My Response to the Chief

Chief Johnson,

Firstly, let me thank you for taking time to respond to my letter. You
have solidified my respect for you and your position. Also, I'm very
glad that as a fellow cyclist you've got my sympathies at heart.

I cannot disagree with any of the details you've thoughtfully
described in your response. I am glad that BC Police are withholding
blame until this crash is fully investigated. I apologize for basing
my criticisms on preliminary media information.

I can't help but wonder how this tragic crash plays out in the context
of the recent campaign to help prevent future bike/ped deaths by
educating those most vulnerable- the bicyclists and pedestrians. I do
acknowledge that they may indeed be at fault sometimes, but to focus
on increasing the lawfulness of those most at risk seems like we're
ignoring the far more critical problem- the drivers' responsibility.

I don't know about you, but when the BC Police ask me to ride my
bicycle more lawfully it really doesn't make me feel more protected
from injury and death.

When you or I or any other well-intentioned driver injures a cyclist
we carry responsibility regardless of fault. "I didn't see them" or "I
couldn't stop in time" is not a valid excuse. When I ride on multi-use
paths I carry the responsibility of not injuring pedestrians whether
they are walking lawfully or not. Why? Because I am the more dangerous
vehicle. And, what if they are walking erratically or are partly
obscured by the terrain? I must slow down,  give the widest berth
possible and become extra vigilant. It is my responsibility to do so
merely because the pedestrian is more vulnerable. Obvious to me, is
that those operating 4,000 pound vehicles moving at 2-3 times bicycle
speeds have the same responsibilities to bicyclists and pedestrians.
Indeed, they have a greater responsibility because the risk of deadly
injury is so much greater. It's a common rule of respect- protect the
vulnerable. Why are we not harshly reminding drivers of this at every
possible occasion? There is no surprise here- bicyclists and
pedestrians are on our roads and they are us.

When you and I and the BC Police have done everything in our power to
remind drivers of this, then and only then can we remind
pedestrians how to walk safely.

Safe riding.         -Bob Wagner

- Show quoted text -

A response from Chief James Johnson

Bob Wagner

bobwag (at) gmail.com

 

Dear Mr. Wagner:

 

I have reviewed your comments and concerns regarding the recent WJZ report on pedestrian and bicycle accidents being on the rise in Baltimore County.  Specifically, I am responding to your concerns that the police reported that the truck driver may not be at fault and that the bicyclist was not wearing a helmet, was riding in the middle of the car lane, and that the truck driver had a blind spot when he came over a hill.  I am unaware of any police report on this crash stating that the bicyclist was at fault because of the aforementioned reasons.  Given that the WJZ report is dated May 6^th, two days after the crash occurred, any information learned or obtained at that point in the investigation would be preliminary observations with no conclusion as to fault.  Please understand, how preliminary information is reported by the media or how it is construed by the public is beyond the control of the Police Department.

The police report of public record for this crash indicates, by numeric code, that the bicyclist was not wearing any safety equipment.  There is no statement of fault attached to this observation.  The report indicates that the bicyclist was traveling north in lane #2 (the center lane) of three northbound lanes (2 northbound lanes and 1 transitional lane for exiting and entering Interstate 695).  There is no statement of fault attributed to this finding.  The report includes a statement from a witness that heard the truck driver state that the bicyclist must have come up on his blind side.  Again, the cyclist was not indicated as being at fault because of this finding.  In fact, the police investigative report concludes the truck driver, not the bicyclist, to be at fault for the crash.    

As a fellow avid cyclist, having participated in five Cycle Across Maryland (CAM) Tours and numerous Century Rides, I share your concerns about cycling safety and the need for motorists to respect the rights of cyclists.  I ensure you of my continuing commitment to traffic safety in Baltimore County for cyclists, as well as pedestrians and motorists.  In support of this commitment, Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith and I recently announced an initiative to reduce traffic crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists in Baltimore County.  This initiative will include three important components: Education, Enforcement and Engineering.  The Police Department plans to contribute significantly to the Education and Enforcement components.  I regard with interest the current effort of the Maryland State Police to develop curriculum for police officers on Maryland traffic laws relating to cyclists.  I would be receptive of exposing our officers to this training.

