Hearing on Equal Rights for Bikes Task Force is today
The Baltimore City Council will hold a public hearing today on the Equal Right for Bikes Task Force, which was introduced in April.
The purpose of the task force is to work within the Bicycle Mast Plan to promote a safety program for cars and bikes by clarifyin the rules of the road for all traffic, creating a system to monitor bike-invovled accidents, recommending bike safety initiatives and spreading information on bike safety.
The hearing is at 12:30 p.m. on the 4th floor of City Hall. The master plan, if you'd like to look in advance, is here.
Thanks to One Less Car for the heads up. There ought to be a good turnout, if the numbers from the bike and pedestrian advocacy group's last event are any measure.
The Tour du Port, a bike ride around Baltimore Oct. 4, brought out 2,000 riders. That was up from 1,250 last year.
And a reminder from the group: This Sunday from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. the southbound lanes of Roland Avenue will be closed to car traffic between Northern Parkway and Cold Spring Lane for the "Sunday Streets" program. So get out your walking shoes, bikes and skateboards!
Baltimore Sun photo of this year's Tour du Port with Mayor Sheila Dixon out front/Amy Davis
Comments
I hope they can influence how drivers in this city treat cyclists, I am constantly frightened by the other vehicles I encounter on the road
Posted by: Iandanger | October 23, 2009 11:53 AM
Stay off the roads with your toys and you will be fine. And spare me the argument that riding on the sidewalk is illegal NOBODY I repeat NOBODY is getting a ticket for riding a bike on the sidewalk. Oh and if there is no sidewalk then that means the rod is for cars only . PERIOD!
Posted by: apu | October 23, 2009 10:28 PM
Less with the color coordinated and spandex outfits and more with the heads up and mirror using and signaling of intentions... and more auto drivers will (again) perceive the in the traffic bicyclist as the fellow commuter they may actually be.
As it is tho...
Posted by: OldSchoolTwoWheeler | October 23, 2009 11:49 PM
I am all for having more cyclists. The cost for building bike paths is far less than for building roads. I salute all law abiding cyclists, but please remember that respect has to be earned.
It would be great if bicyclists obey the traffic laws.
Unfortunately, there is a group who think they are entitled (the "too cool" bunch mentioned by OSTwoWheeler) to flaunt the laws by not stopping at stop sings, not signaling for stops and turns or lane changes, running red lights, and speeding down hills, etc.
There should be licensing of bicyclists so riders can be held accountable. If you all truly believe in "sharing the road," then share the responsibilities that come with it!
p.s. What are the laws with the kids on scooters? Helmets? plates?
Posted by: John H Clemson | October 26, 2009 11:51 AM