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Go Montgomery!The County’s long-term, comprehensive transportation plan will significantly increase spending on new roads, transit, hiker-biker trails, and pedestrian safety. |
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Monday, April 30, 2012Reminder: Regional Bike to Work Day Celebration on May 18On May 18, commuters will have the opportunity to participate in the Washington area’s annual Bike to Work Day celebration and show their support for bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work. Bike to Work Day is a free, non-profit event that encourages commuters to try bicycling to work as an alternative to solo driving. Last year, Bike to Work Day attracted nearly 11,000 bicyclists.
Go online to register for the event and get more information. Learn about the 58 pit stops throughout the region and 13 in Montgomery County, commuter convoys, how to find a ride buddy or become a sponsor.
Participants who pre-register will receive a free tee-shirt, refreshments and a chance to win bicycles and other raffle prizes. Tee-shirts are available at the pit stops and are limited to the first 11,000 who register.
For questions about Bike to Work Day, contact Commuter Connections or call 800-745-7433, or the Washington Area Bicyclist Association or call 202 518-0524.
Monday, April 30, 2012MCDOT’s Bikemap Receives National RecognitionThe Public Technology Institute (PTI) has honored Montgomery County with an award in the Geospatial Information Systems category for the County’s On-Line Bikeways Map Viewer. PTI is a national technology organization created by and for cities and counties. The organization identifies opportunities for technology research, shares best practices, offers consultancies and pilot demonstrations, and promotes technology development initiatives.
The map viewer is a collaborative effort between the County’s Department of Technology Services and Department of Transportation (MCDOT). In addition to viewing the bikeway map online, a poster-sized printed version of the map can be downloaded.
View the map on the County’s website or obtain more information about MCDOT's bikeway program and other bike-related issues on the Division of Engineering Services website.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012Regional Bike to Work Day Celebration on May 18: Registration Now OpenOn May 18, commuters will have the opportunity to participate in the Washington area’s annual Bike to Work Day celebration and show their support for bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work. Bike to Work Day is a free, non-profit event that encourages commuters to try bicycling to work as an alternative to solo driving.
Go online to register for this event and get more information. Learn about the 58 pit stops throughout the region, commuter convoys, how to find a ride buddy or become a sponsor.
Participants who pre-register will receive a free tee-shirt, refreshments, and a chance to win bicycles and other raffle prizes. Tee-shirts are available at the pit stops and are limited to the first 11,000 who register.
In 2011 Bike to Work Day attracted nearly 11,000 bicyclists. For questions about Bike to Work Day contact Commuter Connections or call 800-745-7433, or the Washington Area Bicyclist Association or call 202 518-0524.
Friday, January 27, 2012River Road Bike Path Project Public Hearing to be Held in FebruaryThe public is invited to attend a public hearing on a proposal by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation to construct a bike path along the north side of River Road (Maryland Route 190) from Riverwood Drive to River Oaks Lane in Potomac. The meeting will be held February 1 at 7 p.m. in the Lobby Level Auditorium of the Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville. Proposed improvements include construction of a 1,200-foot long, five-foot wide concrete bike path with a grass buffer between the edge of the road and the proposed bike path. The project will also include landscape trees and reconstruction of a portion of the existing guard rail. Every effort will be made during construction to minimize disruptions within the public right-of-way and to adjacent properties. The public may review project files in or provide written comments to the Department of Transportation, Division of Transportation Engineering, 4th Floor, 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Saturday, December 31, 2011County Submits Bikeshare Application to MDOT; $1 Million Grant will Help Fund Downcounty ProgramThe Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has submitted an application to the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) for a $1 million grant that will fund a bikesharing system in southern Montgomery County. The bikeshare application to MDOT is the fifth grant submitted by MCDOT over the past three years seeking funding for bikesharing, but the first to the State of Maryland since it announced a bikeshare grant program this November. The proposed bikeshare program will fund 29 docking stations and 204 bikes between the Beltway and the District of Columbia border, including Friendship Heights (Chevy Chase), Bethesda, the Medical Center Metro area, Takoma Park and Silver Spring. The bikeshare stations would be integrated with the Capital Bikeshare system in Arlington, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, focusing on connecting Metrorail stations in downcounty areas with major employment, residential, commercial and activity centers. Montgomery County has been successful in obtaining a $1.3 million Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant for a bikesharing program in portions of the City of Rockville and Greater Shady Grove Transportation Management District, including the County’s Life Sciences Center. That grant is provided through the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments under the FTA’s Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) program to link lower-income residents and employees with jobs and job training. The City of Rockville is partnering with the County to provide matching funds and implement the program. The Rockville/Shady Grove bikesharing program will eventually be connected with the proposed downcounty system as it expands. The new bikesharing application requests 80 percent grant funding for capital facilities. The County would be responsible for the remaining 20 percent local match, which is coming from private sector sources. The County also will be responsible for operating and maintenance