How To Die in Three Easy Steps

The Right is Right - We're talking about the roads of course - not politiks

Now for clarity for all my international followers - LOL - I'm talking about riding in America. Places like England have different rules/laws, so know your local rules of the road. With that legal disclaimer in place, let's keep going <I hope you read that super fast like they do the legal gobbly-gook on television> 

I saw a near miss yesterday recently that scared me more than a little bit. A person was riding a bicycle AGAINST Traffic and in the LEFT-hand lane…and in a curve just past the stop-light in an area with limited sight lines. 

Unfortunately, there was a car coming and there was damn near a head-on between the car and the bicycle. The person on the bicycle would have likely died in this case. 

Wanna watch?  Then click right here.  Yes, there's no sound. Mostly because I muted the video because I didn't want you to hear me yelling Whoa, Whoa, Whoa #*)*%7$#$%^.!!!

As a person driving – it’s okay to come to complete stop in that situation, move right, or even change lanes.

As a reminder, a person on a bicycle is legally required to ride WITH traffic – not against traffic. In Maryland, a person riding a bicycle shall ride as close to the right side of the road as practicable and safe, except when:
• Making or attempting to make a left turn;
• Operating on a one-way street;
• Passing a stopped or slower moving vehicle;
• Avoiding pedestrians or road hazards;
• The right lane is a right turn only lane; or
• Operating in a lane that is too narrow for a bicycle to travel safely side-by-side within the lane (TR § 21-1205)

So, tell your friends that bike to ride WITH traffic not against and tell your friends that drive it's okay to change lanes, move away from the bike or even stop.

Ohhhh and if you're sitting there in Maryland, thinking just ride on the sidewalk and no problem.  That's cute.  In Maryland, you're not allowed to ride on the sidewalk unless permissible by local ordinance. Most localities don't allow you to ride on the sidewalks. 

Until next time, Fatti Maschii, Parole Femine 

Bike Vacations and Group Rides

I was on a Bike Vacation with my Local Bike Shop (LBS) (Crofton Bike Doctor) recently.  If you haven't taken a Bike Vacation, you need try it out.

My LBS trip was to Tucson, Arizona and we enjoyed some excellent weather, excellent riding and best of all I got to ride with new people. Starting a trip with strangers and ending it with friends is the best - especially when your expanding your biking network. Most excellent.

We had five rides scheduled over five days - nothing too crazy, but more than some folks get to ride in a normal week. Now there is a difference between enjoying a ride and enduring a ride - so make sure you condition yourself prior to your bike trip.  Look at the area you're going to be riding and get a sense of the routes you'll be riding (distance, climbing, temperature, etc).

While you can't do a lot of conditioning for temperature - you can do a lot for getting ready for the distances and climbing you'll enjoy on your trip. Heck, you can even get your butt ready for the trip by getting more rides in over consecutive days - A Happy Butt Makes For A Happy Rider,

Now if group rides and pace lines are intimidating to you - that's okay.  Most people that ride bikes want to share what they love and nothing is better than being in a pace line and sharing knowledge, chatting about stuff and making fun of ugly socks.

If you don't have the time or money for a Bike Vacation or if you're not sure a group riding is for you, but really want to try out some new routes and this group riding thing - then check out the shop rides your LBS has. The other great resource are local riding groups. They're always friendly to newcomers. Two Anne Arundel County groups that have regular rides of varying distances and paces are the Annapolis Bike Club and the Severna Park Peloton.

If your Local Bike Shop offers Bike Trips - even if it's a day trip - you should really take a chance and try it out. You'll get to ride in new places, ride with new people, and most important get to ride your bike!

Oh, and don't hesitate to drop into a Local Bike Shop when you're out and about.  I was geographically challenged and ready to bonk last summer when I stopped into The Cycle Mill over in Ellicott City last summer. They got me hydrated, gave me directions and made me feel really welcome before I went on my way.

In closing, thanks to Ernest, Aaron, and Mike of Crofton Bike Doctor putting on an awesome trip and ensuring we all had a good time. 

P.S. Show Your Local Advocacy Organization Some Love.  They're working hard to make things better for all riders and can always use some help. So if you're in Anne Arundel County check out Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County (BikeAAA) - They're even on Facebook.

P.P.S.  Small Business Saturday is next weekend - show your Local Bike Shop some love! 

Light Up Your Whip!

Ensure you light up your whip like the freaking sun or a low-flying UFO from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

I've been tracking bicycle related fatalities for two years now. Mostly because I got real curious about it in the summer of 2016 when there was what I perceived to be a spike in bicycle-related deaths in Maryland.

I track these fatalities through media reporting - which can be a little difficult at times, but it provides us, the cycling community, some feedback on what's happening on the roads in a fairly timely basis. Government reporting can be a year or two behind and then you just get the statistics.

I was looking for some information about the two people killed over in Dewey last week and stumbled upon this incident right here in Maryland.

Mr. Frederick Cherry was riding a bicycle west on East Cedar Street and attempted to cross Route 13 in Fruitland. A person was driving a truck north-bound on Route 13.  The two collided as Mr. Cherry attempted to cross the intersection.

The death of Mr. Frederick Cherry brings us (Maryland) to 12 people on bikes killed this year on Maryland Roadways. It’s important to note that 10 of the 12 people killed this year….were killed at night.

