Patapsco State Park, Mountain Biking.[video]
Your bicycling as a regular mode of transportation dollars at work
[B' Spokes: So Maryland limits its use of Transportation Enhancement money to just trails and the federal regulation says that it MUST be used for transportation purposes and not recreational. While the form below is certainly better then the ticketing going on the Anacostia trails that close at dusk but I do have to ask why are so many roads in Maryland not really bike friendly? Oh, there is no money and/or no plan to accomplish that that. That's because the State's Strategic Trail Plan is the cat's meow, that is till you realize that it is keeping money from on-road bicycling facilities. I guess we should modify State Law to read as follows [additions in square brackets] § 2-602 "State to include enhanced transportation facilities [that require liability wavers or to be closed at dark] for pedestrians and bicycle riders ... (1) Access to and use of transportation facilities by pedestrians and bicycle riders shall be considered and best [minimal] engineering practices regarding the needs of bicycle riders and pedestrians [and liability wavers for the use of the aforementioned facilities shall be in the best legal practices." There has to be something better then the current practices, I'm OK with accepting some responsibility if I bike a trail at night but it would not kill these guys to use more reflective tape either (in other words think about night time use and make some accommodations.) Removing the barriers for biking and walking and providing more options for biking and walking should be the goal here and liability wavers should be a warning sign that we are not were we should be.]
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APPLICATION AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY FOR AFTER HOURS BICYCLE USE
“BICYCLE COMMUTING”
This form is an application and waiver of liability/assumption of risk for after-hours
bicycle use (“Bicycle Commuting”) for commuting within the Avalon/Glen Artney area of
Patapsco Valley State Park.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (“DNR”) and the Maryland Park Service
(“MPS”) support green alternatives in commuting. As such, DNR/MPS recognizes people
interested in commuting by bicycle as an alternative to heavily traveled roadways. However, most
areas of Patapsco Valley State Park were not designed for night time use. There is no lighting -
either walk-way lights or street lights - in most of the day-use areas. Staffing levels do not allow
staff on duty 24 hours a day; therefore, there is no commitment or guarantee by DNR/MPS for
response to injuries or incidents after hours. In addition, the Avalon/Orange Grove/Glen Artney
areas of Patapsco have very poor cell phone coverage and only one pay phone is located along the
route that most bicycle commuters would travel. DNR/MPS cannot guarantee or ensure road and
trail conditions nor ensure road and trail conditions during inclement weather that occurs outside
of normal operating hours for the park. The Grist Mill Trail does not have ice or snow removal as
part of routine maintenance.
Anyone wishing to commute after-hours through this area is required to obtain a permit and sign a
waiver of liability. The following safety equipment must be used by all after-hours commuters:
Headlights, reflectors, and helmets. In addition all Bicycle commuters will be required to use the
paved portion of the Avalon, Orange Grove, Glen Artney areas of Patapsco to commute via bicycle
between South Street (Baltimore County) or River Rd. (Howard County) and Illchester
Rd.(Howard County). Map of acceptable routes are attached. Further, due to poor cell phone
coverage you are responsible to alert a family member or co-worker of your intended route and
travel time frame and provide them with the Park Watch number 800-825-7275 or 410-260-8888,
for emergency assistance.
New Trails are COMING please HELP!!!
New trails are getting built in Emmitsburg, MD and they need your help! Corridor clearing will be taking place August 13th and they are hoping for a good turn out to show their town council there’s excitement for the project. The complete project will be a stacked loop system and they’ll be breaking ground on the first piece of a multi-phase project.
Where is Emmitsburg? It is north of Frederick, MD and the trails will be built on the town reservoir property which is situated on the same ridge as Gambrill and the Frederick Watershed so expect similar terrain. Want to know more about the project? Check these recent articles:Frederick News Post & The Gazette
Date: Saturday, August 13, 2011
Time: 8am- 1pm
Location: Rainbow Lake on Hampton Valley Road. Google Maps link.
