Join Bike Maryland for a Webinar about Cycling Without Age this Thursday, December 5th @ 7 PM

Register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom

Sandy Bishop, BikeAAA Board member and program manager for the Anne Arundel chapter of Cycling Without Age (CWA) in Severna Park, will share the story behind those strange looking rickshaws with the red canopies on the B&A Trail. CWA uses trishaws to get seniors and anyone with mobility limitations out for a ride with volunteers. CWA also motivates people who might otherwise not ride a bike to enjoy some time in the saddle while sharing the experience with others. The interest for programs in more areas is growing, along with the need for more leaders and volunteers. Learn how CWA can complement your bike clubs and advocacy efforts while also making your communities more connected through slow rides.

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WABA Advocacy has arranged a Zoom session on Thursday, December 5, 2024, 7:30 pm-8:30 pm to bring community members up to speed on WABA’s 2025 state legislative agenda and pro-cycling advocacy plans. Register at https://waba.org/event/waba-preview-of-the-2025-maryland-legislative-session/ .

We’ll be joined by a special guest, Senate Judicial Proceedings (JPR) Committee Chair Will Smith, who will join us to brief you on the 2025 legislative calendar, the state transportation budget outlook, and effective advocacy from a legislator’s point of view.

WABA's quarterly Prince George’s County Advocacy update covers events, advocacy opportunities, legislative and transportation priorities, and community activities, plus our 2024 Prince George's County WABA Award honorees: https://waba.org/2024/11/27/pgc-2024-advocacy-update-4/ .

WABA action: Ask the Maryland Department of Transportation to Fully Fund Bikeways and Complete Streets. https://waba.org/action-page/ask-mdot-to-fully-fund-bikeways-and-complete-streets

I often bike commute in Prince George's county. Some of the streets along my route have great bike lanes that are clearly marked, painted bright green, and separated with post dividers. But even so many cars park in the bike lanes. This is obviously less safe. I know Baltimore city uses 311 to report them. Does Prince George's county have something similar?

In 2022, three State Department employees and the husband of another, working at NIH, were killed while biking and walking in the Washington area.  That year, FSO Dan Langenkamp, husband of mother and FSO Sarah Langenkamp, held one of the largest safe-streets advocacy bike rides the Washington area has ever seen, with nearly 2,000 riders and walkers converging at the U.S. Capitol to demand safer streets.

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On November 17, for the third year running, he is doing it again, joining forces with Congressman Jamie Raskin, Department of Transportation officials, and activists from across America to press for changes to make our streets safer. 

Join us! The Ride for Your Life 2024, marking World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, will be an 8-mile slow ride to the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall from Wood Acres Elementary school in Bethesda.  

Ride Registration

Rather walk? Join the Walk For Your Life one-mile from Freedom Plaza across from the White House. 

The event is the only ride/walk in the nation’s capitol aimed specifically at reducing the record numbers of people walking, biking, and driving being killed in vehicle traffic in America. 

The ride will retrace the route that Sarah Langenkamp took the day she died, continuing to the Lincoln Memorial where we will hold a rally to press for change on our roadways.

You're invited to WABA’s 5th Great Montgomery County Bike Summit, Sunday afternoon, September 29 in Wheaton. Maryland State Highway Administrator Will Pines will keynote. The full program is at https://waba.org/MoCoSummit2024. 

We got out a note yesterday, with some background: Why attend WABA’s 5th Great Montgomery County Bike Summit? And what’s with the “5th”? Here's a short excerpt:

Maryland has experienced 410 road deaths statewide so far in 2024. Both statewide and local efforts are needed, to advance road safety and build out our bicycle network. Join us on September 29 to join us in our work: https://waba.org/blog/2024/09/5th-great-moco-summit/

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Any suggestions for flat biking paths? I biked bwi trail but I’m a beginner and it can be quite hilly

You're invited: The 5th Great Montgomery County Bike Summit takes place Sunday afternoon, September 29, 2024 in Wheaton, Maryland organized by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA). This free event will advance the cause of safe biking for all, across the county. We’re excited!

The summit will feature presentations and panel discussions with policy-makers and advocates. We’re looking forward to the program including a keynote from Will Pines, Maryland State Highway Administrator, and also particularly to a planned panel on Effective Community Advocacy.

Learn more and register (free!) at https://waba.org/blog/2024/07/mocosummit2024/.

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Join the Garmin group ride if you’ll be at DC Bike Rode tomorrow.

Pasting from their flyer announcement

You are invited to Cycling Without Age – The Movie, featuring participants from the CWA Santa Barbara chapter. The movie introduces you to the “wind in your hair” joy of Cycling Without Age for both the passengers & the volunteers, as they spend 1me together in their local community sharing smiles and stories.

