Spring 2015 Volume Fifty-Seven ROLAND PARK NEWS Ride as if you were Invisible This Issue’s Highlights By Mike McQuestion sorts of bike and pedestrian projects, both of which The tragic death of cyclist Thomas Palermo has are key to both improving safety, and alleviating Calendar and focused local attention on road safety. Friends and morning and Announcements acquaintances often tell me they are too afraid to ride afternoon traffic their bikes in the City and surveys show this fear is congestion Page 6 widespread. Yet the data show that urban cycling is around the relatively safe. Ongoing efforts to improve bicycling schools in Maryland House Roland Park. and Garden infrastructure, including a first for the city here in Pilgrimage Tour Roland Park, will do even more. Bicycling is not as dangerous Page 9 as many people Civic League Baltimore has a lot of bicycling potential. The think, though Update: Sidewalk climate is mild, the city area compact, and full of there are risks. Clearing & Repairs interesting venues. In 1975, the year the federal Page 11 government Hudson’s Corner Baltimore has a lot of bicycling potential. The climate began tracking data, 1003 Page 12 is mild, the city area compact, and full of interesting venues. Recreational riders can enjoy the 11-mile bicycling deaths Robert’s Rangers Gwynns Falls or the shorter Jones Falls Trails. occurred nationwide. Page 14 Occasional ciclovias give us a glimpse of what a bike- friendly Baltimore would be like. But just 0.7% of In 2012, the Word of Mouth Baltimoreans (around 2,000 of us) regularly biked number had fallen to 726. Page 17 to work in 2012, ranking us 40th of the 70 largest American cities. In comparison, Washington, DC Injuries have Interpreting had around 15,000 bike commuters (4.5%), ranking averaged around 50,000 Those Mysterious second to Portland, Oregon. Cycling in Roland Park. Photo: Anne Stuzin Covenants annually, even According to the 2013 American Community Survey, as the overall Page 22 bicycle commuting has increased by 46% since 2005. population and Maryland ranks 39th among states on this indicator. School News number of riders has increased sharply. Page 24 Nationwide, bicycles account for 2% of traffic fatalities but just 1% of all trips in the US. Cycling Music Notes It is no coincidence that biking in DC increased is thus twice as risky as other modes of ground more dramatically as the city invested in new bike Page 26 lanes, a bike share program and further cycling transportation. In Maryland, there are an average of 745 bicycle and pedalcycle-involved crashes each Ask Andrew: infrastructure, all steps Baltimore has considered but not fully employed. year, resulting in 617 injuries and seven fatalities, Home reports the Maryland Department of Transportation. Maintenance Tips Around one-third of these accidents occur in Page 27 While commuting to work and schools has increased Baltimore City. Book Nook over the past decade, further gains could be made if Maryland law treats bicycles the same as automobiles; the city completed several proposed and oft-delayed the same rules of the road apply to both. Cyclists Page 30 projects aimed at improving safety for riders. It is must take reasonable safety precautions, and car Home Sales no coincidence that biking in DC increased more drivers must give the same consideration to a bicycle dramatically as the city invested in new bike lanes, a as they would to another car. Maryland cyclists got Page 34 bike share program and further cycling infrastructure, an assist with the passage of the “three-foot rule” in all steps Baltimore has considered but not fully 2012. It states that “…the driver of a vehicle must employed. not pass any closer than three (3) feet to a bicycle or Federal and state funds, including safe routes to motor scooter if the bicycle is operated in a lawful school and other programs, provide funding for all manner.” The law does not apply, however, if the Continued on page 28 Editor’s Notes Roland Park News By Hilary Paska year round, so if you updates to the listed information or a new recommendation, Volume 57 All the signs are here. Snowdrops are please e-mail us anytime at newsletter@ Spring 2015 blooming on the Homewood campus and the rolandpark.org. first green shoots have appeared along Stony Table of Contents Run. Spring is As for local around the corner events, we’re 1 Ride as if you were Invisible and everyone’s spoiled for 2 Editor’s Notes looking forward choice. Highlights 3 Art Happenings to discarding their include the 6 Calendar & Announcements winter coats. Maryland Home 9 Maryland House and Garden Pilgrimage Tour and Garden Roland Park is Pilgrimage Tour, 9 Welcome New Neighbors idyllic in the several outdoor 10 Natural Selections spring, the perfect festivals, book 