Contact: Tim O’Donnell- todonnell@emmitsburgmd.gov – 301-447-3839
City's position doesn't hold water for Loch Raven Reservoir
By Candy Thomson - Baltimore Sun...
In November 2009, 10 city council members filed a resolution that called for transportation and public works officials to work with the mountain biking community to update a decade-old watershed agreement. There was a little back-and-forth, then the city found the money to hire watershed police officers. Naturally, the officers began to issue warnings to riders for straying off the fire roads, which are fine for walkers but useless for mountain bikers.
The mountain bikers say they have been good stewards, picking up trash, educating riders not to cause erosion and eliminating "rogue" single-track trails that cause damage.
Department of Public Works officials say their first responsibility is maintaining a clean drinking water supply, which means it must keep strict buffer areas and restrict human uses. When asked if an "agreement" with mountain bikers might ultimately be extended to restrictions on fishing and other activities, city officials won't say.
But the city's position doesn't hold water. Lots of other jurisdictions have figured a way to make reservoirs and recreation compatible. New trail-building techniques have drastically reduced erosion and runoff. City officials have been antagonistic. There's no reason this matter should have dragged on since Thanksgiving 2009.
...
Petition: Connect the MA & PA Trail
The PetitionI urge the elected officials of Harford County and Bel Air to secure the land rights to allow for the connection of the Ma and Pa trail segments between Williams St. in Bel Air and Melrose Lane in Forest Hill using the most cost effective means possible."
Sign petition
<a href="http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/mapatrailconnect/">http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/mapatrailconnect/</a>;
Loch Raven Trail Access
[B' Spokes: Two important issues coming up, Make them if you can. More info in the link at the end of the article.]
The Housing and Community Development Subcommittee will meet on Wednesday, July 27, 2011at 11:00 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 4th Floor of City Hall, located at 100 N. Holliday Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202 to hear the following legislation:
CC 09-0173R - Informational Hearing - Mountain Biking on City Reservoir Watershed Property
A copy of the legislation can be found here for your review.
We need to pack the house on this one! This may be our only opportunity to be heard in front of City Council, so let's show them how much interest there is in Loch Raven! Forward this email to every cyclist you know that cares about Loch Raven. We need to show our numbers!
Also, make every attempt you can at coming to the Trail Work Day on July 23 at Loch Raven! These volunteer numbers have been huge for showing our dedication to this resource.
We are having our second trail work day at Loch Raven on July 23, 2011 from 8:00am-12:00pm. This event will be the first of two trail work days using our REI grant to repair erosion issues at Loch Raven.
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We will be giving t-shirts to the first 125 people that register, so please email lochraven@more-mtb.org to reserve your spot.
Special thanks go out to REI, BOB trailers, and Zac® Tools for their support for this project! Also, a special thanks goes out to Race Pace Bicycles for their immediate and selfless support of our trail work days, no questions asked!
If you have any questions, feel free to shoot us an email.
Cheers,
Bob Compton and Dave Blum, MORE Trail Liaisons for Loch Raven
MDOT hires experts to make recommendations and then ignores recommendations
This 2009 report from Cambridge Systematics, Inc. with Toole Design Group on our Maryland Trails Strategic Implementation Plan makes the following recommendations (just highlights) that still have not been done:• Explore new approaches to trail program management and policy processes to relieve the administrative burden of trail funding programs. Opportunities exist to pursue advanced streamlining process and to adapt existing funding programs to better fit of the character of trail development. For example, providing assistance in preparing aid packages for municipalities may help ease the administrative burden of the application process. Assistance to jurisdictions on how to leverage funding sources (i.e., use of POS [Project Open Space] as a match for TEP [Transportation Enchantment Program] funds) could also be helpful. Other approaches that might help alleviate the administrative and funding burden to jurisdictions include:
− “Phasing” funding and project development;
− Reducing the TEP minimum request and match requirement;
− Reducing or removing the TEP engineering and design requirement; Providing technical assistance for RTP and TEP project planning to address deficiencies in project sponsors’ trail planning and project scope development.
