What would you say to a cheap, easy way to stay slim, one that would help avoid serious illness and early death? How about if it made your neighbors healthier, too? It could be as simple as biking to the store.
Read the story Secret To A Long, Healthy Life: Bike To The Store on NPR
It is time for the 2nd annual Brunswick Bicycle Festival and best of all it is FREE. Last year several of us did a beautiful road ride to the event from downtown Frederick and enjoyed some music and food. Check it out!
Brunswick Bicycle Festival
Join us at Railroad Square in Downtown Brunswick, Maryland
(a bike friendly town) for the SECOND annual Brunswick
Bicycle Festival. There will be activities, food,
and music.Sample Activities: Bike Rodeo for Children, Hill Climb, and 5 Mile Loop Ride (things for non-bicycle riders as well)
Music by: Hard Swimmin’ Fish, Flat Foot Sam & The Educated Fools
Location: Railroad Square near the MARC train station,
on mile marker 55 of the C&O Canal. Easy access to the towpath for bicycling.
One mile to the Brunswick camp ground (also on the towpath).Time: 10 am – 2 pm
Date: Saturday, August 20, 2011
Admission: FREEFor more information visit
www.BrunswickMainStreet.org
A message from The Washington Area Bicyclist Association
Dear Maryland Cyclists,
The Maryland State Highway Administration SHA is posed to make one fo the most anti-cycling decisions in the last few decades.
Tell Maryland officials not to reject simple actions that make cyclists safer on the state’s roadways!
After years of careful research and debate, the federal Department of Transportation has approved signs that say “Bicycles May Use Full Lane” for lanes that are too narrow for a car to safely pass a bicycle in the same lane. Experienced cyclists know that it is safer to use the full lane on these roadways, but motorists often don’t. These signs would both give notice to motorists to be aware of the potential presence of cyclists taking the lane, and would provide greater clarity than the common, but ambiguous “Share the Road” sign. These signs make the roadways safer for cyclists.
But the Maryland State Highway Administration wants to block the use of the signs in Maryland, so that most cyclists will continue to ride on the extreme right side of the roadway–even on roads where doing so is more dangerous than using the full lane. And some drivers will continue to be surprised—and sometimes angry—when cyclists do use the full lane. Maryland law explicitly allows cyclists to use the full lane when doing so is safer than keeping right, but some state officials do not seem to agree with the law. And they are expressing their own disagreement by disapproving a sign that makes us safer.>
Sadly, this decision is coming at the end of the distinguished career of SHA Director Neil Pederson, who retires this week. A cyclist himself, Mr. Pederson has often pushed his agency to accommodate cyclists. Because the decision seems to have been made at a lower level, we do not know whether Mr. Pederson has been fully informed or not. We also do not know whether Governor O’Malley, who has been actively promoting Cycle Maryland in recent weeks, is aware of or supports this anti-cyclist decision by his Highway Administration.
Please CLICK HERE to email Governor O’Malley, MDOT Secretary Swaim-Staley, SHA Director Pederson, and the MDOT and SHA Bicycle Coordinators:
1. Asking them to reverse SHA’s staff decision, and approve the use of the R4-11 “Bicycles may use full lane” sign so that cyclists and drivers alike will realize which roads are most safely ridden using the full lane, and>
2. Thanking Neil Pederson for his years of service and asking the Secretary and Governor to ensure that he is replaced by someone with a commitment to making Maryland’s roads safe for all road users.
Click here to email these officials. A sample email is provided, but feel free to customize the text to suit your needs.
Thank you,
The Washington Area Bicyclist Association
The Maryland Office of Tourism, Department of Transportation, and State Highway Administration are conducting a bicycle user survey to learn more about cyclists in Maryland and what products they would find most useful to help plan bicycle trips.
Take the survey [URL="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CycleMaryland"]here[/URL]
Police are looking for a van that hit a cyclist and fled the scene earlier this week. If you have any info, please contact the police. Full info at this FNP article.
Frederick, MD gets a Bicycle Friendly Community Honorable Mention from the League of American Bicyclists. Let’s keep the momentum going, advocate for bike lanes in the upcoming budget!
Announcement here!
From the League of American Bicyclists:
On Friday, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released a letter and supplemental document, which asked the US Department of Transportation to weaken their guidance on accommodating bicyclists and pedestrians. The supplemental document, submitted as part of a formal review of regulations, asks that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) withdraw their guidance on the meaning of “due consideration” of bicyclists and pedestrians to make it easier for states to ignore the needs of non-motorized travelers. AASHTO prefers the weaker “consider where appropriate” to allow states to avoid having to justify failure to accommodate bicycling and walking.
Full information can be found here.
As many of you may have already learned from this week’s FNP article, FBC recently donated the first of a series of bike racks in the downtown area, in front of Brewer’s Alley. The rack proudly displays the FBC logo and provides convenient parking in front of one of our most frequented downtown businesses. Using a semi-approved list of bike rack locations put together by the City with the guidance of the Frederick Pedalers, FBC hopes to raise the
funds necessary to purchase a rack for each of the designated locations. FBC supporters can contribute funds (great or small) to this cause directly through our Bike Rack fund on Paypal with each rack purchased on a priority basis as funds become available. In addition, we also provide the option to sponsor a specific rack of your choosing. All hoop racks are purchased from Dero Racks, at a total cost of $160/rack (shipping, lean bar included, and after-market logo included). Individual rack sponsors are also welcome to choose from Dero’s diverse line of bike racks; however, further coordination with the City may be required. Rack locations can be found on the below map; however, each location will need to be approved by the City on a case by case basis.
With your help we can greatly improve bike parking in Frederick!
Bike Rack Locations (not listed in any order of priority)
*Refer to map below
1) Patrick Street – in front of NOLA
2) Bump outs at the intersections along Market Street (Carroll Creek to Third Street)
3) On Market St, south of Federated Charities between the trash can and the tree
4) Courthouse – use the terraces, existing bike racks are hidden from view
5) Patrick Street entrance to the Carroll Creek Garage
6) Patrick Street – on the street – in front of the Antique Emporium
7) Additional racks nearer the entrance of the library
8) Either inside the garage, stairwell or on the street at the Municipal Annex
9) Tennis courts at Baker Park
10) Terminal building at airport (not on map)
11) Hillcrest Community Center (not on map)
12) 44 North Market Building (in back)
13) South side of Citizens Way between LaPaz and Green Turtle
14) Well Fargo Call Center in Riverside (not on map)
CLICK MAP TO ENLARGE
