This video was submitted by one of our commuters. He prefers this route for crossing Riggs Road.

A bonus, however, I have added your request for a trail across the powerline property connecting Riggs Road to Fordham Road to a list of needed bicycling connections for a new trails program that MDOT is now leading. If you have any information pertaining to this project in terms of research done, stakeholders that have been involved in conversations or have done any sort of investigation into the location, emails that people have sent in support of it, etc. please forward that stuff to me as it will help with the development of the project. If any work has been done so far it would be great to know about as we can possibly help advance those efforts forward.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=riggs+erskine&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Erskine+St,+Maryland&ll=38.980301,-76.983918&spn=0.005655,0.017263&t=h&z=14&vpsrc=6&output=embed
View Larger Map
 We need members of the Langley Park and Campus Community to write in letters of support for this project.

Please direct letters to :

Dustin M. Kuzan

Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator

Office of Planning and Preliminary Engineering

Maryland State Highway Administration

707 N. Calvert St, Baltimore, MD  21202

Tel: 410-545-5656

dkuzan@sha.state.md.us

The SHA follows procedures outlined in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) to determine when and where traffic control devices should be installed.  A study of the existing bicycle accommodations at the MD 193/Campus Drive turn ramp and the MD 193/Adelphi Road eastbound and westbound right-turn lanes has been conducted.  It has been determined that, because there are no existing designated bike lanes at these locations, we are unable to install skip-striping to denote a space for cyclists crossing the ramp at Campus Drive nor rumble strips along the right-turn lane on MD 193 approaching Adelphi Road.  As it is not consistent with the SHA Policy for Accommodating Bicycles and Pedestrians on State Highways, SHA continues to make accommodations for bicycling and walking an integral element of projects and planning, where possible.  However, we will install “Bicycles May Use Full Lane” signing approaching the right turn lane onto Campus Drive to inform motorists that there are bicyclists present and may take the full lane to navigate the intersection. The sign installation typically takes 60 days to complete weather and scheduling permitting.

 In regards to our field meeting on July 1, 2011, where you requested we add a crosswalk along MD 212 at Drexel Street, we are pleased to inform you that the signal design is underway for this location. The design will implement a crossing on MD 212 and restripe the existing crossing on Drexel Street. We will update the existing signal equipment to include audible pedestrian signals (APS) and countdown pedestrian signals (CPS). Construction for this project is expected to begin in July 2012.

If you have any additional questions, please feel free to contact my Team Leader for Traffic, Ms. Shaneka Owens, at 301-513-7424 or 1-800-749-0737.  Ms. Owens will be pleased to assist you.

Sincerely,

Felecia Murphy

Assistant District Engineer-Traffic (Prince George’s County)

BIKE THIEVES ARE OPPORTUNISTS

Here’s the short and sweet of it; bike thieves are opportunists with tools.  If they can find an unlocked, unattended bicycle, they’re happy to take it, but if that chance doesn’t present itself, they use their tools to create their own opportunity.  They want to work fast and unobserved, and they want to ride away on your bike and blend in quickly with other cyclists.  If they’re the kind of bike thief who comes equipped with transport for multiple bikes, they probably have multiple tool systems and you’re in real trouble because there is no bicycle lock that can’t be beaten!  If you lock your $5000 bicycle out in public, there’s no lock that can prevent it from being stolen and no way to keep the components from being stripped off the bike.  Believe me, there’s also no bicycle too cheap, too ugly, or too old to get stolen.  Thieves may find other bicycles that are more attractive targets, but at some point all of our bicycles are targets.

IDEAL PLACES TO LOCK YOUR BIKE

If you’ve read this far, you want to know the “ideal” place and method to lock your bicycle, but you’re not going to like the “ideal” answer.  If you have to leave your bicycle parked somewhere, the most “ideal” bicycle parking is inside your home or your workplace, in a locked area (closet, garage, etc.), locked with at least two different types of locks, and to something that’s anchored to the building frame.  Even then, the locks must be case-hardened U-locks or case-hardened chains/padlocks and the door to that closet or storage area must be closed and locked and under monitored CCTV surveillance or with a nearby guard.  Okay, that’s not remotely possible unless you’re the CEO of your own company.  The next step down, buying a folding bicycle and keeping it locked under your work-desk may not be an option either.  That’s reality and once you accept that there is no perfect solution to bicycle theft, you’re ready for the real world. 

If you want to keep your bicycle, you have some decisions to make, like:

• How much am I willing to spend?  Better, more secure locks cost more money.
• How much trouble am I willing to endure or how much time and I willing to spend to make my bicycle less likely to be stolen?

