Commuter Services Hosting Outreach Programs at Capital Bikeshare Stations

Almost 50 bikesharing stations now exist in Montgomery County alone

The Division of Transit Services's Commuter Services section continues to host a series of community events at Capital Bikeshare locations in Silver Spring in an effort to encourage and promote the bikeshare system to residents, businesses and employees. The campaign is designed to showcase bikeshare station locations, demonstrate how the system works and encourage memberships. Additionally, MCCS wants to encourage local companies to promote the bikeshare program by offering them bulk or corporate memberships.

The following events in Silver Spring are free and open to the public: 

• Wednesday, June 25, 5 – 7 p.m. - Silver Spring Metro Station
• Thursday, June 26, 3 – 7 p.m. - 13th Street and Eastern Avenue
• Friday June 27, 1 – 5 p.m. - Fenton Street and New York Avenue

Capital Bikeshare offers a simple, low cost and reliable way to travel throughout the region. It gives members access to thousands of bikes at hundreds of locations in Montgomery County, D.C., Arlington and Alexandria. Individuals are encouraged to use Capital Bikeshare to travel to and from transit, work or school, as well as for recreation. Businesses and corporations are urged to join as corporate partners and provide discounted memberships to interested employees as part of their own health and green initiatives.

For more information on the program, contact Commuter Services at 240-777-8380 or visit MCDOT's Bikesharing website.

Leggett Seeks Applicants for Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee

County Executive Isiah Leggett is seeking applicants to fill four public member vacancies, including one member who represents people with disabilities, on the Pedestrian, Bicycle, and Traffic Safety Advisory Committee. The incumbent representing people with disabilities is eligible to apply for reappointment.

The 17-member Advisory Committee includes six government representatives, one public school representative, one Maryland Municipal League representative, and nine general public members who represent various regions of Montgomery County, including one member representing advocates of bicycling, and one member representing people with disabilities.

This Committee provides advice to the County Executive, County Council, and elected officials on implementation of the County’s Pedestrian Safety Initiative, priorities and needs in the area of pedestrian and bicycle safety and access, gathers information on pedestrian and bicycle safety, and identifies any new issues that may emerge.

Members serve three-year terms without compensation, but are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for meetings attended. Meetings generally are held every other month on weekday evenings. All members are also expected to serve on various sub-committees, and these meetings will be held as needed. For more information, please see the County Website Page for the Committee:

http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-pedsafety/index.html

Application Process

County Executive Isiah Leggett is committed to representation on all of the County’s boards, committees, and commissions that is reflective of, and responsive to, our County’s residents. Public participation contributes to the work of County government and provides an important service to the community when a variety of issues, concerns, and viewpoints are presented. 

Applicants of diverse backgrounds, professions, gender, geography, disability and ethnicity are encouraged to apply. An application, consisting of a brief cover letter and resume, should be sent by mail to County Executive Isiah Leggett, 101 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor, Rockville, MD  20850, or by email to countyexecutive.boards@montgomerycountymd.gov. Home and employment addresses, as well as contact phone numbers and email addresses should be included. If appropriate, applicants should indicate the position for which they are applying.  The application deadline is July 11, 2014. 

Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time. Members of these boards are eligible for reimbursement for travel and dependent care for meetings attended. Leggett’s appointments are generally subject to confirmation by the County Council. Applications of individuals selected for appointment to groups that are confirmed by the Council are made public as part of the confirmation process.

Bike to Work Day 2014 is Almost Here!

Montgomery County Commuter Services, Commuter Connections, and the Washington Area Bicyclist Association invite you to join more than 10,000 area commuters for a celebration of bicycling as a fun and healthy way to get to work on Bike To Work Day, Friday, May 16, 2014!

Attend one of 79 pit stops throughout D.C., Maryland, and Virginia for refreshments and to be entered into a raffle for bicycles and other prizes. Free T-shirts are available at pit stops to the first 14,000 who register and attend.

Montgomery County Commuter Services will operate pit stops at Bethesda, Fallsgrove Village Center, Friendship Heights, North Bethesda, Rockville Town Center and Silver Spring in the morning on Bike To Work Day. New for 2014, there will also be an afternoon pit stop in Silver Spring. There will be a raffle drawing for a bicycle at each of the above pit stops.

See the FLYER for more details and visit the website to register: http://www.biketoworkmetrodc.org/

Montgomery County Celebrates Bike to School Day May 7

On May 7, Montgomery County will be joining communities across the nation to celebrate the third annual Bike to School Day that builds on the success of Walk to School Day observed internationally every October. Bike to School Day events raise awareness of the need to create safer routes for bicycling and walking and emphasize the importance of increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, reducing traffic congestion and concern for the environment. The events also develop stronger connections between families, schools and the broader community.

