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Last Wednesday's Bicycle Friendly Business (BFB) Workshop held at Dawson's Market brought together a diverse group of area business leaders, elected officials, and local government. Made possible through a grant provided by Performance Bicycles, the BFB Workshop focused on encouraging local employers to create a more bicycle friendly workplace for their employees, thereby increasing the number of people in Rockville commuting to work by bike. Beginning with a warm welcome from Councilman Mark Pierzchala, the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, the City of Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee, Performance Bicycles, Dawson's Market and Bike Maryland the workshop included four key speakers. Alison Dewey, from the League of American Bicyclists, gave attendees an overview of the League's Bicycle Friendly Business Program along with guidance on how to become eligible for their national level award. Following Ms. Dewey we also heard from State Farm Agent, Darius Mark and his experience as a BFB award recipient, Katie Jones from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene presenting on the importance (and cost savings) of workplace wellness, as well as from Sandra Brecher, Chief of Commuter Services for Montgomery County, on the upcoming launch of Capital Bikeshare in Rockville. Some of the Rockville area businesses in attendance included Kaiser Permanente, BioReliance Corporation, the City of Rockville, and Montgomery College.
Bike Maryland is most grateful for the support we have received from Performance Bicycles and we look forward to our continued work within the Rockville business community. The next BFB Application cycle is due on June 20, 2013!!!
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Bike Maryland's Bicycle Friendly University (BFU) Workshop, held on the campus of Johns Hopkins University, brought together a number of representatives from colleges and universities in the Baltimore area as well as transportation officials at the local and state level. Beginning with a presentation provided by the League of American Bicyclists, the workshop set into motion a forum for future developments in making college campuses more bicycle friendly for students, staff and faculty. In addition to hearing from the League's, Alison Dewey, presenters also included Aaron Roppolo (Maryland Institute College of Art), Greg Smith (Johns Hopkins University, Beverly Malone (University of Maryland, College Park), Dominic Dorse (Performance Bicycles), and Yvette Hess (Bikes for the World).
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We are tremendously grateful to Performance Bicycles for their support and to Johns Hopkins for being our gracious host. Bike Maryland looks forward to continuing the energetic conversations and collaboration that began at yesterday's BFU Workshop. Many thank to the League of American Bicyclists, Johns Hopkins University, and Performance Bicycles!
Links to BFU Presentations:
UMD BFU Presentation given by Beverly Malone
MICA BFU Presentation given by Aaron Roppollo
LAB BFU Presentation given by Alison Dewey
The Annapolis Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) Workshop pulled together a diverse crowd of concerned citizens, bicycle advocates, transportation specialists, engineers, and state officials this past Wednesday, July 11th at the Pip Moyer Recreation Center. Working closely with the Annapolis Bicycle and Pedestrian Planner, Iain Banks and the League of American Bicyclists, Bike Maryland put together the workshop in an effort to help the City of Annapolis work toward their goal of becoming a BFC after receiving an honorable mention during the last award cycle.
Bill Nesper of the League of American Bicyclists and Anna Kelso of Bike Maryland opened the workshop with a presentation on the League's BFC program providing background information on BFC criteria and examples of effective applications of this criteria in communities across the country. Anna and Bill also provided feedback from the Annapolis BFC application submitted early in the year, calling attention to very specific key opportunities for improvements in the community.
We were also very grateful to have with us MaryLynn Hinde, Chair of Frederick's Ad Hoc Bicycle Advisory Committee (BAC), who presented on Frederick's BAC highlighting how they were formed , what they have done since they were formed, and how these efforts resulted in Frederick's recent bronze level BFC award. Many thanks to MaryLynn for coming to Annapolis!
After a brief pizza break, we reconvened to begin brainstorming on specific things Annapolis can do to become more bicycle friendly according to the League's Five E criteria (Engineering, Encouragement, Education, Enforcement, and Evaluation/Planning. From this session we compiled a list of action items to be accomplished in the short and long term. Bike Maryland will continue to work closely with workshop attendees in an effort to finalize a formal action plan and continue working towards a more bicycle friendly Annapolis.
ANNAPOLIS BRAINSTORMING SESSION
Engineering
- establish a branded bike route and also leverage signage from the B&A Trail into town
- bike boulevards from trails to dock
- connect city, county and state routes (need more coordination)
- more signage on Eastport Bridge (share the road signs)
- address high crash rate on West Street and improve understanding of management (city or state)
- provide covered in-town bike parking and install on-street bike parking on main st (exchange two parking spaces for bike parking)
Encouragement
-establish a Bicycle Advisory Committee within the Transportation Advisory Board
- provide incentives for city employees to use alternative transportation (possibly use CMAQ fund for bike parking)
- establish a History Loop similar to Frederick's (work with Convention and Visitor's Bureau)
- start a corporate bike challenge among state agencies in Annapolis
Evaluation & Planning
- establish a plan for working with local colleges and state government
Education
- provide more adult bike education
- establish a Safe Routes to School Program at Eastport and Germantown Elementary schools
-update the MVA to provide more bicycle education and cyclists' rights to the road
-hold more LCI seminars through
-provide bicycle education to city council
Enforcement
- establish diversion programs
Salisbury BFC Workshop a Huge Success!
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With over 60 people present at last night's Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) Workshop in Salisbury, MD, the event brought together a wide array of stakeholders from the community as well as the surrounding areas. Those in attendance represented local businesses (both large and small), Salisbury University, local and state government (thanks for making the trip Michael Jackson!), as well as several bike and environmental organizations. We were especially honored to have Mayor Jim Ireton with us. His opening words of support and encouragement set the tone for a productive evening of bicycle advocacy.
The workshop is the result of a combined effort from Bike Maryland, the League of American Bicyclists, and bike-SBY. Together the three bicycle organizations worked to put together an evening aimed at educating the public on the League of American Bicyclists' Bicycle Friendly Community Program, identifying key priority areas in need of improvement in the community, and putting together an action plan as the community puts the BFC process into motion.
Salisbury is certainly not in need of energetic citizens dedicated to making tangible improvements in the community. At the close of the evening workshop participants put together a hefty list of action items to tackle in the long and short term. Bike-SBY founder, Matt Drew, is the spearhead behind the movement in Salisbury and with his leadership we are confident the City will soon become Maryland's next BFC. Please follow developments in Salisbury at bike-SBY!!!
Many thanks to Tri Townsend of Common Grounds for providing his delectable pastries and beverages!
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