Throw out that free bell

 <p>So those <a href="http://washcycle.typepad.com/home/2006/04/10_for_tuesday_.html">free bells</a> the CCCT were giving away are not only not required by law anymore, but also deemed<a href="http://www.examiner.com/a-81030~Cyclists_gain_small_victory_in_Annapolis.html"> unsafe</a>. </p><blockquote><p>bells have been deemed unsafe by cycling advocates because riders must

move their hands off the brakes to use the bell. They recommend simply

shouting out, “On your left” or “On your right.”</p></blockquote><p>Really this article is about the small legislative win cyclists were able to secure with the passage of the amended Senate Bill 846 </p><blockquote><p><span style="font-size: 0.8em;">The bill as passed with the amendments makes a bell optional equipment and not required equipment, 

quantifies the braking requirement for bicycles, and allows a rear red 

or flashing amber light that acts as a reflector to be used instead of 

the required rear reflector at night.</span></p></blockquote><p>Those are cosmetic changes since they're only selectively enforced anyway (same as bike registration in DC I suspect). The meat of the bill, and another, did not pass. </p><blockquote><p>One bill would have removed language in the Maryland State Highway

guidelines requiring cyclists to always remain in the far right

shoulder or bike lane — with the exception of a left turn. Cyclists, complaining of potholes, car doors, broken glass, pedestrians

and other hazards, sought the right to ride in the near traffic lane

when they deemed it safer.</p></blockquote><p><a href="http://washcycle.typepad.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/girl_on_a_bike.jpg" onclick="window.open(this.href, '_blank', 'width=500,height=349,scrollbars=no,resizable=no,toolbar=no,directories=no,location=no,menubar=no,status=no,left=0,top=0'); return false"><img width="333" height="232" border="0" alt="Girl_on_a_bike" title="Girl_on_a_bike" src="https://washcycle.typepad.com/home/images/girl_on_a_bike.jpg" style="margin: 0px 0px 5px 5px; float: right;" /></a>

And </p><blockquote><p>Bicycling and pedestrian advocates also were pushing for tougher laws

on automobile drivers found guilty of hitting pedestrians and cyclists.

The state must now prove gross negligence to convict a driver of

vehicular homicide rather than simple negligence. In 2004, 665 Maryland cyclists were injured in collisions with cars and

12 riders were killed, according to the state Highway department.</p></blockquote><p>What they don't mention was how many of those 12 were hit and run accidents. It seems whenever I read of a cyclist being killed, the driver doesn't stick around to learn that the state needs to prove gross negligence...like <a href="http://www.examiner.com/a-100205~Hit_and_run_victim_identified.html">this recent case</a>.</p><blockquote><p>David Allen Overmiller, 58, of Jessup, was riding his bike southbound

on Route 1 when a southbound vehicle struck him, said Officer Jennifer

Reidy of the Howard County Police Department.</p>

<p>Between 1998 and 2002, Maryland spent less than 1 percent of its

federal safety funds on bike and pedestrian safety, despite bikes and

pedestrians making up 16.8 percent of traffic deaths, he said.</p></blockquote><p>Going back to the bells/shouting issue. I always ring my bell or say &quot;on your left&quot; when I pass, though I worry people think I'm being rude. Some people scramble out of the way, like I shouted &quot;make a hole&quot; and really I'm just saying &quot;hey, I'm passing you so don't freak out.&quot; I feel we need two calls &quot;on your left&quot; for normal passing and &quot;on your left, idiot&quot; for people walking 6 abreast.</p>

Ten for Tuesday - Total Recall

1. NBC 4 is all over the bicycle gear recalls - both Schwinn bicycle child carriers and Trek helmets.

2. The Ride of Silence is tomorrow.

On May 17 at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will begin in North America and roll across the globe. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.

There are rides in Maryland (including Frederick) and Virginia, but oddly, not DC.

3. Met Branch Trail through Silver Spring to be debated on Thursday.

On May 18th (at 2:00 pm) the Montgomery County Planning Board will debate the routing of the Metropolitan Branch Trail in Silver Spring. This segment of the trail will connect an existing part of the trail at Montgomery County College with the future Silver Spring Transit Center. Your input is needed to ensure the best trail possible.

4. Soldier Ride 2006 on it's way to Camp Lejeune.

an effort to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit organization that assists servicemembers injured in Iraq, Afghanistan and other hot spots around the world.

5. The 20th annual Chesapeake Bay Asthma Bike Tour is scheduled for the weekend of June 3-4.

6. While the Met Branch founders, the Millennium Trail officially opened.

After the opening ceremony near the Fallsgrove Clubhouse at 400 Casey Lane, the festivities moved to a groundbreaking ceremony at the future site of the bike⁄pedestrian bridge that will cross Interstate 270 along Route 28. The last link in the 45-mile network, the $4.2 million bridge project was awarded [recently].

