The Elkridgean Cyclist - On Bike-Riders and Box Turtles

This blog post is one of those things that came to me as I was riding around the area. It's pretty far-fetched, I guess, to think that box turtles and bike-riders have anything in common. But if you are willing to indulge me, please keep reading. If not, then please skip down and at least read the last two paragraphs about Elkridge Heritage.

A long time ago, Elkridge Landing was a thriving town surrounded by country-side - rural home-sites, farms, and the occasional mill. Roads, which were built for wagons, and horse and buggy, are still in use today: Old Washington Road, Montgomery Road (or some vestiges of it), Levering Avenue, Furnace Avenue, Race Road, Lawyers Hill, Landing Road. Heading west into Ellicott City were Ilchester Road, River Road, Bonnie Branch. These can all be seen on this 1860 map:

www.mdslavery.net/html/mapped_images/hod3.html

I imagine the Greater Elkridge area was prime living and breeding ground for the Eastern Box Turtle, with sunny fields, sheltered woods and plenty of streams and springs. This small long-lived creature could roam the land with very little to endanger it, once it reached full adulthood. Certainly racoons, farm dogs and cats, and possums presented a problem to the turtle eggs and infants, but not many things could crack open a sealed box turtle. How popular box turtle was in the human diet in those days is unknown to me.

As bicycles came into common use, they could pedal along these roads without worrying about high traffic volumes. Eventually the roads were improved for automobile use, but still, box turtles, bike-riders and cars could all enjoy relatively safe travels because this was the country-side. When the roads were paved, certainly little thought was given to building shoulders and making safe bike or walking routes, because there was no need. No thought was given to making safe crossings for wild-life either. Again, there was no need.

We still see locales like this farther afield. West Virginia where my Grandfather was raised comes to mind. I ride my bike in the bottom land of the West Virginia hills, and the cows look at me like they have never seen such a two-wheeled monster before! Bike-riding isn't popular in those parts, but 4-wheeling is. The elderly cruise around in their little 4-wheelers there like the ones in Florida do in their golf carts. Box turtles abound, and most people are willing to pull over and help them cross the road. There are tragedies now and again. Cars, after all, can go really fast on paved roads, and box turtles are small and camouflaged. But there seems to be no lack of turtles in West Virginia.

But here, the Eastern Box Turtle is on the verge of becoming endangered. We still see them crossing the road occasionally, and even Marylanders are sensitive to these adorable hapless, slow-moving creatures, and take time out of their busy day to help them out of the road. But most of my box turtle sightings this summer, sadly, have been as road pizzas. I've read that losing even one turtle out of a population can be devastating. These animals breed slowly because their young are so vulnerable, and yet they live so long. It's nature's way of staying in balance. But now it is working against them.

As we see an increase in motor vehicle traffic, we see a decline in box turtle populations. Certainly other animals are affected, but the deer and raccoons, in particular, seem to thrive well in developed areas. The deer like the grass, and the raccoons like the trash. While there are many road-kills of all kinds of animals, it is the box turtle I worry about most. As all my friends know, I have an affinity for them. I even wrote a little children's story about them. I think I may identify with them because they move so slowly like me, they show their vulnerable side like me, and yet they keep themselves boxed up when they need to like me. Like me, they typically travel alone. I also came up with a couple other similarities between bike-riders and box turtles. Like turtles, Bike-riders can carry their house around with them, or at least a tent and everything they need for a road trip. I've never done this, but I think it is an interesting feat, and one I'd like to try when I retire from my day job. Also, like turtles, the number of bike-riders on the road has been drastically affected by the increase in automobile traffic. Of course due to the fact that a person does not want to do more than it needs to do, a lot of this may be because it is much easier to hop into a car. But a lot of it is also because the roads are not considered safe.

