Baltimore City Council Hearing - Bike Safety Task Force

[escatmore]

One of the recommendations we have asked MBAC to put in asks the City Council to update the mountain bike plan for the watersheds. Historical use of the reservoirs demands a new look at how the watersheds are managed for recreational purposes. Cyclists need to fill this hearing! Mountain bikers, Roadies, Commuters, Racers, all are needed!

Pass the word.

Eric S. Crawford
MORE Trail Liaison
www.mtb-more.org


---------- Forwarded message ----------


The Baltimore City Council will conduct a hearing on the Equal Rights for Bikes Task Force (http://legistar.baltimorecitycouncil.com/detailreport/?key=4375)

Friday, October 23rd at 12:30 pm.

Du Burns Council Chamber, 4th floor, City Hall



While this Task Force is a good idea, the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee (MBAC) are already fully engaged in many of its goals. DOT has since submitted a list of other laws that would help improve cycling in Baltimore: Complete Streets, mandatory bike parking, Cyclists’ Bill of Rights among others



Please attend this important hearing to make Baltimore a better place to bike!



Feel free to forward!!!!





Thanks,

Nate Evans

Bike & Pedestrian Planner

Baltimore City Department of Transportation

417 E. Fayette St, Rm. 555

Baltimore, MD 21202

443.984.4094

www.baltimorecity.gov/bike

[escatmore]

bump, 2, 3, 4.

[escatmore]

bump, 4, 5, 6.

[rmac]

Eric - thanks for posting. Wish I could have made it but I couldn't. What was discussed w/regard to mountain biking at LR? Possible to summarize?

[escatmore]

It went pretty well. Several folks stood up to be heard, some stole a bunch of my thunder, but it worked out well. There were probably 40, maybe 50 people in the room. 70% were angry mountain bikers but they were well behaved and played their role perfectly. As a result of so many people there about the mtb plight, Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke tasked the chair of the Mayors Bicycle Advisory Committee, Greg Hinchliffe, to help organize an informational hearing so that the Council can hear what the issues are from everyone.

I provided a shock to the room when she asked if I wanted the informational hearing to be just mountain bikers or all trail users. guess what my answer was...

This wasn't even remotely on their radar and now it is.

We'll be shouting again when we get a date for the informational hearing.

eric

[bills]

Thanks for the update and your time and efforts Eric.
I am glad we had a good turn out.

[riderx]

Nice work rallying the troops Eric. And thanks to everyone who went out.

Eric - maybe post a paragraph or two about the history of MTB access at LR. I think a lot of current riders were not in the sport when they first access issues cropped up. A little background could be helpful to let people know the importance of this.

[escatmore]

In the early-mid 90's the city made serious noise like they were going to ban mtb access at the 3 reservoirs. Due to a public outcry led mostly by the now defunct MAMBO ( folded into MORE officially October 2008 ) the City backed down and put together a committee of interested parties to put together a plan. In January 1998 the City DPW finalized 'A Plan for Mountain Biking on City Watershed Property'. Boiled down that plan says if it's singletrack, it's illegal. From the public point of view there has been no problem for years and years. One could go to Loch Raven or Prettyboy or Liberty and treat the land as if it were a park. It's not a park, it's a watershed for the drinking water of Baltimore City and surrounding counties. For various reasons there was no enforcement of any regulations on the trail. This is changing. The city has begun to finally staff their security detail for the three city reservoirs. They are Baltimore City Watershed Rangers. They carry guns and can arrest people. They are beginning to enforce the regulations of the watershed. As the years have passed MAMBO and now MORE have satisfied the requirements of the mountain bike plan. We have asked the managers repeatedly for more access to no avail. Since the Rangers are now online and the public is beginning to feel their presence we are now approaching the management from a new direction.

Our hope is that the City Council will support our request that the 15 year old mountain bike plan be revisited and revised due to the historical park like experience that the public has been allowed to enjoy for all these years and changes within the constituencies that visit these lands.

[rciracing]

Thanks for your all your hard work Eric. Back in the 90's with MAMBO, I remember trail users were asked to send letters to the mayor's office (addressed to a Bailog or Bailor??) Would something like that help this time?

[escatmore]

Balog, as in George G. Balog, then Director of public works.

letters = not yet, but I'll bet soon.

eric