:30 PM. The meeting fulfills the County’s pledge to meet annually with residents interested in preserving the rural character of the County and to apprise them of infrastructure plans.

 

These annual public meetings, held at various sites, evolved from the Rural Roads Standards, a citizen-government agreement, approved by the County Council, which codified standards and policies for road and bridge maintenance in rural areas. This year’s meeting will review paving plans and bridge repair or replacement schedules during the next two years.

 

As in the past, residents and interested parties will be able to speak one-on-one with Public Works engineers on specific, local issues, following a short introduction from Ed Adams, Director of Public Works. The public will also be able to leave written comments. For more information, call the Director’s Office, Department of Public Works: 410 887-2171.

 

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Lutherville doctor known for running habits critically injured in Towson accident


By Jessica Anderson, Arthur Hirsch and Scott Dance, The Baltimore Sun

...
Wrona described the scene as horrific.

"That's all I can say. Horrific," she said. "He was running and strayed into the right-hand lane. Maybe he tripped, maybe he was distracted. It's not clear."
...

<a href="http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/towson/bs-md-co-towson-pedestrian-struck-20130328,0,7369270.story">http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/baltimore-county/towson/bs-md-co-towson-pedestrian-struck-20130328,0,7369270.story</a>;
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Baltimore County Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plan Newsletter March 28, 2013



__________________________________________________

CITIZEN INPUT MEETING FOR PROJECTS SCHEDULED
__________________________________________________

Here's what's been happening since the last edition of this newsletter:

--The Baltimore County Council adopted the Western Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plan on November 19, 2012.

--Baltimore County is working to implement the four Maryland Bikeways grants awarded by the Maryland Department of Transportation to make bicycle improvements in Towson, Catonsville, and Arbutus/Halethorpe.

Now, in anticipation of new grant funding becoming available, the Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee (PBAC) is holding a Citizen Input Meeting to hear your suggestions for the next priority projects for implementation.

****************************************************************
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at 5 p.m. in Room 104, Jefferson Building, 105 W. Chesapeake Avenue, Towson, 21204.

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

While implementation is not guaranteed, identifying new initial projects is an important first step. The big challenge is to come up with projects that would meet these criteria:

--Relatively low in cost. Due to the many capital needs that have to be met throughout the County, the availability of County funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects is limited. Grant funding, however, can be sought to pay for projects such as bike route signage, bike lane striping, and feasibility studies for shared use path projects, as well as sidewalks, crosswalks and other small pedestrian improvement projects.

--Link to significant destinations. Improvements that provide many residents with safer pedestrian or bicycle access to schools, libraries, parks, shopping centers, employment areas or transit stations are especially desirable.

--Community support. Not all communities are ready to become walkable and bike-friendly. The PBAC wants to target the initial projects to neighborhoods that really want them, and will use them.

Please come to the meeting with your ideas, or submit them in writing to:

Kathy Schlabach
Department of Planning, Suite 101
105 W. Chesapeake Ave.
Towson, MD 21204

or kschlabach@baltimorecountymd.gov

The Eastern and Western Pedestrian and Bicycle Access Plans are available at <a href="http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/bikeped#PBAC">http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/bikeped#PBAC</a>; as PDF files.

The interactive map showing details of the plan for bicycle facilities can be viewed at <a href="http://myneighborhood.baltimorecountymd.gov/?current_theme=Bicycle+Facilities">http://myneighborhood.baltimorecountymd.gov/?current_theme=Bicycle+Facilities</a>;.

If you would like more information, please contact Kathy Schlabach at kschlabach@baltimorecountymd.gov or 410-887-3521.

____________________________________________________________
This e-mail is a periodic newsletter published by the Baltimore County Department of Planning. You may subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription information at <a href="http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/subscribe/bikeped">http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/subscribe/bikeped</a>;
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Road Biking 101 Clinic – 2013!


By BikeHoCo

Bike 101 will teach you how to ride safely on the road, how to deal with traffic, and how to ride better (like how to climb hills!). The class is for those who know how to ride a bike, but are afraid or uncertain how best to ride on the road.

Chris Tsien, a League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor, and volunteers will present a short version of LAB’s Smart Cycling class. Local bike shops will do bike safety checks.

Class size is limited to no more than 60 participants so please register early.