I guess one big difference (aside from the obvious things like size, speed, species...) is the perception of them by motorists. Motorists are not likely to say, "Oh look how cute! A bike-rider on the road. Let's slow down and make sure we pass them carefully so that they don't get hurt." More likely it is, "Dagnabbit, another one of those pesky bikes. I have to slow down now and make sure my car doesn't get scratched by them." Maybe if they see a tandem or a 3-seater, or a unicycle, they will be more likely to be intrigued because of the novelty. Of course, there are more bikes on the road than turtles. And box turtles don't go in packs (or bales) like sea-turtles. And bike-riders are more likely to bite if you try to pick them up and carry them away with you.

It seems to me as if Elkridge has been put on the chopping block by the county, and developed almost as much as it can be, with little or no regard to safety of walkers and bike-riders, pets or wild-life. There are still some parcels left, but it's just a matter of time. And when it's done, will there be any box turtles left? Will we be able to ride our bikes at all? Isn't it sad that people feel that it is not safe for them to walk or ride their bike from their home to a store just a mile or two away? Isn't it sad that big cities, like Baltimore, DC, and New York City are much more "bike-friendly" than we are in the suburbs?

Also, the planned intermodal facility comes to mind. For a few shining days, the "No-Elkridge-Intermodal" group was flying high because it seemed CSX had given up on the Hanover site, but now we hear there is no time to rest on laurels. There is no guarantee that it won't be built there after all. An environmental study seems to be our best hope. I've been a lurker on the group's Facebook page, but added to all the other concerns, it is fitting for a blog about cycling in Elkridge to make a plea. Race Road is a lovely bike-route that connects the Pataspco trail to the BWI loop. Hanover Road is also a piece of that. Those roads are also important for bike-commuters who shall remain nameless who are trying to get to one of our state's largest employers, which happens to be in the Fort Meade area. Increase in noise and truck traffic would be ruinous for these endeavors. (And I bet there are lots of box turtles around there!)

This blog was not meant to be a soap-box against development, or the intermodal facility, or the sad plight of the cyclist and box turtle. It wound up going there though, and I offer a half-hearted apology for that. What really started my brain-wheels spinning was the thought that most of our roads do not have a shoulder, and they weren't designed for cyclists, because they weren't designed or planned at all. They evolved as part of our community history, and were safe enough until the relatively recent boom of development, that first divided Elkridge in two with the advent of I-95, and has since caused it to become the wonderful, appealing community it now is, that has grown and drawn people from all walks of life. So from a historical perspective, it's easy to see how we got here. Growth is not necessarily a bad thing. But I do think it is time to stop, think, and plan for a better, greener Elkridge.

Now, while we are off the soap-box and back on the topic of history, I would like to offer a shameless plug for the Elkridge Heritage Society. I didn't grow up here, but I'm fascinated by the idea of how it once was, and I've always loved hearing the stories from fellow choir members who were here "way back when." So I  joined the Elkridge Heritage Society, and we are trying to draw in new members. If you, like me, want to keep the history alive, please keep an eye on the Patch event notices. For example, we have a young member named Cynthia, fresh out of high school, who is very enthusiastic about sharing the joy of heritage to the youth. She has planned an "Elkridge Day" at the Brumbaugh House, at 5825 Main Street, on June 23rd, from 10 to 2. She is providing activities for children on the grounds. The house, which is the Heritage Society's headquarters, will also be open for perusal. There is a large collection of historical artifacts there, and the society is working to properly display and archive these treasures, and make an on-line inventory. Please come out and show your support to Cynthia, and think about joining the society and getting involved. There is a lot of work to do!

Also, the next general meeting for the Elkridge Heritage Society will be on July 17th (7pm) at the Hamel Builders offices, at 5710 Furnace Avenue, which used to be the Davis Hemphill factory. I'm very excited about this. I've often admired this building as I pedal past the back of it on Race Road, with its long line of skylights. It must be amazing inside. Anyway, Mr. Ed Hamel will be showing us what he has done with the place, and I'm sure someone will be talking about the old factory as well. I wish I could work at a place like that! I asked, but Ed doesn't need any mathematicians. Sigh. I'm only 3 years from retirement anyway. Maybe after that he'll let me sweep the floors.