Friday Afternoon Commute - Sign of Civilization

Is everyone excited about the new Nicole Kidman movie about tandem cycling?

• DCist digs into the BikeDC cancellation. "Bauman says he was stymied for months by Mayor Vince Gray's Special Events Task Group and the National Park Service. Bauman says he submitted his request to for a permit to the special events group last November, but did not get an appointment until January, and it wasn't until a few weeks after that when he was told to jump through more hoops involving the Metropolitan Police Department's special operations division, which handles security needs for events around the city....Bauman says he was told that Bike DC could not close certain segments of the Spout Run Parkway and U.S. Route 50 at the same time."
• Cafritz Property at Riverdale Park officially re-submitted their plan to develop the land that straddles the future PG County Trolley Trail. 
• "Three members of the Arlington County police force will participate in the annual “Rode to Hope” Law Enforcement United bicycle trek, which will run 250 miles from Chesapeake to the District of Columbia over a three-day period in May."
• This story about Taylor Phinney reminds me of the greatest Canadian Sports Film You've Never Heard Of a.k.a. "Running"
• WABA on the BSAA 2013 hearing.
• I guess I have to accept that the "SmartBike failed" interpretation of history is going to prevail, much like Jackson's concept of the "corrupt bargain" has. (My thoughts here)
• "Bike lanes and pedestrian activity is a sign of civilization."
• A photo essay on DC bicycling.
• Bike Maryland asks Maryland voters to support more transportation funding. 
• Sally Jenkins on Lance Armstrong "All I'm trying to say is, I think there is a level of outrage at Lance that is simply out of proportion to the offense, in my joking way. I've heard him compared to wife beaters and child molesters, and it's absurd."
• Below is a map of Maryland bike crashes from this presentation about bicycle and pedestrian safety in PG County. ("Data from Baltimore City contain records of crashes but not locations; accordingly, those crashes do not appear in the maps below" WC: Well then, that's something we should fix.) Some of the recommendations are: 
  • "In conjunction with M-NCPPC, SHA, and bicycle advocacy groups, develop a list of roads that are available immediately for restriping for bike lanes."
  • Create a Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Advisory Group within County government
  • MHSO and DPWT should share data on the locations of pedestrian and bicycle incidents
  • DPWT should work with PGPD to develop a “checklist” of engineering and situational deficiencies that officers use during their investigations of crash sites, which can then be shared with the Traffic Safety Division. DPWT should then eliminate the collision audit program and use the recommendation from PGPD to develop work orders for pedestrian and bicycle improvements

Comments

[ACyclistInTheSuburbs]

the first time I get on a CaBi bike I will dedicate the ride to John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay, okay?

[Eric_W.]

So Gray has finally succeeded in his quest to keep cars moving at any time in DC.
A mayor who was elected using illegal means is now using below the belt tactics to kill one of the best events in DC.

[Joe]

The area with the crashes in Montgomery County follows 355.... interesting.

Now, can the County and State do something positive about it?

Sadly they are more likely to do something like banning bikes or comming up with crazy laws to persuade people not to ride bicycles. :(

[highvizguy]

Sadly, you're probably right @Joe. The SHA's idea of bike safety is putting "Cyclists may use full lane" on 45 mph roads and then dusting off their hands as a job well done. They have no clue how to handle close in suburbs or anything other than maximizing motor vehicle throughput.

[David R.]

The Maryland bike collision map looks like a Maryland population map, except for the hot spot in College Park.

[SJE]

The failure of the DC gov to get on board with Bike DC is very troubling

[Crickey7]

For all the complaints about MacArthur Blvd and the very popular rides in the Potomac area, these seem to have no crashes at all.

[MG]

Too funny about the Nicole Kidman movie. Stoker! As a stoker, I admit it threw me, although I do think some of my tandem rides have had a psychological thriller aspect to them.