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Dump your car, get a tax break and help One Less Car

[Just to note on average ~25 cars a day are donated, this can really be helpful to On e Less Car.]

One Less Car, Inc

A free, convenient service for converting that extra car, truck, or RV into a tax deductible donation benefiting One Less Car, Inc. You can donate online or call 877-999-8322 to make your donation.

Don't donate your car or truck to some charity you have never heard of. Our trusted service makes sure your vehicle is properly handled so you get your tax deduction and your charity, One Less Car, Inc, gets the benefit of your donation.

Start now by clicking on "Donate Now" below. If you are not ready to donate, find out about donating your vehicle by browsing all the valuable information and links on our site.

Donate Now Online!

Or call 1-877-999-8322

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OLC volunteer projects

Hello Friends,

I'm looking for volunteers to help staff the One Less Car exhibit table at a number of different Earth Day/Bicycle related events. Please let me know if you are interested in volunteering. Even a few hours would be very helpful!

* 4-9-09 this Thursday Johns Hopkins Earth Day Celebration 3:30 - 7pm
* 4-18-09 Saturday - Baltimore Green Week at Druid Hill Park 9am-5pm
* 4-25-09 Saturday - Baltimore Bike Blast at Druid Hill Park 9am-3pm

Thank you,
Carol

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HB 1197 (removal of manitory shoulder use and righ of way in crosswalks)

The Legislative Priorities Update developed for the Bicycle Symposium did not include information on HB 1197 due to the late nature of the filing. I submitted testimony for One Less Car, the Baltimore Bicycle Club and 1000 Friends of Maryland.

Some good news, Senator Raskin called me earlier tonight to inform me that SB 428, the three-foot bicycle safety rule, came out of Judicial Proceedings favorably with all but one Senator voting in favor of the bill! Thank you Eric, Jim H. and Greg for joining with me to testify on the bill.

Carol Silldorff, M.P.A.
Executive Director
One Less Car

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3-foot rule research

Hello Fellow Bike Advocates:

The hearing for both the Senate (SB428) and House bill (HB496) on the 3 foot rule is this Thursday at 1 pm. I've asked that the meetings be staggered. Your attendance is helpful. Amendments have just been submitted in regard to these bills - see below.

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The hearing for the 3-foot bicycle bill

The hearing for the 3-foot bicycle bill - Senate Bill 428 <a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0428.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0428.htm</a>; is scheduled for next Thursday, Feb 19th at 1pm - 2nd floor of the Miller Building. It will be beneficial if you could attend and help to spread the word - having a large audience could be beneficial!

Thank you,
Carol

Carol Silldorff, M.P.A.
Executive Director
One Less Car
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Symposium Thank You

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The 12th Annual Maryland Bicycle Symposium


The 12th Annual Bike Symposium in Annapolis on February 4th was a huge success!  Although the weather caused school closings in many counties approximately 400 to 500 people attended.  Additionally, there were twenty exhibitors displaying projects and engaging the audience.   The high attendance indicates that people care deeply about promoting bicycling as a means of alternative transportation.  As our population grows it is critical that a safe infrastructure, along with laws protecting bicyclists, are intact.

John Porcari, Maryland Secretary of Transportation, gave an upbeat report on MDOT’s work on Bike Projects in Maryland and Delegate Jon Cardin Chair of the Legislative Bike Caucus gave an overview of the many Bike Bills being considered this session in Annapolis. Jim Swift, Chairman of the Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (MBPAC), gave a presentation on MBPAC. Presenters Charlie Denney of Alta Planning + Design, Stephanie Yanovitz of VHB, and Bill Schultheiss of Toole Design kept all the audience in their seats before lunch by educating the attendees on bicycle safety and answering questions.

