Biking Advocates Honor Councilman Marks
County Councilman David Marks received the 2012 Silver Spoke Award as Legislator of the Year from the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts.
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Baltimore County Councilman David Marks' enthusiasm for biking trails has caught the attention of a regional advocacy group.
Marks was honored with the 2012 Silver Spoke Award for Legislator of the Year from the Mid-Atlantic Off Road Enthusiasts (MORE), representing more than a thousand mountain bikers in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia, according to a release.
"The MORE Board of Directors and club membership would like to thank you for your support of a multi-use, sustainable trail system at Loch Raven Reservoir," MORE President Dave Ferraro stated in a release. "MORE still has work ahead at Loch Raven, but we are much farther down the trail due to your leadership and guidance through a challenging process. Rest assured, the trail-user community recognizes your efforts."
"I have worked very hard to expand our network of sidewalks, trails, and bike lanes throughout Baltimore County, and I am very humbled by this award," Marks stated in the release. "Trails are not only good for physical fitness and recreation, but they can boost our local economy by promoting tourism. I thank MORE for its many hours of volunteer work improving our trail network."
Since 1992, MORE members have contributed thousands of volunteer hours toward maintaining and constructing hundreds of miles of natural-surface trails in 25 state and county parks. It also leads rides. The group presented the award during its winter meeting in Great Falls, Virginia, the release stated.
Marks, a Perry Hall resident who took office in 2010, represents a stretch of Baltimore County between Kingsville and Towson.
evandernance
4:55 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
a well deserved honor to the councilman who has worked tirelssly to encourage more hiking asnd bike trails in Baltimore county...congratulations
Bob Hurley
10:15 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Know the truth. Marks pushed to allow trail biking on reservoir property that protects our drinking water. Great award, polluted water for more bike trails.
Bart
11:30 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Mike, ahem, you lost. Besides, the bikers won't pollute the drinking water. Get over it.
Dale Johnson
8:38 pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Thanks for all the hard work Councilman Marks put into the Towson Bike Beltway. It is great when government and the community work together to make Towson a nicer place to live.
reader
9:26 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Let me throw a little cold water on all this biking happiness. I am all for all the bike trails and off-road venues being created for bikers in Baltimore County. I am even for bike lanes where the roadway width permits them. My enthusiasm does wane when I run across bikers on the narrow roads of northern Baltimore County where there is hardly enough room for two cars and with the hills and curves on many of these roads coming upon a biker doing 15 mph when you are doing the posted 40 mph can be very disturbing and nerve rattling. Add to that the times when two or more bikers are together and the chance for mishap multiplies. On a number of occasions one even observes the arrogance of some these people who really think they own the roads. Oh, and you can forget about the police enforcing the three foot rule, they've been dumped on enough by the idiots in Annapolis who want to regulate our every burp while we're in our vehicles. Happy biking to all of those who can find a way to enjoy themselves on off-road bike trails without endangering themselves on roads built for cars and trucks.
M. Sullivan
10:01 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Reader, I totally agree with you. I ride pretty regularly around Towson, Timonium, and Cockeysville but I don't entertain the stupid notion that I have the right to impede traffic like some of the spandexed Lance Armstrong wannabes you describe. I give right of way to cars because I know that, when bike meets car, the car will win. When I see some clown riding up York Rd. at rush hour or on some winding narrow back road with no shoulder I just want to scream at them (sometimes I do). Biking is great fun and good exercise, but some roads are just not made for it and some common sense is needed.
M. Sullivan
9:08 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Evets, cyclists may have the law on their side, but, there is such a thing as common sense. If you are going down York Rd. during rush hour and vehicles fly by at 40 mph or more just the draft can be dangerous.
Let's do some math:
If the lane is 11-12 feet wide, the vehicle is 6-7 feet wide, the driver is supposed to be 3 feet away from a cyclist, the handle bar width is around 2.5 feet, and all lanes in both directions are busy, that's one hell of a small margin of error, especially at 40 mph! The narrow, back country roads without shoulders and blind curves pose their own set of hazards. As I have said before, I ride with strong awareness that when bicycle meets car, the car wins every time.
reader
9:25 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Lets lay this silliness where it really belongs and that is at the feet of the ever pandering, totally stupid politicians. They never look at the unintended consequences of their actions. They simply see cyclists as a possible vote and in the end by allowing them carte blanche on the roads they show little care for their ultimate safety.
M. Sullivan
11:30 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
I don't think cyclists make up a large enough voting block to influence politicians. The politicians are just always quick to jump on the bandwagon to look environmentally conscious without thinking about the consequences.
DGAF
9:31 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Bikers should stay off the road, thats what they make bike paths for.
Meg O'Hare
1:53 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
All of these comments prove that it is a shame that the city and county leadership could not work together to provide both city and county residents with the safe bike trails at the Loch Raven Reservoir.
M. Sullivan
2:08 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
They would be for mountain bike riding rather than road bike riding anyway.
reader
5:26 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Evets,
I pay a few fees for traveling the roads and byways of Maryland. Titling tax, gas tax, license fees, insurance for my auto which also covers you. What do you pay to use those roads and what insurance do you carry, if you, should run into me?
reader
11:12 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Evets, your reply does take on the air of snooty with your 3 cars and loose change to pay for damages and all. As for me gathering the troops together to use the "democratic process" I think not. There are far better ways to enjoy life than to involve myself with those who infest the streets of Annapolis from January to March. I loath them and their sorry ways much more than the spandex expanders who gayly peddle themselves throughout the roadways of Baltimore County. But, I do take solace in reading some of the comments from those who agree with me. That there are some roadways that do not work for "three across" and I should not be forced to cross a "double yellow line" on a narrow road so you can have your "three feet" (who or how that gets measured I don't know) of protected space. So, Evets you be safe out there but don't forget, there are those of us don't think you belong out there nor it is the brightest thing you could be doing for health and safety. I shall not reply on this subject again.
reader
11:02 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Mr Marks,
After reading your comments to me more than once I find them silly and self serving, but of course you are a politician. To Other Tim, it is not a question of any ones "inconvenience" it deals entirely with the safety of those who ride bicycles on roads not designed for that purpose (no bike lanes or insufficient road shoulders). Its about drivers who think more about the safety of the cyclists then, it seems, the cyclists themselves.
reader
11:19 am on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Evets, Couldn't help myself, when a politician wants to try to feed me his BS by trying to impress me with a portion of his resume and how self-important he is, I must reply.
M. Sullivan
12:47 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Mr. Marks, I beg to differ. Anyone who posts on this or any forum, especially if their views are controversial, would be a fool to post their real name. There are too many nuts out there.
Of course, politicians are the exception, since its in their best interest to always be campaigning.
reader
8:35 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Mr. Marks, by telling me to have a nice weekend, I'm sure your really saying "stick it up your hindparts" and really that's okay. I've been suggesting that to politicians for years. As for you M. Sullivan, thank you for your kind support where you suggest that anonymity is the good policy.