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December 1, 2003 Volume 14 No. 4 Issue #55

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From the Chairman:

Thanksgiving's behind us Christmas is just 3 weeks away. Hope you all enjoyed being with family and got in some riding. CPABC has been busy as ever: riding with County Exec Jack Johnson, Councilman Dernoga, with Larry Black & Randy Mardres on the Moonlight Memorial Tour, with Paul Meijer on the Met Branch Trail; meetings with Neil Pedersen/SHA & many others; emails promoting better/safer bike/ped travel. This issue has pieces from Randy Mardres, Larry Black, Jim & Jane Hudnall and other bits that make bicycling so much fun. Speaking of fun, in Oct my 2 brothers and I traveled by Amtrak to Calif (2 weeks of no phones, TV, emails!) to visit our 2 sisters in San Francisco.

Visited Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Davis, Portland and Seattle, checking out all the bike/ped facilities and wondered why Md is so far behind. It appears SHA/DOT are in "full stop mode" with bike/ped/streetscapes on hold by the governor's office. The Governor and Sec of Trans. Robert Flanagan haven't been open to discussing bike/ped projects, but Neil Pedersen/SHA has met with us twice and is adding bik./ped considerations where he can. SHA will redesign existing shoulders with bike symbols and signs at 40 miles per year for 5 years. Harvey Muller is pushing this and a new Md State bike map along.

On a personal note, Sue and I have some great news; our 4 children (2 boys 2 girls) just found out that each will have babies this Spring, raising our grandchildren pool from 5 to 9! We're very excited, but realize that our time will be quite taken-up with these "fabulous 4." If I don't get back to you, I'll probably be watching one of these wonderful people, changing a diaper, or feeding a baby.

Things drop off in the Winter (see schedule), so we can catch-up with family and get our bikes n shape for Spring. We'll be gearing up for our 7th Annual Annapolis Symposium next Feb 4, with legislation/caucus, trying to keep awareness up and pressure on the powers-that-be to keep bike/ped elements in all transportation projects. The bike/ped part of a transportation project is usually less than 1% of total - lack of money is not the reason or omitting bike/ped in new or reconstruction improvements. States like Florida, Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington and our own DC moving ahead while we in Maryland keep hearing "sorry, money's tight." Money is always tight, but smart states take a lead with multi-modal transportation systems for all.

Keep insisting to your elected officials hat you want more bike/ped facilities in Maryland!

I end this editorial, and 2003, with a great big thanks for the all the wonderful folks that keep your CPABC alive, well and moving ahead. Thank You, Linda Stemmy, Larry Bleau, Randy & Suzanne Mardres, Barbara Klieforth, Jim & Jane Hudnall, Larry & Linda Black, Morris Warren, Barry Wells, John Overstreet, Sam Bronstein, Fred Shaffer, Jill DiMauro/Proteus, John Brandt, Allen Muchnick, Rich Reis, Bill Wilkerson, Ellen Jones, Robert Boone, Otis Hayward, Neil Sandler, Pat Kelly, George Branyan, Dan Hayes,REI, BTAG, WABA, OLC and many more, without all of you there would not be a CPABC.

 Thanks and Happy Holidays!
Bill Kelly, Chairman

 

Lovely Ride on the Proposed Metropolitan Branch Trail
On Saturday, November 1st, about 70 cyclists gathered at the historic B & O Train Station in Silver Spring to ride the proposed hiker/biker Metropolitan Branch (Met Branch) Trail from Silver Spring to Union Station DC (10 miles). Paul Meijer and Wayne Phyillaier put together the wonderful ride. Much of the proposed trail is still in planning, so we rode along nearby roadways/sidewalks and trails. We crossed over Georgia Ave's 6 busy lanes east of the station on a path attached to the rail bridge, then biked on Philadelphia Ave to an off-road trail by Montgomery College into Tacoma Park and on Blair Rd.

The Metro trains, C5X and Amtrak travel the Met Branch corridor. The 15' trains started running in 1832 on the main line from Baltimore to Point of Rocks, Md, to Wheeling, WVa and the Ohio River. No train connected to DC until 1873 when B & O extended the line from Point of Rocks to Silver Spring and Union Station - 'metropolitan' DC. The Met Branch hiker/biker trail being built in this historic corridor, along an active transportation system, will ultimately provide a direct, convenient, safe, mostly off-road trail right into our nation's capital. 

