Bicycles

Maryland is faced with major fiscal issues that are restricting its ability to repair and expand its aging highway infrastructure. At the urging of Gov. Martin O'Malley, the Maryland legislature recently passed an increase in the state gasoline tax to address this problem ("Md. Senate approves increase in gas tax," March 30). But while the governor has always been creative in finding new ways to pay for his road projects and social programs, I believe he has overlooked one possible source of revenue: The licensing and taxing of bicycles.

Maryland is faced with major fiscal issues that are restricting its ability to repair and expand its aging highway infrastructure. At the urging of Gov. Martin O'Malley, the Maryland legislature recently passed an increase in the state gasoline tax to address this problem ("Md. Senate approves increase in gas tax," March 30). But while the governor has always been creative in finding new ways to pay for his road projects and social programs, I believe he has overlooked one possible source of revenue: The licensing and taxing of bicycles.

When twin brothers Reid and Sam Shafley, 16, first tried to teach their younger brother Will to ride a bike, they thought it was hopeless. Will is considered to be in the autism spectrum, which makes some tasks difficult. "We had tried to teach him for many years, but we just couldn't get him to ride a bike," Reid said. Then their mother, Sue Ann Shafley, found Lose The Training Wheels, a small, nonprofit volunteer camp based in Virginia that travels around the country with a fleet of special bicycles.

A stated goal of Harford County's Pedestrian Master Plan and its component that advocates for increased bicycle-friendly thoroughfares is a bit far-fetched, namely to make the county more "multi-modal" in terms of transportation options. Turning Harford County into a place where anything approaching a significant number of people can rely on bicycles as a primary mode of transportation is an idea that left the station three or four generations ago, when our ancestors got in their cars and fled cities to settle in places like Harford County.

As part of their effort to combat bicycle theft, Anne Arundel County police reserve officers will be visiting shopping malls this summer to register bicycles, making them easier to trace and return to their owners if they are stolen.The service is free. Reserve officers engrave each bicycle with the owner's driver's license number and a county identification number, information that is entered into the Police Department's computer.Reserve officers will be available to register bicycles at the following locations along the Baltimore Annapolis Bike Trail:* July 2: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Harundale Mall, Ritchie Highway and Aquahart Road.

Howard County police are trying to put the brakes on an age-old vehicle theft problem: stolen bicycles.At least 100 bicycles have been stolen in the county this year, outpacing last year's total at this time, police said.Last weekend, five bicycles were stolen from the Dorsey Hall and Centennial Park areas.Police are investigating similarities among some of the thefts and have leads on a suspect.But they don't believe all of the thefts this year are related and are cautioning residents to be careful with their property.

WESTMINSTER -- In an unusually short meeting Monday night, the City Council introduced an ordinance that would prohibit bicycles in the playground and parks.The measure, suggested by Mayor W. Benjamin Brown, came after city police received several complaints of children annoying and hitting pedestrians with their bikes.However, council members Kenneth A. Yowan and Edward S. Calwell objected to the proposed ordinance, saying children have few other places to ride their bicycles.City laws already prohibit bicycle riding on sidewalks and ban skateboarding completely.

County police officers Kevin Tribull and Lee Whitlow already have benefited from the bicycles that five area business owners helped the department purchase.In one case, a suspected drug dealer ran out of an alley and tripped over the front wheel, ending a police chase. "I don't believe we would have been there in time if we had been on foot," Whitlow said.The new vehicles, four 21-speed mountain bikes, will be used by police officers patrolling Meade and Freetown villages, communities plagued by drug dealers.

The churches of Wilde Lake Interfaith Center will collect adult-size bicycles, which will be repaired and sent to needy families in Latin America or Africa. Bicycles will be collected at the interfaith center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Dozens of bicycles distributed in the same remote village will help develop the economic life of the area. A donation of $10 for shipping requested with each bicycle, and will be noted on the donor's tax receipt. The church will cover the remaining costs.

For nearly two decades, Thomas J. Bruni quietly designed and built bicycles in his Hamilton home - innovative mountain, road and tandem bikes that were highly sought after by riders. "They were completely unique, fast and beautiful bikes. Tom was a custom fabricator, who would meet you, measure you, and fabricate out of a few pounds of steel tubing some of the best bikes on the planet," said Phil Feldman, who owns three of them. "Bruni Bicycles are a common sight in Baltimore, and his customer base extended across the country and even to Europe."