Senator Jim Rosapepe presented Senator Brian Frosh with an outstanding Bike Accomplishment award from OLC and Jim and Jane Hudnall received a special OLC Award for all their many years of making these Symposia successful. Bill Kelly was presented a Senate Proclamation by Senator Rosapepe for his many years of Bike Service to the Maryland. The symposium takes place because of the many hours of volunteer service Bill and Jim dedicate to the coordination of the event.  The awards were followed by interesting and informative talks from Eric Gilliland of WABA, Sergeant Chris Davala of the Maryland State Police and the International Police Mountain Bike Association, and Caron Whitaker of America Bikes.

The symposium was taped by John Wetmore and the recording will be linked to the OLC website.  OLC’s new website will be up by month’s end with exciting opportunities for interacting with you through a blog, action alerts and more!

OLC is a non-profit organization that really needs your help during this tough period to continue to advocate and produce events like the Symposium that are free to the public.  To make a donation by check please make the check payable to OLC and mail to:  One Less Car, 1209 North Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202.  To donate via credit card visit  https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/onelesscar/donation.jsp.

Save the date of October 4th 2009 for this year’s Tour du Port - Baltimore’s Premier Bicycling Event!  There will be rides from 14 to 40 miles and we are working to develop a 63-mile metric century as well.  All proceeds go to OLC to promote bicycle use and safety.  On the day after Tour Du Port, (Monday Oct, 5, 2009) the Fall Bike Forum will take place at John Hopkins Applied Physics Lab in Laurel, MD from 6 to 9 p.m.

Thank you all!

Carol Silldorff, M.P.A.
Executive Director
One Less Car
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One less Car Legislative Priorities 2009

2009 Bills to SUPPORT:

House Bill 97 Criminal Law: Manslaughter by Vehicle
* This is a very important bill – the hearing took place last week before the Judiciary Committee. If you live in committee members district - ask your delegates to support this bill that:
* Makes it a misdemeanor for a person to cause the death of another as a result of the person's driving, operating, or controlling a vehicle or vessel in a criminally negligent manner.
* This bill will make our roads inherently safer for bicyclists and pedestrians by improving the standards of justice and encouraging safer driving by conveying the message that criminally negligent driving behavior is not tolerated.
* Closes the current loophole in Maryland’s law and holds people accountable for causing the death of another as a result of driving, while sober, negligently, taking substantial risk and deviating from the standard of care that would be exercised by a reasonable person.
* Increase the penalties and provides jail time for those who currently pay a $500 fine and do not serve any time in jail Not place the ordinary driver at risk for severe penalties
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0097.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0097.htm</a>;

Senate Bill 428 - Three Foot Bicycle Safety Bill
* This very important bill increases safety for bicyclist by requiring a driver of a vehicle to pass a bicyclist at a distance of 3 feet.
* Requires a driver to yield the right of way to a person who is riding a bicycle in a designated bicycle lane.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0428.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/SB0428.htm</a>;

Senate Bill 98 - No Text Messaging While Driving
* Prohibits a person from using a text messaging device to write, send, or read a text message while operating a motor vehicle.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0098.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0098.htm</a>;

Senate Bill 152 - Arrest for Leaving a Scene of an Accident Involving Injury
* Requires a police officer to arrest with or without a warrant a person who the police officer has probable cause to believe has committed a specified offense of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in bodily injury or death.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0152.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0152.htm</a>;

Senate Bill 15 - Funding for Bike-Ped Access to Schools
* Authorizes local governments to use specified highway user revenues for sidewalk construction; specifying State policy regarding sidewalks, footpaths, and bicycle trails.
* Requires regulations that give priority to and provide financial
assistance to county boards for public school construction or public school
capital improvements that incorporate sidewalks, footpaths, and bicycle
trails that facilitate and encourage usage by students as an alternative to
transport by school bus.
* Hearing took place on 1-28 before the Budget and Taxation Committee. If you live in districts of committee members ask your senators to support the bill.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0015.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0015.htm</a>\