Ensure you light up your whip like the freaking sun or a low-flying UFO from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

(Read: Year / # Deaths)
2010 8
2011 5
2012 5
2013 7
2014 6
2015 10
2016 16
2017 12

2017 Fatalities (Read: Date / Name / Age / Area)
13-Jan-17 / William C. Bosley / 70 / Hagerstown
24-Jan-17 / Brian E. Argy / 58 / Frederick
27-Jan-17 / Jamal Quentin Anderson / 14 / Randallstown
17-Feb-17 / George Ernest McNab / 59 / Waldorf
26-Apr-17 / Mariah Johnson / 17 / Hagerstown
17-May-17 / Thomas Randolph / 26 / Rockville
19-Jun-17 / Aaron Michael Laciny / 20 / Towson
04-Jul-17 / Jeremy Pope / 25 / Linthicum
21-Jul-17 / Harrison Thomas Earls / 20 / Taneytown
1-Sep-17 / Veronika Badurova / 21 / Ocean City
6-Sep-17 / Loreto Andal Canubas / 74 / Wheaton
28-Aug-17 / Frederick Cherry / 58 / Fruitland

Source: http://www.wmdt.com/news/maryland/update-bicyclist-dead-after-vehicle-crash-in-fruitland/613937080

Bootyville is Partyville and Nest is Best

Bootyville is Partyville 😊    Now it’s 24 Nest is Best!

24 Hours of Booty grew up this year and became the 24 Foundation – seems some business executives don’t like to write a check out for Booty.  Ummm, explain that one to the IRS <giggles>

Which means that 24 Hours of Booty is now the 24 Foundation and Bootyville is now the “24 Nest”  Man, adulting bites ☹ 

What does that mean for the folks that live in 24 Nest for one weekend a year?  Well, other than the name change not much.  Turns out everything that was great about Bootyville is just the same in the 24 Nest.

 24 Foundation Baltimore and the 24 Nest is designed for a “FAMILY” atmosphere.  When you arrive you’ll see lots of tents, canopies, lots of kids, people riding all sorts of bicycles and unicycles, blowup slide and obstacle course, and a tent for DJ and live music. 

When you check out the course, you’ll find you’re being cheered on by supporters that were positioned around the 2 mile lap.  The loudest group of course was close the finish line and they did an amazing job giving everyone applause and screams for every lap.


If you’re into bikes – there’s everything under the sun there – road bikes, mountain bikes, commuters, folding bikes, trikes, recumbents, fat bikes, skinny bikes…bikes, bikes, bikes! BIKES!

This year the venue moved from Columbia to Baltimore – specifically to the Johns Hopkins Homewood Campus.  The 24 Foundation and Johns Hopkins did it right – they nestled the 24 Nest right into one of the green spaces giving it a nice cozy feeling that really made the space.

The layout made everything super convenient with every close by – food, hydration, music, bathrooms, the check-in tables and loot of course.

Parking – OMG – Parking!  Parking is at a premium in Baltimore and Johns Hopkins made their parking garage available to the participants. The parking garage is essentially right under the green space we were nesting upon and it was sooo convenient.

If that wasn’t enough Johns Hopkins students were volunteering at the event and were on-hand to unload cars and get your gear to the 24 Nest. Talk about service with a smile. 

In summary 24 Hr booty is a great family event that anyone can enjoy.  We’re already gaming out our plan of attack for next year – more people, more money, better tent set-up with more things to do in our non-riding time.  We can even set up activities at the Varen Techology tent for anyone who would prefer to relax and socialize. (cornhole, ladder game, etc).

Hope to see you guys at next years event

Riding Bikes & Fighting Cancer

For the 3rd consecutive year my company, Varen Technology, sponsored a team in support of the 24 Foundation.  Each year the team gets a little bigger and we raise a little bit more money doing our part to support the fight against cancer.

Cancer is equal opportunity in that it doesn’t care who you are, how much you make, what your title is, or anything. Cancer just doesn’t care about any of that. Cancer is a vicious disease that devastates people and their family and friends.

Now as bad as cancer is – navigating the craziness that is insurance and the health care system is pretty damn bad also. Now imagine you’re dealing with all this and you’re a kid...or you’re the parent of a child with cancer. Talk about a gut punch…

That’s why the monies raised in the 24 Foundation Baltimore go to support The Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults and the LIVESTRONG Foundation; helping you navigate through the ordeal that is cancer and then helping you pick up the pieces and live your life after cancer.



After cancer? The quarterly check-ups? The twice a year check-ups? The annual check-ups? See it really never ends – it’s always there…tingling in the back your mind.

That’s why my company helps me support the 24 Foundation and cancer patients and survivors. We’ve all been touched by cancer in one-way or another.

Still with me?  I’m sure you’re thinking ‘Bummer dude – you’re really bringing me down.’

24 Foundation Baltimore, 24 Hours of Booty – it’s really 24 Hours of Fun, Friendship, Family, Hanging out and Riding bikes with great people.

The 24 Hour event is family friendly and geared to all levels of people that ride bikes – see I didn’t say cyclist – I said people that ride bikes. Cause we’re all people now matter how we choose to travel.

 Family Friendly? Bouncing stuff – food, drinks, music. 24 Nest has all that and more.

So next year come out to the 24 Foundation Baltimore event, pull up a chair and ride around in circles with us as we raise money to help those people that are fighting cancer, have fought cancer and sadly will fight cancer in the future.

Where Do You Park Your Whip?!

You finally decide to bite the bullet and start riding your bicycle for local errands!  Huzzah!

So you hop on your trusty bike and take off. The winds blowing through your hair, the sun is shining and you are feeling FAB-U-LOUS! Heck, you even think you look MA-VA-LOUS! (That is fabulous and marvelous for you dull folks)

Now you roll up to your first destination and look around for a place to park and lock your trusty two-wheeled friend - we shan't talk about those one wheeled or three-wheeled heathens here :) - and what do you see? Nothing, Nada, Zip! No bicycle racks!  Your choices are leaning your ride against the building or locking it to a signpost, a tree or some other immovable object.

Note to self - that big ole' pick-up truck ain't immovable and the driver will get testy when she comes out and finds your bike locked to the door handle. Move it along, nothing to see here.

So now, you're jammed - no good place to park. You've got dollars burning your pocket and you're jonesing for a Twinkie. What to do? what to do?

