"Direct Connection" is made by MPT to serve all of Our diverse communities And is made possible by the Generous support of our members.

Thank you.

Live from Maryland public Television, this is "Direct Connection" with Jeff Salkin.

[*] >> GNGS WELCOME DO YOUR DIRECT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

THE TOP CYCLISTS WILL RIDE INTO MARYLAND WE WILL HAVE THE DETAILS AHEAD.

FIRST TONIGHT BEARS IN THE 'BURBS THIS BEAR WAS SEEN NEAR THE CAPITAL BELTWAY.

WHAT DO RESIDENTS NEED TO TO KNOW?

JOINING US IS JONATHAN TRUDEAU BRACK BEAR PROJECT LEADER -- BLACK BEAR PROJECT LEADER FOR THE SERVICE.

THE BEAR WAS SEEN IN KENSINGTON AND THERE WAS A SIGHTING IN CHEVY CHASE PRESUMABLY IT'S THE SAME BEAR?

>> MOST LIKELY THE SAME BEAR.

A YOUNG MALE THAT IS DISPERSING FROM THE WHERE IT WAS BORN WHEN THEY ARE ABOUT THIS AGE WE START TO SEE THE MALES GO OUT AND TYPICALLY CAUSE A LITTLE COMMOTION.

>> Jeff: WHEN YOU SAY A YOUNG ADULT BEAR, IT LOOKED PRETTY LARGE IN THAT VIDEO.

IS THAT THE SIZE FIT THE DESCRIPTION?

>> IT DOES.

SO THAT BEAR LOOKS LARGE, THE REALITY IS THAT'S PROBABLY 18-MONTH-OLD BEAR.

AND IT'S LIKELY A MALE.

THIS TIME OF THE YEAR THIS IS TYPICALLY WHAT WE SEE OUTSIDE OF THE OCCUPIED BEAR RANGE IN MARYLAND WHICH IS GARRET, ALLEGANY, WASHINGTON AND FREDERICK COUNTY.

THAT IS DEFINITELY A RESPECTABLE BEAR BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS A FULLY GROWN MATURE BEAR.

>> Jeff: AND WE SEE HIM MILLING AROUND TRASH CANS APPEARING TO OPEN ONE UP.

WHAT IS HE DOING?

>> HE IS TRYING TO FIND THE EASY FOOD SOURCE.

BEARS, THEY KIND OF BASE A LOT OF BEHAVIOR ON PRIMARILY ONE THING AND THAT IS FOOD.

AND IF THEY CAN FIND SOMETHING THAT IS HIGH QUALITY AND HIGH QUANTITY LIKE OUR FOOD TRASH WE PUT IN THE NICE CONTAINER ALL IN ONE SPOT FOR THEM THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO GO FOR.

>> Jeff: I MEAN THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE IN METROPOLITAN AREAS.

BUT YOU KNOW THE FIRST THING RESIDENTS ARE GOING TO WANT THE ANSWER TO IS WHETHER THIS BEAR IS DANGEROUS OR POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO THEM, THEIR KIDS THEIR PETS, WHATEVER?

>> YES, SO HAVING GOOD HEALTHY RESPECT FOR WILDLIFE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS A BEAR, OR A DEER OR A RACCOON.

THEY ARE WILD ANIMALS AS MUCH AS WE LOVE SEEING THEM WE HAVE TO RESPECT OUR DISTANCE.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO BEARS, THE MAIN THING YOU WANT TO DO YOU DON'T WANT TO STARTLE A BEAR.

THERE'S ALWAYS AN INHERENT RISK WITH WILDLIFE BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS YOU AS A CITIZEN CAN DO TO MITIGATE THOSE POSSIBLE ISSUES OR COP CONFLICTS WITH A BEAR.

LIKE BRINGING YOUR TRASH CANS IN ONLY TAKING THEM OUT ON TRASH DAY.

TAKING YOUR BIRD FEEDERS DOWN.

EVEN IF IT'S JUST FOR TWO WEEKS UNTIL A BEAR PASSES BY.

SMALL THINGS CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.

IF YOU HAVE A DOG, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR DOG IS ON A LEASH.

