they recently widened a stretch of road I ride on to two lanes and a sidewalk (from one lane and a shoulder). the promised 5 foot bike lane never materialized, but they did put a sign down that said "bike lane" ... next to the sidewalk. picture coming if I can somehow manage to get one, without having a camera.

what are they trying to tell us? that sounds like a straight-up ****-you gesture towards this town's rather large cycling community by our local government to me, at least that is how I interpret it.

Does MAryland have a state standard as to what a bike lane is?

Has nothing to do with actual cyclist. If they put up a sign calling the sidewalk a bike lane, then they can get credit from LAB for extra bike lane mileage towards winning some bicycle friendly award and they do not even have to pay for paint.

http://www.yehudamoon.com/index.php?date=2008-04-07

Does MAryland have a state standard as to what a bike lane is?

This is an excellent question. In Wisconsin in order for it to be a bike lane it has to meet some minimum standards. Also in Wisconsin you don't ever "have" to ride in a bike lane even if it is available.

Which road was that on?

I just had a conversation on another forum with someone in Beltsville trying to get to Silver Spring by bike. I suggested going to CP and take Metzerott and Piney Branch, but with construction on Cherry Hill she can't even get to CP. Do you know a bikeable way between Beltsville and CP?

If there are two travel lanes and a sidewalk, with no shoulder, then the outer travel lane is the bike lane. If it is more than about 15 feet wide, you can share it side-by-side with motor vehicles. If it is much narrower than that, you can rightfully take the center of it.

For bike directions I would ask here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BikeWashingtonDC/

And yes Maryland has a standard for what a bike lane is unfortunately there is growing support for sidepaths in this state. I have no idea where this supposed "support" is coming from but it is becoming more of problem every year.

This is an excellent question. In Wisconsin in order for it to be a bike lane it has to meet some minimum standards. Also in Wisconsin you don't ever "have" to ride in a bike lane even if it is available.

Same in Washington State.

Which road was that on?

I just had a conversation on another forum with someone in Beltsville trying to get to Silver Spring by bike. I suggested going to CP and take Metzerott and Piney Branch, but with construction on Cherry Hill she can't even get to CP. Do you know a bikeable way between Beltsville and CP?

it's Metzerott Road actually. after they "improved" that section by making it more dangerous and inhospitable to all than it was before in the name of making a few motorists who can't be bothered to take the major 4 lane arterial a few blocks away be able to go faster, they didn't even finish paving the road which makes it a mess of potholes bumps and road imperfections on top of everything else.

to answer your second question, Rhode Island Avenue is a really good way to get from Beltsville to CP. runs parallel to Route 1 and there's either a bike lane or a WOL almost all of the way and after crossing Greenbelt Road it turns into the College Park trolley trail which takes you right into downtown CP or you can go to the University from there too.

check it out on Google maps here (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Rhode+Island+Ave.+%26+Route+1,+Beltsville,+MD&sll=39.029302,-76.915305&sspn=0.008234,0.019848&ie=UTF8&ll=39.029302,-76.915305&spn=0.008234,0.019848&z=16&iwloc=addr)

This thread is useless without pix.

Metzerott is a County road and you need to complain to the County about it. I do not have any direct contacts but there is College Park Area Bicycle Coalition which should be helpful, the folks at Proteus should have some more info.