SHA IMPROVES SAFETY FOR PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS IN MONTGOMERY AND PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTIES
http://www.roads.maryland.gov/pages/release.aspx?newsId=2792
Wishing You and Yours Safe Riding in 2015 |
Happy New Year |
On the behalf of citizens in Baltimore and across the state, Bike Maryland and Bikemore appreciate the efforts of the Baltimore Police Department and State’s Attorney’s office in pursuing justice for Tom Palermo and his family. Charges to the driver of the vehicle that struck and killed Tom Palermo on December 27th were announced in a press release from the State's Attorney's office. The death of a bicyclist in a car collision is a terrible event, but preventable if all road users slow down and commit their full attention to the operation of what can be a deadly weapon when wielded incorrectly.
Demonstrated in the image above from January 1, 2015, over 1,000 community members came out in a powerful show of commraderie and cycling spirit in a time of grief, anger, and loss. Bike Maryland continues to work closely with Bikemore and local leaders to ensure that Tom’s passing is not in vain. We express our gratitude for the increased opportunities to raise awarness and educate bicyclists and drivers alike through various media outlets, listed here and will continue to work towards improved safety conditions for all road users.
In November 2014, Bike Maryland hosted our first legislative planning meeting with leaders and advocates from nearly every county in the state to set achievable goals for the 2015 Legislative Session, which begins January 14th. As we shift gears into this new year, our organization will determine which pro-bicycle action items we can accomplish in partnership local officials, government leaders and with transportation authorities, including the Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Administration and State Highway Association. Stay tuned and mark your calendar for the Annual Bicycle Symposium in Annapolis on March 17th. This event is free to the public and will include an opportunity to meet with legislators to discuss local issues.
Now more than ever we need to and we pledge to raise the collective voice of bicyclists, in Maryland and everywhere
This month we launch our membership drive! You may have set a New Year's resolution and here at Bike Maryland, we hope included in your personal mission for 2015 is a commitment to be a better cyclist; meaning, we want you to ride more, we want you to practice safe techniques, and we want you to unite with us and the thousands of other Maryland cyclists who strive for improved conditions and increased recognition.
Strength in numbers. We need your support and alliance with our mission.
Please join us as a member and enjoy exclusive member benefits such as the Bike Maryland MVA Organizational License Plate, pictured above.
MD 175 by Fort Meade is being widened in phases and just received new funding to advance to the next stage for one section of MD 175. Public comments are being accepted on the project through January 14th and will be passed directly to the design team. The more people that demand separated or protected bike lanes, the better the chances are that they will be built.
The current project will make MD 175 a 6 lane road (3 lanes in each direction) with striped bike lanes on the sides of the road, no barriers or separation. This design is up to SHA standards, but we need to tell SHA that more is needed.
Please spread the word and email comments to comments@baltometro.org, refer to the MD 175 widening, the phase from Reece Road to Disney Road, and insist that they separate or protect the bike lanes!
Visit the SHA project page here.
Harford County Advocacy Meeting
Who & What: Meeting for Harford County bicycle advocacy to discuss road connection, trail project priorities, and the 2015 legislative session.
When: Thursday, January 15 from 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Where: Duclaw, 16 A Bel Air South Parkway, Bel Air, MD
RSVP not necessary.
Baltimore Youth Cycling Group
Baltimore Youth Cycling (BYC) is a new group forming to give youth 8-16 the opportunity to get a taste of bicycling as an organized team sport. Supported by local bicycle shops and clubs, structured practices led by dedicated coaches will bring a new sense of camaraderie to our children as they learn bike skills, life lessons, and community action. BYC is based on a model used with massive success by other communities to re-imagine the cycling culture of their city.
On Sunday, January 18th BYC will be holding a community meeting for interested parents and kids and will be electing their new board at De Kleine Duivel starting at 5 pm. Pizza will be provided by a club partner and drinks available for purchase.
More information, click here to visit the groups Facebook page or the website here.
Mark your calendars and join us!! Details forthcoming:
Cold weather bike rides can be fun, even merry and bright! Let our Bike Minded Safety Program Coordinators show you tips and techniques at a FREE workshop that will remind you cycling is an easy way to get around town for work, errands and play. Experienced bike commuters will offer insight to help you enjoy your bike year round. Meet other commuters and stay for a social bike ride after the workshop!