THAT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS WE CAN ENCOURAGE PET OPENERS TO DO MAKE SURE YOUR PETS ARE ON A LEASH SO YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER THEM.

MOST BEAR CONFLICTS WHERE A BEAR ACTUALLY EITHER FALLS CHARGES OR COMES IN SOME SORT OF CONTACT WITH A PERSON MOST OF THE TIME A DOG IS INVOLVED.

MAKING SURE YOU HAVE CONTROL OVER YOUR DOG AND NOT LETTING THEM OFF-LEASH WHEN IT'S NOT GOOD.

>> Jeff: AND JONATHAN HOW DOES THAT PLAY OUT?

IT'S RARE BUT THERE WAS A BEAR ATTACK AROUND FREDERICK A FEW YEARS AGO.

AND I THINK A DOG WAS INVOLVED IN THAT.

WHAT WAS THE SCENARIO?

>> SO A FEW YEARS AGO, WHAT HAPPENED IS AN INDIVIDUAL SHE WAS WALKING HER DOG CHECKING UP ON A NOISE.

AND WHAT HAPPENED IT WAS A SOW A FEMALE BEAR THAT HAD CUBS.

THEY STARTLED THE SOW.

ANYTIME YOU GET BETWEEN A SOW AND HER CUBS A SOW BELIEVES HER CUBS ARE THREATENED SHE IS GOING TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE.

SO YOU KNOW, WHAT HAPPENS OFTEN IN THIS SITUATION, IS THE DOG STARTED BARKING AND THE BEAR RESPONDS TO THAT.

AND THE OWNER GOT BETWEEN THE DOG AND THE BEAR.

AND THE REALITY IS THAT THE BEAR WAS LIKELY GOING AFTER THE DOG, BUT THE OWNER GOT BETWEEN THEM.

SO THAT'S LIKELY WHAT WE BELIEVE HAPPENED.

>> Jeff: LET ME REMIND OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MARYLAND'S BLACK BEARS INCLUDING THE BELTWAY BEAR CALL THE NUMBER ON THE SCREEN OR SEND AN E-MAIL.

JONATHAN I HEARD SOMEBODY SAY YEARS AGO YOU WOULD TREAT A BLACK BEAR IF YOU HAD AN ENCOUNTER WHETHER IT WAS IN THE WOODS OR SUBURBIA, YOU TREAT THE BEAR ALMOST AS IF IT WAS A STRAY DOG IN TERMS OF HOW TO APPROACH IT AND THE IDEA CERTAINLY IS YOU DON'T RUN.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

NO, SO, BLACK BEAR THEY ARE NOT LIKE THE GRIZZLY BEAR COUSIN THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THAT A BEAR WAS REMOTELY NEAR YOU.

SO THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO WHEN YOU SEE A BEAR IS IF IT DOESN'T KNOW YOU ARE THERE.

SLOWLY BACK AWAY.

APPRECIATE SEEING THAT BEAUTIFUL CHARISMATIC ANIMAL ON THE EASTSIDE OF THE STATE IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE OFTEN.

RESPECT THAT DISTANCE, DON'T TRY TO APPROACH IT.

YOU KNOW, BUT IF IT DOES KNOW YOU'RE THERE OR YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW IT'S THERE, SPEAK CALMLY.

YOU DON'T NEED TO YELL AT IT OR BE AGGRESSIVE.

JUST SPEAKING CALMLY LIKE YOU AND I ARE NOW, IT HELPS KEEP THE BEAR CALM THEY WILL REACT TO THE TONE AND YOUR BEHAVIOR AS MUCH AS YOU WILL REACT TO THEIRS.

KEEPING A CALM LEVEL HEAD BACKING AWAY SLOWLY, ALWAYS MAKING SURE THAT THAT BEAR HAS AN EXIT ROUTE.

SO YOU NEVER WANT TO BACK IT INTO A CORNER.

GET IT STUCK BETWEEN A FEW CARS.

THE ONLY WAY OUT IS THROUGH YOU.

YOU JUST WANT TO ALWAYS BE WATCHING OUT AND MAKING SURE THAT THAT BEAR HAS AN EXIT.

