Stephanie Yanovitz, 39, of Laurel, a cyclist on and off throughout the years, rode in her first Cycle Across Maryland this year. Sadly, it will be her only CAM experience if the board for One Less Car, a nonprofit organization that hosts the event, holds to its decision to cancel the 2009 tour. Yanovitz spoke to The Examiner about the tour and its appeal to cyclists of all ages and abilities.
What does Cycle Across Maryland mean to the state?
Maryland has potential in both seeking out ways to commute by bicycle as well as roads that offer event planners many options to create different routes for different levels of riders. While the CAM ride used to be longer than a three-day weekend, the ride offers the opportunity for Marylanders to venture around, not necessarily across, different parts of the state.
What’s unique to the tour that you can’t find at any other cycling event?
As a first-time participant, the CAM tour offers new riders an insight into the amount of planning, volunteerism, preparation and organization it takes to actually conduct a fully supported ride.
Can CAM survive?
It can survive. We all think there’s always room for improvement and that may be true. But when you discover something that’s just better the way it is, you shouldn’t try to change it. One Less Car [should] revisit what’s needed to pull together bicyclists from all across Maryland to do just that.