The 30-minute movie will be followed by a panel discussion with local participants and a chance to ride one of our trishaws. Cycling Without Age Anne Arundel provides free rides on the B&A Bike Trail in Severna Park and is run entirely by volunteers.

Please join us

Thursday, September 19th
11 am – 1 pm (Light lunch provided)
Hosted by: Woods Memorial Church
611 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd Severna Park, MD

RSVP By Friday, September 13th - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScLUDOsFc24_p3sct6FNiw4uMMGXXR5Ac4RaEYN3muFFrdPrg/viewform

Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/0ggeqOvygEY?feature=shared

Learn more about Cycling Without Age
http://www.facebook.com/groups/cyclingwithoutageannearundel/

https://cyclingwithoutage.org/

The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) State Highway Administration (SHA) announced community workshops for five priority Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PSAP) corridors. Attend and participate if you're nearby and able.

From the press release:

Project Areas Selected as Part of Statewide Pedestrian Safety Action Plan 

(August 20, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration will host public informational workshops this fall to provide updates and receive feedback on initiatives to improve pedestrian access and safety along five key corridors as part of the agency’s ambitious Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. The corridors targeted for improvements are in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

Through the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, the State Highway Administration reviewed existing conditions across the state, identified areas of need and prioritized corridors for pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements. The plan was published in May 2023, and the first five corridors were announced late last year. 

Workshops to discuss safety projects will be held for the following corridors: 

• MD 650 (New Hampshire Avenue), between MD 193 (University Boulevard) and Powder Mill Road in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties – Monday, September 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Cresthaven Elementary School, 1234 Cresthaven Drive, Silver Spring.
• US 1 (Washington Boulevard), between the Prince George’s County Line and Gorman Road in Howard County – Tuesday, September 24, 5-7 p.m., Phillips School of Maryland, 8920 Whiskey Bottom Road, Laurel.
• MD 2 (Ritchie Highway), between MD 648 (Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard) and MD 177 (Mountain Road) in Anne Arundel County – Thursday, September 26, 5-7 p.m., Old Mill Senior High School, 600 Patriot Lane, Millersville.
• MD 150 (Eastern Avenue), between MD 700 (Martin Boulevard) and MD 702 (Southeast Freeway) in Baltimore County​ – Tuesday, October 1, 5-7 p.m., Stembridge Community Center, 99 Stemmers Run Road, Essex.
• MD 410 (East-West Highway), between MD 212 (Riggs Road) and MD 500 (Queens Chapel Road) in Prince George’s County – Wednesday, October 9, 5-7 p.m., DeMatha Catholic High School, 4313 Madison St., Hyattsville.

“The Pedestrian Safety Action Plan is critical in our strategy to provide safe, accessible and equitable transportation options for all customers, no matter how they travel,” said State Highway Administrator Will Pines. “We are excited to host these informational workshops to share our thoughts with residents and get feedback on ways we can improve safety and accessibility throughout our communities.”

Working with community residents, officials and other stakeholders, the State Highway Administration is developing strategies to enhance safety for all roadway users along these corridors by increasing safety and mobility for pedestrians and bicyclists. The agency is making recommendations using its Context Driven Guide – a toolkit that considers the “context” of an area to determine what countermeasures are most appropriate. Depending on community needs, land-use and other factors, solutions may include speed limit reductions, protected bike lanes, high-visibility crosswalks, signal timing adjustments or a host of other strategies.

During the informational workshops there will be no formal presentation. State Highway staff will be available to discuss project-specific details, and those attending may arrive at any time to view the displays, ask questions and provide feedback. Materials also will be posted on the State Highway Administration’s Project Portal website.

A Spanish-language interpreter will be available at each of the meetings to assist with communication and respond to questions. Others seeking an interpreter for hearing or speech difficulties or assistance with the English language may email SHATitleVI@mdot.maryland.gov in advance of the event. Please indicate the desired language in the subject line. Maryland Relay Service can assist teletype users at 7-1-1. Questions about the informational workshops or general inquiries may be directed to State Highway Administration Senior Safety Officer Joseph Moges at jmoges@mdot.maryland.gov, or Community Relations Manager Holly Pearl at Hpearl@mdot.maryland.gov. 

A critical role in creating ‘Complete Streets’

The Pedestrian Safety Action Plan is a key component of the implementation of the Maryland Department of Transportation’s new Complete Streets Policy, which prioritizes safe, reliable, equitable and sustainable travel across all modes to make roads safer and connect Marylanders to jobs, education and economic opportunity. Projects under the Pedestrian Safety Action Plan also support Maryland’s Vision Zero ​goal, which seeks to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries on state roadways by 2030.