Thank you for voicing your concerns.

Sincerely,

James W. Johnson

Chief of Police   

Chief James W. Johnson
Office of the Chief
Baltimore County Police Department
700 East Joppa Road
Towson, Maryland  21286-5501
410-887-2200, Fax: 410-887-4958
E-mail:  jwjohnson (at) baltimorecountymd.gov

A Little Advocacy

Dear Baltimore County Police and County Executive,


I recently read the following article:
"Pedestrian accidents, especially fatal ones, are way up in Baltimore County" http://wjz.com/local/pedestrian.accidents.2.1679674.html
If correctly reported, this article highlights how poorly the Baltimore County Police understand MD law as it relates to bicyclists and pedestrians.
We should all know that everyone over the age of 16 is not required to wear a helmet when either bicycling or walking on MD roads. (thank goodness) Also, the state law allowing bicyclists and all other vehicles access to the full lane has been clearly stated for decades.
8 dead so far this year and the voice from BC Police is to blame the vulnerable for these incidents? What a sad way to treat our Marylanders. There must be a more sensitive and constructive way of approaching this, don't you think? The only thing that scares me more than being hit from behind by a well-meaning, but inattentive driver, is imagining Chief James Johnson explaining fault to my wife.
-Bob Wagner, a Marylander, a Baltimore citizen and a long-time bicycle commuter.

"Are you trying to torture us? "

 

Last week I posted the above picture of me taken during a solo bike ride from Key West, FL to Marathon, FL. Fellow randonneur, Maile Neel promptly responded to the post with the quote above. It was a reasonable thing to ask. The mid-atlantic had just received its second >2ft. snowfall in the last ten days. I knew it. I was "stranded" in the Keys because of the first snow and barely made it back before the second. Terrible, just terrible. ;-)


Glad to be back. (sort of) Key West was great for eating, lounging, snorkling and eating key lime pie- all activities I'm fond of, however, there aren't many options for long distance riding. There is a bit of a circle around the southeastern portion of the key(maybe 5 miles), but Route 1 North is really the only option for non-circular distance. Today's goal was to get over Seven Mile Bridge into Marathon .

Eaton Bikes was the only place in town that had decent road bikes for rent. They were kind and efficient setting me up with a Kona Jake- an aluminum frame cyclocross bike. It has 10-sp cog and a triple in front. I don't know what other riders do with all those gears. I would've been fine with a single speed. I left before sunrise from our rental along the historic seaport. Not the safest thing to do since I didn't have lights. I did wear my reflective jacket which, I'm guessing, helped keep some cars from hitting me. There is only one road off the island- Rt. 1 and I missed it. I began seeing the waterfront along the southside of the island and realized I had already gone past the only turn I needed to make. U-Turn.

Once on the Rt.1 bridge I was heading ENE to Boca Chica and directly into 25-40 mph headwinds. I knew it was going to be a wind fight for the next 40 miles and I needed to be back in Key West by 12:30 for brunch. (tough life, eh?) Off to the east the waters began to lighten with emerging sun. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy to get a proper sunrise. As soon as the sun was above the horizon though, the temperature began rising. By mid-morning it was up to high 70's and I was gulping down water like it was August in Baltimore.

Route 1 was scenic for me, but loaded with traffic traveling anywhere from 30-60mph. The route is part of the Eastcoast Greenway with plans to have a ped/bike path along the entire stretch. They're a long way off from that though. I took the trail once and it lasted not much longer than 1/2 mile before I was unceremoniously dumped back onto the main road. So, I rode the remaining miles on the shoulder which was mostly clear and smooth and only occasionally narrow, glassy and/or rutted. I lost count of how many bridges I went over. The route is just a series of frog hops over channels. Each bridge gives you a reason to get out of the saddle and rewards you with great views of the complex waterways as well as easy views of sponges and sea critters through the clear, shallow water. Good stuff.