Simply put, your job isn’t to make your bicycle theft-proof; your job is to make it more trouble to steal than all of the other bicycles around it; enough trouble to make a thief steal someone else’s bicycle.  To a bicycle thief, “trouble” is caused by two main things:

• Multiple, stronger, and generally more expensive locks (you get what you pay for), and
• Taking the time and effort to put your bicycle in the most secure place possible and then taking the time to lock it up “properly.”

In the real world, no lock “stops” bicycle thieves, but good locks and locking practices can displace them to other bicycles.  If you make any crime more difficult to commit in any specific area, criminals move to places where they can continue their chosen profession.  When it comes to bicycle theft, you just want that place to be away from you and your bicycle. 

BEST PRACTICES

Okay, you got this far; here are the best practices, but keep in mind that they’re general rules and aren’t intended to encompass every type of locking device.

• 3/8” to 5/8” cable locks (coated or uncoated) are virtually worthless as a primary or lone locking device and only provide a false sense of security.  Cables can be a good device for preventing opportunistic, walk-off thefts, but if your bike is out of your sight, cables provide less than two seconds of protection.  Don’t believe hype from manufacturers or dealers about how “their” cable is stronger or better than all the “others.”  Don’t listen if they tell you it’s Kevlar reinforced; a Kevlar thread can support an incredible weight, but it cuts like any other thread or fabric.  Cable locks can be easily beaten in as many as six ways; three by easily concealable, hand-tools. 

Don’t get me wrong, cable locks aren’t totally worthless; they’re just worthless as a single, primary locking device.  Cable locks can be a nice secondary lock and can aid in making your bicycle more trouble to steal.

• U-locksare a LOT better than a cable lock, but still not perfect.  You generally need power tools or a lot more time to defeat a u-lock.  That makes them less likely to be attacked, but they’re not a perfect solution to bicycle theft and we’re still our worst enemy for two reasons:
  • We buy the cheapest u-lock we can find (you get what you pay for) and
  • We don’t usually use the lock properly or to its best advantage

U-lock manufacturers will tell you that the best you can do is to lock your u-lock through both bicycle wheels, your frame, and a substantial bike rack.  All that material fills the space inside the u-lock and makes it more difficult to defeat your u-lock with “spreader” attacks.  There’s no room to apply tools without damaging what they’re trying to steal.  Of course, almost no one locks their bicycle this way because they don’t want to take the time or don’t know how to remove and replace their front wheel.  A standard, quick-release, front wheel is easy to remove and with practice, only takes seconds, but if you don’t know how, learn; ask at any bike shop.  Let me make this completely clear; in 30 years of police work, I’m unaware of ANY bicycle ever stolen on my campus that was locked with a u-lock, through both wheels and the frame, to an intact bike rack. 

WHY LOCKING THROUGH THE FRAME AND WHEEL WORKS

Here’s why this works so well.  If you attach your u-lock through your frame, but not any wheel, your bike can still be ridden away if what you’re secured to can be defeated.  People ride around with u-locks hanging from their frames and handlebars all the time and police don’t pay any attention to this.  If your u-lock is through your bike frame and at least one wheel, your bike is less likely to be stolen than other bicycles with both wheels free because those other bicycles can be ridden away while yours must be carried.  Police officers will notice a locked bicycle being carried.  In fact, I’ve found that a good police bicycle officer will look suspiciously at any bicycle being pushed instead of being ridden; they’re wondering why it isn’t being ridden. 

Okay, let’s be honest; most people aren’t going to take off their front wheel.  They don’t want to get their hands dirty, they don’t understand the theft risk, or in their head they’ve balanced the effort needed to lock their bicycle properly against the risk of it being stolen and they’ve decided it’s worth the risk.  We’ll call these people “potential victims.”  They’re the people whose bicycles will be stolen instead of yours, if you just lock yours a little better than theirs.  Okay, if you’re one of these people, there’s another way to make your bicycle a more difficult target.  If you choose to include only one wheel in the u-lock, putting a cable lock through the other wheel and your frame also makes your bike more trouble to steal.  It’s an accepted truism that different types of locks are defeated by different tools and that thieves usually specialize in only one type of tool.  I wouldn’t bet my bicycle on it, but more is usually better.