<a href="http://bikehoco.org/2013/03/road-biking-101-clinic-2013/">http://bikehoco.org/2013/03/road-biking-101-clinic-2013/</a>;
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5th Annual Planet Walk & Patapsco Ride & Fair Hill Ride


Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails, Inc.
P.O. Box 464
Severna Park, MD 21146
 
 
Fifth Annual Planet Walk Scheduled for April 13
 
On Saturday April 13, 2013, The Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails, the Anne Arundel Community College Astronomy Club and the Astrophysics Science and Planetary Science Divisions of the NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center have teamed up to offer a day of free public programs focusing on our solar system. The events will include a Planet Walk on the B&A Trail, a multimedia presentation at Anne Arundel Community College and an evening Star Gazing Party at the AACC Observatory.
The day’s events will kick off at 10:30 am with a Planet Walk along a 4.7 mile segment of the B&A Trail between Glen Burnie and Severna Park . This segment of the Trail features two sculptures and ten information stations representing the Sun and the planets of the Solar System, with each planet’s station spaced at its proportional distance from the Sun. Sculptural stainless steel markers have been placed to mark the relative location of each planet site along the route. Between 10:30 am and 3:00 pm, planetary scientists and astronomers from NASA/Goddard, area colleges and universities and local astronomy clubs will be at each of the planet stations to provide additional information about that planet and answer questions.
Participants can walk or bicycle the 4.7 mile course between the Sun Sculpture, located just south of Aquahart Road behind Harundale Plaza in Glen Burnie and the Pluto sculpture, located just north of the Earleigh Heights Road Ranger Station in Severna Park . The event is free and free parking is located adjacent to both ends of the Planet Walk. It is recommended that participants start at the Sun Station. For participants seeking a shorter or less time-consuming experience, the six planets between the Sun and Saturn can be visited in the first 1 1/4 miles between Harundale and Marley Station Mall. The event will be cancelled in the event of heavy rain.
Special evening events are also scheduled at Anne Arundel Community College ’s Arnold campus. At 7:30 pm a free public multimedia presentation will be presented in Room 110 of the College’s Dragun Science Building . Dr. Carey Lisse of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics laboratory will be speaking on “The Prospects for Life and Habitability Around Nearby Stars”. Following Dr. Lisse’s presentation, there will be a question and answer session as well as drawings for the daytime Planet Walk raffle. The multimedia program will be presented regardless of weather conditions.
After the presentation, beginning at 8:30 pm, the AACC Astronomy Club will host a free public Star Gazing Party at the College Observatory. The Observatory is located outside Parking Lot “B” on the Arnold campus. Participants will have the opportunity to utilize the Observatory’s telescopes with the assistance of Astronomy Club members and may also bring their own telescopes. The Star Gazing Party will be cancelled if overcast conditions or inclement weather prevent making observations.
The events of April 13 will give participants a chance to gain greater insight into the makeup of our solar system as well as to gain knowledge of some of the ongoing research which continues to bring us new and exciting revelations. Additional information about the day’s events is also available on Facebook and at www.friendsofaatrails.org.
Jack Keene
Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails
**********************************************
 
2013 Patapsco
Intro Ride Series
Have you ever wanted to explore the vast trail system at
Patapsco Valley State Park at a mellow pace with folks who
know the park inside and out? Here’s your opportunity to get
to down and dirty with the some of the finest trails on the
East Coast. These casual, no-drop rides will start with coffee
and good vibes and wrap up with cold beverages and demo
bikes at Rockburn Skills Park ! MORE Gold Sponsor Aviation
Velo is supplying the swag and MORE’s 2012 Ride Leader of
the Year will lay out sweet rides for all ages and abilities.
Ride Dates:
March 30, April 27 , May 25, June 29
All rides start at 10 am at Rockburn Branch Park in the parking area
by the main Pavilion. RSVP @
ride-rockburn-branch
or
http://aviationvelo.com 507 S. Camp Meade Rd
Linthicum Heights, MD
**********************************************
 The Trail Spinners Poker Run at Fair Hill NRMA will take place on 6/16.  Gates open at 8 am.  This is a charity event benefiting the Brian Fults Fund, a well known local racer who has competed regionally, who is going through treatment for cancer.  There will be a Pre Ride the Fair Hill Classic Race Course, Food, Fun, and Beverages.
For more info, please contact Chris Jackson at  chrisjackson479@verizon.net
 

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BMC TO LAUNCH SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE WITH FREE EVENT MARCH 25th


BMC Logo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Barbara Herron, 410-732-9564  

BMC TO LAUNCH SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE WITH FREE EVENT  MARCH 25th 
BALTIMORE, MD (March 22, 2012) - The Opportunity Collaborative will launch its work with an event featuring two nationally recognized presenters on Monday, March 25, at the University of Baltimore Student Center, 21 W. Mount Royal Avenue, in Baltimore. Dr. Manuel Pastor will deliver the Keynote Address at 3:00 P.M., followed by a performance by Rha Goddess at 5:30. The Sustainable Communities Consortium will host a reception for Dr. Pastor and Ms. Goddess and our guests from 4:30-5:30.