costs, some of which are expected to be offset by revenues from membership and usage fees. Building developers, businesses, residents and other organizations in the County that have an interest in bikesharing are invited to contact the County’s bikeshare program staff to explore opportunities for joint funding, as well as to suggest locations for bikeshare stations. Monday, October 31, 2011Bike Ride-Along for Decision-Makers Highlights Trail Resources and NeedsMontgomery County ’s Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee, in coordination with the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, recently hosted a Bike Ride-Along. Participants included Planning Board Chair Françoise Carrier, County Councilmembers Nancy Floreen and Hans Riemer and other local officials who got a first-hand look at both the pleasures and the challenges that bicycling in Montgomery County entails.. Traveling the nine-mile route between North Bethesda and Downtown Silver Spring, took riders along bikeways, roadways and trails used daily by both commuter and recreational bikers. On average, more than 100 bicycle collisions occur each year in the County. A new Maryland law passed last fall requires motorists to give bikes three feet of space when passing. Bicyclists are no longer required to ride on the shoulder. However, if traveling at less than the speed of traffic, a bicyclist must still ride as near to the right of the roadway as practical and safe. For more information about biking, visit the County’s website. Wednesday, August 31, 2011County Receives Funding for Bike Share ProgramThanks to a $1.3 million grant, Montgomery County and the City of Rockville will establish a bikesharing pilot program to bring 200 bicycles and 20 stations to the Rockville and Shady Grove areas. The program is expected to begin next year. The National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board approved the grant on June 15. The program is one of eight regional projects receiving funds under the Federal Transit Administration's Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC) initiative. The project will test whether bikesharing is feasible in suburban centers outside a central city setting, as well as whether bikesharing can provide another transportation option to residents and employees. Eligible low-income workers will receive a free, one-year bikeshare membership; coverage for a certain level of user fees; a bike helmet; training classes in bicycle use and safety; and assistance with identifying safe bicycle routes. While this grant is for the bikesharing program in the Rockville and Shady Grove areas, Montgomery County is continuing to explore opportunities to expand the program to other parts of the county. Expanding the program would require partnerships with developers, businesses, and other organizations in the County. Any organizations interested in partnering with the County by helping to provide funding or sponsorship should email Commuter Services. Thursday, June 30, 2011Montgomery County Offers New Bike Map and Bike Rack Installation at Public BuildingsTo make biking more convenient, Montgomery County recently announced the availability of a new bike map. The interactive and printable map is available online, or for those who prefer a traditional map, by mail from Commuter Services. To encourage more bicycle commuting, Montgomery County is providing free bike rack installations at workplaces or other public locations. Priority is given to sites with access to public buildings within County right-of-ways that are adjacent to schools, libraries, employment centers, recreational and civic buildings. The rack is an “inverted u” style. Once it’s installed, the rack becomes the property of the authorizing facility owner/firm/agency. Request a bike rack (pdf) Thursday, June 30, 2011Bike to Work Day Breaks RecordEleven thousand cyclists hit the region’s streets on May 20 for Bike to Work Day and Montgomery County hosted more than 2,300 of them at nine pit stop events. Coordinated by Commuter Connections and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), the event set a new record for participation. Montgomery County-based pit stops included Downtown Bethesda, the Food and Drug Administration, the Naval Medical, the National Institutes of Health, North Bethesda, Rock Spring Park, Rockville Falls Grove, Rockville Town Center and Silver Spring. Tuesday, May 31, 2011Bike Summit Held May 14Members of the public were invited to attend a Montgomery County Civic Federation Bike Summit on May 14. Attendees joined staff from the County’s Department of Transportation, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, elected and appointed officials, bicyclists and bicycle advocates to brainstorm how to get more people to bicycle to transit, work, shopping, errands, entertainment, recreation, and to and from school and after-school activities. Thursday, April 28, 2011Celebrate Bike to Work Day in MayMontgomery County will join communities nationwide in celebrating Bike to Work Day on May 20. This annual celebration encourages bicycle commuting, which provides exercise benefits and is also an effective way to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and noise, and conserve energy. For most trips of less than five miles, commuting by bicycle may take about the same amount of time as traditional transportation options. For longer trips, riders can combine Ride On, which has bike racks on the front of all buses, with bicycle commuting.
This year, the County will hold events at 10 sites:
Montgomery County provides and promotes a comprehensive and balanced transportation program that includes a wide variety of transit, ridesharing, bicycling, pedestrian and teleworking options for residents, businesses, employees and visitors. These alternative modes of transportation are effective and efficient commuting solutions, reducing pollution and transportation costs, helping address climate change concerns, and ensuring the economic and environmental vitality of communities.
For more information about the pit stops, or to be eligible for prizes, register for Bike to Work Day online.
For more information about commuting options in the County, contact Commuter Services or call 240-773-2989. Or, stop in at one of the County’s TRiPS Commuter Stores in downtown Silver Spring, 8413 Ramsey Avenue, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Friendship Heights, 17 Wisconsin Circle, Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., both of which are near the Metrorail stations.