AND THAT PROTECTS YOU AND IT PROTECTS THE BEAR.

AND IT INSURES THAT BOTH YOU AND THE BEAR HAVE A POSITIVE KIND OF INTERACTION.

>> Jeff: MARYLAND'S WESTERN MOST COUNTIES ARE FAMILIAR WITH BEARS.

WHAT IS THE LATEST ESTIMATE I KNOW YOU'VE DONE DEN RESEARCH OVER THE WINTER, WHAT IS THE ESTIMATE OF THE POPULATION?

>> SO WE ESTIMATE THAT THERE'S ABOUT 2,000 BEARS IN THE STATE.

I KNOW THE VAST MAJORITY ARE IN GARRET AND ALLEGANY COUNTY.

BUT WE HAVE A HEALTHY POPULATION IN WASHINGTON AND FREDERICK COUNTY.

AND EVERY YEAR WE GET REPORTS OF BEARS ACROSS THE REST OF THE STATE.

SO OVER THE LAST FIVE, 10 YEARS WE'VE HAD A REPORT OF A BEAR CONFIRMED REPORT OF A BEAR IN ALMOST EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE AND SOME ON THE EASTERN NORTHERN PART OF THE EASTERN SHORE.

SO IT'S NOT UNHEARD OF TO HEAR OF AND SEE BEARS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE STATE.

YOU KNOW, WE SHARE OUR BEAR POPULATION WITH OUR SURROUNDING STATES.

SO PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST VIRGINIA AND VIRGINIA.

EVERY YEAR WE GET BEARS COMING DOWN AND EVERY YEAR THEY HAVE OUR BEARS GOING UP OR DOWN INTO THE OTHER STATE.

SO IT'S NO TELLING WHERE THE BEARS ARE COMING FROM.

BUT WE DO KNOW WE'RE SEEING BEARS MOVE EASTWARD.

WE'RE SEEING THE OCCURRENCE OF BEARS OUTSIDE THOSE FOUR COUNTIES INCREASING.

>> Jeff: WHAT DOES THAT MEAN THE POPULATION IS TOO LARGE?

THERE'S TOO MUCH DENSITY OF BEARS AND A YOUNG MALE BEAR HAS TO BASICALLY HEAD EAST TO TRY TO FIND NEW TERRITORY?

>> I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY THAT IT IS AN INDICATOR OF TOO HIGH OF A DEPSTY.

IT IS AND -- TENSITY.

IT IS AN INDICATOR THAT OUR HABITAT IS GOING BACK TO A STATE THAT THE BEARS CAN INHABIT AGAIN.

PRIOR TO EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT AND PRIOR TO THE MASTERIALIZATION OF OUR STATE, BEARS ACTUALLY ROAMED ALL THE WAY FROM THE EASTERN SHORE THROUGHOUT THE APPALACHIAN REGION.

SO WE USED TO HAVE BEARS ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE.

SO THE BEARS ARE KIND OF REESTABLISHING IN AREAS THAT THEY ONCE THRIVED IN PRIOR TO EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY AN INDICATOR THAT OUR POPULATION IS DOING VERY WELL THAT WE'RE STARTING TO SEE THE BEARS MOVE OUT INTO NEW AREAS.

AGAIN, YOU KNOW, OUR LANDSCAPE IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS 100, 150 YEARS AGO.

SO NOW WE HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OUR HUMAN POPULATION AND OUR BEAR POPULATION COEXISTING.

AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE WESTERN PART OF THE STATE WHERE THEY'VE HAD BEARS FOR DECADES, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO ADAPT THEIR BEHAVIOR TO REALLY ENJOY HAVING BEARS AROUND.

AND MITIGATING ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICT BY MAKING SIMPLE CHANGES TO THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER BRING IN YOUR TRASH CANS, BIRD FEEDERS MAKING SURE THAT YOUR OUTDOOR SPACE IS CLEAN.

KEEPING YOUR GRILLS CLEAN NOT HAVING POTENTIAL FOOD SOURCES HANGING AROUND.

