Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration Features Bicycle Safety Campaign: “A Bicyclist May Be Someone You Know – Look Out for Each Other” at Artscape

 

(July 19, 2018) – Join the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (MDOT SHA) July 20-22, 2018 at the annual Artscape event in the City of Baltimore. Stop by the “Look Out for Each Other: A Cyclist May be Someone You Know” booth along West Mount Royal Avenue to pick up valuable safety information, provide input for future outreach efforts and create an individual masterpiece with bicycle spin art. With bicycle crashes increasing during the summer months and Baltimore City and County combining for more than 38 percent of the state’s annual bicycle crashes, Artscape provides the perfect venue to enhance awareness of bicycle safety.

 

“During the summer months, we see a dramatic increase in travel - by bicyclists, pedestrians and drivers.  With safety as our top priority, we want everyone to make it to their destinations safely, and we need your help,” said MDOT SHA Administrator Greg Slater.  “Our bicycle education campaign reminds us that ‘we’re on this road together,’ we need to look out for each other and follow the basic rules of the road.  Hosted during the prime of the summer travel season, Artscape provides a great venue to share this message with the increase of bicycling and bicycle facilities in the Baltimore metropolitan area.”

 

MDOT SHA “A Cyclist May Be Someone You Know” bicycle campaign is evolving this summer with new public service announcement volunteers, including a pediatrician, a rocket scientist, IT specialist, as well as a middle schooler who is also a competitive cyclist.  All volunteers are Maryland residents who bike regularly either for commuting or recreation.

 

“Bicycle safety is a priority for me. Educating bicyclists and drivers in proper and safe practices is critical to keeping the roadways accessible for all modes of transportation,” said campaign volunteer and Maryland cyclist Patty McCaughey. Patty and her husband Ken McCaughey both work at NASA Goddard in Greenbelt and regularly commute there on a tandem bike from their home in Bowie.

 

MDOT SHA is continuing this effort to reinforce to cyclists and drivers the need to look out for each other, see and be seen and to expect and respect each other. The campaign reminds drivers that the next cyclist they encounter could be someone they know – their doctor, a coworker or a friend’s child.

“I volunteered for the campaign to spread awareness and decrease the number of accidents involving motor vehicles and cyclists. Bicycle safety is important to me because my 12-year old daughter and I both cycle, as well as many friends and associates,” said Mark Wimbush, campaign volunteer and father of 12-year old competitive cyclist, Maize Wimbush.

 

Bicycle-involved crashes increase during the summer months.  While fatal bicycle-involved crashes are on the decline in Maryland, from 15 in 2016 to 11 in 2017, the goal for fatal crashes is zero.

 

When motorists and bicyclists follow the rules and share the road together by being aware and attentive, tragic crashes can be prevented. The goal of the MDOT SHA bicycle safety campaign is to remind both drivers and cyclists of their responsibilities to partner in safety. The campaign promotes sharing the road through social media, public service announcements, outdoor media, grass roots outreach and public events.  The booth will also feature information on pedestrian safety.

 

Please visit MDOT SHA’s YouTube channel for a message about Artscape 2018: MDOT SHA at Artscape 2018.  For more information on bike safety and access, visit the MDOT SHA Bicycle Safety or Cycle Maryland websites.

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