Fwd: Two Action Items - Please Act Now - Manslaughter Hearing (HB363) is this Wednesday
kare...@comcast.net
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "Bike Maryland" <ca...@bikemd.org>
To: kare...@comcast.net
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 11:47:17 AM
Subject: Two Action Items - Please Act Now - Manslaughter Hearing (HB363) is this Wednesday
- No More Senseless Bicycle Deaths - Already 2,335 people have signed this petition - please sign the petition here that targets Maryland's Governor/General Assembly and supports HB363.
- Additionally, you can also support HB 363- and help make Maryland roads safer - Click here to Take Action - this will take you to the League's take action page. Drivers who kill cyclists often face little or no penalty for their actions in part due to a gap in current Maryland law. HB 363 “Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel – Criminal Negligence": provides a misdemeanor option for those who cause fatalities by driving in a criminally negligent manner. If found guilty, motorists will be subject to imprisonment not to exceed 3 years and/or a fine not to exceed $5000.
Please take action to support safer roads in Maryland. Urge the Maryland House Judiciary Committee to vote in favor of HB 363. Learn how to contact your legislator at the bottom of this newsletter.
This Tuesday February 22nd - State Annual Bicycle Symposium
If you have not already done so, please register here.
Hosted by Bike Maryland, the Symposium will bring together advocates, industry leaders, on and off-road recreational cyclists and commuters, elected officials and staff from MD, DE, DC, VA, PA and more.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011 from 8:30am to 4:00pm
Location: 11 Bladen Street, Annapolis, MD 21401
East Miller Office Building in the President’s Conference Center
Click Here for parking information, agenda with pictures, carpooling/driving directions and more.
Summary Agenda Here:
8:30a.m. Welcome and Legislator Introduction. Carol Silldorff, Executive Director, Bike Maryland. Carol became the Executive Director of Bike Maryland in 2008. She passionately works to promote the mission of Bike Maryland - to encourage and promote bicycling, increase safety, improve conditions and provide a voice for all bicyclists in Maryland. Last year Carol contributed to a successful legislative campaign that resulted in multiple pro-bike/smart commuting laws in Maryland. She partners with leaders, individuals, clubs, non-profits, corporations, and city and county agencies throughout Maryland to increase the number of bicyclists and increase safety for the bicyclist. Carol has been an active bicyclist for many years (a bike commuter, recreational rider, bicycle racer including completing team RAAM, a mountain biker and scenic trail enthusiast). During Carol’s career she has worked on environmental sustainability issues for non-profit organizations, federal, state and local government agencies and both small and fortune 500 businesses.
9:00a.m. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Andy Clarke, League of American Bicyclist (LAB) President. Andy will discuss the Bicycle Friendly Maryland Program, brought to you by the League of American Bicyclists in partnership with Bike Maryland, that provides incentives, hands-on assistance, and award recognition for communities, businesses and universities that actively support bicycling. A Bicycle Friendly Maryland welcomes cyclists by providing safe accommodation for cycling and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation. Andy was appointed President of the League of American Bicyclists in 2004, after successfully leading efforts to create, interpret and implement the various transportation programs that are available to improve conditions for bicycling as the League’s State and Local Advocacy Director. In 2003, Clarke was on contract to provide technical assistance to the highly regarded Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center on site at the Federal Highway Administration. In addition to his strong policy background, Clarke has managed a range of bicycle and pedestrian planning projects at the state and metropolitan levels and has worked extensively with state and local advocacy groups. Clarke is a 1984 graduate of the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom with an undergraduate degree in Law. He is on the Board of Directors for America Bikes, and a member of the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycling Professionals.
10:15a.m. Jack Guarneri - Recession-Proof Advocacy: How to make significant changes during fiscally constrained times. Jack is the President and a founding member of the Bicycling Advocates of Howard County - a coalition of Howard County bicycle and triathlon clubs that was chartered in 2008. He is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and a retired Naval Officer. Jack has lived in Howard County for 20 years and is an Operations Research Analyst at The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD. He has been an avid recreational road cyclist and occasional bike commuter for the past 13 years and is also a former President of the APL Cycling Club.
