Category: Biking in Baltimore

Syndicated columnist Robert D. Novak was cited by police after he hit a pedestrian with his black Corvette in downtown Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning.
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“I didn’t know I hit him. I feel terrible,” a shaken Novak told reporters from Politico and WJLA as he was returning to his car. "He’s not dead, that’s the main thing." Novak said he was a block away from 18th and K streets Northwest, where the accident occurred, when a bicyclist stopped him and said, "You hit someone." He said he was cited for failing to yield the right of way.

The bicyclist was David Bono, a partner at Harkins Cunningham, who was on his usual bike commute to work at 1700 K St. N.W. when he witnessed the accident.

As he traveled east on K Street, crossing 18th, Bono said a "black Corvette convertible with top closed plowed into the guy. The guy is sort of splayed onto the windshield.”

Bono said that the pedestrian, who was crossing the street on a "Walk" signal and was in the crosswalk, rolled off the windshield and that Novak then made a right into the service lane of K Street. “The car is speeding away. What’s going through my mind is, you just can’t hit a pedestrian and drive away,” Bono said.

He said he chased Novak half a block down K Street., finally caught up with him and then put his bike in front of the car to block it and called 911. Traffic immediately backed up, horns blared and commuters finally went into reverse to allow Novak to pull over.

Bono said that throughout, Novak "keeps trying to get away. He keeps trying to go.” He said he vaguely recognized the longtime political reporter and columnist as a Washington celebrity but could not precisely place him.

Finally, Bono said, Novak put his head out the window of his car and motioned him over. Bono said he told him that you can’t hit a pedestrian and just drive away. He quoted Novak as responding: “I didn’t see him there.”
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"This guy hit somebody and he won’t stop so I’m going to stay here until the police come," Aleta Petty quoted Bono as saying, as he stood in K Street, blocking traffic.
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“’Learn to read the signs, [bodily orifice]!’ Novak snapped before speeding away,” according to an item in The Washington Post’s Reliable Source column.
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Continue reading “Novak cited after hitting pedestrian”

Commuting via bicycle in Baltimore is fast becoming popular, accessible, and rewarding with new city-wide strides to accommodate cyclists with safe bicycle-only lanes. Unfortunately, those living west of Druid Hill Park in the neighborhoods of Reservoir Hill, Mondawmin, Ashburton, Franklintown, Windsor Hills, et cetera have been largely left out of the new bike lanes. Regardless of the unaccommodating infrastructure, cycling remains popular, especially in parks. Leakin Park and the Gwynns Falls Trail are both regular routes for enthusiasts and are frequented by cyclists from all over the city. For the most part, these cyclists are forced to rack their bikes and travel via automobile.

This petition is to propose a bike lane, running the length of Gwynns Falls Parkway, from Auchentrolly Terrace at Druid Hill Park to the Gwynns Falls Trail Head on Windsor Mill Road. The lane would be approximately 1.5 miles long and could easily be marked on the preexisting street with simple modifications to right of ways and automobile parking designations. The lane could also be constructed using the ample space provided by the green median that runs the entire length of the Parkway.

The new bike lane would serve many West Baltimore neighborhoods and allow for eco-friendly, affordable, and safe new commuting options for a wide-range of Baltimore residents. The bike lanes would also offer easy access for all Baltimore residents to the newly renovated Mondawmin Mall, new Coppin State University Sports Complex and Campus, Gwynns Falls Trail Head, Leakin Park, and more. The route would also be easily accessible to and from the new Jones Falls Trail and Druid Hill Park system.
Continue reading “Gwynns Falls Parkway Bicycle Lane Petition”

If you participated in any of the recent biking events in Baltimore and took photos we are very interested in posting a link here for others to enjoy. Please email us at info "at" BaltimoreSpokes.org or contribute an article of your own. Thanks.

August 2, 2008

National Night Out Parade

Greenmount Avenue between 29th and 35th Streets

Featuring a pet parade and the Baltimore Bike Pageant!

To register, please contact Laura Kindseth at 410-258-6295 or lkindseth "at" greaterhomewood.org

https://www.greaterhomewood.org/

From: CJ-

As a cyclist, I really must take issue with the unregulated driving
habits of motorists within this city. Today, I was treated to the
incivility of a woman who honked at me as I descended Lake Avenue
towards Falls Road. She was behind me. Any cyclist reading this post
knows that you’re going approximately 60kph per hour down that hill at
top speed when the speed limit is 30mph which translates to about
45kph.