JUST BASICALLY MAKING SURE THAT YOUR AREA IS CLEAN AND BEARS ARE MUCH LESS LIKELY TO COME INTO YOUR AREA AND BECOME A CONFLICT.

>> Jeff: HOW OFTEN IS THERE HUMAN-BEAR CONFLICT IN THE PARTS OF THE STATE THAT HAVE A LOT OF BEARS, EITHER BEAR CHARGES SOMEBODY, BLUFF CHARGES OR EVEN GETS INTO LIVESTOCK OR SHEDS, GARBAGE THAT SORT OF THING?

>> YES, SO LET ME PULL THIS UP.

LIKE LAST YEAR, WE TRACK OUR COMPLAINTS VERY CLOSELY WHETHER THAT BE A CALL INTO OUR MAIN OFFICE OR IT'S E-MAILS OR CALLS TO OUR FIELD OFFICES WE KEEP REALLY GOOD RECORD OF WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE SO WE HAVE A GOOD LONG-TERM DATA SET WHERE WE ARE ABLE TO TRACK TRENDS IN THE AREAS WHERE WE HAD BEARS FOR A LONGTIME, STARTING TO SEE FEWER CALLS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE CALLS ARE TRASH AND BIRD FEEDERS.

THAT ACCOUNTS FOR ABOUT A QUARTER OF OUR CALLS.

BUT ONLY 4% OF THOSE CALLS ARE WHAT WE REFER TO AS SAFETY CONCERNS SOMEBODY CALLING IN SAYING THAT THEIR BLUFF CHARGED BY A BEAR OR THEY DIDN'T FEEL SAFE AROUND A BEAR.

SO IT MAKES UP A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR CALLS.

BEYOND THAT 25% OF TRASH AND BIRD FEEDERS, WE HAVE ANOTHER THIRD THAT ARE EITHER CROP FARMERS HAVING ISSUES WITH BEARS IN CROP DAMAGE OR BEARS BEING HIT BY VEHICLES.

SO AGAIN, VERY FEW OF THEM ARE SAFETY CONCERN OR PEOPLE BEING WORRIED ABOUT A BEAR ACTUALLY CAUSING THEM HARM.

>HARM.

>> Jeff: JONATHAN IF YOU WERE GOING FOR A HIKE IN THE WOODS OF WESTERN MARYLAND, OR THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF SUBURBAN MARYLAND WOULD YOU CARRY BEAR SPRAY IN EITHER OF THOSE SITUATIONS?

>> PERSONALLY I WOULD NOT.

NO, BEARS THEY -- IT'S FAIRLY EASY TO READ THEIR BEHAVIOR.

A LOT OF TIMES ESPECIALLY BLACK BEARS THEY GIVE YOU A WARNING THEY ARE GOING TO SHOW SOME FORM OF SIGN THAT THEY ARE POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE AGGRESSIVE.

BLACK BEARS ESPECIALLY IF YOU GO HIKING WITH SOMEBODY OR EVEN ALONE, IT'S OK TO BE SINGING ALONG TO YOUR FAVORITE SONG WHILE YOU ARE WALKING THROUGH THE WOODS AND A BEAR IS LIKELY NOT GOING TO WANT TO STAY AROUND.

IF YOU ANYTHING LIKE ME THEY WILL HEAR THAT AND I DON'T WANT TO BE NEAR THAT SOUND.

BUT JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE BEAR KNOWS YOU ARE THERE IS THE BIGGEST THING.

SO WHEN WE FIRST STARTED GETTING REPORTS OF THE BEAR DOWN BY THE BELTWAY, ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS IS ASK IS ARE PEOPLE SEEING THIS AND HOW IS THE BARRIE ACTING?

I'M HAPPY TO SEE THE BEAR HAS A VERY HEALTHY FEAR OF HUMANS STILL.

SO THERE IS A COUPLE INSTANCES WHERE PEOPLE SENT US VIDEOS OF A BEAR OR WE HEARD REPORTS OF THE BEAR BEING ON VIDEO, AND GETTING INTO A TRASH CAN OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND THEN RUNNING OFF AND THEN NOT 10, 20 SECONDS LATER HERE COMES COME ONE WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

IT'S EVIDENT THEY HAD NO IDEA A BEAR WAS THERE BEFORE THAT.