This year’s focus event will be held at Takoma Park Middle School, located at 7611 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring. From 7 to 7:20 a.m., bike ambassadors and parent volunteers will welcome students and guide them to use “bike lanes” created on sidewalks leading to the school’s main entrance. Bikers will receive snacks and raffle tickets for bike helmets and accessories. Morning physical education classes will engage students in a “Bike-Academic” game show designed to highlight bicycling best practices.

Partners in the event include Takoma Park Safe Routes to School, Takoma Park Middle School, Takoma Park Police, Bikes for the World, SafeKids Worldwide and SafeKids Montgomery County.

Other Montgomery County schools that are participating in Bike to School Day include Piney Branch, East Silver Spring, Coldspring, Wyngate and Kensington-Parkwood elementary schools as well as Silver Spring International Middle School. 

Street Smart Safety Zone Events to be Held in Montgomery County

Street Smart is launching their spring safety campaign to remind area drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists to be alert and obey traffic safety laws. To make sure they do, area police will be stepping up enforcement and will ticket and fine violators – whether on foot, a bike, or behind the wheel. 

As part of the campaign, there will be a street team providing on-the-ground pedestrian safety education in downtown Bethesda (along Wisconsin Avenue) on Tuesday, April 29, from 4-7pm. Bethesda Transportation Solutions and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation will also have a tent set up outside of the Bethesda Metro station on Tuesday where you can come and pick up information and some swag!  There will also be a Safety Zone event held in downtown Silver Spring on Tuesday, May 6 from 4-7pm.

Street Smart reminds everyone to share the road and look out for each other. 

• If you’re driving, watch for people in crosswalks and stop for walkers and cyclists. 

• If you’re biking, ride in the direction of traffic and stop at red lights. 

• And if you’re walking, cross in the crosswalk and wait for the "walk" signal. 

Learn more about the campaign at BeStreetSmart.net or www.montgomerycountymd.gov/walk

Warmer Weather Prompts Increased Outdoor Activity and Safety Enforcement

"Street Smart" Campaign Urges Drivers, Bicyclists and Pedestrians to Exercise Caution

Safety Zones will feature street teams
highlighting key campaign messages

En Español

CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT MONTGOMERY COUNTY SAFETY ZONE EVENTS!

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — After a long, cold winter, Washington-area residents are
ready to get outside and enjoy spring weather. With more people walking and biking, transportation officials from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia are urging drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, to take extra care and watch for each other when traveling around the region. To make sure they do, law enforcement agencies will be on the lookout for anyone not following traffic safety laws and will ticket and fine violators – whether on foot, a bike, or behind the wheel.

These increased efforts are all part of the spring Street Smart public awareness and enforcement campaign. From April 14 through May 11, officers in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland, and Northern Virginia will be stepping up enforcement, watching for drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists who violate traffic safety laws. Drivers who fail to yield for people in crosswalks, for example, and pedestrians who jaywalk will face tickets and fines ranging from $40 to $500. Additionally, law-breaking drivers are subject to getting points on their driver records.

Gas Station Pump Toppers Remind
Motorists to Watch for Pedestrians

"This has been a particularly harsh winter, so we expect that, as spring unfolds, more people will be out walking and biking. With so many of us sharing the roads, it is critical that we make safety a top priority," said Prince William County Supervisor Frank Principi, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. "It's the duty of all drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians to work together, pay attention and follow traffic laws to make sure everyone arrives at their destinations safely."

Street Smart officials launched the spring initiative Thursday morning, April 17, at the Woodbridge, VA intersection where Sally Ann Okuly was killed last November. Okuly, a devoted wife and mother of two, was crossing with the light at the southeast corner of Opitz Boulevard at Montgomery Avenue when she was struck and killed by a car in the crosswalk. That morning was the first time she had taken a walk outside her home since surviving a motorcycle accident six months earlier.

In the wake of Okuly’s death, her friends, family and community leaders have successfully Street Smart officials hope to see similar improvements made at other treacherous intersections in the Washington region.

Bus Ads - Key Component of the
StreetSmart Campaign

advocated for engineering improvements to the intersection, including plans for crosswalk striping and the recent implementation of a Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI) signal – a timing technique that allows pedestrians a few seconds headstart to begin crossing the street before cars get a green light. 