We crossed at Riggs Rd and headed for Fort Totten (Prince George's connector) and road along Fort Totten Drive to John McCormack Rd along Catholic University, which has an off-road section but most found the road itself a better choice. We had a rest and info stop at the Dance Place on 8th St, NE and Ellen Jones gave us more history of the trail and the "rest pocket parks" planned along the trail. At Franklin St/Edgewood Rd and 8'h St, we re-entered into the actual rail corridor with a direct view of the Capitol. Paul Meijer told us that the B & 0 emblem, a circle with the Capitol Building, was actually conceived of the view from this part of corridor. At New York Ave we met with Metro people at the new New York Ave Station and saw where the new skyway hiker/biker trail takes to the air and goes over the whole Metro/train complex. This part of the trail, about a mile long, will open next Spring (2004).,fter New York Ave, we had to go back on the streets (3rd St, NE) to Union Station. All thanked Paul Meijer and Bob Patten for their well planned ride and for the info we learned along the way. Many of us stopped for eggs benedict over crab cakes at Union Station and then retraced our way back to Silver Spring and College Park. Can't wait for the Metropolitan Branch Trail to be completed along with the PG Co. Connector (should be Spring 2004) connecting the Anacostia Trail System to Fort Totten and the Metropolitan Trail.

 

Good Ride With Prince George's County Executive Jack Johnson
On September 5, 2003 over 40 bicyclists met at Lake Artemesia in College Park to discuss Bike/Ped issues with our new Prince George's Co. Exec., Jack Johnson, and enjoy a beautiful sunny morning ride. We supplied bikes/helmets for Jack and his staff. We were told he had 30 minutes available. The weather was outstanding and everyone was having a great time and pointing-out the number of residents using the Anacostia Trail System. Jack related that he and his wife were in South Carolina recently on vacation and had taken a Bike Ride on local trails and really enjoyed themselves. His wife said wouldn't it be nice if we had trails like these in Prince George's Co. Upon their return home and talking with his staff (including CPA BC member Paula Burr) they related that yes we do have some nice trails in and around the U of M in the Anacostia Trail System.

After a loop around the lake, Jack asked how much further does the trail go? He was having so much fun that he decided to extend his time with us. His 30 minute time slot extended to 2 hours as we biked down to Riverdale and came back under the College Park Metro Station tunnel way, through downtown College Park, up the Trolley Line Trail, across the difficult Paint Branch Pkwy, over the Berwyn boondoggle, covering nearly 15 miles. Steve Branyan (Mayor of College Park), Councilman Tom Dernoga, John Porcari (U of M VP), Dan Hayes (U of M Planning), Bob Boone (Anacostia Watershed), Jim & Jane Hudnall (OHBTC), Otis Haywood (MBPAC), John Krouse (newly elected City Council), and more CPABC’ers and local residents joined us to let our County Executive know that we need and want more bike/ped facilities in Prince George's Co, especially around the U of M. Jack Johnson affirmed that he supports more bike/ped travel and would work with us toward that end.

 

ICC Bikeway?
As we all know, the IC is back on the front burner with strong support from new Governor, who has pledged more roadways for Maryland. We are disappointed that our Governor & Sec of Transportation are not fully aware that building bike/ped/bus in with auto travel is the smart way to go. Bike/ped/bus travel will be heavily used if it is safe and convenient and goes to work places, schools and shopping areas. Every city like Portland, Ore,. Seattle, Davis, Calf., Philadelphia that built such facilities have found great success in lessening auto traffic. When the ICC is built in the next 4 years it has to have a 12' commuter bikeway along its entire 12 mile length. There is talk of small neighborhood trails, but resistance to a full Commuter Bikeway. Please attend the planning sessions on the ICC this Fall and let the Governor/MDOT/SHA know that we need and want a Bikeway on the ICC.

 

A Little Tid-Bit - from Utne Reader Magazine
Tom Magliozzi, who with his brother Ray hosts the public radio show "Car Talk," may know a lot about cars but he doesn't drive one! "I do not own a car," he told Transportation Alternatives magazine (Winter 2003) "I either ride a bicycle or use public transportation."

