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Find
Your Elected Officials
The League of American Bicyclists has a way to get a list
of your elected state and national officials with their contact information by
typing in your zip code.
Visit: Bike Advocacy
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Advocacy
The
Baltimore Bicycling Club also supports bicycling as a means of transportation.
If you look at our Links page, you will notice a number of advocacy
organizations with which we have aligned our efforts. This page is devoted to
specific endeavors these organizations promote.
National Bike Month
--Senator Ben Cardin and Mayor Sheila Dixon in the National Bike Month
Celebration Highlights:
Senator Ben Cardin has been instrumental in helping
to get funding for cycling in the city.
Mayor Sheila Dixon has been extremely
supportive of cycling in the city and has been hiring some amazing
talent.
And it seems to becoming more common to find some City employees
(that have some direct or indirect influence on Baltimore's bike friendliness)
biking to work, around where they live or out on the Mayor's weekly
rides.
Senator Ben Cardin mentioned that Baltimore Bicycling Club's Bob
Moore as instrumental in getting him turned on to cycling. [Thanks
Bob!!!]
Mayor Sheila Dixon mentioned the hard work and dedication of Beth
Strommen (Planing) and Gerald Kennedy ((I hope I have his name right) Planing
engineer) that was critical in making this trail possible.
REI (Timonium)
has donated (lots) of new "comfort" bikes to the Jones Fall Trail, as well as
the "Bike" bike racks. [Thanks REI!!! This is really going to help get more
people out bicycling.]
Jones Falls Trail Manager Anne Draddy when she is
not leading a Bike and Brunch ride or a Wednesday ride has been coauthoring
Druid Hill Park: The Heart of Historic Baltimore.
Baltimore Sun Coverage
'It's like the country in the city'
The Bike ride: Senator Ben Cardin, Mayor
Sheila Dixon and anyone else in attendance that wanted to ride the new section
of the Jones Falls Trail and the loop back on low traffic city streets (~5 mile
ride) took off and had some fun.
Baltimore Spokes article and link to
pictures: http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20080504183206495
Cyclists can help Save
the Bay You can be part of the solution. Join Chesapeake Bay Foundation's CYCLIST
FOR THE BAY program and help protect this national treasure. Read More
Mr. Blumenauer Goes To
Washington Some members of Congress come to Washington and get in the fast lane. The
59-year-old Mr. Blumenauer came to Washington and got in the bike lane. Few
members of Congress care more than he does about cranks and sprockets. Read More
What Is Community Pace
Car? To
learn more about how you can participate click this: Community Pace Car sponsored by One Less Car.
Mayor Sheila Dixon's Newsletter
The Dixon
Report: Issue #16, The Baltimore City Mayor's E-Mail Newsletter
Dear
Citizens,
Too often in life, the best solution to an ongoing problem is
not a cure, but prevention. Heart and lung diseases are as preventable as
they are terrible. I believe it is the responsibility of government to
provide outlets to citizens who want to live healthier lives. This week, I
had the pleasure to be involved in events that are helping to make Baltimore
healthier.
All week long, Baltimore has joined cities around the country
in celebration of National Bike week to promote a fit, environmentally friendly
community. On Monday, I rode from City Hall to Fort McHenry with my
cabinet to kick-off the week's activities.
I also announce that I have
opened up the Inner Harbor Promenade for cyclists for the first time. The
promenade is now opened to cyclists Monday to Saturday from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00
a.m., and Sundays from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00a.m.
Bike to Work Week is
important to the health of our city. Biking improves personal
fitness. In fact, a 30-minute bike commute meets the Surgeon General's
recommended minimum for exercise and burns around 250 calories, whereas sitting
in your car for 20 minutes burns only 25. Biking to work also reduces
traffic congestion and air pollution. During the summer months, we hear of
Code Orange and Code Red Action Days when ground level ozone makes the air
dangerous to breath. Single occupancy vehicles contribute 20% of the
pollutants that cause ground level ozone.
Your health, and the health of
your friends and family, is important. I am committed to providing
preventive measures for individuals determined to live a long and prosperous
life. For more information about how to be healthier, visit the Baltimore
City Health Department http://www.baltimorehealth.org/.
