Howard County cops don't care about speed lol. I've noticed less speeding though during my deliveries.

It totally is, a 5 hour traffic jam is an emergency, so many things can happen. A Dr in that traffic jam going to the hospital for an emergency procedure to save another child is just as much or more important

Congestion hasn't really been too much of a problem for me on the new road. I do deliveries in Columbia sometimes during rush hour and only had problems at one light. IMO the two lane design makes me feel cramped when other cars pass by. Cedar Lane has this problem too. Some people still speed, but I've noticed that there is much less of that.

I didn't say that, stop putting words in my mouth. One thing doesn't exclude the other. You can have rescue operations and traffic control at the same time. Are there only 4 cops in the entire county? What if someone had an emergency and was going to the hospital? A 5 hour traffic jam is an emergency

I love Baltimore Coffee, but unfortunately the Hanover location closed down a few months ago :(

At the end of the day, the bike lane project has been in the works for over a decade and is championed by the guy who runs Merriweather & bikes for fun. This wasn’t about transforming accessibility in Columbia.

What if I told you I worked at The Rouse Company during the sale to GGP? It was a huge controversy because Rouse fought for diversity and affordable housing. His family chose to sell to a developer for a pretty hefty price, and Rouse’s vision was abandoned. Additionally, the farms were sold by the landowners. That was their choice. This wasn’t some eminent domain kind of situation.

You mentioned the same level of kids, which I refuted, and now you are backing off on that point. I understand the demographics of Columbia because I’ve worked in population health and social services for a long time.

What if I told you Columbia is literally supposed to be a developers dream. From start to finish. Who do you think Rouse was? Lmao.

What would you say to old farmers who said all the development in the 70 and 80s ‘ruined the vibe and culture of the community’

Also, the older neighborhoods are increasingly filled with old retirees whose children moved (because they can’t afford houses in Columbia because we stopped building housing). That’s why there aren’t as much kids. Newer places have more kids.

My hidden gem is Touché touchet for cupcakes and cakes.

People still fly down OM Road! I followed a cop going 55.

Untrue. I’m open to change but Columbia was not supposed to be a developers dream. When I was a kid, the streets were filled with children. Not so much anymore.

I’d bet the congestion is less about one lane each way and more due to the fact that people can’t go 50mph anymore. I grew up in Sewells Orchard and we knew that you never try to cross Oakland Mills Road because people drive too fast.

The county did a huge study and found that many sidewalks were not ADA compliant so I absolutely agree with that being addressed. However, reducing to one lane has increased the congestion, even with the turning lanes.

> I’ve lived in Columbia almost my whole life and the development has really ruined the vibe and culture of the community.

Lol. You just don’t like change. Culture’s just fine. Kids are running around the neighborhood just like before, fields are full of soccer games every week end, etc.

The big thing for me was the added cross walks and reducing it to one lane of cars. The added left hand turn lanes are a big deal too. It’s a lot safer to cross that road now. The bike lanes are just a bonus.

I think most people who come to Columbia do so because of the schools and safety. I’ve lived in Columbia almost my whole life and the development has really ruined the vibe and culture of the community. Even with the bike lanes, so many people still bike in the streets outside of the lanes. I just wish Columbia would invest in meaningful things.

I moved to Columbia (from Pasadena) because it was a more bikeable community. But also, maybe people who love here will be encouraged to bike on close errands. I’m only one anecdote, but living in Wilde lake, I only bike to CVS and Whole Food. I’m heading to whatever you call the area by busboys and poets in a few minutes, and I want to bike, but rain.

Not likely. Columbia is very car-centric. People don’t move to Columbia for bike lanes.

With DNR laws, you cannot hunt within 100 yards of a dwelling. Most homes in Columbia are closer than that making it difficult to control the deer population there. There’s enough trees for them to bed down in, streams for water, and they have gotten used to the humans because (as mentioned previously) there’s no predators out here.

Edit to fix: my husband corrected me—DNR states you can’t hunt within 150 yards of an occupied dwelling.

If you build it, they will come.

That’s the cliché was to say that what you are saying is how it is now. But the point it to encourage change. Maybe more will bike if there are bike lanes?

I wonder if the Honda merged in front of the truck without giving it enough room to stop. I see too many people driving recklessly like that these days and not take regular physics into account. Large vehicles need a lot more space to be able to slow down/stop even if the driver slams the breaks instantly.

It’s because there’s more space for them to roam in rural areas.

I second Roggenart. I was just there this morning and it was busy, but not so busy you couldn’t find a seat. Isn’t that the coffee shop vibe? The food and pastries are really good— I make a point of going there anytime I am in town.

It’s easy to sit in a safe, warm spot and find all the faults someone else made, to make yourself feel like it could never happen to you. Guarantee the person driving the van with the child didn’t think their child would die last night. Plus, the unrestrained part is second hand info at this point.

Bonheure is another good European bakery. Not quite as charming as Mad City for a place to just chill & study, but the food is better