The event is free, but attendees must RSVP in advance at http://opportunitycollaborative.eventbrite.com. Reduced-fee parking will be available at the Maryland Avenue Garage, Maryland Avenue and Biddle Street. Visit www.ubalt.edu/about-ub/directions/ for directions.

The Opportunity Collaborative (the Collaborative) is the consortium working to implement our region's $3.5 million Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant. The Regional Planning Grant program, an effort of the Partnership for Sustainable Communities and administered by HUD, encourages grantees to support regional planning efforts that integrate housing, land-use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure developments in a manner that empowers regions to consider how all of these factors work together to create more jobs and economic opportunities.  The Co-Chairs of the Collaborative are Mayor Josh Cohen of Annapolis and Scot T. Spencer, of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. 

The program places a priority on partnerships, including the collaboration of arts and culture, philanthropy and innovative ideas in the regional planning process. The staff of Baltimore Metropolitan Council coordinates the Collaborative's activities and serves as the fiscal agent for the consortium.

Dr. Pastor serves as director of the University of Southern California's Program for Environmental and Regional Equity and co-director of USC's Center for the Study of Immigrant Integration. His most recent book, Uncommon Common Ground: Race and America's Future, documents the gap between racial attitudes and racial realities, and offers a new set of strategies for both talking about race and achieving racial equity.

Rha Goddess is a cultural innovator and social entrepreneur who brings over two decades of transformational "crowd rockin'" in the name of social change. As a world renowned performing artist and activist, her work has been internationally featured in compilations, anthologies, forums and festivals.

Members of the Collaborative include:
  • City of Annapolis
  • Anne Arundel County
  • Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Associated Black Charities
  • Baltimore City
  • Baltimore County
  • Baltimore Integration Partnership
  • Baltimore Metropolitan Council
  • Baltimore Neighborhood Collaborative
  • Baltimore Regional Transportation Board
  • Citizens Planning & Housing Association, Inc.
  • Baltimore Regional Initiative Developing Genuine Equality (BRIDGE)
  • Central Maryland Transportation Alliance
  • Enterprise Community Partners
  • Greater Baltimore Committee
  • Innovative Housing Institute
  • Harford County
  • Howard County
  • Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development
  • Maryland Department of Planning
  • Maryland Department of Transportation
  • Maryland Sustainable Growth Commission
  • Morgan State University
  • University of Maryland, National Center for Smart Growth
  • 1,000 Friends of Maryland

If you are interested in learning more, or joining the Collaborative, please send an email to lfcollins@baltometro.org.

Working to improve the quality of life in the Baltimore region.

 

The Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC) is the organization of the region's elected executives who are committed to identifying regional interests and developing collaborative strategies, plans and programs which will improve the quality of life and economic vitality throughout the region.

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Race Pace Busts Bike Thief!


By Race Pace, via Facebook

A series of events unfolded at one of our stores yesterday...it went a little something like this:
-Mr. Thief brings a bike to a local shop, who notes shifty eyes and a fishy story, and that shop refers the customer to our store.
-Our staff greets the guy and begins the stall process.
-Another of our mechanics contacts the manufacturer, who tells us the shop that originally purchased it.
-We call that shop and get contact info for the person who bought it last month
-We call that customer, who didn't know his bike had been stolen, and they call the police to file a report.
-We call the police, and they drop by to pick up Mr. Thief and his pocket full of drugs.
Blam! The streets are safer - go bike them!

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Connect Downtown Columbia with Lake Elkhorn


Via: Let's Make Columbia Awesome

image
It's budget season for Howard County Government, and there are a few notable projects in the proposed budget that could help make Columbia awesome. We're particularly excited about a proposed pathway (pictured) that would connect Downtown Columbia with Lake Elkhorn and the Patuxent Branch Trail that runs all the way to Savage. There is also funding to continue construction at Blandair Park and for renovations at the Central and East Columbia Libraries.

If you support any of the projects, please make your voice heard! Attend the public hearing on March 11 or submit testimony online here: http://www.howardcountymd.gov/budgettestimony.htm All you need to say is: "I support the Patuxent Branch Trail Extension/Library improvements/Blandair Park because it/they would help make Columbia awesome!"

Yes, it's that easy. And yes, you will make a difference.

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