June 2012 ~ 9MB - Spokes Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

COMMUTER CONNECTION Maryland & Delaware Friendlier The League of American Bicyclists (LAB) recently released its 2012 Bicycle Friendly State rankings, with Maryland and Delaware both climbing into the top 10. Virginia posted at No. 17 while the District of Columbia was not included in the rankings. West Virginia moved up, but only from No. 50 to No. 48. Maryland and Delaware both received high marks in the “education and encouragement” and “legislation and enforcement” categories. Maryland and Virginia also scored well in the “policies and programs” category and “evaluation and planning” category. All three states earned lower marks for their bicycle infrastructure and bicycle funding levels. Washington State, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Colorado, Oregon, Wisconsin and New Jersey were ranked No. 1 through No. 8, respectively. Maryland jumped two places less than a year after Gov. Martin O’Malley kicked off the Cycle Maryland Initiative, an effort noted specifically by the American League of Bicyclists in their report card on the state. Earlier this spring, O’Malley announced $5 million in Cycle Maryland grants for 27 projects to create new bikeway connections and to bring Bikeshare stations to Maryland. The League of American Bicyclists also highlighted BikeMaryland, the statewide nonprofit advocacy organization, for its work. “We are honored that people recognize Maryland as a leader in making bicycling a true transportation alternative,” said O’Malley in a statement. “Bicycling is a great way to get where you need to go, to see our by ron cassie ron_cassie@yahoo.com beautiful state and to support our local economy. The end result is a cleaner environment and a healthier lifestyle for all Marylanders.” Delaware jumped from No. 18 to No. 10 in the rankings with the League specifically praising Gov. Jack Markell and Delaware Department of Transportation Secretary Shailen Bhatt for prioritizing resources for bicycling. Last fall, the Delaware governor launched the First State Trails and Pathways Initiative, designed to bring state agencies together to create an interconnected network of shared-use trails and pathways that will support non-motorized travel and recreation opportunities for Delawareans and visitors. The First State Trails and Pathways Initiative also focused on bicycling and pedestrian commuting concerns — aiming to develop safe ways to reach work and shopping destinations, as well as schools, recreational sites and mass transit points. "We welcome our rise in the ranking as recognition of what we are doing to make walkable, bikeable communities a priority in Delaware," Markell said in a statement. "Trails and bike routes are a part of a vision for a state with interconnected communities. We will continue working to make Delaware an attractive place not only to bike, but to live and work." The state of Virginia received praise on its report card for its adoption of a Complete Streets policy, its state bicycle plan and the presence of two active bike advocacy groups, the Virginia Bicycle Federation and BikeWalk Virginia. Maryland Bike Legislation Report The Maryland General Assembly didn’t quite finish its work by its traditional mid-April closing session and began meeting again in a special session in May to address outstanding tax and budgetary issues. A second special session to deal with further legalized gambling questions was also being considered at press time, but as far as bicycling and commuter legislation — the state legislature is done for the year. The verdict for Maryland bicycle and pedestrians? A mixed bag of wins, losses and “Wait ‘til next years.” Overall, however, progress was made on several fronts. Spokes goes step by step through the bicycle legisla- Maryland BFS Report Card RANKING # 8 REGIONAL RANKING NORTHEAST #3 we make cycling more cycling more l o v e y o u r bike [more] fun fun Takoma Bicycle KHS | ReDline | ToRKeR | PARTS | ACCeSSoRieS | RePAiRS 7030 Carroll Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301.270.0202 www.takomabicycle.com Governor: DOT Commissioner: Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator: Feedback State Advocacy Group: Martin O’Malley Beverly Swaim-Staley Michael Jackson Bike Maryland Develop a Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) curriculum for bicycling enforcement both for new officers and continuing education – focus on laws related to bicyclists, interactions between motorists and bicyclists, and bicycle collision investigation. Adopt federal funding project rating criteria that incentivize