Street Smart aims to prevent pedestrian and bicyclist deaths like Okuly’s – let alone the countless injuries that occur each year –by urging people to pay more attention when they’re on the road and offering practical, easy-to-follow safety tips (see below). Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians need to follow traffic laws, be aware of their surroundings, and avoid distractions such as cell phones. Street Smart reminds drivers to be alert and yield to anyone walking or biking at intersections, encourages those on foot to use crosswalks and wait for the walk signal, and urges people on bicycles to ride in the direction of traffic and stop at red lights.

While pedestrian fatalities in the DC metro area decreased from 2012 to 2013, bicyclist fatalities more than doubled, from three in 2012 to seven in 2013. In 2013, preliminary data indicate that 73 pedestrians and bicyclists were killed in crashes in the Washington metropolitan region. These deaths accounted for 27 percent of all traffic fatalities in the area.

Information on the Street Smart public education program may be found at www.bestreetsmart.net.

Press Articles about the Spring 2014 StreetSmart Launch:

NBC
WUSA9 (article 1)
WUSA9 (article 2)
Univision (article 1)
Univision (article 2)
CBS
Prince William Daily Monitor
InsideNOVA
Associated Press

About the Street Smart Campaign & the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB)
Sponsored by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) and the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), the Street Smart public awareness and enforcement campaign is in its twelfth year. Its goal is to reduce pedestrian and cyclist injuries and deaths in the Washington metropolitan area. For more information about Street Smart, please visit www.bestreetsmart.net and twitter.com/COGStreetSmart. The TPB is the regional transportation planning organization for the Washington region. It includes local governments, state transportation agencies, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) and members of the Maryland and Virginia General Assemblies.

El clima más cálido da a lugar a actividades al aire libre y al cumplimiento de las reglas de seguridad

La campaña “Street Smart” insta a los conductores, ciclistas y peatones a ser prudentes

Prince William County, VA– Después de un largo y frío invierno, los residentes del área de

Washington están listos para salir y disfrutar del clima de primavera. Con más personas caminando y en bicicleta, los funcionarios del transporte del Distrito de Columbia, Maryland y Virgina están pidiéndoles a los conductores, peatones y ciclistas que presten mayor atención y que estén pendientes los unos de los otros cuando se desplacen por la región. Para asegurarse de que así lo hagan, las agencias del orden público estarán vigilando a las personas que no estén cumpliendo las leyes de tránsito y multarán a los infractores, ya sea que vayan a pie, en bicicleta o detrás del volante.

Estos mayores esfuerzos forman parte de la campaña de concientización pública y cumplimiento de esta primavera Street Smart. Del 14 de abril al 11 de mayo, los policías del Distrito de Columbia, el área suburbana de Maryland y el norte de Virginia estarán reforzando las actividades de cumplimiento, estarán atentos a los conductores, peatones y ciclistas que violen las leyes de seguridad vial. Por ejemplo, los conductores que no les den paso a las personas en el cruce de peatones y los peatones que cruzan en rojo se enfrentarán a multas que van de $40 a $500. Por otra parte, los conductores que violen la ley estarán sujetos a recibir puntos en sus récords de manejo.

“Este ha sido un invierno particularmente duro, así que esperamos que, cuando se despliegue la primavera, muchas más personas comiencen a caminar y a montar bicicleta. Pero con tantos de nosotros compartiendo las calles, es crucial que mantengamos a la seguridad como una prioridad”, dijo el supervisor del condado de Prince William, Frank Principi, quien presta servicio en la Junta de Directores del Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. “Al tomar medidas sencillas como prestar atención y cumplir con las leyes de tránsito, cada quien puede ayudar a garantizar que las personas lleguen sanas y salvas a sus destinos”.

Los funcionarios de Street Smart introdujeron la iniciativa de primavera la mañana del jueves 17 de abril, en Woodbridge, VA, en la intersección donde murió Sally Ann Okuly en noviembre pasado. Okuly, madre dedicada de dos niños, estaba cruzando con el semáforo en la esquina sureste de Opitz Boulevard y Montgomery Avenue cuando fue atropellada por un auto en el cruce de peatones y murió. Esa mañana fue la primera vez que salía a caminar afuera de su casa luego de sobrevivir un choque en motocicleta seis meses antes.