Ill-advisedly, I allowed myself to escalate things by having words
with the driver, who tried to preface by mentioning her “miles of
riding experience”—my response to which I can’t publish. I “mentioned”
to her that at that speed how dangerous it would be for her to pass,
to which her response was “she was late for work”. BTW, she took time
out of her busy schedule to argue with me.

As someone who’s not connected to government(and never likely), nor is
actually on the MBAC board, I fortunately have the ability to speak
for myself in recognizing the questionable will set forth by the city
in putting bike lanes over potholes, failing to enforce vehicle’s
speed limits through most of the city, while efforts are put in place
to encourage people to dust off their bikes to cycle to work and make
it a part of their everyday life.

If someone were to ask me where to cycle as a beginner (or relative
newcomer), I’d tell them to go to the airport or the county. There
really is no safe haven for cyclists here.

The myth about bike lanes is that it implies that a cyclists is to
make way under all circumstances—at any speed. And unfortunately, I
feel that this is misleading and the true circumstances is more
similar to road racing where slower vehicles make way when the speed
is completely dissimilar and the road is safe (ascending hills, etc.)
Cyclists are vehicles and in traffic conditions are to make certain
that they use the road in a manner that makes the road safe for them.

Knowing that motorists would be completely fine running a cyclist off
the road or rolling through a stop sign at the disadvantage to a
cyclist changes some of these issues with respect to a cyclist’s
safety. I’m loathe to criticize because my history in cycling is one
of fend for myself and have learned to do so quite adroitly. Some of
my instinct and action goes beyond the recreational nature of painted
lines, etc. And that it unlikely to change.

Also, who deals with sewer grates? On the Falls Road bridge heading
north, there is a sewer grate that would swallow any cyclists unaware
of it. I say all this knowing that there a few people who do actually
ride AND have a connection to City Hall and whatever they call
headquarters in the county. There is a major difference between some
of the recreational implementations taking place and their ability to
make things safer for real cyclists. Until that gulf is bridged, the
Baltimore region will continue to live in question of what it could be.

Included a demonstration of travel in low light conditions with 70+ people participating (Moonlight Madness Ride photos.and photos by Doug Retzler)
Mayor Shela Dixon and Cabinet Summit for greener transportation (Mayor’s Ride photos)
And of course the seminar on good tasting fuel sources (Bike & Brunch and photos.)

[This report is a bit tongue and cheek thanks to the wonderful wacky exhibits at Art Scape and the wonderful invention called the bicycle that empowers people to do and see more in Baltimore.]

Continue reading “This weeks Intergalactic Conference of Energy Efficient Beings summary”

Here is a great news report (video) about adults learning how to ride a bike late in life: https://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/25733084#25733084

And yes, Baltimore more has a similar program: https://www.baltimorespokes.org/article.php?story=2008041713505581

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.
Continue reading “Baltimore Bicycle Update”

Dear Nate Evans,

Thank you for submitting Part 1 of Baltimore, Maryland’s Bicycle Friendly Community [BFC] application. Your application has been reviewed and approved. If you haven’t already done so, please begin part 2. In order to be included in the next application review cycle, please complete and submit Part 2 of the application by August 15, 2008.

Upon receipt of Baltimore , Maryland ‘s completed application, your application will be carefully reviewed and scored. Feedback from local cyclists will also be considered. Then, the League will award qualifying communities Bicycle Friendly Community status, with a designation of platinum, gold, silver, or bronze. Communities on the cusp of earning an award may be given an honorable mention award.

Sincerely,

Bill Nesper
League of American Bicyclists

[Pt 2 is more involved, but the City is already on it.]
Continue reading “BFC Application Part 1 Approval”

[Note After the ride some of us are going to see midnight showing of "The Dark Knight" at the Senator 5904 York Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21212, Theatre (410)435-8338, Office (410) 435-9892]

Bob Moore’s Moonlight Madness bike ride is on: Thursday July 17th. 8:30 start
A memorial ride for Bob Moore

Take a night-time bike tour of Baltimore City on a safe, well lit, mostly flat route of about 20 miles. Get an intimate view of the city after dark. Skyline, neighborhoods and waterfront as well as sights ranging from illuminated classical buildings and monuments to the neon of "The Block", from churches, museums, and City Hall to the enormous "Wizard of Boh".

Ride Start: in front of the Youth Hostel at the corner of Mulberry and Cathedral. (catty-corner from the Pratt Library)

Ride is casual 10-12mph. Approximately 20 miles. You must have a properly functioning bike, be wearing a helmet, and have safety lights on front and back.

I will bring cue sheets.

Sundown is at 8:30 and a nearly full moon rising about the same time.
Spread the word as you see fit. 🙂

More about Bob:
https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/obituaries/bal-md.ob.moore23may23,0,1706484.story