Bike MD Hosts Statewide Planning Session

By Bruce Cohen - November 10, 2014

Advocates from across the state gather in Ellicott City

On Saturday, November 8th, leaders in Maryland’s bicycle advocacy movement met in Ellicott City for what was billed as a Legislative Planning Session.  With the 2014 General Elections complete, Bike Maryland took the opportunity to plan what legislation to pursue during the 2015 General Assembly session and beyond.  In years past, Bike Maryland has taken a more reactive approach to passing bike-related legislation.  Previously the Bike Caucus has introduced and passed meaningful legislation, but more recently bicycle champions have used an ad hoc approach which has jeopardized the bike lobby’s political capital. Bringing together bike advocates from across the state to identify common goals and set the stage for implementation was long overdue.  While many in attendance knew each other from other bike related events, this forum allowed for an open exchange of ideas.  The input offered during this 3 hour meeting provided Bike Maryland action items to create a more bikeable state with the support of local level partners. 

While the meeting’s intent was to identify which legislation, if any, to pursue in 2015, the input offered by the 40+ in attendance reflected a different set of priorities. The local advocates needed support, collaboration and direction from one central statewide organization to foster positive change for cyclists in their communities.  (Fortunately, Bike Maryland has already taken steps to supply that support.)  With this input, the change in gubernatorial administration and  approximately one fourth of the General Assembly beginning their freshman year, no bike-related legislation will be pursued by Bike Maryland during the 2015 General Assembly session.  Over the next year, bike advocates are encouraged to take the following steps:

1.  Get to know you elected officials!  No matter what office they hold, meet them in your community and find out how receptive they are to bicycling.
2.  Educate your elected officials on the benefits of bicycling.  There is no shortage of supporting material that shows how bicycling benefits a wide range of social ills including transportation safety, health improvements, environmental impacts, and traffic congestion.
3.  Take your elected officials on a bike ride in your community.  Nothing shows how fun it is to ride a bike, than a bike ride.  A bike ride will also illustrate what conditions cyclists experience when riding in your community.

While no legislative agenda will be pursued in 2015, the above action items will set the stage for greater success in following years.  Bike Maryland will continue to work with bike organizations and businesses across the state to make our case for more and better bike conditions.  Below is the TOP 10 LIST from Saturday’s Planning Session:

1. Increase leverage with data, campaigns, votes,  collaboration and funding
2. Emphasize protected bike lanes around universities
3. Ensure Maryland Department of Transportation’s Bikeways Grant program continues
4. Rethink Symposium and legislative reception; tie district advocates to representatives for “Education Day” in Annapolis
5. Bike Maryland to be legislative umbrella for trainings, spread understanding to local groups
6. Advocate for links between bike ped infrastructure such as Susquehanna River Crossing and Woodrow Wilson Bridge
7. Host workshops to educate engineers, planners construction managers and consultants; establish a bikeways design certification process
8. Simplify design regulations for off-road paths, both natural surface and paved
9. Sharpen 3 foot law, pass Nathan’s Law
10. Education and safety campaign for public and law enforcement

Special thanks to Baltimore County Councilmen Tom Quirk and David Marks for attending and offering support and guidance.

Related Pages

• Past Legislative Agenda