Yes, some old models of u-lock could be defeated with a Bic pen and I’ve seen the video on the web, but I’m unaware of any new u-lock model that has this particular flaw.  You can probably also freeze them in liquid nitrogen and then shatter them with a hammer or cut them off with an oxy-acetylene torch, but the ability to transport and use liquid nitrogen and/or welding torches is WAY beyond most bike thieves.  If your thieves are this sophisticated, you’re better off banning bicycle parking except inside secured and monitored facilities. 

MASSIVE LOCKS – PROS AND CONS

There are also what I’ll call “massive chains and padlocks.”  This category includes most over-sized locking devices.  Some look like gigantic handcuffs, but many are just 3-6 foot long chains, encased in a flexible sleeve, and secured by heavy-duty, case-hardened, padlocks or mini-u-locks.  Due to their size and weight, they’re often marketed for motorcycles or motor scooters, but they seem to work just as well as u-locks if you follow the same locking advice.  There are tools that can defeat them, but if used properly, they’re pretty good at displacing thieves to other bicycles.  The advantage of the chains is that they can often snake through both wheels and the frame, without detaching any wheels.  Their disadvantage is their size and weight.  Many bicyclists, commuters in particular, leave these types of locks at their destination and may never actually carry the lock around.

OTHER HELPFUL HINTS

• Lastly, there are some things to think about that aren’t as obvious as the size, expense, and number of locks you use.  These things can also help reduce your risk of bicycle theft:
  • Lock your bicycle in a highly visible, highly trafficked area; ideally one used by large numbers of bicyclists.  Other bicyclists are probably more likely to call the police if they see a thief at work in a bicycle rack.
  • If your bicycle is out in times of low light, make sure the rack area is well lit.
  • Find a rack that is in the view of local police, guards, CCTV, or watched by any other means.  This observation should be obvious; hidden cameras don’t discourage theft.
  • Look for secure, interior storage areas, like bike-barns, bike lockers, offices, etc.
  • Find an area with active local bicycle cops.  Bike cops are more likely to notice suspicious activity around bicycles and because they’re cyclists, too; they have an even greater reason to hate bicycle thieves.

LOCKING MISTAKES

Before you rush out to park your bicycle, here are the most common locking mistakes we see:

• Locking only the front wheel allows the thief to steal an unsecure front wheel from a similar, nearby bike and attach it to your bike.  You’re left with your locked front wheel and no bicycle.  Someone else, probably nearby, has a bike with no front wheel.
• The front fork is not a frame element.  If you lock your bike through the front fork, the thief will remove the bike from the front wheel and pull the fork up and out of the lock.  The bike and wheel are then re-connected and they ride away, leaving your lock, alone and empty, on the rack.
• If you lock your bike at an inverted-u rack, but the rack has become loose in the ground, the thief will just pull the rack out of the ground to free your bike.  Trust me, they’ll also slide the rack back into the ground and hope to get more bikes off it in the future.  If you use this style of rack, please check them occasionally.  Strike it sharply with your palm before you use it.  If it vibrates like a giant tuning fork, it’s secure in the ground.  If it doesn’t vibrate, report it to whoever can fix it!  If you see someone shaking one of these racks, they’re probably a thief, trying to break a new rack loose for future use.
• Don’t leave the “lock” portion of your device against the ground.  If you do, many devices can eventually be beaten into submission with a large hammer.  Lock your device in a manner that forces your lock to stay off the ground.  If beating on the lock destroys your bicycle frame, it’s pretty worthless to any thief who steals it.
• If you lock your bike to something other than a bike rack and whatever you’re locked to can be defeated easily, don’t expect your bike to be there when you return.
  • Thieves just rip bicycles up and off most landscape items. 
  • If your lock fits over the parking meter head, they can just lift your bike off the meter (or sign post or fence post).
  • Wrought iron is actually quite weak at each weld-point; you may not even notice that it’s already broken and bends easily.  Cheap aluminum, cast-fencing, is even worse for security.
  • Chains or cables that stretch between bollards are a horrible place to attach your bicycle.  They’re not there for bicycle security; they’re there to herd pedestrians.  The chain or cable can usually be cut or just pulled out from one end and every bike along that chain or cable is now loose.
  • Arms and legs of decorative lawn or patio furniture are easy to break and separate.  Thieves then push them back together with a tiny dot of glue so they look secure to the next bicyclist.

Of course, most bike thefts could have been avoided if the owner had just run their u-lock through at least one wheel.  Thieves don’t want to CARRY a bike away, this attracts unwanted attention, they want to RIDE it away and blend in quickly with every other nearby cyclist.  This is why I say that encouraging bicyclists to use a u-lock through their frame and at least one wheel is a compromise that I’ve decided I’m willing to accept.  They may not be willing to take their other wheel off each time they lock their bike, but it only takes a moment more to make sure you include one wheel with the frame as you lock up.  If they have a cable as a secondary locking device, it can be run through the free wheel to make the bicycle an even more difficult theft target.