BUT THE BEAR KNEW THE PEOPLE WERE THERE.

IT'S UNLIKELY THAT BEAR IS GOING TO HANG AROUND MAKING YOUR PRESENCE.

>> Jeff: JONATHAN TRUDEAU FROM MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NO PROBLEM THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> Jeff: NOW MPT WILL BE BROADCASTING THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC WHICH RETURNS ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

WE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH BOB SICARD OF THE SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION OF MARYLAND AND CHRIS ARONHALT OF MEDALIST SPORTS.

BOB AND CHRIS THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS YEAR TWO.

TELL US ABOUT THE EVENT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANKS FOR HAVING US.

MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC PRESENTED BY UNITED HEALTHCARE IT IS A PROFESSIONAL CYCLING EVENT IN BALTIMORE OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND.

IT IS THE HIGHEST RANKED PROFESSIONAL CYCLING EVENT IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES.

SO MANY OF THE SAME TOUR DE FRANCE TEAMS MANY OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE RIDERS WHICH WE ENJOY WATCHING IN JULY THEY WILL BE HERE IN MARYLAND OVER LABOR DAY OF THIS YEAR.

>> Jeff: HOW DOES IT FIT GLOBALLY INTO CYCLING EVENTS.

YOU MENTIONED TOUR DE FRANCE AND WE'VE ALL HEARD OF IT, WHAT IS THE REST OF THE CALENDAR LOOK LIKE FOR A PROFESSIONAL CYCLIST?

>> RIGHT.

GREAT QUESTION.

SO MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IT IS A ONE-DAY EVENT.

THE TEAMS THEY WORK IN TEAMWORK FASHION THERE ARE MANY RIDERS WHO FOCUS ON ONE-DAY EVENTS.

THE CYCLING CALENDAR IS RATHER LONG IT BEGINS IN FEBRUARY IN AUSTRALIA AND GOES ALL THE WAY UNTIL GOSH, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER.

HOWEVER, THE TOUR DE FRANCE IS THE PINNACLE WHICH IS IN JULY AND THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS EVERY YEAR EVERY FOUR YEARS YOU HAVE THE OLYMPICS EVERY YEAR IN BETWEEN YOU HAVE THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS THAT IS IN LATE SEPTEMBER.

SO THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IS A PERFECT RUN UP TO THE BEST TEAMS THAT COME TO MARYLAND THEN THEY MOVE ON JUST LIKE THIS PAST YEAR THEY WILL MOVE ON TO QUEBEC AND MONTREAL, WHICH HAVE MAJOR ONE-DAY EVENTS AND THEN THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP.

IT IS A GREAT STRING OF TESTS IF YOU WILL TO DEEM THE WORLD CHAMPION.

>> Jeff: BOB, GIVE US THE LOCAL ANGLE ON THIS FOR SPECTATORS FOR TRAFFIC CONSIDERATIONS ALL THAT STUFF, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AND WHEN?

>> WELL, THE EVENT KICKS OFF AUGUST 31, WHICH IS A THURSDAY.

WITH SOME COMMUNITY EVENTS AND THEN IT GOES TO SEPTEMBER 3 THE MEN'S RACE.

WE'RE GOING TO ANNOUNCE THE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS TOMORROW AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AT THE BALTIMORE VISITORS CENTER AT 11:30.

>> Jeff: WE'RE FRIENDS YOU CAN TELL US THERE WILL BE A LOT OF EVENTS?

>> A LOT OF EVENTS WE WILL START OFF WITH SCHOOL VISITS IN THE BALTIMORE CITY AND BALTIMORE COUNTY.

LAST YEAR WE DID A BIKE GIVEAWAY AND HELMETS TO STUDENTS AT JAMES McHENRY ELEMENTARY WHO DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE'RE HOPING TO GET INTO 15 SCHOOLS FOR OUR SCHOOL EDUCATION PROGRAM.

