Pedestrian & Bicyclist Safety Prioritized by All Levels of Government |
Improving pedestrian and cyclist safety requires action at all levels of government. Here are brief highlights of some recent federal, state and local steps to make walking and biking safer. We’ll revisit some of these in the coming months.
Federal
Congressman Jaime Raskin reported last summer that he had “secured an agreement from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a review of U.S. vehicle safety design standards and their effects on the safety of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and bicyclists.” (Here’s his letter to the agency.)
|
|
|
-
“When this GAO assessment is completed, it will provide us with critical recommendations to ensure that drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and other road users have safe and equitable access to our roadways,” Congressman Raskin wrote following GAO’s agreement.
-
He asked GAO to evaluate vehicle design as it relates to pedestrian and cyclist safety; any challenges automakers and regulators face in addressing pedestrian and cyclist safety; options Congress and regulators should consider to reduce the risks of fatalities related to vehicle design; and actions taken by other countries to reduce traffic fatalities. He also emphasized the need to protect cyclists and pedestrians in blind zones (i.e., areas in front of or behind a vehicle that can’t be seen from the driver’s seat).
|
|
|
State
The Maryland General Assembly is reviewing at least six bills that pertain to ped/bike safety. We’ve outlined them below in as brief a fashion as possible, but with links so you can do a deep dive if you’d like.
|
|
|
-
HB0007 / SB0627: Authorizes cyclists to cautiously make a turn or proceed through an intersection without stopping — if the cyclist reduces their speed “to a reasonable rate” and yields the right-of-way to any vehicle that is near enough to pose an immediate danger.
- HB0178 / SB0133: Prohibits a person from stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle in a bike lane or bicycle path.
-
HB0234 / SB0385: Increases the penalties a motorist would face for causing the serious physical injury or death of a vulnerable individual.
-
HB0348 / SB0520: Authorizes the State Highway Administration to use speed monitoring systems in areas determined to be of high risk to vulnerable road users and priority corridors in the Administration’s Pedestrian Safety Action Plan.
-
HB0375 / SB0392: Authorizes cyclists to ride on sidewalks unless prohibited by local ordinance, and requires them to yield to pedestrians or persons on sidewalks or in crosswalks who are using an electric personal assistive mobility device.
- HB0422: Authorizes cyclists who are at an intersection facing a red signal to enter the intersection to cross the highway in the direction of a pedestrian control "walk" signal, and requires them to yield to any vehicle or pedestrian lawfully using the intersection.
|
|
|
Local
Montgomery County’s Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (which wins the award for the best tongue-twister acronym: PBTSAC) is composed of residents, elected officials and government representatives focused on pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety issues in the county — and you can participate.
The PBTSAC meets bimonthly on the fourth Thursday of the month. Its next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 20, from 7–8:30 p.m. You can attend online via Microsoft Teams or in-person at the Executive Office Building at 101 Monroe St. Advance registration is required.
The January meeting reviewed preliminary 2024 fatal crash trends. The agenda for the March meeting will soon be posted here.
The County’s Vision Zero Coordinator, Wade Holland (whom we spotlighted last month regarding the Vision Zero Plan’s progress) manages this committee and anticipates that it will soon have vacancies. (Applicants need to go through the official County application process. Check here for online postings of any upcoming vacancies.)
Also, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation recently released a new Accessible Design Guide, which provides guidance for developing accessible streets, sidewalks, crosswalks and other public spaces. County agencies use the guide when developing and approving plans, including those by developers, to ensure that all designs meet minimum federal, state and local regulations and best practices.
|
|
|
February 18: Public Forum on Proposed Ride On Route Changes
|
|
|
If you use Ride On routes 10, 34, 40, 42, L8 and/or T2, you’ll want to attend a public forum on Tuesday, February 18, where the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT), Division of Transit Services, will announce its proposed service changes to those routes.
When & Where
|
|
|
- Starting time: 6 p.m.
-
Location: Mid-County Regional Services Center, 2425 Reedie Dr. in Wheaton, in the second-floor conference room.
- Need sign language or Spanish interpreter services? They will only be provided upon request, with notice as far in advance as possible but not less than 3 business days prior to the date of the forum.
|
|
|
Want to Speak at the Forum?
|
|
|
-
February 16 is the deadline for requesting to speak. You’ll need to email your name, home address, telephone number, email address and organization to atmcdot.rideonpublicforums@montgomerycountymd.gov. (Put Ride On Public Forum in the subject line.)
-
February 17 is the deadline for providing a printed copy of your testimony for the record, once you’ve signed up to speak.
|
|
|
Commenting without Speaking
You can submit comments on the proposed service changes to the Division of Transit Services by 5 p.m. on Friday, February 28.
|
|
|
- Email: mcdot.rideonpublicforums@montgomerycountymd.gov.
- Mail: Division of Transit Services, Ride On Public Forum, 101 Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Rockville, Maryland 20850.
- Fax: 240-777-5801
|
|
|
Why the Proposed Changes?
It’s all part of the study-based redesigns envisioned for the Year 1 implementation phases of Ride On Reimagined and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s (WMATA) Better Bus network redesign.
Effective Date of Changes
A number of route changes already took effect last month. The proposed changes to be discussed at the public forum will take effect June 29, 2025, although all comments will be considered before any changes are finalized.
Questions?
|
|
|
Cool Commute Contest Ends Feb. 28
|
|
|
Bethesda finally got measurable snow last month, so we hope you had a chance to get out and snap a picture of your winter biking or walking.
And winter’s not over yet! Our Cool Commute Contest continues. So keep that smartphone or camera ready as you move around in downtown Bethesda.
(Need inspiration? Check out these photos from last year.)
To enter, simply email photos of your biking or walking commute to Kristen Blackmon at KBlackmon@bethesda.org for a chance to win. We’ll pick five winners early next month to each receive a $100 Bethesda Bucks e-gift card.
|
|
|
Big Change: Bike to Work Day 2025 Will Be on a Thursday
|
|
|
Bike to Work Day organizers moved the event to a Thursday for 2025.
So, please put May 15 — the third Thursday in May — on your calendar.
Why the shift? The regional planning group decided more people would participate on a Thursday than on a Friday.
Stay tuned. The registration website should be open in March.
|
|
|
Bethesda & Beyond Updates |
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
7700 Old Georgetown Road | Bethesda, MD 20814 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
|
| |
|
|