For a list of all major State Highway Administration projects, go to Project Portal, or visit the homepage at roa​ds.maryland.​gov. For a look at real-time traffic conditions, go to md511.mary​land.gov.   

We hope your summer is going well. WABA’s Advocacy team has been busy! Here’s our latest quarterly Prince George’s County advocacy update, #3 for 2024. https://waba.org/blog/2024/08/pgc-2024-update-3/

You're invited: Join the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) in Gaithersburg on August 21 for our next Montgomery County bicycling advocates meetup. Info & RSVP at waba.org/blog/2024/07/meetup-8-21.

Please join the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and partners for a Prince George’s County-Fort Washington Community Forum on Transportation, Road Safety & Bicycling. Register (free!) at https://waba.org/blog/2024/07/pgc-fortwashington/.

Our aim is to jump-start pro-bicyclist, pro-pedestrian, pro-safety organizing in and for Southern Prince George’s County, which hasn’t received the attention and infrastructure investment it deserves. Let’s change that, by organizing to build bike lanes and trails, for safe roads and stepped up enforcement, to boost place-making, and for equitable investment in Prince George’s bicycle programs.

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From the website: https://streetsofbaltimore.com/bikeelectric

There’s more information on the website. Not that many vouchers available, but it’s better than zero.

Looking to start an A-type group ride leaving out of the Rockville/Olney, MD area. Distance 40-60 miles depending on interest. Pace 18+ mph, depending on interest, but 20+ mph would be great.

Suggested meeting location at Elder Pine Brewery (park at Rachel Carson Greenway on Zion rd.)

Open to other meeting locations and times.

Winning Safer Streets for Prince George's

July 22, 6:30-8 pm

Via Zoom 

Register (free) here

People walking to schools, transit, stores, and elsewhere are put at risk as they traverse wide, high-speed roads. With Prince George’s leading the region in traffic and pedestrian deaths, we’ve been asking how we can make roads safer for people walking or biking to their destinations.

Join us to hear from Kandese Holford, Maryland Department of Transportation, who will share with us the state’s efforts to make state roads safer through an updated Complete Streets Policy and implementation of the Maryland Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. We’ll also hear from school and community activists along with public officials. 

Together, we will talk about how to translate updated policies into safer walking and biking, better transit service, business opportunity, and community health.

 This event is sponsored by RISE Prince George’s, Coalition for Smarter Growth, Washington Area Bicyclist Association, and The Capital Market.

🚲 Join the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) & friends for a Prince George's County bicycling advocates meetup, Sunday, July 7, 4 pm-6 pm in College Park. Info & RSVP at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/929174605257.

🚲 Join the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) & friends for a Prince George's County bicycling advocates meetup, Sunday, July 7, 4 pm-6 pm in College Park. Info & RSVP at https://waba.org/blog/2024/06/bicycling-advocates-meetup-prince-georges-county-2/

I am invited to join some friends to bike the BWI trail but my gravel bike is out (bent my small chain ring, awaiting replacement). My road bike is good to ride. Would I be able to take it on this trail? 23mm tires on it. Thanks

Just copy/paste right from my email

HANOVER, MD (June 6, 2024) – The Maryland Department of Transportation announced today that Secretary Paul J. Wiedefeld has signed a new, department-wide Complete Streets Policy, which will make roads safer for all users by requiring additions of safety features such as bike lanes and pedestrian crossings, thereby prioritizing accessible and sustainable travel across all modes. The new policy supports the Moore-Miller Administration’s State Plan to create safer communities and advance infrastructure to better connect Marylanders to jobs, shopping and other opportunities.

*“*We must do more to save lives and prevent fatal crashes in Maryland,” said Secretary Wiedefeld. “Our roads serve as critical links which connect Marylanders to life’s opportunities and communities to each other. Through our updated Complete Streets policy, the Department will design and build projects that accommodate and protect all road users, including those who walk or bike.”

Updated for the first time in more than a decade, the Complete Streets policy will ensure MDOT’s multi-billion-dollar capital program funds safe, complete streets for all Marylanders. It will apply to projects within MDOT’s right-of-way in the following cases:

• When implementing a capital improvement project such as construction or reconstruction of a roadway, intersection or bridge;
• When permitting new or reconstructed streets to access MDOT right-of-way; and
• When there is an opportunity to improve safety for all users by applying proactive engineering safety countermeasures to resurfacing projects.

The policy is applicable to all agencies, including the State Highway Administration, Maryland Transit Administration, Motor Vehicle Administration, Maryland Aviation Administration, Maryland Port Administration and the Maryland Transportation Authority. All administrators joined the Secretary in signing the policy. It went into effect June 1.  The policy applies to new projects and is not retroactive for ones that have achieved 30% or more design and approval pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) or that will achieve those milestones by December 1.