AND THEN ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER FIRST, WE PLAN TO HAVE BIKE JAM AN EVENT WE DID LAST YEAR IN PATTERSON PARK IT'S FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

WE WILL HAVE THE MAYOR'S STAGE.

THE MAYOR PARTICIPATED IN THE COMMUNITY RIDE LAST YEAR.

AND WE'RE INVITING FAMILIES TO COME OUT.

IT'S PROBABLY FROM 3:00 P.M.-4:30.

YOU CAN LEARN HOW TO GET FITTED INTO'S HELMET.

THE BASICS ABOUT BICYCLE MAINTENANCE WE WILL HAVE WORKSHOPS AND DO THE COMMUNITY RIDE AROUND THE PARK.

MAYBE A DJ AND FOOD TRUCKS AND SOME BEVERAGES SERVED.

AND THEN A TENTATIVE EVENT WE'RE THINKING ABOUT DOING A COMMUNITY RACE WE WE GET CATEGORY THREE, FOUR, FIVE RIDERS, MEN, WOMEN, MAYBE HIGHER LEVEL RIDERS TO COME OUT AND RACE FOR PRIZE MONEY AND PRIZES.

>> Jeff: YOU MENTIONED MEN'S RACE.

IS THERE A WOMEN'S RACE THIS YEAR?

>> NOT THIS YEAR BUT WE'RE HOPING TO HAVE A WOMEN'S RACE AS PART OF THE BIKE JAM EVENT IN THE COMMUNITY.

>> Jeff: AND IN TERMS OF COURSE YOU ARE WORKING ON LOGISTICS.

HOWEVER IS IT AND WHERE DOES IT GO?

>> IT'S OVER 120 MILES.

WE BEGIN UP IN SPARKS UP IN BALTIMORE COUNTY AT THE HEADQUARTERS OF KELLY BENEFITS THEY ARE GREAT PARTNERS OF THE EVENT.

SOME OF THE MOST GORGEOUS ROADS I'VE SEEN IN MY 30-YEAR CAREER THROUGHOUT BALTIMORE COUNTY WE GO PRETTY BOY RESERVOIR.

IT IS AN UNCREDIBLE SPECTATOR FRIENDLY.

LAST YEAR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SPECTATORS WERE ON THE COURSE.

THE EVENT IS FREE.

ABOUT 80 MILES ARE OUT IN BALTIMORE COUNTY AND THEN WE COME DOWNFALLS ROAD.

THIS YEAR WE START AT 12 NON-AND FINISH ABOUT 4:00 P.M.

DOWNTOWN.

AS THE CYCLISTS RACE INTO DOWNTOWN DOWNFALLS ROAD, WE THEN HAVE A SEVEN-MILE CIRCUIT WITH A FINISH LINE ON PRATT STREET AND THAT CIRCUIT IS WHERE THE REAL TRUE RACING BEGINS AGAIN MUCH LIKE NASCAR, MUCH LIKE THE FINAL TURN OF THE PREAKNESS IT'S QUITE A SIGHT TO SEE.

THE LAST 28 MILES WILL BE DOWNTOWN ALL THROUGHOUT THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF THE CITY HERE WITH FINISH ON PRATT STREET.

>> Jeff: THERE WILL BE IMPACT ON TRAFFIC I WOULD IMAGINE SO YOU COORDINATE WITH THE LOCAL?

>> IT'S BEEN GREAT HAVING A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY OF BALTIMORE AND BALTIMORE COUNTY AND THE STATE ARE PARTNERS IN THIS.

CHRIS SETS UP GOOD MEETINGS WITH THE OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, POLICE ET CETERA AND THEY FULLY UNDERSTAND THIS IS A ROLLING AND CLOSURE.

THERE IS A PACK OF CYCLISTS WHO RACE AND ASSEMBLE VEHICLES AND GO THROUGH THE INTERSECTIONS.

THE POLICE CAN ALLOW CROSS TRAFFIC TO ALLEVIATE SOME OF THE TRAFFIC ISSUES.

>> Jeff: WHAT DO THE RIDERS PREFER?

YOU'VE DONE THIS FOR A LONGTIME.