THEFT AT UMD

In the past few years, we’ve given away hundreds of u-locks and sold many more at wholesale cost.  At the same time, the theft rate for bicycles on my campus has dropped.  The remaining thefts still have one thing in common, over 90% (it varies from month to month) of the victims were only using cable locks.  Many of the remaining thefts were unsecured bikes taken from inside buildings, cars, etc.  I’m aware that there are probably other factors that reduced the theft-rate, like more CCTV cameras, better racks, and better lighting and I can’t easily factor those into the equation, but it seems obvious to me……lots of good racks and lots of u-locks means less bicycle theft.

ACCESSORIES

Here are a few thoughts to help minimize the theft of accessories.  If anything can be removed without tools, it can be easily stolen.  You can fix that or choose to live with it:

• Change your seat post quick-release to a bolt; how often to you really adjust your seat height?
• You can replace wheel quick releases with bolted axles (yuck) or with locking mechanisms ($$), or you can put a fat zip-tie on the spoon to hold it tight against the frame or fork.  It’s not perfect, but it makes it a little harder to open the spoon.  If you carry tools to do road-repairs on your bike, you should have something that can pop the zip-tie if you get a flat.  If not, with a little more effort, you can fix the flat with the wheel still on.
• Lights?  Buy lights that bolt or screw on, get ones with quick release clips, or buy cheap enough to not worry about the loss.
• Computer?  Pop it off and take it with you.  It’s unlikely that a thief really wants your old, used model, but expensive wireless units might be worth a thief’s time.
• Panniers or other bags?  Take them with you or switch to a courier bag that you wear on your back.
• Don’t leave your helmet on your bicycle even if it’s threaded through your lock.  They can be unstrapped and stolen or just cut off with a knife or scissors.  Carrying a stolen helmet can make a bicycle thief look less suspicious when hanging around a bicycle rack waiting for an opportunity.  Let’s not provide their camouflage.

REGISTRATION

Lastly…….here’s the additional advice we should give to everyone………..please, please, please…….register your bike with somebody, record your serial number somewhere, be able to give a detailed description of your bike, and always report it if it’s stolen.

Good luck.

John Brandt

Bicycle Coordinator

University of Maryland, Department of Transportation Services

Coming Changes

We are changing to a CatEye LED headlight and tail light set starting next week. Still $20 like the old light set. These are identical to the lights we gave away during the Bikes Be Bright event last year.

We should have plenty of the Lazer helmets in stock. It makes good sense to have one and use one.

The Transportation Fair is next week Wednesday. Please join us in Hornbake Plaza for cotton candy, popcorn and prizes! Also, enter to win a new bike. Barbara Ball from REI will be there as usual and we will also have all of the updated information at the bikeUMD table to help you bike on and around campus.

Soon we will be announcing the new dates for the Bicycle Advisory Group (BAG). If you are interested in joining please email the bike coordinator at bikecoordinator@umd.edu. or just leave a message on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/BikeUMD/113115015368119

We are expecting a lot of new changes in the coming year. Stay posted. Announcements will be made on the facebook page but you will always be able to find more details here at the blog.

Happy Cycling!

For more information about the study from the blog I mentioned, click here. For the study itself click here .

Now, admittedly, the Netherlands has an amazing biking infrastructure. Also the gains are greater for the elderly and for previously sedentary people. Of specific interest to our community is the fact that car accidents are really high for people between the ages of 18 – 24 so shifting this poipulation to the bike makes the roads safer for everyone. But go ahead and read the study yourself. It is an interesting read. Then commit to biking in few more days a month.

Covered Parking near Denton Dining

 This is an exciting year for bike parking at UMD. The Denton Dining covered parking will soon be finished and all that is left to do in E* is put down the final paint and bike markings. The E* lot adds 80 covered spots to one of the highest demand areas on campus. That results in a 35% increase in covered parking and a 5% increase in parking overall on campus. And we aren’t finished.

Feedback on University of Maryland- College Park’s application to be designated a Bicycle Friendly University – Spring 2011

The League of American Bicyclists has designated University of Maryland- College Park as a Bicycle Friendly University at the

bronze level. Reviewers were very pleased to see the current efforts, potential and commitment to make the University of Maryland a great place for bicyclists. Some of the highlights of the application are the bicycle master plan by Toole Design, bicycle coordinator position, the new bike parking lot, and helmet, lock and light giveaways.

