The BikeAAA Annual Meeting and Lifeline100 Check Presentations were held November 21 at Los Portales in Glen Burnie. The program opened with a record-setting $33,250 provided to Lifeline100 beneficiaries generated by more than 800 registrants, 30 sponsors and 100 volunteers on Oct. 4, 2019. Among the riders were 30 Anne Arundel County Police Officers on a team accompanies by County Executive Steuart Pittman and Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley. Checks were presented to:
- Anne Arundel Crisis Response System $11,000
- Recreation Deeds for Special Needs $4,000
- Friends of Anne Arundel County Trails $3,000
- Tom Caraker Memorial Plaza $1000
- Friends of Kinder Farm Park $3,000
- Rise for Autism iCan! Shine Bike Camp $2,500
- Bicycle Advocates for Annapolis & Anne Arundel County (“BikeAAA”) $8,500
- Friends of Pascal Senior Center $250
The program continued with BikeAAA Board Officer elections with VP Alex Pline, Treasurer Lois Findlay and Education Lead Rachel Varn elected to 2 year terms and President Jon Korin, Secretary Steve Miller and Director Jim Black elected to a one year term. Jon gave outstanding achievement awards to:
Officer Stanley Newborn, Anne Arundel County Police Bike Patrol for his many contributions to safe cycling and the community for people of all ages, abilities and means
Rachel Varn, founder of PedalPower Kids for her rapid launch and providing bike safety, education and adventure programs to more than 1300 children in her first 18 months including a variety of pro bono programs
Jim Miner, VP Annapolis Bicycle Club for his long record of safety advocacy and constant and growing support for the Lifeline 100 including leading the Rest St
Cpl. Dominic Scali also provided BikeAAA President Jon Korin with a memento of appreciation with a photo of the AACPD Lifeline100 team.
The BikeAAA officers provided a recap of accomplishments and goals including:
- BikeAAA since launch
- > 900 members, including 5 bike clubs
- ~$50,000 bank balance, strong position for programs and grants
- > 1,000 helmets provided to kids in need
- > 5000 kids provided with safety programs
- Bike racks, repair stands and pumps placed at county and Annapolis locations
- Strong partnerships and reputation with government, nonprofits, press and community groups
- Growing events including Bike to Work, Bike to School, Ride of Silence, Lifeline100 and support for others like RAAM, AACX, Youth Tri and Komen Promise Ride
- County and City Progress
- Full time county Bike/Pedestrian Planner
- Office of Transportation focused on Multimodal Mobility
- Move Anne Arundel strategic transportation plan approved by County Council
- Launch of County Bill 78-18 Multimodal Transportation
- 20 miles of new bikeways added since 2016 now total 78 miles
- Record-level of trail-building and grants
- Studies for improved bikeways: Odenton to BWI, Poplar Extension, BWI to Baltimore, USNA Bridge to Annapolis, Safe Routes to School
- Support for new state legislation including Vision Zero and Complete Streets
- Achieved Bronze Bike-friendly Community by League of American Bicyclists
