From Harford County government:
Harford County Executive David R. Craig and the Department of Planning & Zoning have announced that the County will be undertaking the development of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is an important part of helping to make Harford County a truly multimodal community; one that promotes and supports increased bicycle and pedestrian activity. It is also an important step in helping Harford County become a healthier community.
The development of the plan is anticipated to take about a year, and to help the department with this effort the County Executive has appointed a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Group. The group consists of representatives from various government agencies and departments as well as bicycle and pedestrian advocates.
The advisory group will meet periodically throughout 2012, and the public will be able to follow the process and the work of the advisory group on the department’s webpage at www.harfordcountymd.gov/planningzoning. This website will also provide a direct link to the department’s online networking site where citizens will be able to provide their input. Public workshops will be conducted as part of the planning process.
For more information, please contact the Harford County Department of Planning and Zoning at 410-638-3103.
Finally! This is great news…this will make Harford Co. a better place to live–especially for people who have lived in (or who want to move to) walk/bike-friendly cities like Austin, TX and Boulder, CO. Good stuff. I always call the stretch of Maryland Rte. 24 by the Jail the “highway stretch of death” and I would never bike or run there. In addition, I sincerely hope the funding of the expansion of the Ma and Pa trail connection is considered by this Advisory Group.
The last plan was to unify the Ma and Pa trail. Why are we blowing money on making a new plan rather than finishing the one we have???
I would think the MA and PA Trail is separate from this new Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. In the end these ideas will all workout for the best of the county and its citizens.
This announcement of a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is an idea that was mentioned by citizens in the on-line Master Plan comment stage of the Zoning Master Plan process that happened last year. I am encouraged that our county organizations listened to the citizens’ comments and followed through with this idea of making Harford County a bicycle-pedestrian friendly county. The Ma and Pa Trail is already in the works but this is another idea for a county wide access to get around with something other than an automobile. This will enhance the health of our citizens and make Harford County a better place to live and visit. I applaud the Harford County Zoning Department for listening to is citizens.
Agreed– step in the right direction for the County. Long way still to go.
It surprises me that it has taken so long for such a family oriented County to put plans like this into place. I have a young teen that I would like to enjoy some of the independence I had growing up by riding a bike to get around town, but without sidewalks on the majority of the travelled roads & streets – it’s just not safe. In my development even, sidewalks would be welcomed – I would be willing to give up some of my front yard to have sidewalks.