TheWashCycle

Support HB 143

See Baltimore Spokes.

HB 143 is the Safe passing of cyclists and right of way in a bike lane bill. (Ref: http://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=20080123152825335 )

The hearing is 2/5 1:00 if you want to come and testify in person.

A personal story of unsafe passing would be helpful. And if you have the time use the comment button to post your story or your thoughts about this bill.

Facts: Collision type: The motorist made a right turn and struck the cyclist (4.7% of which 11% were serious or fatal). ... at least 60% of the time, the motorist turned in front of the cyclist ... Bike lanes were involved 8% of the time.
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/traffic/accident.htm

The Most Common Cause of Cycling Fatalities
#3. The motorist was overtaking the bicyclist, cause of the accident unclear.
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/health/risks.htm

To find your congressional district: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/

One Less Car is looking for real life stories that the MD safe passing bill would help with.

2008 WABA Gala and Auction

This years Gala and Auction will take place at the German Embassy in Washington, DC. on April 12th.

I went last year and I wished I'd needed more stuff.

Bicycle Policy Modernization Amendment Act of 2007

This act had a public hearing before the Public works and the environment committee last Friday at 10 am.

"Bicycle Policy Modernization Amendment Act of 2007". To amend the District of Columbia Comprehensive Bicycle Transportation and Safety Act of 1984 to provide for a smaller Bicycle Advisory Council with government representatives drawn from agencies more relevant to the Bicycle Advisory Council's mission and appointed by the agency directors, and to reflect the transfer of the Office of Bicycle Transportation and Safety from the Department of Public Works to the Department of Transportation. Councilmembers Graham and Wells, to the Committee on Public Works and the Environment.

Potomac Heritage Trail Opposition

A group of homeowners have formed an opposition group to the Potomac Heritage Trail.

Nancy Vyas, vice president of the Waterside Homeowners Association, was named chairwoman of the group’s steering committee. The new group does not yet have an official name.

The group has two concerns. One is

protecting the 300-foot buffer under the county’s critical area regulations.

It rings hollow to complain about a trail along the waterfront while sitting on the porch of your home on the waterfront.

The other concern is the idea of a trail running through their backyard. Some homeowners claim to be surprised.

Anne Tompkins, Daryl Tompkins’ wife, said she and her husband were taken by surprise when they learned an easement existed on their property that led to the property being devalued by 18 percent by the title company.

18%? Wow where does the trail go, through the living room? The trail has been on the county's comprehensive plan since 1975 and an easement was established in 1987, so any surprise is do to a failure to perform due diligence (or fraud on the part of the seller), but isn't grounds for stopping the trail.

‘‘It is unfortunate that they are trying to block the trail, especially since they knew, or certainly should have known, about the trail easements and plans for the trail when they bought the properties,” Jim Hudnall, a former president of the Riverbend Estates Homeowners Association and a spokesman for the Oxon Hill Bicycle and Trail Club said.

People traveling by foot or bicycle on the Potomac Heritage Trail can enjoy Prince George’s County’s wealth of destinations on the Potomac River, Hudnall said. He lists Oxon Hill Farm, Oxon Hill Manor, National Harbor, Fort Foote National Park, the Broad Creek Historic District, Harmony Hall, Tent Landing, Fort Washington National Park, Piscataway National Park and the National Colonial Farm as some of the more popular sites connected by the planned trail.

Inhumanity

Not sure what else to say...

A judge sentenced a woman to nearly the maximum prison term for negligent homicide after hearing a recorded jail conversation in which she made light of the bicyclist she killed.

During the conversation, the man told Arrington that an acquaintance believed she should get a medal and a parade because she had "taken out" a "tree hugger, a bicyclist, a Frenchman and a gay guy all in one shot."

Arrington laughed. When the man said he knew it was a terrible thing to say, she responded, "No, it's not."

Presidential Bike Policy 2008

FABB recently had a post comparing the 2008 candidates' energy policy with an eye on bicycling. As did BikePortland. They both came to the same conclusion:

From what we can tell, the Barack Obama campaign is the only one that mentions bicycling in their energy plan.

From L.A.'s Street Heat

“As president…Obama will build upon his efforts in the Senate to ensure that more Metropolitan Planning Organizations create policies to incentivize greater bicycle and pedestrian usage of roads and sidewalks, and he will also re-commit federal resources to public mass transportation projects across the country. Building more livable and sustainable communities will not only reduce the amount of time individuals spent commuting, but will also have significant benefits to air quality, public health and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

And Obama claims to support the Bike Commuter Benefits Act, but he's not a cosponsor (Update: As pointed out in the comments, it turns out he is - of the Senate version. You can't trust anything you read on the internets. Stupid tubes.) Kucinich is of the House version. (Update: So is Ron Paul)

Huckabee leads the Republican's by mentioning mentions he rides his bike to the grocery store.

Clinton and Edwards both state the goal of reducing vehicle miles, and Edwards rode in RAGBRAI.

D.C., Maryland and Virginia all hold their presidential primaries on Feb 12th, by which time it could all be over.

Bicycle-friendly rumble strips planned for Route 1 on Eastern Shore

I'm not sure I understand this, or what makes them bicycle friendly

State transportation officials are planning to install bicycle-friendly rumble strips along Route 1 between Maryland and Dewey Beach .

According to plans scheduled to be formally announced Friday, the strips are to be placed between car lanes and pedestrian lanes.

Officials say the strips are less-intrusive for cyclists than other strips but will help protect pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Between 2004 and 2006, nearly 60 accidents along the highway involved cars that ran off the road. Cyclists were hit in nine of those crashes.

