Hello Terps for Bike Lanes members! We hope that everyone’s semester is wrapping up well in preparation for finals. This will be a short newsletter to bring your attention to a few new petitions we’ve made and to preview next semester. As a reminder, you can sign our petitions by navigating to the “Petitions” page of our website. Thank you!

Also, a little tidbit from me. I’m sure I’m preaching to the choir here, but if you haven’t already, you should binge all of NotJustBikes’ videos (at https://www.youtube.com/@NotJustBikes/videos) in reverse chronological order. They are a wealth of knowledge!

Route 1 Protected Bike Lanes Petition

As you all have seen, the MD State Highway Administration (SHA) has made minor improvements to the local stretch of Route 1 / Baltimore Avenue by adding fancy new mediums and bright green bike lanes… with no protection from traffic (个_个). This leads to motor vehicles constantly stopping and/or parking in the bike lanes, and creates a dangerous situation for anyone riding in them directly next to high-speed traffic.

Please share your support for adding protection to the bike lanes on Route 1 by signing onto our letter to MD SHA calling for them to add protection. You may also edit the letter to your liking if you wish. Thank you!

UMD Ticketing Petition

The University of Maryland Police Department has held several ticketing events this semester and last, during which they ticketed students riding scooters and bicyclists for riding on sidewalks or not stopping at stop signs.

This ticketing is done in the name of “safety,” but the University only has these problems because it has failed to provide proper infrastructure (traffic calming, raised crossings, car-free streets) to address them. Enforcement of traffic laws does not lead to behavioral change. Instead of taking money from students on their way to classes, the University should spend its own money to make its campus better for students.

Please sign onto our letter to UMPD and UMD Administration calling for the University to encourage student mobility rather than punishing it. You may also edit the letter to your liking if you wish. Thank you!

Upcoming

Please stay on the lookout—see the “Get Involved” section of the sidebar for how—for our announcements around the beginning of the Spring 2025 semester! We’re hoping to host more General Body Meetings and increase our presence on Campus next semester, so stay tuned!