Well, if you’re like me…you’ll go rogue and lock your bike to the mobility scooter, run in and grab your stuff and get out before anyone notices. Then you'll go on your way and forget all about it until you need that next Twinkie fix.

What should you do? Why do something about it of course. If it is a big chain store, send a nicely worded email to the Corporate HQ and store manager and ask them to install a bike rack for their customers. It's a locally owned

Bikes, Boats and Maybe Beer

Riding your bike doesn’t need to be all about racing, shedding weight or even wearing lycra and getting all sparkly -- that sweaty for less classy peeples.

Riding your bike can be all about an adventure.  Noooo, I’m not talking about riding in the woods and hugging trees…or crashing into them. Which is usually frowned upon by one’s spousal unit. I’m talking about a destination ride. Riding your bike to see the country-side and checking out places at relaxed place.

Last year, my wife and I took a ride over on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Awesome ride that makes a perfect day trip or even a nice weekend getaway….and you get to ride on a Ferry! 

Bikes & Boats – can life get any better?  Wait, add beer!  Bikes, Boats & Beer! Yes it can.

Anyway, the Eastern Shore of Maryland is probably one of the best places to ride in Maryland with beautiful scenery, super wide shoulders, and wildlife. 

This is a perfect weekend getaway area with great cycling and plenty to keep you entertained for the weekend. St. Michaels has some wonderful B&B's and restaurants to feed your hunger after a great day of riding.

Be sure to check out the Oxford Bellevue Ferry while you are there. The Oxford Bellevue Ferry, believed to be the nation's oldest privately operated ferry service, crosses the Tred Avon River between Oxford, Maryland and Bellevue, Maryland. You’ll definitely want to check their website before you go because the ferry doesn’t operate year round - the ferry runs seven days a week from April to *November (*Nov-Saturday-Sunday ONLY)

If you don't want to spend your entire time riding there are plenty of other activities close by such as golf and sailing…but seriously, golf when you've bikes, boats and beer?

You’ll find the Bishop’s House B&B route cue-sheet and route mapping over on RidewithGPS.
This route takes you through the quaint historic town of Oxford; across the Tred Avon River on the Oxford-Bellevue Ferry; through the village of Royal Oak on to St. Michaels, the home of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum and back across Oak Creek to Easton.

Ride Description: Beginning in Easton, Cycling to Oxford & St. Michaels, Returning to Easton - 35.4 Miles

Assault and Battery

This happened this past weekend on Sunday, 17 September 2017 near Hamilton, Va -- near Leesburg for those that aren't familiar with Hamilton.  

Now this isn't me, but is someone that I know through cycling.

The person on the bicycle was riding west/north on Harmony Church Rd in Hamilton VA yesterday afternoon. As he approached the intersection, a car approached behind and the driver laid on the horn continuously.

The person on the bicycle figured no big deal, just ignore him and he'll go away.

Nope.

After the person on the bicycle stopped at the stop sign, he heard the driver getting out of the car.

The person on the bicycles got off his bike - he didn't want to try cycling away from him as he'd get up to a decent speed to get away only to have the assailant him run him down in his car? No thanks.

The driver began attacking the person on the bicycle.

The assailant let up attacking to toss the bike into the ditch. At that time the victim took out his cell phone and started filming the above video.

1. There were witnesses to the assault

2. The victim is pressing charges

Video of the Assault -- remember this starts AFTER the assault started; Essentially the assailant stopped long enough to throw the bicycle in the ditch and that's when the victim had breathing space to pull out his cellphone and start recording. 

Politicans and Bikes

So last night I'm heading into Food Truck Thursday at the Odenton Volunteer Fire Company - Yas! Greek on the Street.....and there's this guy making his way over towards me with flyers and glad hand.

Now I'm thinking - Grog Need Food!!!  No Talk! Food!

Whelp, he keeps on coming and says 'Hi I'm Senator Rosapepe", sticks a flyer in my hand and I take off....Foooooddddddd

About that time, my lizard brain starts turning over and thinking Senator Rosapepe, Rosapepe, Rosapepe and it occurs to me that I know this guy! Or at least of him and that's good enough for me.

Then it occurs to me why I know this guy - he's a friend to people on bicycles in Maryland. You might say he's pro-bike.  

So I turn my big monkey butt around and go find him and introduce myself...and say "Hey! Didn't you sponsor some bicycle legislation this year?"

I swear I could see the gears in his brain turning over - the thought of "ruh roh Shaggy, here it comes, some bicycle hater" *sigh*

Soooo, I keep charging and say 'I just came over to thank you for the legislation and for supporting the cycling community'  --- I got the feeling it was a nice change of pace to be thanked and instead of complained at...

So the next time you see a pesky politician shaking hands and kissing babies - Thank them for being pro-bike OR ask them to be pro-bike.

Oh and swing by Food Truck Thursday (4-8PM) in Odenton at the Volunteer Fire Company and get some food

Viers Mill Road Claims Another Life

Loreto Andal Canubas, 74-years old, was killed last night while riding his e-bike while crossing Viers Mill Road near Monterrey Drive in Wheaton.

The incident happened just before 10 p.m. when the man, on a Sun ra bicycle (e-bike), tried to cross Veirs Mill Road near Monterrey Drive and was struck.

Mr. Canubus a bike commuter was on his way to work when he was hit by an unmarked police cruiser while crossing Veirs Mill Road.

Police are investigating whether such factors as speed or alcohol might have been involved. The motorized bicycle did not have lights on it, a police spokesman said.

In an email, Capt. Paul Starks, a Montgomery police spokesman, said there is an intersection and a stop sign in the nearby neighborhood that leads onto Veirs Mill Road but no traffic signal there. He said police are investigating whether Canubas was in a crosswalk at the time of the incident.

The death of  Loreto Andal Canubas brings us to 11 people on bikes killed this year on Maryland Roadways.