Thursday, March 31, 2011Register Now to Participate in Bike to Work Day 2011Join thousands of area commuters on Bike to Work Day on May 20 for a celebration of bicycling as a clean, fun and healthy way to get to work. Ride solo or join friends and colleagues in a bike convoy. Registrants are eligible to win prizes and bikes through regional and local raffles and receive a free Bike to Work Day t-shirt. In 2010, this event attracted more than 8,000 bicyclists at 32 pit stops throughout the Washington area. This year, there are 49 regional pit stops with great prizes, food, drinks and more. Bicycling is a cost-effective and healthy commuting alternative that provides the benefits of exercise, stress reduction, air quality improvements and traffic congestion reduction. The 10 pit stops in Montgomery County are:
To find out more about Bike to Work Day and register for the event, go the Washington Area Bicyclist Association website. Thursday, March 31, 2011River Road Bikepath Public Meeting to be Held April 7The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a public meeting on the River Road Bikepath project on Thursday, April 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Potomac Elementary School , 10311 River Road , Potomac . The bikepath is proposed for the north side of River Road (MD 190) from Riverwood Drive to River Oaks Lane. At this public meeting, the Project Manager, along with other MCDOT staff, will present the latest project design, answer questions and discuss concerns that residents may have regarding the project. For more information or to provide email or written comments, contact:
Residents interested in receiving project newsletters may contact Marsha Wheeler-Christ in MCDOT’s Division of Transportation Engineering at 240-777-6174. For information on other transportation construction projects, visit the Division of Transportation Engineering's website. Thursday, March 31, 2011Maryland Law Now Requires Motorists to Give Bicyclists Three Feet When PassingSince last October, Maryland law has required motorists to safely overtake a bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device (EPAMD) or a motor scooter at a distance of at least three feet. This passing rule does not apply if the highway on which the vehicle is being driven is not wide enough to lawfully pass the bicycle, EPAMD, or motor scooter at a distance of at least three feet. Additional exceptions are:
The law now requires vehicle operators to yield the right-of-way to bicyclists riding when entering or crossing occupied bike lanes and shoulders. Bicyclists are no longer required to ride on the shoulder. However, when riding at a speed slower than vehicle traffic, a bicyclist must still ride as near to the right of the roadway as practicable and safe, except when:
When riding on a sidewalk, where such riding is permitted, a bicyclist may ride in a crosswalk to continue on their route. Motorists are required to yield the right of way to a bicyclist operating lawfully in a crosswalk at a signalized intersection. Monday, December 20, 2010Who Clears Snow from Montgomery County’s Roads?
MCDOT clears more than 5,000 lane miles of County-maintained roads. All State-maintained, numbered roads (such as Georgia Avenue, Maryland Route 97 or Rockville Pike, Maryland Route 355) are cleared by the Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA). Other departments, outside agencies and governmental jurisdictions also have responsibility for plowing. They include the Montgomery County Board of Education; the Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission; the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro); municipalities; and homeowner’s associations. Commercial parking lot owners plow their own properties and are prohibited from moving snow into the street. The County’s new snow map indicates whether a road is maintained by the County or not. Or, call 311 to check on who plows your road. Friday, May 28, 2010Bike to Work DayMontgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett proclaimed Friday, May 21 as Bike to Work Day in Montgomery County, joining jurisdictions nationwide in this annual celebration to encourage bicycle commuting. Bike commuting not only provides exercise benefits, it also is an effective way to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion and noise, and conserve energy. For most trips of less than five miles, commuting by bicycle may take about the same amount of time as traditional transportation options. For longer trips, riders can combine Ride On, which has bike racks on the front of all buses, with bicycle commuting. This year, the County held events at nine sites. Montgomery County provides and promotes a comprehensive and balanced transportation program that includes a wide variety of transit, ridesharing, bicycling, pedestrian and teleworking options for residents, businesses, employees and visitors. These alternative modes of transportation are effective and efficient commuting solutions, reducing pollution and transportation costs, helping address climate change concerns, and ensuring the economic and environmental vitality of communities. For more information about commuting options in the County, contact Commuter Services or call 240-773-2989. Or, stop in at one of the County’s TRiPS Commuter Stores in downtown Silver Spring, 8413 Ramsey Avenue, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Friendship Heights, 17 Wisconsin Circle, Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., both of which are near the Metrorail stations. Thursday, August 27, 2009County Receives Funds for Bike Trails and PathsMontgomery County has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to design hiker-biker trails and bike lanes in the vicinity of the National Naval Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health. The grant provides for the design of bike facilities on:
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Not all roads in Montgomery County are maintained by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). When it snows, several agencies and jurisdictions are out in force clearing snow and ice, and this can cause confusion for residents. Copyright 2002-Montgomery County Government All Rights Reserved