MBAC held its annual summer retreat at Salisbury State University from Wednesday, August 4, through Friday, August 6, 1999. The purpose of the retreat was to set goals for the upcoming year and to develop work plans. During the opening introductions, it quickly became obvious that members of the committee were there because of their love for bicycling and their desire to improve bicycling in Maryland. Sandra Dobson from the Public Affairs Office of the State Highway Administration served as facilitator for the group. She helped the group focus on setting goals for the coming year to achieve the MBAC's mission of making Maryland the best recognized bicycle-friendly and safe place in America. The group discussed ways to become more effective in fulfilling its mission.

How can the committee be more effective?

1) Strengthen the MBAC

• Recognize that the group is a permanent organization and is a TEAM (Together Everyone Accomplishes More)
• Implement the mission statement for the committee
• Recognize each individual
• Have more than one officer; establish a parliamentarian to keep order and everyone focused. Set goals for each meeting
• Develop administrative support
• Support agency representatives in their efforts or in behalf of the MBAC
• Bicycle 

• Have the Governor's visual support
• Involve state agencies through the Governor's office; involve them through the implementation of the MBAC goals
• Continue to develop the MBAC/MDOT partnership

• Letter writing/e-mail to legislators
• Bicycle symposium in Annapolis

What are the committee goals for the Year 2000?

• SHA Bicycle Safety Awareness Campaign 
• 2000 Bicycle Symposium in Annapolis - February 2, 2000
• Adoption of AASHTO bicycle design guidelines by the SHA
• Bicycle legislation
• A stronger MBAC/MDOT partnership
• Meet mandated responsibilities (quarterly meetings, annual report, etc.)

A Bicycle Awareness Campaign has been initiated by Parker Williams, State Highway Administrator. The campaign will target the interaction between bicycles and motor vehicles. Sandra Dobson of the Public Affairs Office of SHA is developing the campaign and is seeking suggestions from the MBAC and other bicycling groups. She can be contacted at 410-5450307 or by e-mail to sdobson1@sha.state.md.us. MBAC members have suggested that the campaign focus on educating both motorists and cyclists on the rights and responsibilities of cyclists. Many counties have "Share the Road" signs, but motorists and cyclists need more education on sharing the road. MBAC members suggested distributing information through tie-ins with traffic reports, tray liners at fast food restaurants, and license and tag renewals. 

Bike Symposium 2000 will be held in Annapolis Wednesday, February 2, 2000, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in St. John's Hall. Bicycling groups and government agencies are invited to have displays promoting any facet of bicycling in Maryland. This symposium, scheduled for the legislative period, is an effective forum to show representatives the widespread interest in bicycling in Maryland and to address bicycle concerns with legislators. The symposium is on Wednesday, but Tuesday will be available for setting up displays. All displays must be removed from the area by 9 p.m. on Wednesday. The College Park Bicycle Coalition, with promotional support from the Washington Area Bicyclists Association, is the sponsor of this symposium. For more info, contact Bill Kelly, 301-441-2740, ws.kelly@worldnet.att.net.

Design Guidelines for bicycle facilities were adopted in September, 1999, by the Maryland Department of Transportation. The design guidelines are found in the updated Guide to the Development of Bicycle Facilities, released in June by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). 

Proposals for Legislation for the 2000 Session address Bicycle Access on Controlled Access Highways and Pedestrian Access on Shoulder. The State Highway Administration has submitted these two pieces of legislation to MDOT Secretary, John Porcari. Mr. Porcari has approved the proposed bills and has submitted them to the Governor's office for his review. If the Governor approves them, they will be introduced in legislation in 2000 for review. The first bill involves cyclists using the shoulders of roadway that are posted with speed limits greater than 50 miles per hour and where those shoulders have been striped as travel lanes. The other proposed bill would allow pedestrians to walk on access controlled highways at specific locations identified by the SHA. The purpose of this is to provide pedestrian accessibility in areas where the SHA has severed existing access.

A stronger MBAC/MDOT partnership is developing with quarterly meetings between MBAC members, Secretary of Transportation John Porcari, State Highway Administrator Parker Williams, and other state transportation officials. At the July 22, 1999, meeting with MDOT Secretary John Porcari, members of the committee identified roadway issues that they felt impacted cyclists. SHA Administrator Parker Williams, asked the committee to compile three lists by the next meeting:

• Intersections where the roadways are posted with 55 mph speed limits and theshoulders have been striped as travel lanes
• Areas where the SHA has severed bicycle access
• Problem areas that the committee would like the SHA to address

MBAC is meeting mandated responsibilities by compiling and publishing an annual report to be distributed to the Governor's office, elected state officials, and county commissioners. MBAC is also compiling a history file of previous meetings, is developing opinion papers bicycle issues, and is setting up a Web page to provide additional information beyond what is available at http://www.sha.state.md.us/oppe/bicyclists3.htm.