I felt a bit uncomfortable getting on the Kona for this ride. Riding a bicycle for more than a few hours creates a relationship between rider and bicycle. A strong relationship is built on familiarity and a variety of trusts. Kona and I had none of that and I was hoping we would at least be civil and respecting of one another. We were not a perfect match. The frame was a bit small for me. I felt cramped in the top tube and was constantly repositioning my hands to take the weight off the bars as I couldn't find a comfortable balance point. As a part of the initial fitting, I'd raised the seatpost twice, but should've put it up another couple cm. So, I felt like I wasn't able to put in a proper power stroke. I was determined to be pleasant with the Kona and I was. Oh yeah, another thing- there was a slight leak in the rear tube which became rather sloggy by the end of my ride. Okay that was all. Kona was a pleasant rental, but we were not destined for one another.

I was nearing the southern base of the Seven Mile Bridge around 9:30 and realized that even with a quicker return ride I was not going to make it all the way up to Marathon and then back to Key West by 12:30. Although the bridge is a bit less distance than its namesake, it would be completely un-sheltered from wind and I'd be slow getting over it. I decided to accept my backup goal which was to ride out on the abandoned Flagler bridge from Little Duck Key. The bridge, an abandoned section of the old Overseas Highway, runs parallel to the new Seven Mile Bridge. It is missing several pieces in the middle because of storms and a movie stunt explosion, but long sections of it are still accessible from Marathon to the north and Little Duck Key to the south. I rode out for nearly a mile on it, passing fisherman and sight seers to the concrete barrier at the end of the section. It's kinda creepy looking over to the other inaccessible portion of the bridge. Then it was time to head back.

Traffic was getting heavier, but the tailwind made it a much faster trip. I chatted briefly with some Aussie road bikers in Little Pine key and finally made it back to Key West before my rear tire got too soft. I stopped to return the bike at Eaton bikes. They were shocked and amazed that I had ridden that distance and I soaked up the attention.

Two days later I rented a cruiser bike. Key West has perhaps, more humans on bicycles than anywhere I've visited except Amsterdam and 90% of the bikes are cheap cruisers. In Baltimore, I live in a world where owners tout their own individual choices in bicycles and bicycle parts. What you ride becomes an expression of your personality. Custom steel, Carbon, Ti? High performance, long distance, commuter. We define ourselves and are defined by our bikes. No so in Key West. A bike is just a "red bike" or a bike with big handlebars or "the one with the milk crate". Strange and wonderful. After riding a red cruiser with a yellow milk crate for a full day, it made me appreciate the Kona. In spite of our differences, I went back to Eaton bikes to rent the Kona again. The shop was closed. Like an excitable kid, I cupped my hands at the front window looking to see if I could see it hanging up inside. I wondered whether it might be taking someone else up to Marathon Key.

 

More pics from my trip: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27976837@N00/sets/72157623279683853/

Ruining my Rando Rep. or "Round the Big Bean"

Lake Montebello

Today I did a very strange thing: I rode around Lake Montebello more than 20 times.

I was hoping to meet a friend to ride our fixed gear bikes, but he couldn't make it. So, on a whim I set out to see how many laps I could do without getting bored and annoyed. I was surprised.

The first thing I realized is that it's difficult to keep track of how many laps you've ridden when you don't have a cyclo computer. So I devised an artificial memory system using a binder clip. I'd flip up one "arm" of the clip for the first lap and the second arm for the second lap. Then the first arm down for 3 and the second for 4 laps. Then I'd move my Dinotte light cable from the right side of my stem to the left to designate 5 and begin again with the binder clip. Perfect.

I was the only rider there at around 3PM. My half hour watch alarm went off as I was nearing my 8th lap. I was enjoying seeing the recurrent faces in the oncoming ped lane. There was a woman dressed entirely in black Lycra including a sinister black balaclava. She was running at what seemed like an impossibly fast pace and she kept it up the whole time I was out there. Running is hard and she was amazing to watch. A kind-faced Asian man smiled and nodded hello to me each and every time I passed. Geese were making silly noises announcing their arrivals and departures and the striated ice on the lake made a blurry reflection of the sky. Then a few other bikie types showed up and I got distracted.