bicycle projects and accommodations. The state is spending a low amount, less than .50 percent, of federal funding on bicyclists and pedestrians, particularly on transportation enhancements. Bicycle ridership, while good, must continue to increase. Determine barriers that people face when bicycling and implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce barriers and increase ridership. Add bicycle safety as an emphasis area in the state Strategic Highway Safety Plan and aggressively fund bike safety projects. Category Scores Scoring: 5 = High 1 = Low 4 Legislation and Enforcement 4 Policies and Programs 3 Infrastructure and Funding 4 Education and Encouragement 4 Evaluation and Planning One Bicycle Friendly Success The recently established Cycle Maryland program is an excellent step to promote bicycle commuting and tourism. Top Tip for Improvement Revise Maryland’s safe passing law to remove the four exemptions that are only confusing motorists, cyclists, and law enforcement. Top 10 Signs of Success People Commuting by Bike (More than 1%) Safe Passing/Vulnerable Road User Law Complete Streets Policy Dedicated State Funding Active State Advocacy Group State Bicycle Plan (Adopted 2002 or later) Share the Road Campaign Bicycle Education for Police Bicycle Safety Emphasis in Strategic Highway Safety Plan Top 10 State for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Spending The Bicycle Friendly States ranking is based on a comprehensive survey completed by state departments of transportation and state bicycling advocates. It asks 50 questions across 5 categories: Legislation and Enforcement, Policies and Programs, Infrastructure and Funding, Education and Encouragement, Evaluation and Planning. The results listed above provide only a snap shot of the full application. They are intended to offer some ideas for further growth in bicycle friendliness. For more information, visit www.bikeleague.org/states or contact Matt Wempe at (202) 822-1333 or matt@bikeleague.org. 26 June 2012
tion in front of the General Assembly this year with Bike Maryland Executive Director Carol Silldorf. One of the disappointments for Maryland bicyclists this year was the unfavorable vote by the Maryland House Environmental Matters Committee on safe passing legislation. House Bill 1397, sponsored by Delegates Jon S. Cardin, Elizabeth Bobo, Alfred C. Carr, Jr., Barbara Frush, Eric G. Luedtke and Dana Stein, would’ve created an exception to prohibitions against driving a vehicle on the left side of the roadway in a no-passing zone for a driver making the minimum adjustment necessary — under specified circumstances — to facilitate the provision of the 3-foot clearance for overtaking and passing a bicycle or motor scooter going in the same direction. “Right now it’s illegal to cross the double line, for example, to avoid a bicyclist and allow a 3-foot clearance,” said Silldorf. Bike Maryland, supported the legislation along with numerous environmental and bicycling organizations, including Baltimore Bicycle Club, Bicycle Advocates of Howard County, Cumberland Valley Cycling, Club Elk Neck Trail Association, Frederick Pedalers Bicycle Club, League of American Bicyclists, Maryland Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Montgomery County Bicycling Advocates, Rockville Bicycle Advisory Group, the Maryland Governor: DOT Commissioner: Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator: Feedback State Advocacy Group: Robert McDonnell Gregory Whirley John Bolecek Virginia Bicycle Federation, BikeWalk Viginia • Adopt a vulnerable road user law with a minimum safe passing distance to address bicyclist safety. • Remove the disincentives that reduce funding for communities who narrow street widths through lane reductions. • Focus Complete Streets training and accountability to ensure consistent application throughout the state. • Adopt federal funding project rating criteria that incentivize bicycle projects and accommodations. The state is spending a low amount, less than .68 percent, of federal funding on bicyclists and pedestrians. • Conduct a share the road campaign creatively addressing the issues specific to your state. Chapter of the Sierra Club, Trail Spinners of Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania, Twenty20 Cycling and 1000 Friends of Maryland.  “This is a very important law that exists in other places, maybe 20 states,” Silldorf told SPOKES, adding that Pennsylvania has a four-foot passing law. Cars need to give cyclists 3-feet no matter what. If it’s safe to cross a double yellow line, they should be able to do that — as long as it’s not in a blind area.” On a positive note, Senate Bill 942 did not pass. That legislation, introduced by Sen. Norman R. Stone, Jr., would’ve repealed the recent Maryland law relating to criminally negligent manslaughter by vehicle; making it a misdemeanor for a person to cause the death of another as a result of the person's driving, operating or controlling a motor vehicle in a criminally negligent manner. “No one has even been prosecuted under the new law,” Silldorf said referring to SB 942. “It made no sense to undo it.” In terms of passing new bicycle-friendly legislation, Senate Bill 977 passed, supported by Bike Maryland and the above-mentioned environmental and probicycle groups, will require each public institution of higher education —when it revises its facility master Virginia BFS Report Card RANKING # 17 Category Scores Scoring: 5 = High 1 = Low 2 Legislation and Enforcement 5 Policies and Programs 2 Infrastructure and Funding One Bicycle Friendly Success Top Tip for Improvement Top 10 Signs of Success REGIONAL RANKING 3 Education and Encouragement 3 Evaluation and Planning SOUTH #1 Existing and developing US Bike Routes will provide hundreds of miles of routes for bicyclists. Comply with VDOT’s existing policy to set aside 10 percent of HSIP funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects. People Commuting by Bike (More than 1%) Safe Passing/Vulnerable Road User Law Complete Streets Policy Dedicated State Funding Active State Advocacy Group State Bicycle Plan (Adopted 2002 or later) Share the Road Campaign Bicycle Education for Police Bicycle Safety Emphasis in Strategic Highway Safety Plan Top 10 State for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Spending The Bicycle Friendly States ranking is based on a comprehensive survey completed by state departments of transportation and state bicycling advocates. It asks 50 questions across 5 categories: Legislation and Enforcement, Policies and Programs, Infrastructure and Funding, Education and Encouragement, Evaluation and Planning. The results listed above provide only a snap shot of the full application. They are intended to offer some ideas for further growth in bicycle friendliness. For more information, visit www.bikeleague.org/states or contact Matt Wempe at (202) 822-1333 or matt@bikeleague.org. plan —to address bicycle and pedestrian circulation on the institution's campus. It will also require the institution to include in the facility master plan measures to incorporate bikeways and pedestrian facilities and to promote biking and walking on the campus. “Some colleges are already doing this; some not,” Silldorf said. “Now the next time they update their facility management plans, they’ll have to consider bicycles and promote bicycling on campus.” In legislation that will perhaps have better luck next year, no action was taken on House Bill 946, legislation that would have repealed a restriction, under specified circumstances, of riding a bicycle, play vehicle or unicycle on a sidewalk or sidewalk area. “Our real concern here goes to children in their own FOLDERS = Convenience Why buy and ride a folding bike? It probably fits in the trunk of your car — no bike rack to wrestle on and off the car. Ride it to the Metro instead of driving and you save $3+ per day for vehicle parking. If space is at a premium at your place then a bike that fits in the closet would be nice. We keep hearing more and more reasons from our folding bike customers. 2009 Recipient of Adventure Cycling Association's Most Prestigious Bike Shop Honor "The Sam Braxton Bicycle Shop Award" bikes@vienna, LLC 128A Church St, NW Vienna, VA 22180 703-938-8900 www.bikesatvienna.com come to our website for information about our unusual products and click used bikes for photos, descriptions, and prices of our pre-owned bikes. Carol Silldorf commuter continued on p.28 June 2012 27
Page 1 and 2: Serving Cyclists in the Mid-Atlanti
Page 3 and 4: On theCover Bike racing season is i
Page 5 and 6: Cycle on gently curving roadways th
Page 7 and 8: It was the 90s and everything was
Page 9 and 10: Felt's Fantastic Four All ready to
Page 11 and 12: BEYOND POWER. Introducing Trek Doma
Page 13 and 14: IT’S WHAT YOU WIN ON WE ALL LOVE
Page 15 and 16: OFFICIAL 2012 PIRANHA SPORTS RACE G
Page 17 and 18: In addition to events within 1.5 ho
Page 19 and 20: Chrissy Wellington: A Life Without
Page 21 and 22: short steep sections that get the r
Page 23 and 24: cyclists' kitchen by nancy clark, m
Page 25: June 2012 25
Page 29 and 30: calendar of events To be listed, se
Page 31 and 32: A BETTER HANDLING 29ER. G2 GEOMETRY

June 2012 ~ 9MB - Spokes Magazine

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?