The draft of the 2013 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is available for public review and comment on the department's website, http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/planningzoning, and at the Department of Planning and Zoning office at 220 S. Main St. in Bel Air. The plan is an important step in helping Harford County become a truly multi-modal community by identifying needed facilities and presenting actions for implementation. It is also an important step in helping Harford County become a healthier community.

Baltimore has a shortage of good, small restaurants, the kind with 20 or 30 seats, where diners can have some intimacy. Restaurants, at least the ones I've been reviewing, have been getting bigger, brassier, louder. I'm not complaining. I've been having some great dinners in big and medium-size, crowded restaurants. A sweet, small new restaurant named Liv2Eat has opened in South Baltimore. I'll confess to hating the name on sight. I got over it, and I hope others do and give it a chance.

Making walking and bicycling regular modes of transportation for people in Harford County is a noble goal, and one that has some potential. It happens to be a goal of a County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan reviewed by the county's Environmental Advisory Board recently, but it could also be a goal another county advisory board, the one appointed to find ways to deal with weight problems that affect many of us to varying degrees. Advocating for walking and bicycling is a bit like advocating for losing weight and eating healthy: All are great ideas, and only a fool would advocate for fewer exercising opportunities, packing on the pounds and eating nothing but burgers, fries and ice cream.

A new restaurant named Live2eat has opened in the South Baltimore space that was formerly Bicycle and more recently Centro. Here's what Live2eat says about itself on its website: "Liv2eat utilizes traditional methods and techniques to best showcase available seasonal products each day. We feature seasonal entrees and salads as well as house pastas and bread. We care about where our food comes from and understand the importance of sustainability. The offerings change several times a year and are complimented by a varied wine and craft beer list.

The following is compiled from local police reports. Our policy is to include descriptions when there is enough information to make identification possible. If you have any information about these crimes, call the Wilkens Police Station at 410-887-0872. Bloomsbury Avenue, 400 block, Oct. 20, 9:30-10:30 p.m. Two juveniles were dragged into the woods after a football game by four classmates who exposed themselves and touched them inappropriately. Cherrydell Road, 100 block, Oct. 20, 4:00-6:20 p.m. TV, DVD player, jewelry and cash stolen from residence.

A group of 11 Baltimore women who set out Sept. 19 to ride their bicycles 365 miles across Maryland in five days arrived Sunday at Fort McHenry to the cheers of more than 100 family members and friends.. The participants are members of a group called Women Who STAND/Baltimore, formed about two years ago as part of the Baltimore-based global organization World Relief. The bicyclists raised nearly $40,000 through the event, called Ride 365, for organizations benefiting women and girls in Malawi and Cambodia.

Like many children, Tierra Clark and Sherman Arits Jr. spent the mild days of their winter vacation breaking in the bicycles they received last week.But the colorful two-wheelers they are so proud of weren't Christmas presents. Tierra, Sherman and others from the Pioneer Drive area earned their bicycles by performing community service in a program sponsored by the Western District police station.Children age 10 and younger can earn bicycles with 40 hours of service; older children with at least 60 hours.

Charles F. Logue, a bicycle repairman who boasted that he could fix anything but broken hearts, died Saturday of cancer at his home in Parkville. He was 79.Mr. Logue repaired bicycles for more than 50 years at Logue's Sport Shop, his cluttered shop on Monument Street near Milton Avenue in East Baltimore. He closed the business in 1989 and retired. He had lived in Parkville for about five years."He used to say he could fix anything except a broken heart," said a daughter, Carolyn F. Abrams of Pasadena.

Howard County planners are developing a new bicycle master plan to guide road projects and connections to create a bike transportation network. The extensive plan is being developed over a year and will address bicycling capabilities on 300 roadways. It will also look at off-road paths and determine the need for bike racks, more bicycle commuting and a proposed shared bike system. In order to target specific locations that need improvement, the county is turning to interactive technology.

Patrick "Scunny" McCusker, the 49-year-old owner of Nacho Mama's and a force in the revitalization of Canton, was remembered Saturday by friends, employees, patrons and local leaders for his outsize personality, philanthropy and pioneering contributions to the community. "The neighborhood is what it is because of him," said Gianene Musotto, 43, who gathered with other customers at Nacho Mama's, one of the neighborhood's first popular destinations. Police said McCusker died Friday after being hit by a bus as he rode his bicycle along Coastal Highway in Ocean City . The Cockeysville resident was treated at the scene by emergency personnel.