The BFU review team expects great things in the future given the good local team and the coming improvements to the network and programs. Reviewers provided the following suggestions to further promote bicycling.

Four significant measures the university should take to improve cycling in the campus are:

Increase the amount of secure bicycle parking throughout the campus. We encourage you to expand the parking so that each commuter has a secure spot to park a bike and parking is placed in areas around campus according to demand. In addition, implement an ordinance that requires bike parking. Ensure that bicycle parking adheres to APBP standards.

Provide a bicycling skills class to students and employees on a

regular basis. Ideally the instruction would incorporate a classroom portion as well as on-road training. Contact your local advocacy group to see if there are classes in your area. Or invite a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) to your campus to conduct the class. For examples of educational materials visit: http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/ To find a local LCI go to: http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/course_schedule.php

Increase the number of arterial streets on campus that have wide shoulders or bike lanes. Continue to expand the bicycle network and increase network connectivity through the use of bike lanes, shared lane arrows, bicycle boulevards and signed routes. On-street improvements coupled with the expansion of an off-street system will continue to increase use and improve safety. These improvements will also increase the effectiveness of encouragement efforts by providing a broader range of facility choices for users of various abilities and comfort levels.

Conduct research on bicycle usage beyond the U.S. Census’ Journey to Work report to most effectively distribute resources and consider implementing a trip reduction program/ordinance. Consider performing multiple bike counts a year, to gauge seasonal changes and parking needs at maximum capacity. See good examples at http://bikepeddocumentation.org/ and http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index.cfm?c=43801

Reviewers provided the following suggestions to further promote bicycling in each of the categories of the application:

Engineering

Provide opportunities for ongoing training on accommodating bicyclists for engineering, planning staff, and law enforcement, such as an FHWA course. Or, consider hosting a

Smart Cycling course for engineers and planners to better understand cyclists’ needs, behavior, and their right to use streets as well as multi-use paths for transportation.

Increase the amount of way-finding signage around campus. Here are some best practices from the Washington, DC area council of governments: http://www.mwcog.org/uploads/committee-documents/t1dZW1k20070516090831.pdf

Use road diets to calm traffic and lead to a better use of roadway space http://cost.kittelson.com/system/datas/9/original/Road_Diet_Presentation_COST_July_2010.pdf?1285955514

Ensure that new and improved facilities to accommodate bicyclists conform to current best practices and guidelines – such as the

AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities and the state DOT’s own guidelines.

Education

Promote bike safety creatively to the student body by informing about local bike laws, promoting helmet use and proper locking. Consider Stanford’s multi-pronged approach to Bike Safety through events and programs such as a Dorm Challenge, a bike ambassador program led by Sprocket man, and a bike safety pledge.

Incorporate bicycling into the new students orientation program in order to reach all incoming students, faculty and staff. This can include distribution of bike maps, bike registration, reviews of bike laws and helmet and bike light promotions. This should include information for cyclists and motorists on their rights and responsibilities as users. Everyone should know that this campus wants to be truly bicycle-friendly.

Start a bicyclist and motorist ticket diversion program. Students given citation are offered an opportunity to waive fees for violations by attending a bicycling education course. This should include a classroom and on-road component. See what Stanford University has done http://www.stanford.edu/group/SUDPS/bicycle.shtml#diversion

Take part in an education campaign to prevent against bike theft. Provide students an opportunity to receive free or discounted U-locks. Post signage on proper locking techniques on bike racks and have police presence at bike events to teach about the importance of correct locking.

Provide a bicycling skills class to students and employees on a

regular basis. Ideally the instruction would incorporate a classroom portion as well as on-road training. Contact your local advocacy group to see if there are classes in your area. Or invite a League Cycling Instructor (LCI) to your campus to conduct the class. For examples of educational materials visit: http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/ To find a local LCI go to: http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/education/course_schedule.php

Encouragement

Launch a bike buddy or bicyclist mentorship program for inexperienced riders. A bike mentorship program that teams experienced cyclists with new-comers is a great way to encourage and educate novice commuters. Mentors can help educate on bike routes, gear, safe riding and much more. It also gives new commuters a support group to rely on and often makes them feel more secure and excited about their first few rides. For more information on mentorship programs see: http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/bikemore/support.cfm#mentoring

Consider offering bike valets at events throughout the year to solve parking issues for well-attended events. For example, Boise State University offers bike valet service at football games. See what the University of Arizona is also doing to encourage bicycling through a year round bike valet http://parking.arizona.edu/bikevalet/