 

Your Chairman Moved His Office to the Rear of his home with Big Picture Windows. Boy, what a Difference!
I feel this is an important situation that others should consider as a more pleasant way to sit at their desks and computers and talking on the phone. For over 30 years, I've been staring at a blank wall - always wanted to look out at trees and sunshine. I relocated to the rear of our home, bordering the beautiful Beltsville Agriculture Farm-BARC and installed large 5' X 5' picture windows in a corner. What a view! We have, as Dan Burden (Walkable Communities) recommends, the perfect home location. Our front yard is in the city and backyard in the country. The added benefit I get is a full view of Rhode Island Ave. from Paducah to Sunnyside Ave, and US#1. I get to see all the walkers and cyclists on these busy roadways everyday while keeping bike/ped advocacy moving ahead. I can truthfully tell you there are hundreds of bikers and pedestrians on these busy roadways everyday, rain or shine. I have noticed more bicycling flow on US#1 since the bike lanes opened earlier this year. We need sidewalks on Rhode Island Ave to get pedestrians off the edge of the narrow shoulders (many pushing baby carriages /children to local jobs/stores on US#1). Hopefully Councilman Tom Dernoga will help us out on Rhode Island Ave, a County DPW&T roadway under his jurisdiction.

 

Cars now outnumber driver
According to the Department of Transportation, there are 204 million vehicles being driven by 191 million drivers in the US. That's 1.9 cars, trucks or SUVs per 1.8 drivers. In 1995, the last time checked, those numbers were equal. A sad commentary on the 'American way of life'...

 

SHA Pace on Local Projects :

  1. Powder Mill & Chery Hill under re-construction; sidewalks being added, fast car slip-lanes being slowed, bike lanes enlarged/added. Motorists are unhappy with having to drive at more reasonable / slower speeds.
  2. University Blvd. & Metzerott-Missing shoulders/bike lanes. No action yet.
  3. Greenbelt & Cherrywood Lane; left turn lane added, smaller shoulder - less space finished.
  4. Route #197 repaving, south of Powder Mill; smaller/erratic bike lanes - status unchanged.
  5. Repaving #198 at I-95 in Laurel; end lines being moved, reducing shoulder width. According to Michael Jackson (MDOT Bike/ped Director) the space is needed for car turn lane.
  6. Crosswalk at US#1/Sunnyside in Beltsville; not connected to west side sidewalk.
  7. University Blvd; U of M Game traffic still parking on bike lanes. Parking has stopped in grass median. Tom Hicks/5HA Safety Office working on it.
  8. SHA resurfaced Md #193 between Md #450 & #564. They installed "pocket lanes" and wider shoulders for safer bike/ped travel. Another SHA job well-done!
  9. SHA repaved old Rte #144 in front of Larry Black's bike shop in Mt. Airy, he's "never seen or ridden on a surface so smooth." Hopefully they'll be marked as bike lanes
  10. Queens Chapel Rd/#500 being repaved from Rt.#410 to District line. Great! This will reduce the number of lanes from 6 to 4 and provide bike lanes along both directions. We've been asking for this for years and congratulate SHA. Thanks!

 

Link-Up Thursdays at Proteus Bicycles
All are invited to relax and celebrate the joy of bicycles.
Food, drink and enthusiasm provided 7:30-9:00 pm.
Also at Proteus...
Total Bike Maintenance Classes
Session 1: January 12 & 19; 6:30-9:30 pm.
Session 2: February 22; 9 am-3 pm.
$80. Repair book included. Bring bike. Small class size.
Call 301-441-2928. www.proteusbicycles.com

 

Short Takes on Events:

  1. CPABC Fall Ride went well with about 30 riders. This was a show-up and ride event with no support or police escort. It greatly reduced work-overload.
  2. Remember, put your bikes on the front bumpers of all Metro buses for no extra charge 24/7.
  3. TEA-21 funding still moving through congress with strong support. All the letters/emails helped get congress's attention. Safe Routes to Schools gaining visibility.
  4. Annapolis Bike/Ped Caucus has been discussing bike/ped bills for the '04 session.
  5. Bike/Ped Symposium slated for Wednesday February 4, 2004 in Annapolis.
  6. CAM Tour- 3 Day Event slated for Fri-Sun. June 25-25-26, 2004 at St. Mary's College in Emittsburg, Md, a new venture for CAM. Set-up in 1 place and travel out for 3 days around the beautiful Md. and Pa, border. www.onelesscar.org
  7. Bill & Sue Kelly are taking a group to Ireland (non-biking) 2-28 to 3-6-04 to see the sights and have fun. If you would like to join us give us a call 301/441-2740.