Senate Bill 250 - SUPPORT SB 250 only with Amendment to Include Bicycles
* Authorizes the driver of a motorcycle at an intersection where traffic is controlled by a traffic control signal to proceed through a red signal under specified circumstances if a visible vehicle sensor operating the traffic control signal does not detect the presence of the motorcycle.
Amendments:
* Bicycles are less likely than motorcycles to be detected by sensors.
* Traffic lights are often set to skip a cycle if there is no vehicle waiting.
* A law-abiding cyclist now might have to wait through several cycles before a vehicle comes that is detected by the sensor.
* By waiting for a vehicle to come and trip the sensor, a cyclist is often put into a more dangerous situation due to conflicts with other traffic, especially turning traffic. This change in the law would allow a cyclist or motorcyclist who is not detected by a vehicle sensor to treat a red light like a flashing red light when the wait has been two minutes or one complete cycle of the light.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0250.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/sb0250.htm</a>;


2009 Bills to OPPOSE:

House Bill 187 Mandatory Helmet Law
* HB 187 would extend current law requiring helmets for cyclists under age 16 to cyclists and motor scooter drivers of all ages. It also defines a mo-ped as being a bicycle. It looks like someone wanted to make sure the bicycle helmet law includes mopeds and motor scooters, and while at it they removed the “under 16” so it would apply to everyone. If passed, this would make Maryland the first state with a statewide mandatory helmet law for adult cyclists.
* Instead of this bill, bicycle education opportunities and low cost or free helmets are needed.
* The bill does not have a provision stating, &quot;failure to wear a helmet may not be used as evidence of contributory negligence.&quot; Any helmet bill should have language similar to the &quot;contributory negligence&quot; clause in the seat belt law.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0187.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/hb0187.htm</a>;

House Bill 25 Scooter Road Restriction
* This bill prohibits motor scooters from roads where the posted speed limit is over 30 mph, which will reduce opportunities for people to travel by means other than automobile. Some people depend on motor scooters for basic transportation necessary to get to work, school and shopping.
* Current law prohibits bicycles and motor scooters from roads where the speed limit is over 50 mph.
* There is concern that changing the law to prohibit motor scooters where the posted speed limit is over 30 mph could lead to the same prohibition on bicycles.
If the intent of the bill is to reduce the reckless use of motor scooters, there are existing laws on reckless driving that could be better enforced.
<a href="http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0025.htm">http://mlis.state.md.us/2009rs/billfile/HB0025.htm</a>;

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Maryland Bicycle Symposium Schedule

For directions and a map to the symposium, see <a href="http://www.ohbike.org/symposium/directions.htm">http://www.ohbike.org/symposium/directions.htm</a>;.

Symposium Schedule (tentative):

7:30 am Exhibitor Setup

8:30 am Registration

9:00 am Welcome and Opening Remarks
Greg Cantori – President, One Less Car
Delegate Jon Cardin - Chairman, Maryland Legislative Bike Caucus
John Porcari - Maryland Secretary of Transportation

9:30 am The Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (MBPAC)
Jim Swift – Chairman, MBPAC

10:00 am Building Complete Streets
Charlie Denny – Senior Associate, ALTA Planning + Design
Stephanie Yanovitz – Maryland State Highway Administration
? – Toole Design

11:15 am Grand History Trail
Stephen Miller – Coordinator of Trail Development, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Kelly Pack – Manager of Trail Development, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Noon Free Lunch and 2009 Legislative Award

1:15 pm Enforcement: the Third Rail of Bicycling Advocacy
Eric Gilliland – Executive Director, Washington Area Bicycle Association
Chris Davala – International Police Mountain Bike Association

2:30 pm Bicycling as part of the Transportation Reauthorization Bill
Caron Whitaker – Campaign Manager, America Bikes

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HB 27 Transportation - Intercounty Connector - Elimination of Funding

[One Less Car supported bill]
Synopsis:

Requiring the Governor to include a specified appropriation to the Transportation Trust Fund under specified circumstances; prohibiting the Department of Transportation and the Maryland Transportation Authority from financing the Intercounty Connector; requiring the Authority to retire specified bonds secured by a pledge of future federal aid in a specified manner; repealing provisions of law concerning the financing of the Intercounty Connector; etc.

[Note by my understanding of the bill it does not eliminate all funding just the GARVEE bonds.]

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