A raíz de la muerte de Okuly, sus amigos, familiares y líderes de la comunidad han promovido con éxito varias mejoras de ingeniería en la intersección, incluyendo planes para el rayado del cruce de peatones y la puesta es práctica recientemente de una señal de Guía Peatonal por Intervalo (LPI, por sus siglas en inglés), una técnica de tiempo que les concede a los peatones algunos segundos de ventaja para comenzar a cruzar la calle antes de que los automóviles tengan la luz verde. Los funcionarios de Street Smart esperan ver mejoras similares en otras intersecciones traicioneras en la región de Washington.

El propósito de Street Smart es evitar más muertes de peatones y ciclistas como Okuly, sin contar las numerosas lesiones que ocurren cada año, instando a las personas a prestar más atención cuando estén en al calle y ofreciendo consejos de seguridad prácticos y fáciles de seguir (ver más abajo). Los conductores, ciclistas y peatones tienen que obedecer las leyes de tránsito, estar pendientes de lo que los rodea y evitar distraerse con cosas como sus teléfonos celulares. Street Smart les recuerda a los conductores que estén alertas y les den el paso a las personas que estén caminando o en bicicleta en las intersecciones, alienta a aquellos que vayan a pie a utilizar los cruces de peatones y esperar la señal de caminar, y les insta a los ciclistas a manejar en la dirección del tráfico y detenerse en los semáforos en rojo.

Si bien el número de muertes en el área metropolitana de DC disminuyó de 2012 a 2013, las muertes de ciclistas han aumentado más del doble, de tres en 2012 a siete en 2013.  En el 2013, los datos preliminares indican que 73 peatones y ciclistas murieron en choques en la región metropolitana de Washington. Estas muertes conforman el 27 por ciento de todas las muertes relacionadas con el tráfico en el área.

Puede encontrar información sobre el programa de educación pública Street Smart en www.bestreetsmart.net.

###

Información acerca de la campaña Street Smart y la National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB)

Patrocinada por el Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) y la National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB), la campaña pública de concientización y ejecución Street Smart está cumpliendo su décimo segundo año. Su meta es reducir las lesiones y muertes de peatones y ciclistas en el área metropolitana de Washington. Para más información sobre Street Smart, por favor visite www.bestreetsmart.net  y twitter.com/COGStreetSmart. La TPB es la organización de planificación de transporte regional para la región de Washington e incluye los gobiernos locales, las agencias de transporte del estado, la Autoridad de Tránsito del Área Metropolitana de Washington (WMATA, por sus siglas en inglés) y los miembros de  las Asambleas Generales de Maryland y Virginia.

Leggett Launches Spanish/English Pedestrian Safety Education Campaign; First Story Installment of Graphic Novel Style Ads Conveys Serious Message about Staying Safe While Crossing the Street

Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today launched a new public education campaign about the consequences of failing to practice safe pedestrian behaviors. The ads use an eye-catching graphic novel format in both English and Spanish. The first in a series, the ads appear on Ride On buses and in bus shelters located in the first five High Incidence Areas (HIAs) designated by the County as having the highest concentrations of pedestrian collisions. The event initiating the campaign was held along Piney Branch Road in Silver Spring where significant engineering improvements have been made between Flower and New Hampshire avenues.

“Since we first identified Piney Branch Road as the area in the County with the highest number of pedestrian
collisions, we have made massive engineering improvements to make it a place where pedestrians feel safe crossing the street,” said Leggett. “Our next step today is the launch of an education and enforcement campaign to ensure that pedestrians and drivers take full advantage of the new safety features. We are using a creative, colorful and innovative graphic novel approach to educate drivers and pedestrians in both Spanish and English. We hope this eye-catching ad series will help reduce collisions among those at highest risk in the locations at greatest risk.”

Mr. Leggett poses in front of new pedestrian safety
ad with children from New Hampshire Estates
 Elementary School

The graphic novel ad has two messages: Maryland state law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks and those who don’t use crosswalks are putting themselves at risk. The ad features characters named Maria and Marco in a scene in which Marco fails to use a crosswalk -- with dire consequences.

“This Spanish language pedestrian safety campaign is a step in the right direction to improve this community’s ability to understand how to safely travel,” said Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro. “As Council President last year, I am pleased we increased funding for outreach efforts by the Public Information Office and the Department of Transportation to strengthen pedestrian safety programs for the Spanish-speaking community.”

“Esta campaña de seguridad peatonal en español es un paso en la dirección correcta para que la comunidad conozca mejor sobre seguridad peatonal y así reducir y evitar accidentes,” dijo Montgomery County Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Navarro. “Como presidenta del Consejo este término pasado, estoy orgullosa de que pudimos aumentar fondos a programas llevados a cabo por la Oficina de Información Pública y el Departamento de Trasporte que benefician y fortalecen la seguridad peatonal de la comunidad hispanohablante.”