(Read: Year / # Deaths)
2010 8
2011 5
2012 5
2013 7
2014 6
2015 10
2016 16
2017 11

2017 Fatalities (Read: Date / Name / Age / Area)
13-Jan-17 / William C. Bosley / 70 / Hagerstown
24-Jan-17 / Brian E. Argy / 58 / Frederick
27-Jan-17 / Jamal Quentin Anderson / 14 / Randallstown
17-Feb-17 / George Ernest McNab / 59 / Waldorf
26-Apr-17 / Mariah Johnson / 17 / Hagerstown
17-May-17 / Thomas Randolph / 26 / Rockville
19-Jun-17 / Aaron Michael Laciny / 20 / Towson
04-Jul-17 / Jeremy Pope / 25 / Linthicum
21-Jul-17 / Harrison Thomas Earls / 20 / Taneytown
1-Sep-17 / Veronika Badurova / 21 / Ocean City
6-Sep-17 / Loreto Andal Canubas / 74 / Wheaton

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/elderly-man-on-motorized-scooter-struck-and-killed-by-unmarked-police-cruiser/2017/09/07/16bb2afe-93bf-11e7-aace-04b862b2b3f3_story.html?utm_term=.f8535872b6f7&wpisrc=nl_buzz&wpmm=1#comments

Veronika Badurova Killed By A Hit and Run Driver

Veronika Badurova, 21, a student from Slovakia has died of injuries she suffered in a hit-and-run crash in Ocean City on 30 August 2017.  She died Sept. 1, two days after the crash, Ocean City said.

Around 3 a.m. on Aug. 30, Ocean City Police Department (OCPD) officers responded to a reported hit-and-run collision involving a bicycle in the area of 2nd Street and Philadelphia Avenue.

Veronika had been hit from behind by a hit and run driver - a person that chose to leave her injured and dying in the roadway.

Veronika worked as a lifeguard at the pool in the Mystic Harbor community in West Ocean City during the summer. The popular lifeguard was described in social media posts as incredibly sweet and a hard worker who always had a smile. Residents in the community where she worked held a brief memorial service last weekend and her lifeguard chair was adorned with flowers and a candle and notes.

The person driving the SUV was subsequently identified as Brooks T. Bratten, 38, of Snow Hill. Maryland court records indicate a number of previous incidents involving police and the court system. In January, he was cited in Ocean City for driving a motor vehicle while his license was suspended. In March, he was charged by Maryland State Police with malicious destruction of property over $1,000. He was expected to stand trial for that misdemeanor charge on Sept. 19. Court records also indicate several marijuana possession arrests and convictions in the past.

The death of Veronika Badurova brings us to ten (10) people on bikes killed this year on Maryland Roadways.
(Read: Year / # Deaths)
2010 8
2011 5
2012 5
2013 7
2014 6
2015 10
2016 16
2017 10

2017 Fatalities (Read: Date / Name / Age / Area)
13-Jan-17 / William C. Bosley / 70 / Hagerstown
24-Jan-17 / Brian E. Argy / 58 / Frederick
27-Jan-17 / Jamal Quentin Anderson / 14 / Randallstown
17-Feb-17 / George Ernest McNab / 59 / Waldorf
26-Apr-17 / Mariah Johnson / 17 / Hagerstown
17-May-17 / Thomas Randolph / 26 / Rockville
19-Jun-17 / Aaron Michael Laciny / 20 / Towson
04-Jul-17 / Jeremy Pope / 25 / Linthicum
21-Jul-17 / Harrison Thomas Earls / 20 / Taneytown
1-Sep-17 / Veronika Badurova / 21 / Ocean City

Source: https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2017/09/07/driver-charged-in-fatal-hit-and-run-warrant-issued-for-suspect/

Exhaustion - The Hidden Epidemic of the Military

Tired? That's cute.

The Navy's been in the papers for all the wrong reasons recently. The author of the post "Why Ships Collide" spent seven years in the Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer - a Black Shoe in the parlance of Sailors.

Give it a read and then come right back - I'll be here waiting.

Good read wasn't it. Straight up, the author isn't exaggerating. There is a whole lot of truth in this article. I spent three years on a Cruiser in the U.S. Navy and I was tired the entire time. Not just tired, but exhausted, drop dead exhausted. We all were.

The Navy has played with Smart Manning and other things over the years and all sorts of other things - but EVERYONE WAS EXHAUSTED at sea - EVERYONE.

I don't know if exhaustion played a factor in these collisions, but exhaustion is the nasty epidemic in the military that everyone knows about, but no one talks about.

Now you may say - 'Gee, the ship just got underway' - That's cute too.  You think when the ship is in port those Sailors are working 9-to-5, Monday to Friday and sipping Mai Tai's?  Not a chance, nope not going to do it.  They're working long hours day in and day out.

When you go to Sea it only gets worse - Port and Report - crazy schedules, crazy jobs, crazy, crazy, crazy.

Now you want to know the crazy part?  I miss that shit! I miss the camaraderie that suffering with others brings. That shared sense of mission, of accomplishment, of achieving something in the face of all odds.  More importantly, I miss the Sailors - Men AND Women - that I served with, suffered with, succeeded with.

P.S. If you're thinking the Sailors on shore duty have it easy....think again. I was tired then also.  Ask me about 2-2-2-80 sometime and watch me shudder. Bastards.

Dress For Success - Not A Funeral

If you’re going to be riding a bicycle on the roads you need to DRESS FOR SUCCESS. Now I’m not talking about wearing a suit and tie or maybe a nice little pinafore. I’m not even talking cycling-centric clothing. You know the infamous “kit” - 

Noooo. I’m talking about dressing for visibility. All to often I see people on bikes riding around doing their best to blend right in with the background. Hmmm, it’s dark as sin outside. What shall I wear? Oh! I know how about dark pants/shorts, a dark shirt and no lights.  Yeah, that’s the ticket!