7. Bike lane partially removed for "safety"

But the new road configuration is ‘‘anything but” safe, according to Rockville resident Tim Coulson. ‘‘Now, the biker has to shift in and out from bike lane to road, from bike lane to road,” he said. ‘‘It confuses the drivers, it confuses the cyclists, it confuses everybody.”

8. What I always suspected about education majors is true...

Jenna Schultz, a freshman education major, does not need to think at all.

“I’m glad I don’t have a license,” she said. “I’ll bike!”

9. CapTrack hasn't been updated since January (at least none of the bikeways projects). This is disappointing. It has no real value if it isn't updated regularly (at least quarterly).

10. It's good to be the President.

For the second year in a row, the president got a fancy mountain bike from John Burke, president of Trek Bicycle Corp. in Waterloo, Wisc., this one worth $5,474. Last year's model was worth nearly $3,000 less. The president, who is an avid biker, also received a $1,700 indoor cycling trainer from Saris Cycling Group President Chris Fortune and $515 in cycling shoes from Trek Nike Cycling Division.

Let's just hope he didn't get a Trek Helmet.

Meet Alexandria's new pedestrian and bicycle coordinator

It seems that getting a bicycle coordinator for a locality is the first step in improving bicycle transportation in the area. Fairfax recently got funding for a bicycle coordinator, and WABA is working to get one assigned to Prince George's County. Alexandria has had one but now they have a new one, Yon Lambert (see Photo).

One of [his] new initiatives is studying ways to improve pedestrian access to transit facilities. “The city got a grant from VDOT to look at how we can improve access to transit facilities for pedestrians in general and persons with mobility challenges specifically,” Lambert said.

He is also planning improvements to the website. “We need to keep people better informed about bicycle and pedestrian improvements,” Lambert said.

Sounds like they could take a page from Arlington.

Bike to Work Day this Friday

This Friday is National Bike to Work Day. There are celebrations all over the DC area and Baltimore too. It's officially too late to sign up for a free T-Shirt (Note: I've never seen them turn anyone away for not being registered - but don't hold me to that if you go and leave empty handed), but you can still sign up to win free bikes and other stuff. And everyone gets a free breakfast (at least they have in the past). We can only hope that the weather is better than it was last year. 

Whenever gas prices rise, it seems editors tell some reporter to write the standard, "People are abandoning their cars" article. And I've seen a lot of these lately, but this article deals specifically with BTWD and is a good read.

‘‘Some people ride all the way in [to the District], but most people would probably ride to the Metro,” DeNardo said. ‘‘That’s a more feasible option for people, since there are lockers to secure your bike and the train can get you where you have to go.”

A major bicycle thoroughfare between Bowie and Annapolis could be established once a bridge is constructed over the Patuxent River connecting the WB&A trail, which would likely encourage more cycling commuters, DeNardo said.

The Bike to Work Day event will also help solve that problem. During the event, WABA will host commuter convoys where cyclists follow experienced riders as they show them safe routes, Gilliland said.

Another obstacle is not lack of bike lanes or adequate facilities, but making that first push, event planners say. Cycling is a good form of cardiovascular exercise, and just commuting twice a week via bikes can save money on gas, DeNardo said.

Ten for Tuesday - Bad News first

1. This is awkward. So remember when I said that DC's portion of the Met Branch was under construction? And remember how I had photos and everything? It turns out I was wrong. It seems there's still some legal wrangling over land swaps and property rights - and from what I hear there is no real end in sight. I think DDOT is hoping to finish the next section in spring of 2007.

2. The CCT may need to be closed for a while. I mentioned that there was some damage on the CCT from where water, flowing down the streets in the Palisades neighborhood, overwhelms the drainage going under the trail and so instead flows over it and erodes the rail bed. (see poorly taken photos). Well, the National Park Service said that even if DC came up with the money ($140K), which they probably can, they may not have the manpower to manage the project. If they did, they might have to close a section of the trail between the "secret" Norton Street access and the Arizona Ave Bridge, for as long as 6 months (Though it's possible a temporary detour could be put in place). The trail needs to be repaired in two places and could wash away in as little as 3 years under normal weather - sooner with a hurricane. If they do do the work, they might build a staircase down to chain bridge too.

3. Sierra Club activist reviews the Montgomery County "in the 21st" century plan.

The urbanized centers would benefit not just their inhabitants, but also the people who live in the traditional suburban neighborhoods around them. We would be able to access many of our needs by foot or bicycle. More of us would have access to good public transport. Children could walk to school again!

4. Patuxent River Rural Legacy Ride on June 10th

5. The CSC Clarendon Bike Race is June 3rd.

The CSC Invitational, the region's premier professional bike race, is in its 9th year. This exciting event offers race fans a great opportunity to see the world's best cyclists compete on a very spectator friendly course 1 km in length, located at the Clarendon Metro stop in Arlington, VA. The 100 lap Men's Pro race begins at noon.