The new ads can be seen in bus shelters
and interior and exterior bus ads
in Montgomery County

The ad concept stems from continuing concerns that, despite “3E” (engineering, enforcement and education) efforts, some pedestrians and drivers do not practice safe behaviors. Drivers should stop for pedestrians in crosswalks, slow down, stay alert and avoid driving while distracted. Pedestrians should take advantage of the physical improvements that have been made in the HIA areas by waiting for the walk signal, watching for turning vehicles and crossing at the crosswalk.

Since 2009 when improvements began, HIA pedestrian collisions have declined 43 percent in the County. HIAs comprise less than one percent of the County’s roadways, yet 11 percent of the County’s pedestrian crashes occur in them. The first group of HIAs includes portions of Piney Branch Road, Four Corners, Reedie Drive, Randolph Road at Veirs Mill Road and Connecticut Avenue at Aspen Hill Road. Most of the HIAs are along State roads, so the County and the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) are working as partners to improve pedestrian safety. SHA is now using an approach statewide that is modeled on Montgomery County’s success by targeting 3E efforts where the greatest number of pedestrian crashes is occurring.

MCDOT Director Arthur Holmes, Jr.
and Pedestrian Safety Education Specialist
Joana Conklin pose with "Maria"

Improving pedestrian safety in HIAs takes time and continues incrementally. HIA safety audits identify ways to improve pedestrian safety along a specific road corridor. Pedestrian projects recommended through the audit process cannot all be implemented at once. The range, cost and coordination required to implement the HIA engineering improvements requires that they be completed in stages over several years. This staged process also allows the County to leverage other State projects, such as resurfacing, to more cost effectively complete needed changes.

The engineering improvements installed along Piney Branch Road include enhanced signs; modified signal timing; re-striped or modified crosswalks; new turn restrictions; upgraded sidewalks and ADA ramps between Flower and Greenwood avenues; installation of 12 new and 22 upgraded streetlights between University Boulevard and New Hampshire Avenue; installation of pedestrian countdown signals at Piney Branch Road, Carroll Avenue and Arliss Street; upgraded sidewalks and ADA ramps between Greenwood Avenue and Arliss Street; and installation of two pedestrian refuge islands with hazard identification beacons. Future improvements will include upgraded traffic signals at Greenwood, Arliss and Barron streets.

To see the full story of Maria and Marco, visit walkwithcare.com or caminaconcuidado.com.  More information about the County’s pedestrian safety program is available on the website at montgomerycountymd.gov/walk.

News Stories on the Campaign Launch:

Voice of America

The Gazette

NBC4

The Sentinel

WTOP

Transportation Update Video 

Local Officials Urge Drivers, Pedestrians, and Cyclists To Look Out for Each Other

Montgomery County Pedestrian Safety
Coordinator, Jeff Dunckel, introduced the
Fall 2013 StreetSmart campaign

Street Smart Campaign Aims to Reduce Injuries and Deaths During Dark Fall Months

With Daylight Savings Time ending on November 3, school back in session, and Halloween around the corner, regional safety officials came together today to remind drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists to pay extra attention to one another on area roadways.  

An hour less of daylight during evening commutes means reduced visibility, which typically leads to an increase in crashes involving pedestrians and cyclists during the darker autumn months. To reduce pedestrian and cyclist injuries and fatalities, the annual Street Smart public education campaign is encouraging area residents to be more alert. Last year, in November and December there were more than 400 crashes involving pedestrians in the Washington metro region.

A lone trumpeter remains after
other members of the Roaring Bengal
Marching Band have left the park,
in recognition of the 72 pedestrians
killed in the region in 2012.

Representatives from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, as well as state and local officials from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, gathered today at Upper Senate Park in Washington, DC to kick off the fall Street Smart campaign. Special guest Gwendolyn Ward shared the story of her 15-year-old daughter, Christina Morris-Ward, who was struck by a car and killed one year ago this month while crossing the street in Germantown on her way to school in the dark. Also attending was the Roaring Bengal Marching Band from James Hubert Blake High School in Montgomery County, which played a mournful dirge in recognition of the 72 pedestrians and cyclists killed in the region last year.

Gwendolyn Ward shares the
story of her daughter, Christina, who
was killed while crossing Germantown
Road on Halloween morning, 2012.

As the band played, a bell tolled in recognition of each pedestrian killed in 2012. With each ringing of the bell, a single band member ceased playing his or her instrument and left the instrument on the ground. The song ended with a lone trumpeter playing amid a sea of abandoned instruments.