Promote the People for Bikes Pledge to students, faculty and staff. You can help this campaign make a statement through our sheer numbers by raising public awareness and demonstrating our passion to our leaders in Congress and in cities and states throughout the country. http://www.peopleforbikes.org/

Expand encouragement efforts, especially during Bike Month. Promote bicycling through events such as organized campus rides, a commuter challenge, car-free days and campus bike tours. Read about what UC Santa Barbara does during CycleMAYnia http://cyclemaynia.ning.com/events/ucsb-bike-to-workschool-day

Enforcement

Increase the number of police officers patrolling on bike. This increased interaction between enforcement and the bicycling community should also include targeting bicycle infractions and positive enforcement ticketing. Provide the proper training such as through the International Police Mountain Biking Association: http://www.ipmba.org/instructors.htm

Make stronger connections between the bicycling community and law enforcement. Ensure that police officers are educated on the “Share the Road” message and have a general knowledge of traffic laws as they apply to bicyclists. The institution should implement regular training for officers on this like an

Enforcement for Bicycle Safety seminar. This is a great continuing education opportunity for law enforcement.

http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/bikesafe/case_studies/casestudy.cfm?CS_NUM=801

Evaluation & Planning

Expand efforts to evaluate the bicycle usage and crash statistics to produce a specific plan to reduce the number of crashes on campus. There are tools available including

Intersection Magic: http://www.pdmagic.com/im/and PBCAT. See the report Bicyclist Fatalities and Serious Injuries in New York City 1996-2005

Consider conducting an economic impact study on bicycling within your college/ university http://www.altaplanning.com/App_Content/files/fp_docs/2008%20Portland%20Bicycle-Related%20Economy%20Report.pdf

For more ideas and best practices please visit the

Bicycle Friendly University Resource Page

 Bicycle valet was first introduced to the university campus at the 13^thannual Maryland Day on April 30, 2011, an event where a record 97,000+ visitors attended. The bicycle valet service was set up across campus at three different locations: Terp Town Center, Arts Alley, and Ag Day/Science & Tech Way. The service was not only an all-day feature (10 AM – 4 PM), but doubled as a bicycle information and repair center as well. This summary report will cover the planning, marketing, and execution details for the event and provide suggestions to be implemented in future bicycle valets. 

Bike Valet on Maryland Day at the University of Maryland

II.               Bicycle Valet: Definition 

Bicycle valet is a free, easy and secure way to store your bicycle and bicycle accessories at an event. The service operates just like a coat check, in that the patron receives a claim ticket after handing over the bicycle. The service not only promotes cycling and reduces bicycle theft, but also helps to keep events more tidy (fewer bikes locked to poles and fences) and helps aid traffic congestion relief. 

As the Washington Area Bicyclist Association describes it: 

“A bike valet is a cordoned-off area with sturdy, portable racks. You show up, hand the bike to the valet staff, sign your name and cell number, and we watch your bike for the duration of the event. You don’t need a lock, you don’t need to compete for rack space, and you know someone is keeping an eye on your bike.”

III.           Maryland Day Planning

 As the University of Maryland’s largest annual outreach event, the Maryland Day Planning Committee begins as early as mid-October, when the first kick-off meeting occurs. Many deadlines, such as deadlines for event submissions and marketing materials, take place months before the actual event. Therefore it is crucial to become involved in the early planning stages.

 The Maryland Day Planning Site can be accessed at this web address: http://www.marylandday.umd.edu/mddayplanning/overview/

 In 2011, the Bicycle Valet event was introduced fairly late in the Maryland Day planning process. Though it was briefly introduced at a Planning Committee Meeting in March, bicycle valet was not written into the printed program nor did it receive as much marketing outreach—print and digital— as other Maryland Day events due to its late entry into the planning process.

 The key Maryland Day program contacts who were involved in the 2011 Bicycle Valet planning process were Pat Perfetto, the Maryland Day Logistics Chair and Director, and Holly DeArmond, the Maryland Day Marketing Chair and Assistant Director.  

 IV.             Precedent: WABA Cherry Blossom Bicycle Valet

 The Washington Area Bicycle Association’s annual Cherry Blossom Bicycle Valet was studied as a model for UMD bicycle valet. The bicycle valet operated between 9AM and 6PM and was fully staffed with volunteers (4 – 6 at a time) who chose between an early shift (9AM – 1PM) and a late shift (11AM – 6PM). The WABA Bicycle Valet was offered as a free service and also offered free bicycling promotional materials and maps as well as discounts to join the WABA organization. They also had a donation box.