 

Very Successful Meeting with Neil Pedersen/SHA
Close to 30 bike/ped folk and transportation staffers met with Neil Pedersen, new Administrator of Md. State Highways Administration (SHA), on September 25, at 8 AM at our new IKEA cafeteria on US#1 in College Park. It was a very productive meeting where we related to Neil that we were committed to see Maryland move ahead on bike/ped issues and he stated that he/SHA is committed to keep the bike/ped element on all transportation projects. He stated that pedestrian safety was the most critical issue that he and SHA are going to work on. We have worked with Neil and 5HA for nearly 15 years and have a good relationship. We ail agree transportation funds are tight, but many of the improvements we are looking for are not that expensive, like narrowing the auto travel way, installing "pocket lanes" and restriping, adding sidewalks on new projects and renovated projects. Neil has been working on signing 40 miles of shoulders per year for the next 5 years (200 hundred total) with bike symbols and bikeway signs.

Presently there are only 7 miles of signed bikeways in Maryland. Charlie Watkins, Chief Engineer from SHA Dist. #3 also stated he was going to work with us to continue install bike lanes. Tom Hicks from the SHA Safety Office said he was studying the auto parking on University Blvd. (in the bike lanes) during Maryland games and had restricted parking in the grass mediums. He agreed that parking autos on the bike lanes was not a good idea and not very safe. Hopefully the practice will be stopped after this season. George Branyan-SHA Safety Office spoke on the "Safe Routes to School" and the hopes that more schools would avail themselves about learning about the program. We had a good 2 hour meeting and agreed to meet again soon to further discuss working together to make Maryland more bike/ped friendly.

 

Ride with Prince George's Co. Councilman Tom Dernoga Nov. 11, 2003
County Councilman Tom Dernoga represents Dist. #1 on the County Council, from Laurel 5 to Greenbelt Rd with 100,000 residents. Tom took over Councilman Walter Maloney's seat after Mr. Maloney passed away last year. We've met with Councilman Dernoga on a regular basis on bike/ped issues since. He's ridden with us on many of our rides and strongly supports bike/ped issues. On Nov 7th we talked about making Rhode Island Ave more bike/ped friendly from Greenbelt Rd north into Beltsville. He suggested we take a bike ride on Veterans Day (11-11-03) to see the roadway "over the handle bars".

His wife had given him a new bike for his birthday and he rides it every chance he gets. It is a big plus to have a councilman who rides regularly, I can tell you he rides it at a good pace. We rode the whole length of Rhode Island up to US#1 and back down to Greenbelt Rd. We were looking at the narrow shoulders, open drainage ditches, lack of space at intersections and difficulties crossing Greenbelt/University at the end of the Trolley Line Trail. The City of College Park is working on extending the Trolley Line Trail north, at least to Paducah, and, with Tom's help, up to Sunnyside (we hope!). We're going to form a group with the City, DPW&T/CPABC to work together to make Rhode Island a first-class travelway for all users: Autos/Bus/Bikes/Peds.

 

Moonlight Memorial Ride a Great Success in DC
Close to 80 Bicyclists gathered at 6th & Pa Ave NW on Saturday, September 13, at 9:00 PM, Yes, PM - completely dark and beautifully cool. Larry Black of College Park & Mt Airy Cycles, with Randy Mardres and the American Youth Hostels revived the old Moonlight Madness Ride from the 1970's (for photos check the CPABC website). It was a 15 mile tour around DC at night when most traffic was off the road. We headed east on Pa Ave to Louisiana Ave to Union Station, around Columbus Circle, up 1st St NE, around the brilliantly lit US Capitol, west on Independence Ave to the Mall, north 15th St NW to Pa Ave (taking a photo op at the White House). We then headed south on 17th and took a loop around the Washington Monument, also brilliantly lit for us, and then headed west to the Lincoln Memorial. We were amazed that so many tourists were out at 10:30 PM enjoying our Nation's Capital. Then it was off to Potomac Park along the river down to Haines Point with the whole roadway to ourselves - cars not allowed after dark.

On the return leg we circled the Jefferson Memorial, passed in front of the Smithsonian and back to our starting point around midnight. This was a fun exciting safe ride with all having good road lights, reflector vests and spoke lights. We rode as a group, obeyed traffic laws and were treated quite well by cabs and other traffic, receiving waves and thumbs-up all along the route. We had refreshments, met friends after the ride, many stopping by the local pubs and then returning with their bikes on Metro before last train at 2 AM. If this ride is offered in the Spring, don't miss it! Thanks, Larry Black and Randy Mardres for a great ride!

Note: the Baltimore Hosteling International group (led by Bob Moore) is holding the Baltimore Moonlight ride Saturday, April 3, 2004, under a full moon, of course.