“We all have to work together to improve safety in our region particularly now that it’s getting dark by the time many people are making their evening commutes,” said Chuck Bean, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. “Drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians need to follow traffic laws, be aware of their surroundings, and avoid distractions, such as cell phones.” Among other safety tips, the Street Smart campaign reminds drivers to be alert and yield to those on foot or on bicycles at intersections, and encourages pedestrians and cyclists to wear light colors or reflective clothing to be more visible.

Bean announced that law enforcement in the District of Columbia, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia will conduct increased enforcement October 28 through November 24, ticketing drivers, cyclists and pedestrians who violate traffic safety laws.

For Safety Tips and More Information on the StreetSmart campaign, visit bestreetsmart.net.  

Click on the links below for media coverage of the event:

Belvoir Eagle
Bethesda Now
FOX DC    
The Gazette (1)          The Gazette (2)
GO Montgomery!
Washington Hispanic
WJLA (1)          WJLA (2)  
WTOP (1)         WTOP (2)          WTOP (3)          WTOP (audio)

Leggett Announces Availability of First Montgomery County Bikeshare Stations; Program is First Bikeshare in Maryland

New Capital Bikeshare Station in Rockville

On September 27, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett celebrated the grand opening of the County’s Bikeshare Network, launching the first installment of 51 Bikeshare stations and 450 bikes in Bethesda, Friendship Heights, Silver Spring, Takoma Park, Rockville, Shady Grove and the Life Sciences Center area. Montgomery County’s Bikeshare program is the first year-round system in Maryland and is part of the regional Capital Bikeshare network, linking the County with the District of Columbia, Arlington and Alexandria’s Bikeshare systems.


County Executive Ike Leggett at grand opening of County's 
Bikeshare Network

Leggett made the announcement in Rockville at one of the 21 stations in the Rockville, Shady Grove and the Life Sciences area designed to encourage low income reverse commuters and job trainees. Those who qualify will receive a free, one-year membership in Capital Bikeshare that will enable them to use any Bikeshare station in Montgomery County, as well as receive a free bike helmet, safety training and route planning assistance.

Bikesharing provides short-term bicycle rentals at self-service, automated, solar-powered docking stations sited at publicly accessible locations. Bikes may be picked up at one location and returned to another, creating a system that allows for one-way trips. Bikeshare is considered ideal for short trips of less than five miles. Trips under 30 minutes are included in the membership fee, while longer trips are charged based on their duration.

Membership options cost $75 a year, $25 a month, $15 for three days and $7 for one day. Yearly and monthly memberships can be purchased online or by phone, while the three-day and one-day memberships can be purchased with a credit card at any Capital Bikeshare station.  Also, free bike safety classes are being offered: click here for more information.

Over the next few weeks, the remaining Montgomery County stations will open. More information and a map showing installed stations in the County is available at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/bikeshare.  Visit www.capitalbikeshare.com  for more information on the entire regional system. For information on eligibility for free Bikeshare memberships and JARC program benefits, contact Montgomery County Commuter Services at 240-777-8380 or mcdot.CommuterServices@montgomerycountymd.gov.


MCDOT Director Arthur Holmes, Jr. and 
County Team with the new bikes

Read the full press release here: http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/apps/News/press/PR_details.asp?PrID=12876 

To read the County Council's press release, click here.  

Click here to view a video about the bikeshare system launch.  

Silver Spring Jazz Festival and Taste of Bethesda Attendees Pledge for Pedestrian Safety

The Pedestrian and Driver Pledge Crosswalk

At the Silver Spring Jazz Festival on September 7 and the Taste of Bethesda on October 5, over 200 people pledged to make Montgomery County safer for pedestrians. Kids and adults chose to make either the driver or the pedestrian pledge.

Participants of all ages made the pledge

Drivers pledged to:

• Stop for pedestrians in crosswalks
• Obey all traffic signals and signs
• Watch for pedestrians while turning
• Drive at the speed limit
• Drive without texting or talking on the phone

Pedestrians pledged to:

• Always use crosswalks
• Cross with the "walk" symbol
• Wear bright at night
• Make eye contact with drivers
• Walk without texting
• Look for cars in all directions before crossing

Participants decorated a foot for the pedestrian pledge, or eyes for the driver pledge and added them to the crosswalk. The completed crosswalk shows how engaged and dedicated our residents are to increasing safety on our roads.