10:50a.m. Stu Sirota, AICP - Complete streets retrofits through integrated planning. In order to create a network of bike-friendly roadways in Maryland, a comprehensive planning approach is required to achieve truly multi-modal environments for cyclists, pedestrians, transit, and motorized vehicles. This presentation examines how prioritizing and balancing the needs of all transportation modes as well as consideration of land use and development patterns through such an approach can result in transformative change. Stuart is a Bike Maryland Board Member and the founding principal of TND Planning Group, a consulting firm specializing in the integration of sustainable transportation and land use. He helps communities become more pedestrian, bicycle, and transit-friendly through development of innovative designs and implementation strategies and is recognized for his leadership in advancing progressive approaches and education towards walkable communities, transit oriented development, Complete Streets, and STRS.
12:45p.m. Chris Eatough, BikeArlington Program Manager, Capital Bikeshare Management and Marketing. Presentation: Capital Bikeshare - The First Five Months. Chris will present background information on the Capital Bikeshare program, review the first months of operations, and provide insight on the successes, the "challenges", and what can be expected for the near future. After a successful career as a professional mountain bike racer, Chris has transitioned to bike advocacy as Arlington County's bike program manager. This includes being part of the management and marketing team of Capital Bikeshare, the nation's largest bike sharing program. During this presentation, Chris will give a summary of the Capital Bikeshare start up and first five months of operation, with reflection on the success and the lessons learned.
2:00p.m. Chief William J. McMahon and Adiva R Sotzsky – The Role of Police and House Bill 363 Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel – Criminal Negligence will be discussed. Chief McMahon is a twenty-five year veteran of the Howard County Department of Police. He became the Chief of Police in June of 2006 and has had a significant impact on the Department and the Community as he has overseen many successful new programs and initiatives. He has maintained a focus on traffic safety and ensuring that his citizens feel safe when going shopping or being out in the community. Chief McMahon has successfully added over fifty (50) new officer positions and over twenty (20) civilian positions to the Department. Chief McMahon holds a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University and is a graduate of session 192 of the FBI’s National Academy. He is a member of Leadership Howard County, the Maryland Chiefs of Police Association and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. Adiva R Sotzsky has been a citizen advocate for the passage of Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel – Criminal Negligence since 2005. Her husband, Harry, was killed on a Maryland highway in July 2004. Bike Maryland honors Adiva’s dedication to safety and justice. Adiva’s professional career was as a Clinical Social Worker and, as the librarian at the Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms laboratories, and at the Tax and Trade Bureau. In addition to her advocacy work, Adiva teaches basic computer skills to senior citizens, sails, and enjoys time with her granddaughters and dog.
2:45pm Kevin Hardman – Executive Director, Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. Presentation: Creating a Bicycle-Friendly State: Lessons from Wisconsin- The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin is one of the oldest and largest statewide bicycle education and advocacy organizations in the country. Hear lessons learned from Executive Director Kevin Hardman: what's worked, what hasn't worked and how Wisconsin and other states can build larger communities of support for a more bicycle friendly America. Kevin (pictured here with his oldest daughter Sophia) joined the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin with over 15 years of business and real-estate development experience. He is a strong advocate for the creation of bikeable and walkable communities. Kevin is a member of the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), an organization that promotes human-scale development, and is past national chair of CNU's Development Task Force. He is also on the board of directors of the Village of Wauwatosa Business Improvement District.
Meet Your Legislator
From approximately 4pm to 5:30pm experienced advocates will join you in meeting with your legislator. If you are interested in participating in this activity please rsvp to kimcyc...@gmail.com and let her know your State Senator and Delegate. Visit http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/ to find your State Senator and Delegate.
As you can see, the agenda is chock-full of renowned presenters and educational topics. Exhibits will be open all day!
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Bike Maryland, 1209 North Calvert Street . Baltimore, Maryland 21202, www.bikemd.org