National Mall Plan: Last Chance to Comment

From WABA

The National Park Service is currently seeking comments on proposed alternatives for the future of the National Mall.  Input from local cyclists will be critical in ensuring the National Mall of the future will be one that is more bike and pedestrian friendly.  You may recall that the NPS recently conducted a transportation study for the National Mall that essentially ignored the needs of cyclists.  The latest plan is another opportunity for significant improvements to be made to the walking and biking environment of "America's Front Yard".                               

As part of the Environmental Impact Study, the NPS has proposed three alternatives that can be combined in a variety of ways.  WABA feels that Alternative C, which focuses on open spaces, ecology and recreation, offers the best improvements for cyclists and pedestrians. Among the recommendations of Alternative C are:

1) Creating separated routes for cyclists and pedestrians
                               
2) Upgrading the surfaces of the existing paths along the Mall
                               
3) Improving wayfinding signage for bikes and peds
                               
4) Focusing on improving connections between the Mall and Rock Creek and East Potomac Parks, as well as the southwest waterfront
                               
5) Providing more walking and biking tours and bike rental opportunities                              

Many of the above recommendations were supported by WABA during the previous Mall transportation study.

In addition to the above, WABA is recommending the following additions to the plan:                                

1) Add more bike parking to Mall destinations
                               
2) Stripe bike lanes on Madison and Jefferson Drives, which front many of the museums on the Mall

3) Mandate valet bike parking at all major Mall events to help promote non-motorized transportation
                               
4) Install bike lanes on Pennsylvania Ave.  As it is currently configured, Pennsylvania Avenue is much too wide for existing traffic volumes.  A reduced width would make the Pennsylvania Avenue corridor more conducive to bicycle traffic and improve the overall pedestrian experience.                              

To see the alternatives and to provide your comments on how you would like the National Mall to look, please go to:                               

Alternatives: http://www.nps.gov/nationalmallplan/Newsletters.html#news3

Your comments can be logged at http://www.nps.gov/nationalmallplan/Public%20Comment.html

The point of 'bike paths'

A recent letter to the post informs us that cyclists do not belong on the road.

Why was his group of bicyclists riding on the road and not on the bike path? A bike path is aptly named "bike path" because that is where bicyclists should ride. A group of cyclists riding on the road is a danger to drivers and to themselves. Cars have to swerve into the other lane to avoid cyclists and risk getting hit head-on by other cars.

Yes, swerving into head on traffic is the only sensible option left when a driver finds themselves trapped behind a cyclist. Someone should tell the Sheriff's Office about the aptness of the name "bike path."

blocking the Four Mile Run bike trail this morning at approximately 9:20 a.m. was a brown Sheriff’s Office van, within which a deputy or deputies were “supervising” three poor wretches in orange cleaning up in sub-freezing temps.

The first letter was a response to this one. It was followed by this one, written by someone who's obviously brilliant and devastatingly good-looking.

Melissa Schultz showed in her Jan. 21 letter how difficult it is to be a cyclist.

She claimed that a "bike path is aptly named 'bike path' because that is where bicyclists should ride." But the name is not apt at all. Most "bike paths" are filled with dog walkers, joggers, roller bladers and runners.

These are fine places for a leisurely ride. They are not suitable for a large group of adults on a training ride. Does Ms. Schultz really want a peloton of cyclists racing down a narrow path at 25 mph while she and her children bike to Mount Vernon? Cyclists riding in large groups and at high speeds are safer on the road.

Ms. Schultz contended that because of cyclists, "Cars have to swerve into the other lane . . . and risk getting hit head-on by other cars." But cars do not have to "swerve" into the other lane; they need only slow down and wait patiently for a safe opportunity to pass. Or they may not need to pass at all.

Cyclists are often told that if they obey the law, they'll get respect.

I can see why some doubt that.

If not for the 200 word limit the author might have added that it's a stated goal of every political entity in the area to increase the use of bikes for transportation, and that the network of trails is - and will always be - inadequate to achieve that goal. Furthermore, bike trails are not maintained to as high a stadards as roads are. The MacArthur Avenue trail still has long sections covered in ice and snow - though we haven't had snow for several days. There are many trails with cracked and dangerous surfaces as well as debris and glass. Riding in the road is not only safe, but often necessary.

Others have pointed out that the proper name is actually a multi-use path.

Another letter followed that one, asking why we can't just share the road.

e-lockers

This is a pretty cool program at Metro's sister system the BART

Members of the Bay Area Rapid Transit   district's board of directors voted Jan. 24 to approve the use of "e-lockers" that instead of being opened with keys by a passenger who wants to store his or her bicycle before boarding a train, are opened with a card read by a computerized reader embedded in the locker.

Officials of Oakland-based BART say the card-entry lockers can be used by up to five cyclists a week instead of a single biker renting a storage unit for a much-longer period of time, as is the current practice.

"The new e-lockers should make it easier for people to bike to BART," Gail Murray, president of the BART board of directors, said in a statement. "It's another step BART is taking to encourage commuters to kick the car habit."

Stuff like this is one reason why cycling is growing so quickly in San Francisco (or, I admit, it could be the other way around).

The number of San Francisco bike riders rose by 15 percent from 2006 to 2007, according to a report by The City’s bicycle program.

In the study, which will be presented today at the Bicycle Advisory Committee, observers from the Municipal Transportation Agency’s Bicycle Program counted 6,454 cyclists on the streets during sample days in August 2007, which is 800 more than noted in 2006, the first year of the bicycle counting program.