 The UMD bicycle valet was closely modeled after the WABA Bicycle Valet’s system—a system that is used for many bicycle valets across the nation—with regards to its corral system and tabling materials. Volunteering at the WABA bicycle valet was an invaluable experience to see not only the bicycle valet set up, but also to witness what a busy bicycle valet looks like—in other words, a future image of Maryland Day bicycle valet.

 V.                Benchmarks

 Bicycle valet has been widely adopted by many universities, most of which are large mid-west and west coast state schools at home football games. Maryland is one of the leading east coast universities to implement bicycle valet. The following is a list of universities using bicycle valet:

•  University of Arizona – Free bicycle valet for registered bicycles (M – F; 8AM – 6PM)
• University of Colorado – Free bicycle valet for football games
• Boise State University – Bicycle valet for football games (optional donation; more than 700 bicycles were parked and generated more than $500 in donations)
• Oregon State University – Nearby high school offer bicycle valet at OSU football games as a fundraiser
• UC Davis – Free bicycle valet
• Stanford University – Free bicycle valet for football games
• Ohio State University – ‘Pedal Instead,’ a bicycle valet project unaffiliated with the university offers bicycle valet during OSU football games
• Emory University – Offers bicycle valet at certain festivals

 VI.             Maryland Day: Bicycle Valet Locations

 Bicycle valet was offered in three different locations across campus on Maryland Day.

Maryland Day Bike Valet Map

 Activity hotspots were first identified through the Maryland Day program through an activities tally. Whichever area had the most activities tallied was deemed an activity hotspot. The top activity hotspots included the McKeldin Mall, the Kim Engineering Building, the Animal Sciences Building, and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Bicycle valet locations were then decided upon through a two-step process. It was very important that the bicycle valet be located very close to an activity hotspot. First, the area around the hotspot had to be physically assessed in person to check for suitable terrain, sufficient views, space availability, and desirable traffic flow.

 Second, the selected areas were then submitted to Pat Perfetto and Holly DeArmond (Maryland Day Chairs) for the final sign-off.

 Though the locations worked well for the 2011 Maryland Day event, during the day’s event, valet staff noted that there were more desirable spots available for bicycle valet. Since bicycle valet had a late start in 2011, it became more and more difficult to secure desirable locations.

 The 2011 locations included: the corner of Paint Branch parking lot, closest to Kim Engineering Building; the grassy field in front of the Music Education entrance of CSPAC; and the corner of Chapel Fields close to McKeldin Mall. The bicycle valets that were the most successful were located at Paint Branch parking lot and CSPAC. Next year, bicycle valet will hopefully be given a more central and visual location at Terp Town Center and a more central location at the Ag Day/Science & Tech Way area.

 VII.         Marketing and Outreach

 Marketing and outreach are crucial elements in the success of bicycle valet. The 2011 Maryland Day bicycle valet was very successful in terms of the number of people who were made aware of the bike valet service and the plans for its continued implementation in the future years. Many people, however, expressed the wish that they had known about the service beforehand so that they could have cycled to the event.

 Therefore it is absolutely crucial that bicycle valet information and valet locations are incorporated into the printed Maryland Day program.

 Though there are multiple methods of outreach, on Maryland Day 2011 most cyclists were drawn to the location as a result of strategic on-site banner and sign location.

 Other marketing methods included: 

• Flyers put up around campus and bicycle shops (campus bicycle shop, REI, Proteus, and College Park Bicycles)
• Stake-in signs at major cycling
• Windmaster Signs entrances (Paint Branch Dr./Trail, in front of the Route 1 underpass, Stamp Student Union entrance, and next to the bike racks at McKeldin Library)
• Providing information under the ‘Getting There: By Bicycle’ section on the Maryland Day website
• Email

 In the future, it is highly advisable to do marketing outreach to nearby apartments (Seven Springs, Grand Mazza, The View, Varsity, etc.)

  VIII.      Materials/Staffing

 Setup Materials

• Three staff members per table

 Nine staff in total for three locations

• Tent, chairs, & table at each location
• Must obtain necessary Work Order forms
• Two banners(one advertising bicycle valet; one advertising bikeumd and other services)
• Provided by DOTS Marketing Dept. Can reuse existing banners
• Barricades(for corral and bicycle racks)
• At the 2011 Maryland Day, fourteen French Barricades were used at each location.
• In total, forty-two galvanized barricades were rented for the day from Rent-A-Guard (www.rentaguard.com)
• Hollow Swimming Noodles(put over top rail of barricades to protect bicycle paint)
• • We have fourteen leftover from the 2011 event
  • Zip-ties
    • To strap noodles on to top rail. Three zip ties per noodle.