 

Social Reform by Bicycle, the Sequel
Randy Mardres
Have any near misses on your bicycle lately? Know someone who was not so lucky? Or concerned about what is happening to our roads today? When bicycles first became a transportation option they had to contend with the teamsters and farmers who, along with some city burghers, did not want to share the road. Later, early motorists and automobile associations benefitted from their 2 wheel predecessors and were given the rights to the roads, though often with limits. Laws such as requiring a man with a lantern to walk ahead of the car or speed limits of 8 mph, etc... were enacted to try to control them. These laws eventually crumbled as motorized technology advanced and public servants gave into supporting the convenience of the automobile over all other considerations.

Today it is the automobile and its proponents that obstruct pedestrian and bicycle travel as engineers try to make roads safer for faster, excessively faster, travel. Just as early teamsters who properly trained their horses and kept them under control coexisted quite well with early bicyclists, today's motorists who keep their cars in good repair and drive appropriately also do so, in residential and rural areas.

Now, encouraged by elected officials who mistakenly see the need to maximize the number of single occupant cars on the road, and civil servants who build roads to maximize safety for the automobile and passenger(s), a good number of our communities are under siege by "drive through", "cut though" over the speed limit, and "aggressive drivers."

What is to be done? Some local jurisdictions and enforcement agencies in our area, often funded with federal money though state highway, and often with state highway safety office initiatives, are beginning to run effective on street operations such as crosswalk safety programs. They're proving effective, but the problem's been allowed to get too far out of hand and resources are limited.

This is where you and I and David Engwicht come in. The preface to his book, Street Reclaiming, Creating Livable and Vibrant Communities reads: "Imagine your street with 50% less traffic. Imagine cars acting as guests in your street. Imagine your street now transformed into an "outdoor living room" with children playing, neighbors chatting, and people dancing, Dream no long! Come to the Party"

He starts out by addressing car culture and determining how much is given to it that is not necessary. He suggests ways of reducing (car) traffic volume by more then 50% with the 5 R's of Traffic Reduction," gives design guidelines and presents a 6 week program to less traffic and safer streets for residents, communities, and non-motorized travel in our neighborhoods!

Leave it to elected officials, to engineers and developers to fix what they've created - or get David Engwicht's book and get involved! If you're tired of having your mailboxes, gardens, or fences run over or terrorized by cars traveling twice the speed limit thru our communities, past schools and bus stops, inches from the students and ignoring, or worse yet harassing, pedestrians and bicyclists, then read David's book and share it with your neighbors. It's time for bicyclists to lead the way in society again!

Street Reclaiming. Creating Livable and Vibrant Communities, David Engwicht, Pluto Press, 1999.
www.socialchange.net.au,  www.lesstraffic.com

 

My Green Trip to the 'left' coast
Larry Black
What would make me want go west when Md was a record 83 sunny degrees? While visiting the National Green Pages' booth at the National Natural Living expo, I heard of 2 back to back events in San Francisco: the Greenfestival (www.greenfestivals.comww.greenfestivals.com) and the National Green Business Conference (www.coopamerica.biz). What the heck? I BART'ed (subway) from the airport terminal to downtown, 6 blocks from the Hostelling International (formerly AYH) Downtown Hostel.

I then got a loaner commuter bike from Joe Breeze of Breezer Bikes and rode it to the Sausalito ferry, went across the water and was at the reception opening the conference by 7PM. The Greenfest opened on Saturday and offered a $5 discount to anyone arriving on bike as well as free valet parking.. The 3 dozen nationally known guest speakers donated their appearances.

I suggested the '04 conference and Greenfestival be in DC in late September (5 weeks before the election), modeled after the National Bike Summit; with a day set aside to have attendees visit their representatives' offices. The idea went over big The festival was eye-opening. Every cyclist is doing a share and we in the College Park Area Bicycle Coalition want to do even more- we are working at spreading the mode and encouraging others. Let's keep up the great work, I am glad to have been a part of this group.