As always, I am
interested in what you think about our plan to make our city a dynamic place to
LIVE, EARN, PLAY and LEARN. Please email me at: Mayor@baltimorecity.gov
with your comments or suggestions.
Sincerely,
Sheila
Dixon
Mayor
Baltimore
The End of Session Legislative Report
Our
legislative session comes to an end and with sadness we bid farewell to another
cyclist safety bill that was once again opposed by Maryland Highway Safety
Office. This year MHSO really had to go out of their way by referencing a
fictitious intersection design. So apparently cyclists safety needs are second
place over the need to allow the state to install unsafe intersection
designs. There are reasons why Maryland is in the top ten worst states in
terms of the percentage of traffic fatalities that involve cyclists and
pedestrians and this has to change and I strongly encourage MHSO to start taking
a proactive approach to improving this situation rather then year after year
opposing legislation that tries to improve cyclist safety. I also encourage the
state to try and involve cyclists and other key stakeholders rather then
shutting us out and opposing anything we tray to do. And most importantly fund
projects and programs where there is the greatest need. We should have fair
claim to 17% of the transportation budget for our safety, as that is our share
of fatalities (currently my guess we get less then 1% of the budget.) 17% is our
share of fatalities in which kids are over represented, mostly on 25mph roads;
this should not be allowed to be the status quo! The excuse that not many bike
or walk (because we are killing and scaring them off) is not a valid excuse for
the lack of state involvement. For more detail visit: Baltimore Spokes.
The Bicycle Commuter Act
"The Bicycle
Commuter Act would extend the transportation fringe benefit, currently
available to transit users and car drivers, to bicycle commuters.
The legislation would provide a tax benefit to employers who offer
cash reimbursements to an employee who commutes by bicycle, while helping
defray the costs of commuting for the bicyclist. Congress should amend the
tax code to allow this benefit."
To let your voice be heard visit:
The League of American Bicyclist
Your Support Is Needed for a New Trail - Update
Greetings: thanks for your support for this excellent project. We are beginning to see the fruit. Councilman Vincent Gardina has written a resolution to be discussed with the rest of the Council within a working session at 2 PM, May 1st in Room 205 of the old Courhouse (see attached). Please try to make it to this session to voice your support. They provide an opportunity to sign up before hand to do so.
We need to encourage Councilman McIntire to co-sponsor this resolution with Councilman Gardina. At this point, he is not at a good comfort level to support it (not sure why) and needs to hear from more constituents. As you may know, it is Councilman McIntire's District that this trail study will occur within. His email address is bbcdistrict3@comcast.net. His phone number is 410-887-3384.
Hope to see you on the 1st.
Terry Maxwell
Cromwell Valley Community Association
410-296-0508
Your Support Is Needed for a New Trail
A study for a bike/pedestrian trail is being proposed by Baltimore County Planning along Cromwell Bridge Road/Minebank Run that would provide a non-motorized link between Towson neighborhoods and the major recreational destinations to the North. This concept is part of the Eastern Baltimore County Bike/Ped plan. This study would be the next step now that the concept has been proposed within the plan.
The first phase of the trail would go from Loch Raven High School to Loch Raven Drive, second phase Loch Raven Drive to Glen Arm and third phase Glen Arm to Gundpowder Falls. The BBC uses Loch Raven High School for ride starts and has pretty much abandoned riding on Cromwell Bridge Road because of the traffic on the narrow twisty road. So, a bike trail would make a nice option to get to Loch Raven Drive. The Baltimore Bicycling Club Executive Board voted to support this project.
Please write your councilman urging him to support this project. The most important councilmen to contact are from the 3rd and 5th district as the proposed trail goes through their district. The addresses of these councilmen are:
5th district
Vincent Gardina
400 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
3rd district
T. Bryan McIntire
400 Washington Ave.
Towson, MD 21204
It is most effective to write to own councilman, so if you live in another district in Baltimore County. Please write to your councilman and also send a letter to one of the above. If you live outside of Baltimore County, write to one of the above. Here is a sample letter that you can use to develop your letter.
Bob Carson
BBC President
Mr. John Overstreet Honored
Some of you
may know Mr. John Overstreet from his years as a member of the Baltimore Bicycle
Club (BBC). John has provided bicycle education to kids around Maryland
for some time. One thing some may not know is that John was instrumental
in the development of the B&A and BWI trails.