IN TERMS OF COURSE, WEATHER CONDITIONS THINGS LIKE THAT AND HOW DOES THIS RACE STACK UP?

>> GREAT QUESTIONS.

THEY PREFER THE SHOPPING AND THEY PREFER -- PREFER THE RESTAURANTS THAT BALTIMORE HAS TO OFFER.

AGAIN, THESE ARE INTERNATIONAL ATHLETES WHERE THEY ARE IN A DIFFERENT CITY DIFFERENT COUNTRY ALMOST EVERY WEEK.

SO HOSPITALITY DOES GO A LONG WAY.

I SAY THAT IN JEST, HOWEVER.

SAFETY IS ALWAYS A TOP PRIORITY WITH ANY EVENT WELL ORGANIZED AND THAT'S THE LEVEL OF PROFESSIONALISM FROM THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THE STATE IS BAR NONE.

AGAIN THIS IS THE HIGHEST RANKED PRO CYCLING EVENT IN THE UNITED STATES AND THAT IS FOR A REASON.

HOWEVER, THE WHAT CAUGHT THEM OFF GUARD LAST YEAR WAS THE ROLLING HILLS UP IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.

ONCE YOU WERE OFF THE BACK YOU DIDN'T RETURN UNTIL THEY HIT THE COURSE DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

SO THEY REALLY DO.

THEY THOROUGHLY ENJOYED DOWNTOWN THE RESTAURANTS AND THE INNER HARBOR AND THAT IS WHAT YOU WANT, WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE TOP TEAMS TU DE FRANCE RIDERS AND THEY WENT UP TO QUEBEC AND MONTREAL IN FRONT OF MEDIA AND THESE EVENTS HAVE BEEN ON THE CIRCUIT FOR A WHILE.

AND THEY WERE ALL SPEAKING VERY HIGHLY AND POSITIVELY ABOUT THE CITY.

SO THAT WAS GREAT.

BUT THEY -- IT TRULY IS, IT'S THE HOTELS, IT'S THE CONVENIENCE AND SO EVERYTHING WE ROLLED OUT THE RED CARPET, THE COMMUNITY DID AND PROUD EFFORT LAST YEAR.

>> Jeff: BOB HOW DO YOU MEASURE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> WE WILL WE HAD A STUDY DONE PRELIMINARY AND WE HEARD PROBABLY 10.4 MILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT.

WE HOPE TO HAVE A FULL ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY DONE AFTER THIS ONE.

BUT WE REALLY COULD TELL BY THE PEOPLE OUT ON THE COURSE.

CHRIS WAS OUT THERE THE WHOLE 125 MILES AND WE WERE THINKING IT WAS ABOUT 80,000 PEOPLE THE WHOLE WAY.

THE FINISH LINE WAS INCREDIBLE.

WE HAD PARTS ON PRATT STREET THAT WERE SIX-PEOPLE DEEP AND THAT IS THE BEST THING IT'S FREE TO THE PUBLIC.

SO WE'RE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OT SOONER TO LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THERE MIGHT BE MINOR TRAFFIC INCONVENIENCES BUT GO AHEAD AND EMBRACE THE RACE LIKE THE TOUR DE FRANCE PEOPLE COME OUT HOURS ALONG THE ROADSIDE WITH FLAGS CHEERING ON TEAMS.

AND TRYING TO CHEER FOR THEIR FAVORITE RIDER.

WE WANT TO DO FAN ZONES IN PARTICULAR PARTS OF THE COUNTY AND THE CITY.

PRAISES FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH AND PUT A BIG SCREEN TV AND FOOD TRUCKS MAKE IT AN EXPERIENCE.

BUT ALSO AT THE FINISH LINE WHERE WE ARE GOING TO HAVE OUR RACE ANNOUNCERS A FESTIVAL GOING ON ALL DAY LONG AND ENTERTAINMENT, TOO.

>> Jeff: WHEN YOU WORK UP A MARKETING PLAN FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS IT IS THAT LOCAL GROUP THAT YOU WANT INVOLVED IN IT BUT PEOPLE COULD TRAVEL.

PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THIS SPORT COULD COME DOWN FROM PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW YORK AND WHAT REGION DO YOU MARKET TO?

>> WELL -- >> Jeff: NORTH AMERICA?

>> ARE WE ALLOWED TO SAY MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION IS HELPING US REACH OUT, FIVE HOURS OF LIVE COVERAGE WITH HALF HOUR PRESHOW AND HALF AN HOUR POST EVENT SHOWN AND WORKING WITH GLOBAL CYCLING NETWORK WHO IS DOING FIVE HOURS OF LIVE COVERAGE AND THEY BROADCAST IT OUT TO 62 COUNTRIES AND WE ANTICIPATE THIS YEAR 80 PLUS COUNTRIES.

>> Jeff: AND WE THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD WATCH IT ON TELEVISION.

IF SOMEBODY WANTS TO GO IN-PERSON GIVE ADVICE.

I THINK EVERYBODY CAN VISUALIZE THE TOUR DE FRANCE YOU ARE WAVING FLAGS OR HANDING OUT WATER BOTTLES AND THE RACERS JUST WHIZ BY.

AND IT COULD BE COOL TO SEE BUT YOU WOULD NOT HAVE A CONTEXT WHO IS DOING WELL AND WHO IS NOT.

IF YOU WANTED TO BE AT THE MOST DRAMATIC SPOT WHERE WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

TO US IT'S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE.

SO WE SPECIFICALLY CHOSE LABOR DAY WEEKEND AS THE MOST PEOPLE HEAD TO THE SHORE.

WE DO THINK OUR TENANTS -- ATTENDANCE WILL DOUBLE THIS YEAR FROM WORD OF MOUTH FROM THOSE WHO ENJOYED LAST YEAR.

AND MAKE THE WEEKEND OF IT.

AND SO IT'S NOT JUST WATCHING THE RACE.

THERE IS A CHARITY RIDE THAT IS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH KELLY BENEFITS ALSO ON THE SATURDAY BEFORE YOU CAN RIDE THE SAME ROADS AS THE PROS WILL THE DAY BEFORE.

SO THERE'S RIDING AND THE HOSPITALITY BALTIMORE HAS TO OFFER.

AND AGAIN, THERE'S THE ONE BIG CARROT WE HAVE HERE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE THE SAME RIDERS THE SAME TEAMS ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES EXCEPT FOR MARYLAND.

SO IT'S THE INTRIGUE, HOWEVER, THE ONES THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING THEY WILL BE UP IN THE COUNTY AND THEY WILL SEE THE RACE GO BY AROUND THE PRETTY BOY RESERVOIR AND THEY WILL RACE DOWN TO GET IN LINE AND FIND THEIR FAVORITE VIEWING SPOT.

THEY WILL MAKE A DAY OF IT.

>> JEFF, CAN I ADD, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO TO PULL FOR THERE IS A TEAM INTRODUCTION EVENT ON SATURDAY NIGHT WHERE THE PUBLIC CAN COME OUT FOR FREE AND WE PULL ALL 17 TEAMS UP ON STAGE AND THEY GET INTRODUCED A COUPLE INTERVIEWS THEY CAN GET AUTOGRAPHS BUT IT WILL BE A FESTIVAL LIKE FREE EXPERIENCE FOR THE PUBLIC SATURDAY NIGHT BEFORE THE RACE ON SEPTEMBER 3.

>> Jeff: AND WE HAVE TIME I WILL START TRAINING NOW.

AND.

>> [LAUGHTER] AND TRY TO FIND MY BIKE AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

GENTLEMEN THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BOB SICARD AND CHRIS ARONHALT I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK.

JOIN US FRIDAY FOR "STATE CIRCLE" WE WILL HAVE REACTION TO SENATOR BEN CARDIN'S DECISION TO RETIRE AT THE END OF HIS TERM AND ANALYSIS OF THE POLITICAL BATTLE THAT IS SHAPING UP FOR HIS SEAT IN THE U.S. SENATE.

JOIN US FOR THAT FRIDAY NIGHT AT 7:00 P.M. FOR ALL OF US AT MPT, THANKS FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[*]