 Location Materials

 Brochures/Cycling Maps

• • The Anacostia Tributary Trail System map, Maryland bicycle map, Campus Connections Booklet, Bicycle Safety pamphlets and booklets, Maryland Official Highway Map
  • Bicycle Valet Binder
    • Contains valet sign-in sheets which require patrons to sign in with their name, phone number, and ticket numbers
    • ListServ Sign-Up Sheet
      • For joining the bikeUMD listserv
      • Giveaways
        • bikeUMD stickers (aimed at kids)
        • bikeUMD snap bracelets
        • bikeUMD water bottles
        • Supplies
          • Scissors
          • Stapler
          • Pen
          • Valet Tickets (provided by DOTS Marketing Dept.)
          • Repair Stand (with basic bicycle mechanic tools)

1. IX.            Valet Instructions

1. After location set up is complete, staff members are to display brochures and maps on the table top with the repair stand/tire pump visible to passing cyclists 
2. When cyclist wants to check in his/her bicycle, have him/her sign-in to the valet sign-in sheet with their name, phone number and ticket number. 
3. Wrap valet ticket around bicycle handlebar with numbers facing out. Staple ticket ends together. 
4. Wheel bicycle into the corral. Lift bicycle up and over the top-bar of the foam-protected barricade. 
5. When patron returns, collect ticket stub and return bicycle. 
6. Cross/check patron’s name off from the sign-in binder.  

X.                Final Summary 

For the limited amount of planning and marketing— planning started mid-March 2011—the first bicycle valet event was a modest, but promising success. Maryland Day 2011 racked up thirty-four cyclists, with one repeat where a cyclist utilized two different bicycle valet locations. This year’s event was most valuable in spreading awareness of bicycle valet with the promise of the service becoming an annual part of Maryland Day. It was received with great praise by many visitors, who expressed their appreciation that such a service existed. If planned in advance, with more outreach and marketing, we will most likely see an increase in the number of people cycling to Maryland Day and the number of cyclists parking their bicycles at the valet in upcoming years. 

Bicycle valet at Maryland Day, as a whole, operated very smoothly. Barricades were set up the afternoon prior to Maryland Day, with tent/table/chair dropped-off the morning of Maryland Day. Banners were also set up at that time. John Brandt oversaw most of the set-up and break down for each of the locations. Barricades were picked up an hour after the Maryland Day closed. No bicycles were left unattended. 

The Paint Branch Parking Lot (Ag Day/Science & Tech Way) valet location and the CSPAC (Arts Alley) valet location were the most successful. The corner of Chapel Fields (Terp Town) was the least successful because of visibility issues. In the future, it is highly recommended that the Paint Branch valet be moved towards a more central location between the Animal Sciences Building and Kim Engineering. The Chapel Fields valet should be moved to the Engineering Fields or onto McKeldin Mall. The CSPAC valet can be kept at the same spot. 

It is highly recommended that bicycle valet be utilized for other events as well—the most notable being the annual Art Attack event. By creating bicycle valet for other high-trafficked events, it will soon become a staple service of campus and encourage more and more people to ride bicycles to events; people who would otherwise be fearful of theft issues or be discouraged due to having to carry bicycle helmets/bicycle computers/etc. with them during the event. Bicycle valet also helps to “tidy” up event appearances by reducing the number of bicycles locked up to fences and light posts.

Key Areas for Improvement for MD Day Bicycle Valet 

• Relocating the Terp Town valet and the Ag Day/Science & Tech Way valet locations 
• Starting bicycle valet planning in advance—check the MD Day timeline and attend the MD Day meetings early on in order to secure locations, marketing materials and setup materials. It is very important to make it onto the printed program in future Maryland Day events 
• It is very important to remind people that the valet closes at 4 P.M. with the rest of Maryland Day and cyclists are expected to pick up their bicycles at that time. It is also very important to take down their contact information so that the staff may call them if they are not at the valet station when the time arrives
• Doing market and outreach well in advance to the wider College Park community 
• Looking into options of bicycle day-rentals for Maryland Day 

1. XI.            Contact Information

 DOTS – Related

 DOTS Assistant Director : Beverly Malone | bmalone@umd.edu | 301 – 314 – 7275

DOTS Bicycle Coordinator: John Brandt | jbrandt@umd.edu | 301 – 314 – 9914