Thanks
 

Thanks Bob. Is it supposed to rain Sunday? I forgot about that ride, and hear you have the Monument ride in the works for May.

Charlie, did you get my email about "Full Sized Bicycles Aboard MARC Trains"? I'm not sure if I have your correct email address.

I'm going to be in the College Park area on Saturday. I'd love some recommendations for a quiet, scenic, 50-80 mile ride. Climbs are a bonus. Can anyone help? I think that the general idea is to head north, right?

Hello, Cat's PJs -- love that screen name, that's always been one of my favorite weird old sayings! :)

I have camped once on the State Park side of Assateague, and twice on the National Seashore side. The State Park was where I stayed one year when I was riding the Seagull Century, so I didn't do anything in the way of "attractions" there. On the National Seashore side, there is supposedly a "hiking trail" nearby; from what I gather from my friends who ventured onto it, it seems it was pretty short, not terribly scenic/interesting, and (of course!) mosquito-clogged. (I think that was the day I opted, with a few others, to bike to Berlin and visit the farmers' market instead.) There are also kayak tours on the Bay (run, I believe, by the Park Service?) somewhere relatively near the National Seashore side. If you "use the Google" hopefully you can find some info on these things.

But, yeah, as NR says, it's pretty much just the ponies and the beach.

Hi, Ranzak, I'm signed up for Six Pillars (it's on the 7th, by the way -- Saturday.) I rode it for the first time last year.

For decent climbing your only options are to head north towards either the Ellicot City or Clarksville area. If you're looking for some really steep hills then try this route. Depending on where you're staying, it may be easier to for you to start the ride by parking at the REI in College Park. Then head north on Rhode Island Ave and hang a right on Sunnyside Avenue. If you do this ride then a couple of things you should know:

1. Around mile 38 you need to make a left onto Lawyers Hill Road. There is no sign for Lawyers Hill Road, but you will see a sign for Rowanberry Dr on the other side of the street.
2. Around mile 42.5, you will be on Hanover Road and need to make a right onto Race Road. There is no street sign here.
3. Miles 61-64 on the cue sheet aren't possible because Research Road will be closed. So just continue heading west on Powder Mill Road and make a left onto Edmonston to get back on track.


Traffic is pretty scarce once you get past Brock Bridge Road. The toughest part of the ride is around the halfway mark when you hit Hilltop Road and Ilchester. If you're feeling particularly manly you can do some hill repeats here. Once up Ilchester is usually enough for me :lol:

HB363 Ride to Annapolis Day 6 #30daysofbiking by iodaniell at Garmin Connect - Details http://t.co/1NeRc5t #Cycling in MD

And, unfortunately...
Check out Panel Puts Brakes On Stiffer Penalties In Bicycle Accidents - http://lsnlw.com/t/4118884754/

Thanks for the route! I suppose that I'd rather just get out into nice roads than go up hills, if I must choose between the two. I'm not sure where I will be staying (girlfriend taking care of that), but I will have a car to park somewhere.

edit:

How about something more in the Westernly direction, like this: http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1173644

Looks less populated over near Columbia.

It looks less populated on the map, but that route actually has you riding on much more heavily travelled roads. Mile 24-30 on that ride are pretty enjoyable, but otherwise it's not exactly what I'd describe as quiet and scenic.

If you don't mind driving a bit out of College Park, I'd suggest you hook up with Potomac Peddlers for one of their weekend rides. They have one leaving out of Glenwood Middle School (about 45 min from College Park) on Saturday that seems right up your alley. More info here.

I am increasingly thinking that I will drive somewhere. Maybe even as far as Signal Mountain or Skyline Drive? I've no experience with those areas so that will be a whole other google session.

I'll probably just get lazy and follow one of your two great choices.

Hey folks: Been a long time, glad to see so much biking. I have been crazy at work halting our experiments in the event of a potential Gov shutdown(which apparently is not happening) as well as bike advocacy meetings in the evenings. Went to Gil Penalos'as 8-80 cities talk. He is an excellent speaker. Also our little Catonsville Rail trail group has been making big strides in improving bike-ability in our community and MARC is holding a meeting to discuss full bikes on trains. Don't hold your breathe on the last one but at least they are addressing the situation. Very little rec biking but did get away for a climbing trip to WVa and there's always the bike commute.
@Harry: sorry to miss the ride, thanks for carrying the torch for us
@GB: I was hoping to make your ride tomorrow but have been away from home too much lately so I better stay. Enjoy it, you too Isaias.
@Barrry: Thanks for the headsup, I finally got an invite to the meeting....well I kinda forced myself on them;)
@ All the new folks: welcome

Skyline drive is awesome! You should looking into a reddish knob climb, one of my favorite rides when I lived down there and it's one of the highest mountains in the appalachains, great views!

