<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 "on your left" when I pass, though I worry people think I'm being rude. Some people scramble out of the way, like I shouted "make a hole" and really I'm just saying "hey, I'm passing you so don't freak out." I feel we need two calls "on your left" for normal passing and "on your left, idiot" for people walking 6 abreast.</p>
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