Federal and County Officials Urge Parents to Talk About Safely Getting to School

by Aaron Kraut 

Federal and county officials on Thursday urged parents and students to think about safe driving and walking to school before the MCPS school year starts on Aug. 26.  Click here to view a video of the event.  

Deborah Hersman, acting chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D), Montgomery County Police Capt. Tom Didone and MCPS Director of Transportation Todd Watkins spoke at the Fitzgerald Auto Mall in North Bethesda about the dangers kids face on the roads once the school year starts.

The dealership and service center was hosting one of its regular car seat check events, in which Fitzgerald founder Jack Fitzgerald said volunteers and police have checked more than 44,000 car seats for proper fit and safety.

Safe Kids Montgomery County demonstrated how to safely cross a street with basic tips Van Hollen said often go unmentioned before the first day of school.

“That is the responsibility of the communities and families and students to work together,” Van Hollen said. “As our kids head off to school and they’re back looking for all sorts of supplies for school, [make sure] that we also supply them with the information that they need and their families with the information they need to make sure that they’re safe.”

In Bethesda, pedestrian safety around Bethesda Elementary School has been an issue since February, when a child in a stroller crossing an Arlington Road crosswalk was struck and dragged by a car making a turn. The child was uninjured.

A group of parents at the school started a petition for better markings, “No Turn on Red” signs and speed cameras in and around the intersection of Arlington Road and Edgemoor Lane.

A group of transit and pedestrian advocates followed with 10 recommendations to the Montgomery County Department of Transportation for new traffic engineering measures.

Didone, who heads the police department’s Traffic Division, said police this year have shifted their focus from changing pedestrians’ behavior to changing drivers’ behavior. The department has recently done a number of undercover stings in popular crosswalks to ticket drivers who don’t yield. Officers ran the operation on Wednesday at the Cordell Avenue crosswalk on Old Georgetown Road.

“The one unique thing about this is every time a car and a pedestrian try to occupy the same space, the pedestrian loses every time,” Didone said. “It’s the largest winning streak that’s ever occurred. As such, every one of those crashes is potentially life-threatening so every one of those crashes has to be addressed.

The Action Committee for Transit, which issued the recommendations to the county, on Thursday complimented Didone’s and police for their work. But the group claimed the Department of Transportation was still behind when it comes to engineering safe roads and intersections for pedestrians around schools.

“Traffic engineers need remedial education even more than schoolchildren,” ACT President Tina Slater said in the release. ”In our county, speed limits are too high, lanes are too wide, crosswalks aren’t marked, and unsafe turns are allowed. Cars should move no faster than 20 mph in school zones.”

Besides lowering speed limits in school zones, ACT is asking the county to consider leading pedestrian intervals at intersections — which would give pedestrians an exclusive window to cross in all directions — and more “No Turn on Red” signs.

Didone said the county is adequately dealing with the situation with a combination of engineering, education and enforcement.

“We are fortunate in Montgomery County, our Department of Transportation is on top of this,” Didone said. “Whenever we go into a problem area, we always start with looking to see those engineering changes — signs, signals, markings, changing the design of the roadway to enhance pedestrian safety.”

Watkins, who oversees the school system’s bus network, reminded drivers to stop when school buses are flashing lights and have stop sign extensions out.

The county recently installed cameras on some buses to catch drivers who maneuver around the buses stopped at bus stops.

“When you see a stopped school bus on the road, no matter how late you are, no matter how much of a hurry you’re in, stop,” Watkins said. “Because every time somebody makes a decision to pass a stopped school bus, it’s a potentially life-changing tragedy for some student and their family.”

Officials and Community Celebrate Completion of Shady Grove Access Bike Path

County Executive Leggett, left, with members of the community and Bruce Johnston, right, MCDOT division chief at new bikeway Coming BikeSharing program also noted County Executive Leggett recently celebrated the completion of the 10-foot wide Shady Grove Metro Access Bike Path. It improves bike access to the Metro Station and facilitates combining bicycle trips with buses, Metro, and walking. The bike path also connects to other area sidewalks and bikeways, including along Crabbs Branch Way. MCDOT is planning to add a bikeway along Needwood Road, connecting to the Rock Creek and ICC trails. The $2.7 million project was constructed by DOT’s Division of Transportation Engineering, and runs from Shady Grove Road to Redland Road. A pedestrian-activated traffic signal was installed where the bikeway crosses the Metro access road. To further enhance biking, the County will soon be installing a bike share station at the Metro --part of a network of over 50 stations in Shady Grove, Rockville, Bethesda, downtown Silver Spring and Takoma Park. For more information on bicycle projects and bike sharing, visit our MCDOT's website or call for projects,240.777.7244, and for bike sharing, 240.777.7170.

