Monday Morning Commute - Free Fuji hybrid

Good morning

• If you're wondering about the building going up along the Met Branch Trail at V Street, it's the Carlos Rosario School, a three story public charter school focusing on workforce development. The construction project is scheduled to be completed in mid-August.
• Walking the tracks round-up
• Cycling in Washington in 1897
• University of Maryland students who hand in their commuter parking permits to DOTS can now receive a free bike and a refund worth 25 percent of the permit’s initial cost."The percentage of faculty, staff and students without commuter parking permits has grown to nearly 60 percent — up from less than 20 percent in 2005 — and DOTS officials are hoping to reduce the number even more. DOTS will give a brand-new, $200 Fuji hybrid bike along with a helmet, lights and U-lock to students who pledge to turn in their parking registration and agree to become ineligible for parking during the next academic year...“I want to get more people who don’t bike or who don’t bike regularly to consider it as a transport option,” Malone said. “People have already inquired. … We have 20 bikes, so this is available while supplies last.”Interested students must also take a 30-minute bike safety class with Michael Levengood, bikeUMD bicycle coordinator."
• Canal Place in Cumberland is trying to establish a trailhead  for the Great Allegheny Passage at the eastern edge of the Western Maryland Railway Station. “We are at mile zero for the towpath. We’re the midway point between Washington, D.C., and Pittsburgh. We need a nice trailhead,” The trailhead will include new signs, disabled access, two shelters, bike racks and benches. Ritchie has secured a meeting with CSX officials to try to establish an easement or memorandum of understanding that would allow Canal Place to utilize the railroad bridge that is currently off limits. 

Comments

[Purple Eagle]

I have been wondering about that building along the MetBranch . . . it's very close to the trail!

[PA Ave cycletrack -- where have my bollards gone?]

Kudos to the UMD bike giveaway, but the university could do far more to promote biking in the local area if it would put its considerable weight behind actually making the improvements to bike and pedestrian facilities that are indicated in the Route 1 master plan. UMD is trying to be more bike friendly in some ways, but the local roads on and around campus are the biggest impediment. Local off-road trails are great, but the area streets are pathetic -- nowhere near "complete" let alone "green."

[I forgot]

18 mph constitutes scorching?

[T]

UMD has made leaps and bounds for biking infrastructure on and near the campus from what I remember way-back-when. I've biked to the campus from Metro a few times and once without Metro. The bigger problem is when you go south of the city along Rt 1 or Adelphi Rd. Hyattsville could do a lot more. University Blvd is also a sour point, but there are some ways around it.

If they're serious about promoting cycling, the university ought to put a tire pump for bicycles somewhere in 3 places--North Campus (one of those dorms), mid-point around maybe Stamp and South Campus. Better yet, put one of those things up like they have at that one Metro Station to do basic repairs with ease. It would greatly increase cheap/poor students into riding

[highvizguy]

Exactly right @PA Ave cycletrack, exhibit A is the main entrance to campus itself. Massive amount of pavement to cross, traffic that often doesn't obey the limit (of 30 which is too high to begin with), and long light-cycles. The shame is that the surrounding neighborhoods are all great for pedestrians and cyclists. Rt. 1 is like that from the DC border to CP...a completely inhospitable line surrounded by great neighborhoods on both sides.

[jmgeezy]

RE: I forgot,

When this was written, the world hour record was run at 23 miles per hour. 18 mph compared to that would be similar to riding 24mph (compared to today's record of 31mph). Assuming that all speeds have risen with lighter bikes and smoother surfaces, thats pretty fast indeed.