You know you’ve seen it – It’s midnight and there’s dude rolling down the road dressed all in black with no reflectors, no lights and a big ass sign that says ‘Kick Me!’

Now Trek and others have been promotion the ABC’s of being seen recently.  Now there’s some quirky bullshit that others push that I can’t abide – little bitty LED lights that act as brake lights or the little turn signals you can put on your bike. Me? If you can’t see my big monkey arm sticking out signaling a turn – well then maybe you shouldn’t be driving. 

Now on the A – B – Cs of being seen

A is for ALWAYS ON. Run some lights – front and back – day and night.  Blinking during the day is good.  Lots of studies out there that speak to the benefits of running lights during the day. You may not agree with lights during the day, but I think we can all agree that lights at night are a must…If not, maybe you shouldn’t be riding at night.

B is for BIO-MOTION.  Bio-motion sounds all sciency and stuff.  Bio-motion – put the bright stuff on your body parts that move. Your eyes and brain are geared to pick-up motion so help that person in the car see you. So put some bright colors on the parts of your body that are in motion – feet, angles, legs. During the day bright colors – at night reflective material.  The running community has little LED lights that will clip right onto the heels of your shoes – very affordable (~$10.00). They will get your attention.

C is for CONTRAST. Wear contrasting colors. Now I’m not talking about dressing like a color-blind guy in dark closet. I’m talking about contrasting with the background. Bright colors, fluorescent colors during the day and at night you need reflective stuff. 

Still here?  When do most people get hit?  AT NIGHT!  As of 24 July, 2017, I know of nine (9) people on bicycles that have been killed in Maryland. Seven of those nine were hit between sunset and sunrise. Give yourself a fighting chance and be seen. 

Roads are for Cars

ROADS ARE FOR CARS!!!!!!!

Roads are for transportation. They might be engineered to carry cars and other heavy vehicles, but fundamentally roads are for transportation.

You really thing the Romans started building roads way back in 312 B.C. because you were going to buy a Tesla in 2017.  Puh-leaze.  *giggles* You're so vain

You're so vain
You probably think this road is about you
You're so vain,
I'll bet you think this road is about you
Don't you?
Don't you?

Now, where was I - Oh yes, roads are for transportation.  The first major Roman road was constructed in 312 B.C....312 B.C.  Holy Smokes!  Dem Thar Romans were smart!

*SCRITCH* Not so fast homie!  They were smart, but the Romans were late comers to the game.

The first simple two-wheeled carts appeared around 3000 B.C. - take your shoes off if it helps you to count back that far.....I'll just wait over here with the cookies and beer.

Otto Know Better

Otto Know Better - you know that guy.

Today I Learned - actually I had my memory refreshed about the infamous Otto Know Better. Good Ole' Otto was a cartoon invented by the industrial Safety People to sort of poke fun at hapless idjits who always get into trouble.

Unfortunately, the Otto industry - I mean Auto industry took Good Ole' Otto and used him for their purposes. You see at the time, people in cars were killing and maiming people by the thousands - Jeez sounds familiar doesn't it. I mean, people in cars only killed ~40,000 people in 2016.

Anyway, the auto industry couldn't have people blaming the drivers (people driving cars)...Nope, can't do that. That would be bad for business. So they did a couple of things.

First they shifted the blame - Otto Know Better to the rescue. Auto "manufacturers, auto clubs, auto dealers - invented caricatures of careless pedestrians because most of the people cars were killing then were pedestrians, not other people in cars."

The Many Faces of Otto (3)

Secondly, they introduced the word "Accident!" It's not operator error - it's an accident! It's not an infrastructure problem - it's an accident!  It's not Timmy speeding, eating a big burger and face-timing - it's an accident!

You see the word accident means it was unavoidable. You can't control it - because it's - an accident!

You know what's not an accident - the shift in the language. Words are important. These aren't accidents. They're crashes. They're negligent crashes for the most part. If you deconstruct any crash you'll find out that somebody was doing something wrong.

• Aggressive Driving
• Driving Distracted
• Driving Drunk
• Driving High
• Face-timing on the cellphone
• Failure to yield
• Following too closely
• Giving yourself a haircut whilst driving (Yes - I really saw this)
• Not pulling over for the police or fire truck
• Not Slowing Down - Moving Over for Police/Fire on the Shoulder
• Reading a book while driving
• Reading the newspaper while driving
• Right on Red and not coming to a complete and legal stop
• Rolling through that stop sign
• Sexual relations while driving
• Speeding
• Stepping into the road without looking
• Tailgating
• Texting and driving
• Texting while riding (motorcycle or bicycle)
• Texting while walking in the road
• Too fast for conditions
• Yakking on the cellphone

Sources:

(1) http://www.npr.org/2016/05/25/479502043/when-cars-collide-safety-advocates-say-its-no-accident

(2) http://fortune.com/2017/02/15/traffic-deadliest-year/

(3) https://paleofuture.gizmodo.com/the-invention-of-jaywalking-was-a-massive-shaming-campa-858926923

(4) “Street Rivals: Jaywalking and the Invention of the Motor Age Street.” Technology and Culture 48 (April 2007), 331-359.

Accidents - Except They're Not...

There's been a push recently to refer to accidents as crashes...some people think it's some hippie/dippy thing...except it's not.

Except it's not a recent thing. My grandmother, a wonderful woman from the mountains of North Carolina sat me down ~35 years ago and explained what an accident was -and was not - after I did something mmmm less than smart -- that it's a chance event, something that's bound to happen; it's inevitable; it's not something that could ever be completely prevented -- and that's has stuck with me over the years.

Referring to something as an "accident" linguistically (big word of the day) absolves someone of their responsibility in the incident - so we need to own our responsibility when we screw shit up.