Everyday Cycling Made Easy Adult Workshop
Saturday, December 13, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM at the Cold Community Cottage at 4800 Tamarind Rd, Baltimore, MD
FREE, Open to the Public
Register here
Now available, the Bike Maryland 2014 Annual Report is a summary of the accomplishments that resulted from our advocacy and education initiatives. The annual report is intended to give Maryland bicyclists and other interested people information about the organizations activities over the past year. Please review it! The annual report will be accessible on the Bike Maryland website on the Achievements page under the About section. In January 2015 a finacial report will be added to this page and will disclose our 2014 financial performance.
To become a Bike Maryland stakeholder and receive a hard copy of the 2014 Annual Report, please join us as a member here.
Keeping with the theme of focusing our efforts and operating transperantly, Bike Maryland has released the recently developed 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. Created in partnership with local bicycling advocates from across the state, this living document is also now available on our website under the About section. The Strategic Plan identifies our core initiatives and lays our measurable goals and actions, which will help fulfill our mission.
Please consider Bike Maryland as you prepare for your end of the year giving. Between now and December 31st every individual contribution up to $5,000 will be matched by Race Pace Bicycles during our 2014 End of The Year Charitable Matching Campaign. That means your 100% tax-deductible gift will travel twice as far and help us pedal twice as hard to achieve our mission to improve bicycling conditions across the state! Please consider Bike Maryland as you plan for your end of the year giving and click HERE to donate.
Thank you to Race Pace Bicycles for their dynamic role in helping Maryland become a GREAT place to ride!
Sure, winter may be around the corner but there are plenty of great riding days to be enjoyed in 2014! When your friends from Bike Maryland are not out on the roads or the trails, we are here at the office working to raise awareness, raise funds and raise the collective voice of cyclists across the state. Here is a recap of what we have been up to, events you can participate in and a great opportunity for you to invest in your right to bike.
As part of our mission to promote multi-surface bicycling for recreation and transportation, Bike Maryland has been traveling to counties far and wide to support local cycling initiatives. The proactive workshop tour was launched in early August and has successfully gathered and educated experienced and budding advocates in Cumberland, Anne Arundel and Salisbury, Harford, Hagerstown, Emmitsburg, Berlin and Ocean Pines and before the end of the year we will also meet to collaborate (and ride, of course) in Williamsport, Brunswick, Frederick County and Garrett County! If your town, company or university is interested in learning how to become more bike-friendly, please email Emily Ranson, Bike Maryland's Advocacy Coordinator.
Fueled by the positive momentum at the Hood College Bike Friendly University workshop last winter, the Bike Maryland Bike Friendly program hosted an inaugural University Summit in partnership with University of Maryland which gathered sustainability directors, facilities planners and bike advocates from 15 Maryland colleges and universities on October 14th.
The discussion continued and was pushed into high gear on November 8th at the Bike Maryland Legislative Planning Session, where local bicycling advocacy leaders from counties across Maryland came together with highly motivated tactics and agenda items for the upcoming 2015 Legislative Session. The contributions and take-aways from this session were referenced while finalizing the Bike Maryland's strategic plan.
The positive strides in advocacy coincided as the Bike Maryland Bike MINDED Safety Program wrapped up it's 2014 fiscal year on October 31st, meeting the goal of educating 15,000 adults and children at over 200 educational workshops, tabling events and rides in counties surrounding in the Baltimore metropolitan area over the course of 12 months. We happily report that the Maryland Highway Safety Office program grant was renewed and workshops for the coming year are now being planned! To learn more about the youth and adult workshops, visit here.
We encourage you to become a part of the conversation and to express your bicycling desires, concerns or questions! Bike Maryland strives to be the leading resource for bicycling in the state and we want to help connect you with opportunities to ride, engage and belong.
Read our blog. Follow us on Facebook/Twitter. Get the newsletter. Join us.