If this hasn't been posted before: There's some recent legislation that could use the help of MD. cyclists

Washington Area Bicyclist Association


Urgent Alert: HB 363 on Senate Floor Right Now, Facing Opposition
House Bill 363
As a Maryland resident and roadway user, I am asking you to do your part to ensure that motorists who kill other roadway users by substantially and unjustifiably negligent driving be held accountable for their actions.

Please pass House Bill 363 as amended. The gross deviation amendment allows this bill to function as intended to improve roadway safety and is based on reliable, tested language from the Model Penal Code.

We have succeeded in getting the bill out of Committee and before the full Senate with an unobjectionable amendment that changes "substantial deviation" to "gross deviation" from the standard of care. We believe this change is consistent with the original purpose of the bill, and will serve the purpose of keeping our roadways safer.
The bill is on the Senate floor RIGHT NOW and still faces tough opposition from some.

Only takes a minute to register your support!


Please CLICK HERE IMMEDIATELY to email your state senator expressing your continued support for HB 363.

Signed

Sometime you guys may want to try this ride on the Skyline:

http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/archives/10783/20100626 - Front Royal to Waynesboro, June 26, 2010
http://bimactive.com/ba/journal/archives/10783/20100627 - Waynesboro to Front Royal, June 27, 2010

I'd recommend going when it's not hot out.

April 12, 2011

BILL PASSED BOTH SENATE AND HOUSE

HB-363 (Manslaughter by Vehicle – Criminal Negligence) passed both the Senate and the House this evening. The governor is expected to sign it into law.

HB-363 will make it more likely that motorists whose criminal negligence while driving and causing the death of another road user will be held accountable.

_____________________________________________________________________________


Thanks to the people that helped put this over the top - stronger prosecutions may be a wake-up call for motorist that are driving with no regard for other road users! :thumb:

Thanks for the note hillcusser. I hadn't yet heard the news.

I heard it through the e-mail grapevine early today. Here's a link to the details: http://www.baltimorespokes.org/artic...10412070347690

Some more behind the scenes stories/credit: First off Jim T quoted in the Baltimore Spokes article does an excellent job in crediting that major players, so what I am about to say is in no way to diminish the contribution of the major players but there were minor battles along the way where others helped pave the way the bigger guns.

First up is Jim T himself for providing some valuable resources in answering Frosh's questions not to mention time an energy in rallying cyclists in Frosh's district.

Next, Senator Lisa Gladden who I believe was instrumental in keeping Frosh from just sitting on the bill. She became our ally do to the efforts of Jeffery Marks (known for his pro-bike letters to the editor in the Sun) and his efforts to rally the cyclists in Gladden's district. And Jeffery got his inspiration from Baltimore Spokes.

My own little part was outlining how to get some personal stories into Simmons' testimony before the Senate (I think that bit turned the committee vote into a unanimous pro vote.)

And to some extent a conversation with Michael Dresser which we found to be helpful.

Finally every one that called or wrote their Representative! Only one opposing vote on record, that is amazing!

This was very much like a chess match with a basic strategy outlined by Bike Maryland but some detail filled in by others along the way but as always it is a group effort that gets these things passed.

Just to be clear the bill still needs the Governor's signature to become law.

Driver, 83, ticketed in collision with bicycle
http://www.baltimorespokes.org/artic...11041220021378

If they throw the book at her she will get a $500.00 fine and 3 points.

AND... she gets to keep her license. :cry:

I really wonder what was going on behind the scenes for that to happen.

* 2 (violations) = $1000 and 6 points (She still has the $10M civil lawsuit)

If she has at least 2 points on her licences she will have here licences suspended otherwise mandatory safe driving class. We just made our first inroad to increased penalties if you harm a person, it will take time for it to expand.

One thing that really bothers me is we penalize the behavior irregardless of the damages that behavior caused. Yet different behaviors get different fines based on the severity of damage they usually cause. So speeding is not as bad as drunk driving, so speeding should always be lesser punishment, so we have a system were getting caught in a speed trap on the freeway is the same fine as speeding on a residential street and killing a boy. Which is a lower fine then getting caught at a sobriety check point. Does our system really make any sense?