I started measuring my speed against theirs. I'd glance across the park and note their position every time I passed a particular light post. I was closing in. I began trying to predict how many more laps it would take me to over take them. This is probably common mind games for the usual suspects riding Montebello, but I was a newb and excited. I imagined myself as fast as a Janet Goldstein and as focused as a "teacher" Bob. When I'd get to the only headwindy part of the loop I'd rise up and accelerate into it. I finally pushed a few more yards and I was in their draft. Strange. They weren't trying to pull ahead of me at all. They looked like they were just enjoying their ride.

I chatted for a bit. Nice guys. Then I pulled ahead hoping to warm up my toes a bit. I was just finishing up a lap when it hit me that I'd completely forgotten about my binder clip memory tool. Hmm... How many laps then? I was guessing at a number. The asian man was gone and I hadn't noticed when. The runner was chatting with a friend and cooling down. The kids poured out of Montebello elementary. It must have been around 20 laps. I reasoned that I ought to ride one more lap to be sure. I rode two instead and then headed back to Hampden stopping at the donut shop on the way home. A good ride.

The Odds

I appreciated a blog post earlier this year by Coho bicycle builder, Charles Lathe concerning riding bicycles and desensitization. His brief story was to explain that he wasn't directly interested in riding in harsh weather other than the fact that it desensitized him to riding in more of the same. If you never ride in cold rain, you'll hate it big time when you do.

Last night on my way home from work I got a flat tire. The tire was a kevlar belted Ruffy Tuffy, a tire I've only flatted once in several thousand miles. I decided to just shoulder the bike and walk home. It wasn't until this morning that I inspected the tire and tube for the culprit. The rubber had de-laminated at the base of the valve stem. There was no apparent reason for why this had happened. There was no distress in that area.

This flat was my tenth in a little over a month. I don't know what the odds are for something like that, but they must be low. It seems like I'd sooner flip ten heads in a row with a penny than get ten flats in one month. I realize that getting or not getting flats on a bicycle tire is not as controlled an experiment as flipping coins, but I have to believe that the chances I'll get another flat in the next 24 hours are extremely low.

I hope.

Here's the tale of the tape:
October 14th on the Coho I get a flat in Mt. Washington in light rain. Fix on the road. I get home and as I'm lifting the bike up on to its hook I hear a hiss from the front tire- a puncture from a small piece of wire.
October 18th during a group ride also in the rain I flat the rear tire of the Kogswell. I find the sliver of glass and patch it. Less than 5 miles later another flat in the same tire-a sliver of glass in a different place.
October 26th pre-riding the On Again/Off Again century ride I flat the Coho's rear on Glatfelters rd.
November 6th I get an immediate hiss from the rear tire of the Coho after (foolishly) riding down the glass-strewn alley behind my house. In the morning the front is also flat. Both from glass.
November 8th during the On Again/Off Again group ride the Kogswell's rear tire's bead pops out of the rim, abruptly (and loudly) exploding the tube. A replacement holds fine for many more miles until while homeward bound, a flake of glass flats the same tire.
November 18th while rounding a corner the front tube on the Miyata fixed gear mysteriously delaminates.

The Kogswell's rear tube after blowout

I have spent a lot of time trying to find patterns and reasons for this unlikely string of flats. Riding in the rain is more likely to cause a flat tire. I should not ride in my back alley. Grand Bois tires, while they are fast and pliable, are much too soft for city commuting. However, none of this thinking is likely to change the likelihood of me getting another flat on my way home tonight. At least the ten I've already had have helped to desensitize me when it does happen.

The Final 14

Riders at the start of the BBC's On Again/Off Again

I left the dark parking lot of Oregon Ridge Park having said thank you and goodbye to Andy and Rita. We had just finished the On Again/Off Again century. The sun was down and we were feeling good, hungry and ready for rest. I had suggested dinner together and we considered it. They asked if I was riding the rest of the way home and I said, "no, I'm pretty beat, I'll use the light rail". We wound up not going to dinner. It would've been nice, but it just didn't seem like the right night. Another time maybe. And, then for some reason I turned right on Ivy Hill rd instead of going straight to the light rail station on Beaver Dam. 