Lost in the Noise

I was talking to my community manager a few weeks ago about an ongoing problem that was recently fixed.  It wasn’t a complicated problem, but it took two years to fix it? Two years…mainly because the problem got lost in the background noise.  

That’s what got me thinking about all the things that get lost in the background noise on my rides. I’m talking about those problems that you see, but don’t really register because it’s been a problem for so long. Or those problems that just blend into the background because it’s the new normal.

When’s the last time you really looked at the road infrastructure as you went zipping by and really looked at it? More importantly, when the last time you looked at it, registered it and then did something about it?  

Now calm down, I’m not bashing anyone here. Hell, I’m only writing about this because I’m guilty of letting things get lost in the noise. Something like riding down the Odenton Road Shared-Use Path and cussing about the foliage encroaching on the trail – and just cussing.  Anne Arundel County has a nice 311 App for Smartphones – how easy would it be for me to stop and report the problem for correction.

Now beyond that – take a look at the state of the infrastructure.

-          Are there potholes? Report it via the 311 App.

-          Crash debris from last night’s car crash left in the road? Report it via 311 App.

-          Death dealing storm water drain gates? Report it via 311 App.

Now look at the signs and warning signs on the road. Look at the traffic calming devices (chokers, pedestrian islands, flexi-pole baffles, etc). How many of those have been hit by someone driving a car? Look at the tire scrubs.  Light poles that have been hit and snapped off? Fire hydrants? The flexi-poles have been hit and broken off.

Heck I was riding down Dairy Farm Road a few years back and came across a woman in a mini-van that hit the traffic calming device at the bottom of the hill dead-center and was now stuck on top of it – high-centered is a beautiful thing. .

You can even look at those dedicated trails to see this type of damage. If you frequent the WB&A Trail in Odenton – check out the tunnel that goes under Old Waugh Chapel Road. You’ll notice that the left side of the tunnel has a slight bend as you approach from the north.  What caused that? Why a drunk driver about three years ago hit the guard rail on Old Waugh Chapel Road and came down the hill there, impacting the metal culvert that forms the tunnel. 

The six-foot high fence that prevents riders/walkers from exiting the WB&A trail onto Waugh Chapel Road?  That’s new-ish.  It was taken out a few years back by someone in a car.  Who does that? Seriously…

Now that we’ve wandered through the wilderness, take a second and see what you’re losing in the background noise.  What are you seeing, but not recognizing? And what can you do to fix the problem.

Someone Driving A Car Ran You Over and It's Your Fault

Someone Driving A Car Ran You Over and It's Your Fault <sarcasm>

Yeah, you know that's true. A person on a bike gets hit by a person driving a car and all of a sudden people are clamoring with ways to blame the person on the bike...
- Was he/she wearing a helmet?
- Were they all the way to the right?
- Why were they riding at night?
- Did they have a front light?
- Did they have a rear light or reflector?
- Were they wearing their safety underwear?

On and On and On.  Never mind that it was a hit-and-run. Never mind that the person driving was drunk, or high, or sleepy, aggressive, ran a red light, was speeding, intentionally ran the person the bike over....never mind any of that crap.  It's your fault because you committed the capital offense of riding a bike on a public roadway built for transportation.

So when a person on a bike gets hit - step back from the fray and throw the Bullshit flag on the knee-jerk blame game play. How about we figure out what really happened first? We owe that to the person on the bicycle AND the person in the car.

Parking Lots Are Sexy

The WB&A Trail Parking Lot is coming along nice here in Anne Arundel County. This is the first improved trail parking lots for the WB&A Trail - heck, it's really the first parking lot in my opinion.
It will really make the trail more accessible for all users in the area.

For all intents and purposes the trail parking lot is completed - it just needs some grass. The paving is completed, the sidewalks are done, the fences are up and it looking good. The County has gone with a pavement & grass option for this trail parking lot.

The road is paved, but the parking spots will be grassed. They need to get the grass established before they open it up to traffic. I’ve seen these pave/grass options in other places and they seem to hold up pretty good.

I suspect the grass option reduces the impermeable surface area and thereby reduced the storm water management requirements and cost - but that's just my guess.

Anyway, later this summer or in the early fall, we'll have trail parking lot for the WB&A Trail!

Are You A Cyclist?

A few fellow cycling advocacy friends and I set-up a booth today at the National Security Agency's 5th Annual Armed Forces and National Police Celebration at the National Cryptologic Museum.

We spoke to ~200 people that ride bikes, want to ride bikes and used to ride bikes. We had a good time sharing the word - The Way of the Bike :)

One thing that we noticed was people were reluctant to identify themselves as a cyclist. As in 'Well, I'm not a cyclist because I only ride a few times a year' or 'I'm not a cyclist because I don't ride far.'

So if you ride a bike, you are a cyclist. Cyclists are people on bikes. Embrace it.

Come to the Dark Side - We Have Wheels! 

Ride of Silence

About 30 cyclists including 6 Annapolis Police and 2 Anne Arundel County Police participated in the 2017 Ride of Silence in Annapolis, MD.

The Ride of Silence is held annually to honor those bicyclists killed on public roadways every year. Last year, at least 16 people on bicycles were killed on Maryland roadways. This year four (4) people have been killed on Maryland roadways as of March 2017.

While the weather was beautiful, attendance was lighter than expected due to a fatal car crash that severely impacted traffic in the region. Bicycles were the only mode of transportation that was able to move in the gridlock.

We heard touching words and call to action from Arlene Rosenbusch, sister of Lynn who was killed while riding tandem with partner John. Several riders in attendance have been crash victims and many others personally knew victims.

The Annapolis Police helped out with a modified route that kept us out of the worst of the traffic and still provided maximum visibility for the ride.

Special thanks to the Annapolis and Anne Arundel officers on bikes who guided us through a modified route through downtown.