6. If we can celebrate MLK's birthday in April then we can celebrate the opening of the XCT twice.

The trail stitches together a series of existing trails in the 399-square-mile county, allowing bikers, walkers and joggers to traverse Fairfax from the Occoquan River in the south to the Potomac River in the north, crossing the greenways of Difficult Run, Accotink Creek and Pohick Creek. Although some segments of the trail run along busy roads, long stretches of it are in surprisingly secluded stream valleys and woods. Despite the heavy development of recent decades, Fairfax still has 23,000 acres of parkland.

7. More about Bike Month.

8.The Outside Line writes about biking and upcoming rides.

So I found myself last weekend in western Montgomery County, wending through the back roads around Poolesville, cruising by farms and fields, with no more company than the occasional horse I'd pass in a pasture.

9. Here's a good article in the Gazette about trail biking - something I'd like to do more of.

The Oxon Hill club holds rides twice a week during the summer and once a week during the winter. In fact, there’s only one time of year they truly stop — hunting season.

‘‘Hunters and mountain bikers do not mix,” Howard said.

10. The Georgetown Boathouse Environment Assessment is out. Comment period lasts until June 15th. The boathouse would be build at the southern trailhead of the CCT.

The start of the Capital Crescent Trail, at K Street, will be constricted by a construction and maintenance access road; bikers, hikers, and baby strollers will tangle with heavy equipment.

And from the EA

Along the CCT, visitors would be directly affected by construction of the boathouse because of its proximity to the trail. Once the boathouse is constructed, views from the CCT will be obstructed when biking or walking along the trail adjacent to the new building. While a similar condition exists as the CCT passes the WCC, under Alternatives A,B or C visitors would experience a two story building in an area where they currently experience a natural environment. Further, while visitor use of the trail would continue similar to existing conditions, there would be occasional periods when movement is restricted due to a trailer, or service vehicle, turning into or out of the turnaround area.

Dalecarlia Parkway Trail

One of the numerous projects contained within DC's Bike Plan is the Dalecarlia Parkway Trail (see bike plan map here). This trail would run from Westmoreland Circle (Mass Ave on the DC-Maryland line) to Loughboro Road NW and could serve as a connection between the Friendship Heights Metro and the Capitol Crescent Trail. DDOT has the money to do the trail planning this fiscal year and is looking at where to run the trail.

One question is, "on which side of Dalecarlia Parkway will the trail pass?" Since the eastern side provides a flatter topography and two opportunities to connect to neighborhood streets it seems DDOT is inclined to build on the eastern side (though the western side might be more scenic - this a transportation project, not a parks project).

Originally the plan was that the trail would then travel along Loughboro St. across MacArthur Avenue onto Norton and then down the "Secret Norton Avenue Trail" to the Capitol Crescent Trail; but Sibley Hospital is undergoing a facilities master planning process and is interested in including trail access through their property. Despite it's proximity to MacArthur Avenue and the CCT, few Sibley employees bike to work and they'd like to change that. In addition to getting the trail off the road and integrating the trail into a large area employer, the Sibley alignment also takes advantage of more gentle topography. The only downside is that it may make for a less desirable crossing of MacArthur.

The district has the right to build a sidepath along Norton but probably won't since the street has very little traffic and as for the "Secret Norton Avenue Trail," it will remain unsigned and unimproved. Not because the district hasn't the money or will to improve it, but because local residents don't want anyone to know about it, lest they begin parking in their neighborhood. They should be glad they don't live in Logan Circle.

Millennium Trail Opens May 6th

So we hear about the "Bicycle Beltway" in DC - which really only surrounds the wealthy neighborhoods (How did I get outside the beltway) - but Rockville actually built one.

The Millennium Trail is a 10-foot wide shared use path that follows a 10.8-mile loop around Rockville.  The Trail is within two miles (typical bicycling distance) of all neighborhoods in the City.

Tomorrow there will be a trail dedication and fun run/ride (this link is to a list of Bike Month activities).

Celebrate the completion of Rockville’s 10.6-mile Millennium Trail. Events start at Fallsgrove Clubhouse. Millennium Trail dedication at 10 a.m. Groundbreaking for future Rockville Bike/ Pedestrian Bridge follows at 10:30 a.m. at site near Maryland Route 28. All events FREE

The groundbreaking is for the just approved bike/ped trail over I-270 (the artistic elements and decorative lighting were removed from the plan. The new design also removed one bridge, creating an upgraded, street-level crossing of the two access ramps on the eastside of I-270.) The project should take 18 months. With an election coming up the Ehrlich administration wants to get their props for contributing (It's odd Flanagan should mention the ICC when the bike trail on that project was removed).

The trail looks good and they actually have a trail map already on their website (unlike let's say the Custis, Four Mile Run, Bluemont Junction etc...).

Note: when I first posted this I said the ICC trail had been restored. WTOP's website is goofy so an article from 2005 appeared to be from today. Sorry.