Baltimore Bicycle Update
1. Some quick stats on bike lanes in Baltimore :
1. There are 32 miles of bike lanes, sharrows and signed/shared roadways in Baltimore City .
2. There are 35 miles of multi-use trails in Baltimore City
These stats were compiled from updated GIS layers that I’ve been working on. These maps will be available online later this summer/early fall to help local cyclists plan their routes accordingly.
2. DOT received proposals, cost estimates and a tentative schedule for the Bicycle Facilities Network program (the “official” title of Bike Master Plan improvements) from Toole Design Group. We are currently reviewing the information and amending as needed. The focus of these areas will be southeast Baltimore and Park Heights . The Engineering and Construction section of DOT will oversee this project, although I will be assisting in the project management and reviewing submittals.
3. Under Operation Orange Cone, DOT has added 6 miles of bike lanes to roadways including Clarks Lane , Loch Raven Blvd, W. Belvedere Ave, and Gwynn Oak Avenue . Once the extra work orders are approved for the contractors, bike lanes will then be installed on Belair Rd, Garrison Blvd, Cherryland Rd, Patterson Avenue, and Boston St.
4. One goal that I have is to provide bike lanes/routes through downtown. This goal is getting closer to reality. As the downtown shuttle program will have designed bus lanes, I am researching other community’s efforts with combined bus & bike lanes. While these lanes may also be used by right-turning vehicles, it does allow a full 10’+ lane for bikes along Pratt and Lombard Sts. Kettleson, Inc. is performing traffic studies to ensure this will work.
In a north-south direction, the GBC has requested that Mt. Royal from St. Paul to Guilford and Guilford from Mt. Royal to Centre St be repaved. As you know this is a major bike route into downtown from the north. Once repaving is complete, an official bike lane will be installed through this stretch.
5. 25 bike racks will be installed throughout downtown, Ridgeley’s Choice and southeast B’more once the crews return from a labor training class.
6. Bike racks at Penn Station will be installed through a cooperative effort from DOT, MTA and the Parking Authority. The new racks will be located just inside the main entrance to the garage on the median adjacent to the security booth. This should reduce bike theft and satisfy Amtrak and Homeland Security’s concerns about bike racks being too close to the train station.
7. There is a growing effort from the Department of Planning to allow bikes on the Promenade. The first phase will concentrate on Canton from the Waterfront Park to Harris Creek . Other sections will open as property owners and the city reach liability agreements.
8. Baltimore has been approved for Part 1 of the Bicycle Friendly Communities application!!! Part 2 is much more involved and has shed some light on the amount of work that lies ahead of us.
9. As part of Traffic Mitigation agreements with the city, some developers have expressed an interest in bike sharing. I’ve researched this possibility and have found 4 developments along the greater downtown area that would be suitable sites for bike sharing stations. While DC’s SmartBike program is not fully underway, I’m exploring other cities efforts in this area.
10. As the Department of Transportation is examining ways to save money on fuel costs, the Planning Division is leading the way by using bikes whenever possible. (I myself have never operated a city vehicle.) I’m working on a logo to hang on “official city bikes” to promote this effort.
11. There are currently two bills in Congress to promote complete streets design. I’m compiling some training materials for our engineers and consultants to have once these bills become law.
12. Last Friday, Greg and I met Jim Runion of GBA Engineers at the new Masonville Environmental Education Center. We were looking at a possible trail connecting the nature center to Hanover St . With a little funding, this could happen.
13. I’ve been involved with an effort between Baltimore County and CCBC Catonsville to establish a national set of GIS standards for trails and bikeways. This is a pretty cool undertaking and will help with data collection and planning for any future bike-related improvements nationwide.
These are the main items I’ve been working on of late.
Thanks to Mark, David and Barry for keeping me posted on some issues. Rewriting the parking requirements for the new zoning laws is a great idea. I’d like to hear more about the Baltimore Bike Symposium and how we can tie it into the BMP efforts.
For those that would like to meet next week, how about after our next morning ride?
Sincerely,
Nate Evans
Bike & Pedestrian Planner
City of Baltimore