As part of our mission is to support physical road improvements, we’d like to hear from you what you see around the county. This year we’re focusing on three kinds of roads- Howard County/SHA Roads, Columbia pathways and connectors, and areas near Howard County Schools.

Use this link to let us know what you think: http://tinyurl.com/bahcsurvey .

We’ll pass the information we gather to the appropriate parties, in an attempt to make improvements before the spring/summer biking season is in full swing.

Thanks in advance for your participation.

http://tinyurl.com/bahcsurvey

Classes are intended for novice road riders — those who can already ride a bicycle but want to learn basic skills and techniques for doing so safely and effectively on the road. Local bike shops will do bike safety checks.

Class size is limited to no more than 60 participants so please register early.  This is a FREE class but BAHC will greatly appreciate donations ($5 or more) through the convenience of paypal.

REGISTER online at BAHC’s web site: http://bikehoco.org/register-for-road-biking-101/

DATE Sunday, April 29, 2012

TIME 8:30 am – Noon

SCHEDULE

8:30 am – 9:00 am Sign In & Bike Safety Checks

9:15 am – 10:30 am Classroom

10:30 am – Noon On The Road Practice

LOCATION

Howard County Health Department

7178 Columbia Gateway Drive

Columbia, MD 21046-2147

Directions

* Take Route 175

* Exit at Columbia Gateway

* Continue on Columbia Gateway Drive

* Turn RIGHT at the third traffic light = Columbia Gateway Drive

* Turn LEFT into the parking lot of the first building on the left

WARNING: All Participants must bring a helmet and a bicycle in working condition.Participants under 18 must be accompanied by or bring a waiver signed by a parent.

Nathan’s Story
On Saturday February 26th, 2011, Nathan was riding his bicycle in the bike lane on University Pkwy traveling westbound. The driver of a Honda Civic turned into the driveway of the Broadview Apartments crossing the bike lane, causing Nathan to collide with the Civic. The impact threw him over his bicycle and the car and onto the driveway. The car went over Nathan, trapping him under the car. At some point, Nathan’s lungs collapsed and he was unable to get oxygen until he was treated in the ambulance. This lack of oxygen for over 15 minutes caused severe anoxic brain injury. After a few weeks, the doctors reported that Nathan had no chance of a meaningful recovery from his anoxic brain injury. Nathan died on Wednesday August 10, 2011.

Summary: The Report shows, the United States overall has great disparities between bicycling and walking mode share, safety, and funding. Twelve percent of trips are by bicycle or foot, yet bicyclists and pedestrians make up 14% of traffic fatalities and receive just 1.6% of federal transportation dollars. In addition, where bicycling and walking levels are higher, obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes levels are lower. Higher levels of bicycling and walking also coincide with increased bicycle and pedestrian safety and higher levels of physical activity. Increasing bicycling and walking can help solve many serious problems facing our nation. If just one out of every 10 adults started a regular walking program, the U.S. could save $5.6 billion in health care costs — enough to pay the college tuition of more than 1 million students. As this report indicates, many states and cities are making progress toward promoting safe access for bicyclists and pedestrians, but much more remains to be done

More information and download of report available at: http://www.peoplepoweredmovement.org/site/index.php/site/memberservices/2012_benchmarking_report/#findings

So glad to see Yvonne Wenger’s fine article on the Right Bike Paths in Columbia on 1-15-12 Baltimore Sun HoCo Edition.The article tells about Columbia developing a network of pathways both on-road off-road interconnecting the 100 miles of existing trails to walk, Bike or run to their destinations without their autos. Over 130 residents turned out last week to voice their strong support to provide feedback to Toole Design Group. Jennifer Toole president of the Toole Group is a national known Traffic Planner who knows how to bring folks together to make Howard Co/Columbia a model of Bike/Ped Travel. The Columbia Bike Action Plan will work together with the HoCo Bike Master Plan coming out this spring to begin to connect more travelways so more of our residents can safely travel by Bike or walking. More than half of these trips are less than three miles and a 15 minute Bike Ride. I want to thank Yvonne Wenger for writing a very complete well balanced article on Better/Safer Biking in Hoco/Columia and the Sun keeping us well informed.

Thank you/Sincerely

Bill Kelly-Bicycle Advocates of Howard Co. BAHC.

To read the full article,  click here .

Jane Dembner, Columbia AssociationJennifer O’Toole, Howard Hughes Corporation

Bike Master PlanActive Transportation
HCC to Blandair -practical issues in implementation

-   American Diabetes Association Tour de Cure May 5, 2012 (~700)

-   Columbia Association Bike About May 12, 2012 (~200) TENTATIVE DATE

-   Baltimore Metro Council/HC Transportation Bike To Work Day May 18, 2012 (~200)

-   Columbia Triathlon May 20, 2012 (~2400)

-   Celebrating Heroes Triathlon June 24, 2012 (~2000)

-   Tri Columbia Kidz Triathlon July 22, 2012 (~100)

-   Duthe2 Duathlon August 5, 2012 (~1000) TENTATIVE DATE

-   Highway To Heaven Hill Climb Time Trial August 11, 2012 (150)

-   Iron Girl Triathlon August 19, 2012  (~2000)

-   24 Hours of Booty August 25, 2012 (~300) TENTATIVE DATE

-   Sea Gull Century October 6, 2012 (~7000) Out of Area

-   Half Full Triathlon October 7, 2012 (~1000) TENTATIVE DATE

-   BAHC BikeHoCo Ride October 14, 2012 (~150) TENTATIVE DATE