I've mentioned here before that I find I get introspective towards the end of long rides. I can't tell you why, but the mind set is always a positive one. Usually I'm feeling appreciative of the physical world around me and if there are other riders in sight, I often admire their physical stamina and riding style. I think about the amazing magic of a modern bicycle- all those smartly placed levers, pulleys  and cables easing and exerting forces on one another and the energy in and out of that system. I see my body as an equally magical secondary system interacting with the first- pressing and yielding to produce nothing more than to get back to where I started.

Ivy Hill rd is an above average climb- sharp, but short. It was, however, enough of a effort to give me the feeling I was transitioning into something new. I had thought I was just "finishing the first ride" or just "heading home", but that hill, the dark sky and the fresh air in my chest all combined to give me the feeling of a new ride begun. And, so I stopped.

Under a rare street light, I prepared for my new ride. The shirt I'd worn for the last 118 miles came off and was replaced by the shirt I'd stripped off earlier in the day. The fleece vest went back on and I felt warmth on my chest. I fished my helmet headlamp out of the bag, attached it and clicked it on. The light beam seemed strong and I pointed it straight down Jerome Jay rd. Several points of light blinked, then moved off to the left quickly. Deer. Warmer gloves went on. I checked my water bottles- both of them nearly empty. Grabbing one, I tipped my head back to squeeze the last bit of strawberry-flavored drink into my mouth and I noticed the amazing texture of stars across the sky. New ride.

From Ivy Hill, Jerome Jay rd has a gentle slope down towards a bridge over a creek. At the bridge there is a short section- wooded on both sides, that gives the eastbound rider a brief feeling of seclusion. The westbound rider wouldn't even notice it because they are most likely screaming down the last of the Jerome Jay hill. This is the hill I begin to climb. I downshift conservatively, staying seated and press hard to see what my muscles would like to contribute to the climb tonight. They seem compliant and I begin a smooth passage forward and up. I swing around the the first of several unnatural bends in the road and I'm into the meat of the hill. For at least one full mile there are no flat spots. My heart rate is going up, but I'm relaxed and managing to enjoy the few remaining slices of woods left in the neighborhood.

I think of Steve Zeldin's short BBC ride several years ago when, as a novice group rider, I cramped both hamstrings trying to shove myself up Jerome Jay. At the time, I acted the martyr and told Steve to not wait on me. He didn't take my advice, instead rolling back down the hill to my position and giving me words of encouragement. I stretched my muscles for a minute, tenderly got back on the bike and began again. Up. I watched the little logos on the back of Steve's bike shoes go up and down, forward and backward ahead of me. His seeming lack of effort while riding up that hill didn't help me, but the bobbing logos distracted me long enough to get to the flatter sections further up.

At some point Jerome Jay rd. becomes Michaelsford rd. I've never known when it does, but the rise begins to ease. The climb doesn't actually crest for another half mile though. Even so, I can feel my HR recovering and I'm still feeling relaxed. I wonder what encouragement I might've given had I been riding with my earlier hamstring-cramped self. Would I have rolled back down the hill to help? Or, would I have seen in myself signs of perseverance and self-reliance and, figuring I'd find the energy to get home, just ridden on, slipping into the dark like a deer? I don't know.

The Jerome Jay hill is behind me as I roll toward Padonia rd, brighter lights and the sounds of heavy traffic. This was by no means the steepest or longest hill I climbed today. Today's century ride was a hilly one- 8,000-9,000ft of ascent. Somehow though, my ride up Jerome Jay, alone, in the dark and after a satisfying 100+ miles was the most meaningful. It was filled with appreciation.

Padonia, leads me to my very last turn- a left onto Falls rd, the road I live on. However, there are still several more miles left to this second ride of the day. The long fast descent past St. Paul's School, the bridge over the traffic choked Baltimore beltway, Joe's bike shop and Mt. Washington, through the Falls/Northern Pkwy intersection (one of the deadliest in the city), past the beautiful homes of Roland Park, the road surface gets ever worse and the houses closer together. I roll into Baltimore city and Hampden. There's a sub shop on the corner where I order my dinner. The line cook gets the order wrong, but the woman at the counter scolds him and makes him remake it for me. I appreciate that.




Pictures from the BBC ride On Again/Off Again:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27976837@N00/sets/72157622812206970/