11 Civic League Update: Don’t Step on the neighborhood discussions, new Crack or You’ll Break your Mother’s Back! for outdoor exhibitions at 12 Hudson‘s Corner exercise, but the Evergreen the recent tragic and Homewood 14 Robert’s Rangers death of cyclist 16 A Pioneer in Residential Development: Roland Park’s charming architectural details. Photo: Sally Foster. museums, and Thomas Palermo opportunities Restoring a Memorial to Edward Bouton in North Roland 17 Word of Mouth to hone your Park has focused gardening skills at Cylburn Arboretum and 21 Bringing Lacrosse to Underserved local attention on road safety. This issue’s the Evergreen Museum. Baltimore City Youth opening article discusses how we can better 22 Interpreting Those Mysterious Covenants accommodate and protect the many cyclists Roll on spring! � 23 Spring Recipe: Truffled Raw Asparagus Salad who enjoy our leafy streets. 24 Popular reading series FriendsLit returns Well-maintained for its 2nd season sidewalks are equally 24 Friends’ Head of School Awarded important to the Prestigious Fellowship neighborhood’s walkers Sign Up Online for Roland 25 Jean Waller Brune will leave a and runners. The latest Remarkable Legacy at RPCS Civic League Update Park’s Organic Debris 25 The Anne Healy Chair of outlines homeowners’ English Language and Literature Lecture, responsibilities; keeping featuring author B.A. Shapiro sidewalks in good order Removal Program 26 Music Notes isn’t simply a courtesy Residents who have paid their Civic League dues and their full to pedestrians, it’s a legal maintenance fees may take advantage of the Roland Park Civic 27 Ask Andrew:Home Maintenance Tips for League’s organic debris removal program. Organic debris is Roland Parkers: Drying a Wet Basement requirement, and creates safer streets. picked up during the months of March, April, May, June, July, 29 Spring Recipe: Crab September, October and November. Please note that pickup is and Avocado Bruschetta Paying attention to the only available by signing up on the website or calling the Civic 30 Book Nook details is the theme League office. If you do not sign up, your debris will not be 34 Home Sales of Hudson’s Corner, collected. 35 Donor Pledge Form which celebrates the architectural features To submit your online request, please complete the “Yard Debris that contribute to Roland Pick-up Form” at www.rolandpark.org by the end of the Editorial Board: Lloyd Burdette, Park’s charm. We hope previous month. On the form, you will indicate where you are Henry “Chip” Mortimer and Hilary Paska. you enjoy the fabulous placing your debris. You can also request pickups by calling the Advertising Coordinator: Elena Kirkpatrick Mills photos, courtesy of Sally Civic League office at (410) 464-2525. Roland Park News is published quarterly by the Foster. Look out for Roland Park Community Foundation, Each household is limited to a free monthly pickup of 2 P.O. Box 16214, Baltimore, MD 21210 more examples in future cubic yards (about the amount of mulch that would fill a small Telephone: (410) 464-2533 issues. pickup). Debris in excess of 2 cubic yards will not be collected FAX (410) 464-2528 [email protected] Older houses require unless you make that request and agree to pay for the overage at a rate of $40 per each additional 2 cubic yards. Chair, Mary Page Michel; Vice Chair, Ellen Webb; frequent maintenance, Treasurer, Paul Anderson; Secretary, Helen Montag and once again, Please have the material out for pickup by the 5th of the Graphic Production: DesignConcept.com we’ve included the month. Debris length should be less than 4 feet and you should Printer: Swanson Graphics neighborhood’s “Word not combine your waste with the piles of neighbors. Debris Deadlines for copy, including announcements and calendar items, are of Mouth” guide to should be left in a pile or in paper bags—plastic bags will not be February 1 for spring issue (March-May), May 1 for summer issue contractors, which is picked up. (June-August), August 1 for fall issue (September-November), and also posted online at November 1 for winter issue (December-February). rolandpark.org. We If you have any questions, please contact the Roland Park Civic maintain the online list League office at (410) 464-2525. 2 got green space? n March 4, 7 p.m., Benjamin Schwartz: Right of Boom. Schwartz, Art Happenings a defense department insider, analyzes the possible outcomes in the wake of a nuclear terrorist attack on American soil. Weekends, March 27 - April 25, The Baltimore Shakespeare Factory presents: The Merchant of Venice in Original n March 5, 7 p.m., Beth Baker: With a Little Help from Our Pronunciation at St. Mary’s Community Center (3900 Roland Friends. Join Baker, a long-time freelance writer and editor, for Ave, Baltimore, MD).