Parole Denied For Heather Cook

Heather Cook, the woman who killed Tom Palermo while drunk driving was denied parole.  There's no celebrating in the cycling community. There's no joy. There's just a sad relief that she's going to remain in Prison for a little while long.

You see - she was sentenced to 20 years in prison for her actions, with all but 7 years suspended. In Maryland, you're eligible for parole after serving 1/3 of third of your sentence.

Heather Cook, the woman who killed Tom Palermo while drunk driving will not face another parole hearing.

Heather Cook, the woman who killed Tom Palermo while drunk driving, will likely be released sometime in 2019 if she continues to earn credit for good behavior.


WBAL: Parole denied for Heather Cook

18 Fucking Months

Eligible for parole after 18 months in prison: The builder, the bishop, and a most violent crime

You know, Bike Maryland calls this a beautiful article. That's tall order in my book - a beautiful article....but to be honest, it is a beautiful article and that is still an understatement.

It's a testament to a life lived, a life lost, a future changed forever - a life that touched people across the world. It makes you sad, mad, every emotion you can think of...

This person murdered Tom Palermo and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with all but 7 suspended....and is now is going to the parole board after only serving ~18 months.

She murdered someone's son - 18 Months?

She murdered someone's father - 18 Months?

She murdered someone's husbands - 18 Months?

She murdered someone's friends - 18 Months?

18 Months?  18 Months for a life? 18 Months for driving drunk? 18 Months for murdering someone because you were so fucking drunk you couldn't see straight? 18 months for destroying a family? 18 Fucking Months?!?!?!

Everyone single rider I know personally knows at least one person that has been hit while riding....everyone single one. I know several.

Over 35,000 people were killed on American roads last year - drunk/drugged drivers were involved in ~30% of the fatal crashes last year...18 Fucking Months

Close Call Database - Tagging the Crazy

There's this great tool out there for people that ride bicycles called the Close Call Database.

It's great because it allows us to crowd-source information about aggressive drivers in our local area...aggressive drivers is so impersonal. These aggressive drivers are better described as aggressive people, people that don't care for the life of another, people that want to kill or seriously injure someone just because they committed the mortal sin of riding a bicycle on the road.

The creator argues that these "hostile drivers are often serial offenders. When a driver "sends a message" by purposefully passing within several inches or by intentionally running you off the road they are committing a life-threatening assault and using their car as a potentially lethal weapon." Based on anecdotal evidence, I'd say he's correct. It's kind of like people that choose to drive drunk - it's never just one time.

Unless we, people that ride bikes, work together these 'people' will continue to do this. Working together in this case means reporting them whenever and wherever we can.  Unfortunately, enforcing the 3-foot law is really hard - unless they actually hit you. Then it's pretty easy to prove they got closer than 3-feet - duh!

So when you experience the joy of a 'punish pass', getting run off the road, assault, having things thrown at you make sure you take the 60 seconds to log your encounter with the Close Call Database and the Maryland Incident Report database.

Now you're thinking "why should I report it twice?"  Well the Close Call Database is great because you can see the reports within 60 miles of your 'home' location - some of the incidents will even be e-mailed to you.  Now the Maryland Incident Report database is used by Maryland Advocacy organizations to track and advocate with local and state government. However, you can't see the reports that have been submitted. So take the time and help your fellow cyclists by reporting to Close Call Database AND your advocates by reporting to Bike Maryland Incident Report database.


You Shall Not Pass - While cycling down a local roadway on the shoulder the rider approached a line of traffic in the main travel lanes. The driver of the pick-up truck saw the rider coming and decided that he needed to drive on the shoulder to keep the person on the bike from passing.

Blind as a Bat - Driver pulled out in front of three riders. Two riders were running front strobes. One strobe was blasting at 700 lumen...and then the driver just grinned at the riders

Punish Pass - Cycling down Odenton Road the two cars passed me. The first car passed at a very safe distance. The second car passed came within 18 inches of the rider.

South Shore Trail - The Great Lurch Forward

South Shore Trail (Annapolis to Odenton)

The great lurch forward. Construction of Phase I (Waterbury Road to Hansel Drive) of the South Shore Trail should commence this summer, with follow-on phases being constructed though Fiscal year 2023 - now all this is as always subject approval and appropriation of funding - keep your fingers crossed.

The proposed South Shore Trail, in the works since the 1980’s, will cover the distance of 14 miles from Annapolis to Odenton. The trail will link the B&A Trail to the WB&A Trail and connect to the Annapolis Colonial Maritime Trail.  The current South Shore Trail is from Annapolis Plaza to Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis – which opened in January 2013.  

The South Shore Trail primarily utilizes the abandoned road bed of the WB& A Railroad between Annapolis and Odenton. The trail will connect with the Colonial Annapolis Maritime Trail on the east end.

On the Odenton end of the trail, the trail will connect with the Odenton Road Bike Path and the WB & A Trail, and providing easy access to Odenton Town Center. Future improvements planned for the Odenton area will facilitate connectivity with Fort Meade, the National Business Park, and Arundel Mills Mall.

The trail is a component of the East Coast Greenway and the American Discovery Trail.

The South Shore Trail's multi-phase construction will consist of:

·         Phase I (Waterbury Road to Hansel Drive)

·         Phase II (Sappington Station Road to Bonheur Drive)

·         Phase III (Bestgate Road to Eisenhower Golf Course),

·         Phase IV (Eisenhower Golf Course to Waterbury Road) and

·         Phase V (Bestgate Road to Severn River Bridge).

