Posts by Jeff Lemieux — Contributor
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For new bike lanes in College Park, there’s good news and bad news
New drawings are out for bike lanes along Route 1 in College Park, between the University of Maryland and Greenbelt Road. The State Highway Administration is now proposing buffered bike lanes on the main street through College Park, but community leaders want a protected bike lane, or at least a bigger buffer. Keep reading…
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These two Prince George’s neighborhoods show how bike trails help neighborhoods
Riverdale Park and East Riverdale are two neighboring communities just east of Hyattsville in Prince George’s County. One is thriving while the other has struggled. One reason could be that the Riverdale Park is near bike trails, while East Riverdale is blocked from them. Keep reading…
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Bike paths are good for business, says the president of the Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce
Some people were skeptical that Shortcake Bakery would succeed. After all, it’s next to grungy strip of auto repair shops along Route 1 in Hyattsville. But David Harrington, the president of the Prince George’s County Chamber of Commerce, whose wife opened the bakery, says the shop’s location had an “unexpected asset”: a nearby bike path. Keep reading…
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There’s plenty of room for safe bike lanes in College Park
Route 1 in College Park is about to undergo a major reconstruction. As long as Maryland’s State Highway Administration doesn’t widen the road’s travel lanes, the project is a chance to make Route 1 safe for people on bikes. Keep reading…
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When a safety campaign blames victims it’s counterproductive
The region’s highway agencies have begun their annual Street Smart campaign promoting road safety. Unfortunately, many of the ads undermine safety by blaming the victim, and advocating the misconception that pedestrians are mere obstacles to cars. Keep reading…
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It wouldn’t cost much to make this Prince George’s road safer for everyone
Suitland Road, a major thoroughfare in Prince George’s County, offers nothing for people who walk, ride bikes, or take the bus. There’s enough room to make the road nicer and safer for everybody, and the cost would be tiny. Keep reading…
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Safer Maryland bikeways get the green light
Thanks to new guidelines, curb-protected or buffered bike lanes will be allowed on Maryland state roads. This change could ultimately make many roads much safer. Keep reading…
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A driver killed Tom Palermo in Baltimore, but road designers deserve some blame, too
On the last Saturday of 2014, driver Heather Cook struck and killed cyclist Tom Palermo with her car in Baltimore. Police have filed charges against Cook, but Tom’s killing highlights the need for protected bike lanes on roads that are designed for high speeds. Keep reading…
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Let’s build a great bike lane for Route 1 in College Park
People who bicycle in College Park were very excited last year when Governor Martin O’Malley announced funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements on Route 1 in College Park. But the state’s new plan for the road just includes basic, painted bicycle lanes. The road needs better bicycle infrastructure to be safe and attractive for cycling. Keep reading…
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Prince George’s officer thinks cyclists don’t belong on the road, tries to run one off Route 1
A Prince George’s County sheriff’s deputy tried to deliberately run a friend of mine off the road. The friend was riding his bicycle on Route 1 in Hyattsville. Here are excerpts from his story. Keep reading…