A “Complete Streets” approach prioritizes infrastructure for all road users including pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit options. It aims to address the needs of all road users when developing and redeveloping transportation corridors. And it is a key strategy to help reverse the upward trend in traffic fatalities while creating a healthier, greener and more equitable transportation system.

MDOT has been working to identify corridors that can benefit from a Complete Streets approach. Some projects are already moving through planning, design and construction phases, including along US 1 and MD 410 in Prince George’s County. MDOT in recent years completed a Complete Streets project along a section of Old Georgetown Road (MD 187) notable for fatal crashes involving bicyclists in Montgomery County. The project added a bike lane with green pavement markings and flex posts, improving conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians. No fatal crashes have occurred since the bike lane installation.

Under the policy, each MDOT mode or type of transportation will develop implementation strategies within the next six months and work in collaboration with the Office of Active Transportation and Micromobility at the Secretary’s Office with the goal of increasing equitable access to the transportation network -- from better transit connections to safer crossings. The policy will also help build awareness around safer road interactions by promoting driver education and enforcement of traffic laws as well as implementation of educational safety programs and initiatives.

The new policy fulfills Secretary Wiedefeld’s commitment to update MDOT’s Complete Streets approach and further support Maryland’s Vision Zero goal to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries on Maryland roadways by 2030

This policy reaffirms and advances MDOT’s longstanding commitment to a transportation system that works for all and builds on key initiatives such as the State Highway Administration’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan, which seeks to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety statewide.

With the signing of the policy, Secretary Wiedefeld and leaders from all MDOT agencies mark the important step of implementing this policy across the Department.

“Complete Streets is an important tool in our toolbox that enables us to provide safe, accessible and equitable transportation options for all customers, no matter which mode they choose to travel. This policy ensures that MDOT – in collaboration with our partners – is working together to integrate our transportation facilities and connect customers to life’s opportunities.” 

• William Pines, Administrator, Maryland State Highway Administration 

“Each fatality on our roads is a tragedy and unfortunately, Maryland experienced more than 620 fatalities in 2023, which included 165 pedestrians and 15 bicyclists. These deaths are unacceptable and were completely preventable. We are looking forward to working with our partners under this updated policy to ensure the safety of all Marylanders by creating the safest transportation system in our state that will help us reach our goal of zero fatalities and injuries on our roadways.”

• Chrissy Nizer, Administrator, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration 

"Our new Complete Streets Policy acknowledges the vital role of transit within our communities and places a premium on accessibility and safety. By incorporating public transit, bicyclist and pedestrian infrastructure into our transportation projects, we’re creating inclusive pathways that connect Marylanders to opportunity and cultivate safer, healthier communities.”

• Holly Arnold, Administrator, Maryland Transit Administration

“The Maryland Transportation Authority uses engineering, enforcement and education to ensure Maryland’s toll facilities support safe use and mobility for all users. This policy emphasizes innovative engagement strategies as seen in MDTA’s Bay Crossing Study: Tier 2 NEPA and our efforts to work with local jurisdictions on bridge replacement projects along the I-95 corridor. Together with this new policy, MDTA will help connect more people to opportunity.”

• Bruce Gartner, Executive Director, Maryland Transportation Authority

“Safety is a core value and an overriding commitment. Mitigating risks during the operation and development of our airports is essential to protect customers and employees. The Maryland Aviation Administration is proud to stand with MDOT in this commitment to support safe access and mobility for all.”

• Ricky Smith, Executive Director/CEO, Maryland Aviation Administration

“We are proud to join our fellow Maryland Department of Transportation modes in strongly supporting the Complete Streets Policy.   As an avid bicyclist myself, I know this initiative will greatly improve the safety of our roads by adding bike lanes and pedestrian crossings and providing better opportunities for Marylanders to reach their jobs, retail businesses, dining, or entertainment venues.  It also promotes a healthier and more equitable transportation network for all of us.” 

• Jonathan Daniels, Executive Director, Maryland Port Administration

🚲 Join the Washington Area Bicyclist Association for a Montgomery County bicycling advocates meetup, Thursday, May 30, 5 pm-7 pm at BabyCat Brewery in Kensington. Info & RSVP: waba.org/blog/2024/05/moco-bicycling-advocates-meetup/.

For Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) Advocacy in Prince George’s County, community engagement is job #1. Read on for updates and upcoming activities to support safe streets and a bicycle-friendly community.

https://waba.org/blog/2024/05/prince-georges-county-advocacy-update/