December 2- City of Frederick: Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee: An open meeting to help build recommendations for improved bicycling
December 3- Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee Meeting: An open meeting to help build recommendations for improved bicycling
December 7 - Trail Build Patapsco Fun Series: Bring your favorite tool and expect to get dirty and this truly fun gathering of trailheads! Please RSVP
December 12 - Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee Meeting: all meetings are held at MDOT and are free and open to the public.
December 13 - Bike Maryland Bike MINDED Adult Commuter Safety Workshop: a free workshop and ride to learn techniques and meet like-minded folks!
December 15 - Bike the Lights: a festive holiday experience on two wheels benefiting Howard County General Hospital for all ages and experience levels!
December 26 - Baltimore Bike Party: a themed mass monthly ride starting out of St. Mary's Park in Baltimore City for all ages, backgrounds and abilities!
We are thrilled to announce that December 2nd, Giving Tuesday marks the launch of Bike Maryland's 2014 End of The Year Charitable Matching Campaign! Thanks to a generous contribution from Race Pace Bicycles every donation between now and December 31st will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000! That means your gift will travel twice as far and help us pedal twice as hard to achieve our mission to improve bicycling conditions across the state! Please consider Bike Maryland as you plan for your end of the year giving and click HERE to donate.
Thank you to Race Pace Bicycles for their continued support of Bike Maryland and bicyclists across the state. We are grateful of your partnership!
Looking Forward to the Next Newsletter
Keep your eyes open for our next newsletter, which will feature:
Early bird registration has been extended! |
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photo credit: smilygrl/Alliance for Biking and Walking
Due to a schedule conflict with Baltimore City Rec and Parks, the date for Tour du Port has moved one week later to September 28, 2014. We apologize for the inconvenience and have extended early-bird prices until September 1st! We'll use the extra week to serve up an extra special ride! Stay tuned for exciting new ride features and updates in the weeks to come.
Sign up today: 2014 Tour du Port Info Registration
Here's a preview of what you can expect on the 50 mile Raven Challenge route:
Registration is open now! Joint registration with Tour du Port is available for $60. Hurry early bird registration ends September 1st!
As a life long bicyclist and Marylander, Nate knows the current cycling conditions of the state and the challenges we face to make our home more bike-friendly.
Nate got his start biking at a young age when he discovered the freedom and fun of biking in suburban Baltimore. Unlike his classmates who were buying cars, Nate bought a Trek bicycle which he still owns to this day. After college, he worked as a consulting civil engineer to the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) before joining Baltimore’s Department of Transportation as the city’s first full time bicycle and pedestrian planner. Today, Nate is excited to continue working with advocates across Maryland in his new capacity as executive director. With his knowledge of bicycle planning, engineering and funding, Nate hopes to empower advocates with the tools they need to make their Maryland communities more bikeable.
Read more about Nate's accomplishments here and stay tuned to hear about Bike Maryland's strategic plan and vision for improving bicycling state-wide.
On Thursday April 10, 2014, members of Maryland Bicylcle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (MBPAC) had a very productive meeting with Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) personnel regarding carrying full-size (non-folding) bikes on Maryland Area Regional Commuter (MARC trains. Representing MTA were Erich Kolig, John Hovatter, and Patrick McMahon. Representing MBPAC was Michael Jackson, Greg Hinchliffe, Jim Titus and Carol Silldorff, committee member and Bike Maryland Executive Director. Also in attendance was Champe Burnley of the Virginia Bicycle Federation, who is conducting similar negotiations with Virginia Railway Express commuter rail and Amtrak.
MBPAC passed a resolution asking MARC to consider allowing non–folding bikes on its new weekend service trains, with the idea that the new service would be lightly patronized. MARC was expecting approximately 2000 weekend users; they have had as many as 9000! Nonetheless, the weekend ridership is lower than weekday, making the weekend trains the logical choice to experiment with bike carriage.
MTA has put quite a bit of thought and effort into incorporating space for full bicycles on the MARC. MBPAC members are satisfied that MTA is working on a solution, and hopeful that progress can be reported soon. Additionally, we thank MTA for there interest in partnering with advocates to participate in later stages of this project’s development!
(Photo credit: Bloomburg News)
This is a terrific volunteer position where you will promote bike safety in Baltimore or other areas throughout Maryland!