Category: Biking in Baltimore

This one at Charm City Cakes just might make it:

The 28th annual summer arts festival showcases the visual and performing arts

Mayor Sheila Dixon and the Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts announce the return of Artscape, America’s largest free festival of the arts, on Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18 from noon to 10pm and Sunday, July 19 from noon to 8pm centered on the 1200 block of Mount Royal Avenue and the 1400 block of North Charles Street. Artscape features visual art exhibits both on and off-site; incredible live concerts on three outdoor stages; a full schedule of performing arts including dance, opera, theater, fashion and film, interactive family fun projects, children’s entertainers; and a delicious international menu of food and beverages available throughout the site.

Performers on the Main Stage in 2009 include legendary singer Dionne Warwick on Friday, July 17 at 8pm; the progressive band Cake on Saturday, July 18 at 6:30pm; funk, rock & soul group Robert Randolph & The Family Band on Saturday, July 18 at 8:30pm; and pop and R&B crooner Robin Thicke on Sunday, July 19 at 6:30pm. The Festival Stage is the home area’s top local bands such as The Cheaters, Bio Ritmo and Whop N The Global Soul Revue. With support by the Baltimore Blues Society and the Baltimore Jazz Alliance, the Charles Street Stage hosts jazz and blues groups including Matt Wigler, Felicia Carter Quintet and Todd Marcus Orchestra.

New in 2009, festival-goers are encouraged to bike to Artscape and park in the new Bike Parking Zone sponsored by the University of Baltimore located at Maryland Avenue between Oliver Street and Mount Royal Avenue. Volunteers from the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Committee will be on hand to organize the zone and offer giveaways. In addition, the new Baltimore Free Bus Shuttle will circle the festival site to help guests to get to various areas throughout the event.
Continue reading “ARTSCAPE TAKES PLACE JULY 17, 18 and 19, 2009”

A decrepit railroad bridge in the shadow of Interstate 95 could find new life as the linchpin of a 5 1/2-mile trail encircling the Middle Branch of the Patapsco River – opening up recreational opportunities along a stretch of Baltimore waterfront that some are calling "the next Inner Harbor."

For now, the century-old CSX swing bridge carries little traffic except the occasional trespasser with a crab pot. But city officials and a prominent developer envision a restored span that would serve runners, bicyclists and folks who simply want to take a stroll along a stretch of shoreline that is being reclaimed from industrial development.

Continue reading “City seeks U.S. funds to turn derelict rail span into centerpiece of trail”

[The unedited version of what appeared in the Urbanite:]

Now don’t get me wrong, I have no problems with people getting exercise but really do you have to do it in the street? You don’t own the roads, I own the roads, I pay taxes and you cyclists don’t. And don’t go trying to raise the gas tax or put in more toll roads to pay for roads, I pay enough as it is. Roads are important so I support getting more money from the General Fund and Project Open Space to build and maintain roads, anything so long as I don’t have to pay more for the road I drive on.

If you cyclists have to get exercise do what I do and get an exercise machine and stick it in the basement, that way when you feel the urge to get exercise you won’t bother anyone else. Of course I hardly ever use the thing as it’s boring as heck but I am not a Lance Armstrong wannabe either and what’s with that anyway? You cyclists might as well give that up, no way are you going to win the Tour de France. If you are trying to lose weight go on a diet like normal people. I lose 5-10lbs every time I go on a diet, no big deal but then I gain it right back again but that’s a different story.

Hang on a sec, I got a call…Hey Joe! What’s up? … Ya I am on my way over. Sure I’ll pick up some beer and snacks for the game tonight, it should be a good one…. I might be a late, traffic is a mess today. [Sound of honking] Same to you buddy! See what I mean, it’s a real zoo out here. See ya when I see ya, bye. OK back to cyclist, the problem with cyclists and them taking their dear sweet time going places, it’s called rush hour for a reason you know. I am doing import things and I have places to go and I don’t go around holding everyone up while I smell the roses. It’s a real problem, I drive 10-15 mph over the speed limit and when I come upon a cyclists it can be real scary.

Cyclists should be required to get a license to bike like people have to do in order to drive. Oh what’s up with that driver? “Move it buddy! Hang up and drive!” Geez, some people can’t chew gum and drive at the same time, some drivers, I tell you, one of these days… but anyway where was I? Driver’s License, ya what a joke, 20 questions that I could have answered with my eyes closed, no wonder we have the kind of drivers we do on the roads but cyclists they’re the real problem. Just look at this clown on a bike, I’m stuck in traffic and he just whizzes by and he’s probably going to run the next red light too, they really need to obey the laws like everyone else.

