Bike advocate sees positive signs at MDOT
The Maryland Department of Transportation is becoming increasingly aware to bicycle riders' issues and responsive to their concerns, according to a delegate who has been a champion of bike-related issues in recent years.
Del. Jon Cardin, a Baltimore County Democrat, told Bike Maryland's annual Bicycle Symposium Tuesday, that he has seen positive policy moves coming out of the department and its agencies. Cradin said he has been informed that the Motor Vehicle Administration has decided to include six bike safety questions on the exam drivers must take to receive their licenses.
Cardin, himself a bike rider, also said the State Highway Administration has adopted a policy under which it will incorporate improvements for bicycles -- bike lane additions, lane striping for bicycles or improved signage -- in every road repaving project where its is not physically impossible.
We have calls in to the two agencies to see what they have to say.
Comments
The State has a huge deficit and a crumbling infrastructure so why not add thousands to each and every road project? The ironic thing is the more travelers use bikes the less gas they purchase and therefore the Stare has less money for infrastructure improvement.
Posted by: Mark | February 22, 2011 4:00 PM
@Mark
You want to talk smart financial investments?
1. Bicycles cause less wear and tear on roads than cars
2. and use space more efficiently; you can fit half a dozen bicyclists in the space required for one car
3. most cyclists are also motorists, who pay into the system when they drive
4. in fact, cyclists already help pay for our roads through general funds (see US PIRG education fund report)
5. investing intelligently is good sense; retro fitting to accommodate all road users is more expensive than getting it right the first time. (see Complete Streets) Let's start now and get it right.
6. bicycling lanes are good for everyone, they calm traffic and keep pedestrians safer (see NYC). Traffic calming is good for business (see Valencia Street study)
7. bicycling infrastructure in cost-effective. Portland built their entire bike system for $56 million. that's peanuts; How many miles of highway can you get for $50 million? 1? 2?
8. increasing bicycling reduces congestion; congestion is expensive (see Texas Transportation Institute)
9. People like bicycling infrastructure. real estate values are higher closer to trails (see Lindsay et al, and many others)
Posted by: Darren | February 22, 2011 7:27 PM
Mark,
Bike infrastructure also creates more jobs than many other infrastructure improvements.
Posted by: Jed | February 23, 2011 11:09 AM