− Re-evaluating the types of projects eligible by RTP and TEP and the phases of projects for which funding is available (i.e., preconstruction/acquisition);
Biller’s Bikes now offers Susquehanna State Park (MD) Bike Rental Services
Susquehanna State Park (MD) Trail Services
Maryland's Susquehanna State Park, with thirty-one campgrounds and picnic shelters, is just five miles northwest of Havre de Grace up steep (8%) Rt. 155.
Biller's Bikes provides maps, car racks and delivery to our state's oldest and largest park. We work with the park's staff to give visitors the best party and picnic, overnight camping, family, leisure or mountain biking opportunities in this historic 2,646 acre state park along the beautiful lower Susquehanna River.
North Park Hike/Bike Trail in Havre de Grace
The Joe K. Trail, a converted rail and canal route along the Susquehanna River (flat, finished trail) is named after former HdG Council and trail builder Joe Kochenderfer. It's a great little loop trail for families, history and nature lovers. Get a fun, free annotated trail map at our shop! Begins near the Lock House.
MD/DE East Coast Greenway Trails Await!
Biller's Bikes owner Walter Biller and right-hand man Scott Hughes rode over 400 miles back-and-forth through Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania. They helped the ECGA map today's on- and off-road route through Pennsylvania, Delaware and central Maryland.
Our Links pages include hundreds of regional trails.
Fort Frederick State Park To Host Rail Trail Bike Ride
Big Pool, Md. (June 3, 2011) — Fort Frederick State Park will host a guided bike ride on the Western Maryland Rail Trail on June 11.
The public is invited to join naturalist Charles Sullivan for a guided leisurely ride through the wilds of western Maryland. Participants will have the opportunity to learn the names of some of Maryland’s wildflowers, identify common trees, meet new friends and relax in the shade, while cruising along this mostly level, paved trail.
Bike rentals are available at the bicycle shop, located along the Western Maryland Rail Trail and the C&O Canal National Historic Park in Hancock. Refreshments and snacks are also available at the bicycle shop and throughout the area.
Participants will meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 11 at the C&O Bicycle Shop. Attendees should dress for the weather and carry plenty of water. The 23-mile trip is not strenuous and can be completed by most people, young and old alike. The ride will last about 4 hours. Seven days advance notice is requested.
For more information or to sign up, please call 301-842-2155. Disabled access is available and accommodations for individuals with disabilities will be provided upon request. C&O Bicycle is located at 9 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Hancock, Md. 21750.
Maryland’s State Parks not only provide great outdoor recreation for Marylanders and visitors, they are also a great asset to State and local economies. According to a recent study, conducted in partnership with the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, the Maryland Office of Tourism Development and the Maryland Association of Destination Marketing Organizations, Maryland State Parks have an estimated annual economic benefit of more than $650 million. In 2010, visitors directly spent more than $567 million locally — $25.56 locally for every dollar the State invests in State Parks —during their visits. And almost 95 percent of visitors had their expectations met or exceeded during visits.
| June 3, 2011 |
Contact: Josh Davidsburg |
Jones Falls Trail Progress
from TheWashCycle by washcycleJones Falls Trail progress according to the East Coast Greenway
Phase 2 of the Jones Falls Trail, a key component of the ECG through Baltimore, is on track again. This phase had been stalled at 95% design for well over a year at the State Highway Administration over ADA improvements to nearby intersections. Impatient local bike activists finally applied some political pressure through the state legislature and broke the logjam. As a result, the project was advertised, a contract has been awarded, and construction will start this summer with completion in about a year.
Phase 2 will connect the existing phases 1 and 3 of the Jones Falls Trail with the Gwynns Falls Trail in downtown Baltimore. It will be the highest visibility part of the trail in the city, running from the Visitors' Center, wrapping around the Inner Harbor, and continuing up the Fallsway, past the city's Farmers' Market, to Penn Station (Amtrak), where it will meet the existing portions of the Jones Falls Trail. When this segment is complete, ECG users will have about ten miles of ADA-compliant class-one trail traversing the heart of Baltimore.