Anyway I got to go pick up some things for the party tonight so I’ll just double park here while I run in as I’ll just be 5 minutes. Anyway cyclist please don’t block the car lanes not even for 2 seconds as that is real irritating, OK?

Continue reading “What’s with cyclists anyway?”

On Wednesday, when Mayor Dixon announces the program for Artscape, she is going to be encouraging people to use bikes (and transit) to get to the festival. We’re looking for a group of cyclists to take part in the announcement:

+++++

I’m looking for some energetic, charismatic and attractive volunteers – that means you- to help spread the word on biking in Baltimore.

Wednesday, June 3rd, 9:45am until about 11
University of Balto Student Center – Mt. Royal Ave.

Mayor’s Artscape press conference.

This year Artscape will feature a bike parking area (with some freebees and giveaways for those who arrive at Artscape by bike.) The advance press conference, June 3rd, is when Mayor Dixon announces the festival program, and anything new at Artscape for the year- including bike parking.

For the press conference, we will stage a photogenic bike parking area to help Mayor Dixon encourage festival goers to bike to Artscape. We’ll be a visual demonstration that biking is in fact a great way to get around Baltimore.

So I need a few good bicyclists. Please let me know if you can help for this very easy assignment!

Artscape itself is July 17-19 (we need volunteers then too…)

Links to the following topics:
* A review of bicycle safety campaigns
* Quantifying the federal investment in bicycling
* Gas prices and bike sales
* The Non-Motorized Transportation Pilot Program
* Benchmarking bicycle advocacy
* Do trails lead to sales?
Continue reading “Bikes Belong Research to Learn More about Bicycling”

It’s almost time for Tour dem Parks, Hon 2009!!! We are looking forward to our best ever TdP on Sunday, June 14th, 2009. Come check out our new and exciting route, now featuring some hidden-away gems of parks never before featured. Don’t miss it! Our registration page can be found at https://www.tourdemparks.org/register.html

If you have not already registered, please remember that Monday, June 1st is the last day to take advantage of low Early Registration rates. Adult registrations are $30 through June 1st, and Adult Couples are just $45! (After June 1st, rates go up to $35 and $50, respectively…)

Teens 11 to 16 are always $15, and kids 10 and under are always $5.

Registering early also guarantees you your very own beautiful Tour dem Parks, Hon! 2009 T-shirt — a great new design this year printed on earth-friendly 100% organic materials.

Registering is now easier than ever, and you have your choice of using our secure online Paypal server, or sending a check or money order to our address — Tour dem Parks, Hon!, PO Box 3601, Towson University, Baltimore, MD 21252. To register online, just follow the link: https://www.tourdemparks.org/register.html

Whether you choose the 12-mile family ride, the 25-mile medium ride, the 36-mile long ride, or our challenging metric century (64 miles), you’ll get a healthy workout, see some great sights, and help raise money to support our wonderful parks!

Thanks for riding!!!

CCTV Observations:

* Suspicious Males/Tampering with a bicycle – Unit E. University Parkway. Interfaith bike rack – May 23rd at 2:04 AM, two males were observed tampering with a bike secured to the bike rack. One of the males was observed pulling at the bike in an attempt to break the bike free from the rack. The males were stopped, identified and given trespass warnings.

* Juvenile Trespassers – Wolman West Bike Rack – On May 24th at 12:05 PM, two juveniles were seen tampering with secured bicycles. They were stopped by campus officers, identified and given trespass warnings. Baltimore Police responded

Continue reading “Not your average bike tour”

[This is going to be bike/ped friendly??? Multi-lane roundabouts are a pain for pedestrians!]

By Michael Dresser | Baltimore Sun

…
The city’s plans signal an important change in Baltimore’s strategy for keeping traffic flowing. [and increase Baltimore’s 40% pedestrian traffic fatality rate?]

“It’s a new way of thinking in the city,” said Jessica Keller, chief of planning for the city Department of Transportation. “It’s going to take a lot of education with the public.”

The intersections where the city wants to install roundabouts are at some of the most visible, high-traffic locations in Baltimore. One is at Key and Light streets –the gateway to Federal Hill, Locust Point and the rest of South Baltimore. Two are proposed for 33rd Street, where the city wants to build traffic circles near Lake Montebello and at University Parkway.

A roundabout at Park Circle would replace one of the city’s most troubled intersections, where Reisterstown Road, Druid Park Drive and Park Heights Avenue come together. Another, in Seton Hill, would reconfigure the junction of Druid Hill Avenue and Paca and Centre streets.

…
Continue reading “City plans to install traffic circles at 5 intersections”