Due to his continued
support for bicycling and consistent persistent, etc support of the Rail Trail
system, MDOT proposed the naming of a portion of previously unnamed trail after
John. So now, the portion of trail that connects the B&A trail to the
BWI trail is now called the John Overstreet Connector. Its fitting that
its a connector as John has "connected" many people to biking.
John now
lives with his son and has all but retired from the biking scene. If
anyone wants to get in touch with him let me know and I can contact him through
his son.
If anyone has questions about bicycle or pedestrian issues in
Maryland let me know. I'm the Anne Arundel County citizen member of the
Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee. If I don't have the
answer, I'll find it or take the issue to the committee for
resolution.
Regards,
Ben Winstead
The Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks And The Maryland
Department of Transportation unveiled the trail signs for the John Overstreet
Connector on November 3, 2006. To read about the event go to the Baltimore Sun.
Baltimore's Bicycle Paramedic Team
Riggs,
Counselman, Michaels & Downes has granted $30,000 to the Baltimore Fire
Department's Bicycle Paramedic Team, which provides emergency response when
event traffic and crowds grind traditional response to a halt. Read more
on this innovative program here.
Sometimes, All You Have To Do Is Ask!!
A member
recently posted this on BBC Talk:
I requested that MD Route 165 from
Jarrettsville to Whiteford be marked as a bike route. This is the reply I
recieved:
Dear Mr. Eisinger,
We appreciate the opportunity to
respond to your request to have MD 165 between Jarrettsville and Whiteford
signed as a bike route.
We are happy to inform you that we have directed
our maintenance shop to fabricate and install the bike route signs. The
process of ordering, fabricating, scheduling and installation takes
approximately 90 to 120 days. Therefore, our estimated completion date is
fall of 2006.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact
me at 410-321-2864 or sshoul@sha.state.md.us.
Sincerely,
Suzanne
T. Shoul
Transportation Engineer Technician
SHA District 4 Traffic
Section
Work - 410-321-2864
Fax - 410-321-2798
UPDATE
10/26/06:
We are happy to inform you that the signs have been
fabricated and approved for installation, our estimated completion date for sign
installation is mid November.
Should you have any further questions or
need additional information regarding this matter, please feel free to contact
me. I may be reached at 410-321-2792 or by email at
dhines@sha.state.md.us
Sincerely,
Dianna Hines
SHA Transportation
Engineer for Harford County
HC 1175FU
Baltimore Regional Transportation Board
Would you
bike or walk around town if it were safer and more convenient? Are your
children able to safely bike or walk to school? Do you wish there were
more trails where you could bike or walk? Well, here's an opportunity to
create more bicycle and pedestrian friendly communities. The Baltimore
Regional Transportation Board has begun work on a bicycle, pedestrian, and
greenways plan for the area, and would like your help. For more
information, contact Katherine Shriver at the Baltimore Metropolitan Council,
410-732-0500 ext. 1048, or kshriver@baltometro.org.
Visit our project web
site.
UPDATE: The draft plan can be viewed at the web site,
at planning offices of the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board's member
jurisdictions (City of Annapolis, Baltimore City, and Anne Arundel, Baltimore,
Carroll, Harford and Howard counties), and at many area libraries.
Additional details are provided in the legal notice, which can be viewed at http://www.baltometro.org.
Click on "What's New" and you will find a link to the notice.
Support the NCR
BBC members are invited to take part in a volunteers' bicycle patrol on the Northern Central Railroad Trail. The volunteer patrol will be an official presence to users of the trail and will assist the Park Rangers with non-enforcement duties. These include providing information to the public about park facilities, and rules and regulations; work with the Park Rangers in identifying, evaluating and correcting maintenance problems along the trail; and completing certain administrative functions. A brief training program will be given.
Volunteers for the bike patrol must be in good physical condition and have adequate and safe bike riding skills. They should enjoy interacting with the public and be role models for good biking habits. They should be available to patrol the trail at least one time a month during the season, or a minimum monthly total of eight hours. If this sounds like something in which you would be interested, please contact Lee Fleishman, who will coordinate with the Park Rangers during the formative stages of this program. Lee can be reached by email, or by phone at 410.329.3208. Please leave your name and postal address so that additional information and an application can be mailed to you.
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