The South Shore Trail's multi-phase construction timeline is:

·         Phase I (Waterbury Road to Hansel Drive):   Construction Expected to start Summer 2017

·         Phase II (Sappington Station Road to Bonheur Drive): Design Underway

·         Phase III (Bestgate Road to Eisenhower Golf Course): Feasibility Study expected to begin Summer 2017

·         Phase IV (Eisenhower Golf Course to Waterbury Road):  Feasibility Study expected to begin Summer 2017

·         Phase V (Bestgate Road to Severn River Bridge): TBD

·         MD3 Crossing: Feasibility Study expected to begin Spring/Summer 2017 for MD Route 3 Crossing

Check out the Anne Arundel County Recreation and Parks website to see the maps of the South Shore Trail.

History of the Right of Way

The WashCycle did a nice piece on the History of the Shore Shore Trail right away back in December, 2008. “In 1838, after the B&O connected DC and Baltimore, a line was built off of that line to Annapolis. It was to connect at Elkridge, MD but instead connected several mile south at a place that became Annapolis Junction. Nonetheless, the name Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad was kept. The railroad struggled somewhat, but was still in service in 1903 when it was purchased by the Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis Railroad. It was closed, electrified and in 1908 reopened.”

“The WB&A eventually became a three line system created out of the A&ER, a new electric line between DC and Baltimore and in 1921, the Baltimore and Annapolis. Portions of the WB&A and the B&A now serve as part of the Baltimore light rail system, sections of both are used for rail trails (B&A and WB&A) and parts of the WB&A are now roads in and around DC and north of Odenton.” 

“Under the WB&A the A&ER became the "South Shore" line. The Great Depression did the WB&A in. Most of it was removed in 1935. A short piece continued to serve Fort Meade, but it too was gone by 1981. Only a small section at the junction still remains.”

For the rest of the story on the history of the right of way, visit the WashCycle write-up for the rest of the story.

References:

 

American Discovery Trail: http://www.discoverytrail.org

Annapolis and Elk Ridge Railroad: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_and_Elk_Ridge_Railroad

Anne Arundel County Greenways Master Play (adopted October 15, 2002) http://www.aacounty.org/departments/planning-and-zoning/forms-and-publications/GreenwaysMasterPlanadopted10_02.pdf

East Coast Greenway: http://www.greenway.org/

September 11th National Memorial Trail https://www.911trail.org/

South Shore Trail: http://www.aacounty.org/departments/recreation-parks/parks/trails/south-shore-trail/index.html

WashCycle South Shore Trail: http://www.thewashcycle.com/2008/12/cwl-2008-12-south-shore-trail.html

The Proposed WB&A Trail Bridge - It Really is a Big Deal

There's a public meeting this week about a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the Patuxent River on the WB&A Trail. This is a big deal. The trail has been under development for decades and this is THE missing link. The proposed bridge will connect the WB&A Trail terminus in Anne Arundel County to the system in Prince George’s County; Odenton and Bowie, respectively.

The WB&A Trail is a beautiful, yet incomplete, multi-use trail. The lack of a bridge over the Patuxent River is a critical missing piece of the trail that keeps all of us from realizing its full potential.
This important segment of the trail will offer safe connections among public recreation areas.

This bridge is the vital trail connection between Anne Arundel and Prince George’s Counties and will be part of the East Coast Greenway, the American Discovery Trail and the September 11th National Memorial Trail. The bridge will improve access in this extended corridor, providing easy entree to the Odenton MARC Station, and to the rapidly expanding employment centers on and around Fort George G. Meade.  

The proposed bridge is the perfect connection project for the area and the region. Deemed one of the Top Two (2) Trail Priorities in the entire region, the WB&A Trail Bridge will provide transportation and recreational cyclists and pedestrians safe access along the corridor. Without the bridge people on bicycles are forced to take an eight (8) mile detour along Crain Highway (MD Rte 3) – a high-volume, high speed roadway – just to cross the river.

Providing safer routes would encourage bicycling to numerous employment, education, shopping, and recreation destinations in and around the WB&A Trail and easier connections to the pedestrian & bicycle attractors listed in the 2013 Anne Arundel County Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan. 

Local businesses could realize a boost in business if driving was not the only way to get there. For some Anne Arundel residents, a bicycle is the only economic means of transportation and for others it is preferred for health, environmental, and enjoyment reasons. The same is true for walking. Encouraging other modes of transportation takes cars off the road and eases congestion.

Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (BikeAAA)

AA County Trail Website                      AA County Trail Map

PG County Trail Website                       PG County Trail Map

Dying On Maryland Roads

There's a killing field in America. It's called the roadway. Over 40,000 people in the U.S. were killed in auto crashes in 2016 — a toll that ties car collisions with suicide as the leading non-illness-related cause of death in this country, ahead of opioids and firearms.

Now I'm focused on Maryland today. Mostly because that's where I ride a fair amount during the year. Last June, I got curious because it seemed like people on bicycles were dying left and right on the Maryland roadways.

When I get curious, it normally leads me down lots of rabbit holes - some good, some bad. In this case, I found that Maryland was having a banner year - and not in a good way. In June 2016, five people on bicycles were killed when they were hit by people driving cars. That brought us to seven for the year. Now when you consider that only 10 people on bicycles were killed in all of 2015 - well that gives you pause.

Then we watched as the numbers kept climbing and climbing and climbing until we hit 16 people on bicycles killed during 2016. Now mind you, these 2016 and 2017 numbers are based on media reports. So it's entirely possible that I missed a few more - I hope I didn't, but it is very possible.



Unfortunately 2017, started off badly too. There were four people on bicycles killed in the first two months of the year. We didn't get to four until June in 2016. I'm hoping we don't have another record-breaking year. I'm hoping, but I'm bracing myself for the worst.

The interesting thing is how these people were hit - especially in 2016. You see, based on the media reports, 5 of the 16 people were killed in crosswalks. Now I'm not saying people don't do crazy stuff when they cross the road - however, some of these were clearly the fault of the person driving the car. Some were the fault of the person on the bicycle. However, the reality is we as Marylanders, heck as Americans in general, are killing the most vulnerable of our road users - people who walk and ride - left and right.