 

Time to Remember the WB&A
Morris Warren
My father, a doctor in Laurel, treated many people in the Bowie area, including the Woodwards and their staff at Belair. Since I accompanied him on many of his house calls, I recall the WB&A when it was still in operation before 1935. Later my mother was a nurse at the Bowie Racetrack and I would prowl around the parked trains, walk the race track spur and along the abandoned WB&A to the Patuxent River. At High Bridge at the intersection of Mockingbird Lane and High Bridge Rd, I remember large chicken houses that are gone now. Recently I received copies of a WB&A 1925 advertisements about riding the WB&A to chicken and egg contests at a large hennery complex right across the tracks from the High Bridge station. One could easily walk across the tracks to view the prize hens and latest poultry raising techniques. Then there was Col. John Merriken who wrote the book about the WB&A called "Every Hour on the Hour." The railroad was superior in every way for its time. It was the Colonel that sent me the 1940 notice in the Washington Star about the State of Md buying the right of way. This was vitally needed by Senator Leo Green to determine how much the county should pay for the 3 miles of state-owned right of way. Through Leo we only paid what the state paid plusinterest, but the interest was not compounded. What a bargain for $28,000! Can I forget dear wonderful Thelma Brady Gasch, whose Grandmother ran the store at the High Bridge Station? I still see the way this tiny arthritic stooped lady with the big smile wobbled down the aisle at the zoning hearings, batted away my helping hand, straightened up, pulled down the microphone and belted out how she lived on Mockingbird Lane (a hotbed of objectors) saying she wanted the trail. Everyone stood up and and I knew we had it. Then there was Comptroller Louis Goldstein who objected to selling the state's portion of the right of way because he didn't want to give up a railroad to Annapolis. But he and Md State Treasurer Lucile Maurer were most hospitable when asked to talk about the trail. After studying the maps and photos I had, Mrs. Maurer said "But Louie, this railroad doesn't go to Annapolis". Louie looked at the map and quickly agreed that we could have it. Such wonderful gentle people. Thelma, Lucile, John and Louis are now riding the WB&A where the weather is always warm and the wind at their backs. Thanks to them we have the WB&A!

Marge Stahl-Warren improving
Marge is now able to walk short distances, with brace/boot and crutches. She did 3 miles in her wheelchair on the Western Md Railroad Trail near Hancock in October to see the foliage. Slowly gaining strength in arms from physical therapy. Has had much pain in crushed ankle from infection around steel plates. Thanks everyone for your good wishes... Morris

Velo-City 2003
Jim and Jane Hudnall
"The bicycle as an essential tool for winning the city back" was the theme of the 14th Velo-City Congress held in Paris on September 23-26. We were 2 of the 782 delegates from 44 countries who met to share knowledge, experience, and questions. The conference promoted the idea of taking the city back from the car and returning it to the inhabitants, using bicycling and public transportation to make cities more livable.

Conference talks and workshops were organized around 4 themes: bicycle use today worldwide; integrating the bicycle in comprehensive policies; strategies and alliances; and efficient implementation. Bicycles were provided to conference attendees. On the lst evening, attendees cycled from the conference location near Esplanade des Invalides to the Hotel de Ville (City Hall) for a lavish buffet by the Lord Mayor of Paris. Next evening we enjoyed a car-free ride down the Champs-Elysees and along the Seine with 8,000 French cyclists. There were also field trips to see bicycling facilities. We went by train into the suburbs to see a bicycle station that rents bikes and has secure bicycle storage next to the station. The Paris transit service provides the bicycle station for commuters wishing to zip into Paris and for Parisians wanting to bike in the country side. On rental bikes from the bicycle station, we enjoyed a group ride on a trail along the Marne River.

Besides wonderful food, delightful cycling, and the joy of being in Paris, what did we learn? The conference emphasized the importance of people working with city planners to include bicycle facilities throughout cities. To solve the problems of congestion and pollution, we must reduce the use of automobiles and encourage public transit, bicycling, and walking. The first step is a bicycle plan with goals and strategies to encourage bicycling. Wide curb lanes signed for bicycles, shared bus/bike lanes, and separate on-road bike lanes encourage cycling. Reducing the speed of automobile traffic with speed humps, narrowed lanes, and other traffic calming greatly improves the safety of cyclists and pedestrians. Secure bicycle parking is essential at public transit stops and in business and shopping areas. Bicycle maps and signed bike routes encourage people to cycle. "Safe Routes to School" and Bicycle Education are essential to get young people cycling.
For many years we have lived in a car culture that undermines the quality of life in cities. We must encourage the use of the bicycle and help change the culture to value the bicycle as a way to run errands and to get to school or work.

Winter 2003 Schedule of Events

Mon Dec 1, 7:30 PM; CPABC Meeting - College Park REI

Pedal Power is published 4 times a year by the College Park Area Bicycle Coalition (CPABC). All inquiries & submissions welcome. Feel free to use any and all info.

 

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Last Updated on Thursday September 30, 2004.