Leggett Celebrates Pedestrian Safety Improvements in Wheaton; Thanks Wheaton Pedestrian Volunteers for their Efforts to Educate Public

County Executive Isiah Leggett Celebrates Completion of Pedestrian Safety Improvements on Reedie Drive and Thanks Pedestrian Safety Volunteers

On August 6, Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today celebrated the completion of pedestrian safety improvements on Reedie Drive between Veirs Mill Road and Georgia Avenue in Wheaton that were installed by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT). This 800-foot stretch of road was targeted because it was designated as one of the County’s “High Incidence Areas” (HIAs) -- locations having the highest density of pedestrian collisions. Between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2012, there were 20 pedestrian collisions including one fatality in the Reedie Drive HIA.

In addition, Leggett thanked Vincente Lopez, Carolyn Gupta, Betty Smith and Bettye Blakeney who were representing a group of 30 Spanish- and English-speaking pedestrian safety advocates who have been conducting education activities in Wheaton/Aspen Hill for 15 months. Lopez was featured in a Spanish language YouTube story about the volunteers. Several of the volunteers were also instrumental in working with the State of Maryland to have a new signal installed at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and Claridge Road to improve pedestrian safety in this heavily traveled area.

The volunteer brigade was formed following a community meeting held by MCDOT to engage residents in the Wheaton/Aspen Hill area in pedestrian safety education. The group represents the Hispanic/Latino community as well as several neighborhood civic associations, including Connecticut Avenue Estates, Montclair Manor and Rock Creek Palisades. Trained by MCDOT, the volunteers also work with County Police and the Maryland Highway Safety Office.

Click here to read the more detailed press release about this event.  To see a Transportation Update summarizing the event, click here.

WJLA Event Coverage

Wheaton Patch Event Coverage

A Coordinated Approach to Pedestrian Safety Education and Enforcement Efforts Kick-Off at Seneca Valley High School




Jeff Dunckel (MCDOT) and Captain Thomas Didone (MCPD) address students at Seneca Valley High School about pedestrian safe

The morning of April 11 marked the beginning of a pedestrian safety education and enforcement campaign at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown.  The campaign kicked off with a student assembly featuring Seneca Valley High School Principal Marc Cohen, Montgomery County Police Captain Thomas Didone, and Montgomery County Department of Transportation's Pedestrian Safety Coordinator Jeff Dunckel.  Mrs. Gwendolyn Ward, mother of Christina Morris-Ward, a 15-year old Seneca Valley student who was tragically killed crossing Germantown Road this past Halloween morning, also spoke to the crowd of more than 1,200 high school students about the potentially life-threatening consequences of not obeying pedestrian safety laws.  The assembly also featured a 10-minute Public Safety Announcement produced by students at the high school, which highlighted the importance of being a safe pedestrian and driver.
Over the next week and a half a team of pedestrian safety Champions, comprised of parents and members of the community, as well as representatives from Montgomery County Fire and Rescue, will be out on the streets talking to the high school students about crossing safely and handing out reflective materials.  The Champions will remind pedestrians to practice the following safe behaviors:
  Cross the street at marked crosswalks and intersections

· Look left, right, left, and over their shoulder for turning vehicles when crossing the street

· Begin crossing the street on the "walk" signal

· Stay visible after dark

· Make eye contact with drivers

· Stop texting and talking on the cell and remove earphones

If you would like to partcipate as a Champion in this campaign, please contact Joana Conklin: Joana.Conklin@montgomerycountymd.gov. 
Following the education campaign, police will be out on the streets around the high school issuing citations to pedestrians and drivers who do not obey the law.  Pedestrians will be fined $50 for crossing outside of a crosswalk if both adjacent intersections have traffic signals, or starting to cross at a signalized intersection if the pedestrian signal is red or flashing red.  Drivers will be fined $80 for not yielding to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.  The purpose of the education and enforcement campaign is to inform the students about crossing safely so that future tragedies can be avoided.  The campaign will encourage students to BE SAFE, BE SEEN, and BE STREET SMART.
Read aticles on the Seneca Valley HS Pedestrian Safety Campaign:
WJLA
Germantown Patch

Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Station 22 Distributing Pedestrian Safety Materials to Seneca Valley High School Students

Seneca Valley High School Principal Marc Cohen with Derrick Gilliam (MCPS Security) and pedestrian safety Champions Ellyn Terry and Ruthanne Stoltzfus