BikePed Beacon — January 2009

After several months of public outreach and involvement, the BRTB has recently released for public review and comment, the draft preferred alternative for the amendment to the Baltimore region’s long-range transportation plan, Transportation Outlook 2035.

This draft preferred alternative proposes $225 million in funding for regional transit projects, beginning in 2020, including:

• Green Line Transit
• Park-and-Ride spaces
• Carroll County Transit
• Intermodal Facilities / MARC stations / Transit Oriented Development (TOD)
• Dedicated bus lanes

In response to public comment, the projects included in this amendment focus on ways to make the regional transit system more user-friendly and attractive to a broader segment of the region’s population and workforce.

A public input period will run through Friday, January 23, 2009. During this time, public comments will be accepted by mail, fax, or online using our public comment form.

Comments may also be submitted in person at a public meeting on Thursday, January 15, 2009 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. or 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the BMC offices located at 2700 Lighthouse Point East, Suite 310, Baltimore, MD 21224.

Aside from “Share the Road” signs, bike racks are the #2 contributor to increased bike ridership.  Baltimore City’s DOT purchases and installs bike racks in conjunction with the development of the bike network to allow bicyclists to park at key destinations and they are seeking new locations for new bicycle racks.  Details are listed below. 
 
Installation & Maintenance process

1. Property owner requests a rack (or racks) for installation

2. Bike racks are purchased and installed by DOT on a first-come/first-served basis
   
3. If racks require maintenance, DOT will replace the existing rack in kind.

Bike Rack options

1. Standard 36″ x 30″ powder-coated inverted “U” racks, typically installed in sidewalks and parking lots. Each rack holds 2 bicycles.
   
2. “Meter racks” installed on top of parking meter poles once meter heads are replaced. Each rack can hold 1-2 bicycles.
   
3. “On street parking” converted an existing on-street car parking place to accommodate 8-12 bicycles.  On-street bike parking is reserved for commercial areas.

Please contact Nate Evans in the Department of Transportation’s Planning Division at 410-396-6586 or
nevans@baltimorecity.gov if you are interested.

 
The City of Baltimore Department of Transportation (DOT) has been working hard to implement the May 2006 Bicycle Master Plan.  Bicycle lanes and sharrows are being integrated into city streets, storm grates are being improved, and bicycle racks are being places, along with other improvements.     
 
Now that Baltimore is becoming more bicycle friendly, it is necessary to inform citizens and visitors about safe bicycling practices and the city plans to do just that at a bicycle summit, to be held in Druid Hill Park this Spring. 

 
The summit will bring together both public and private partners and include discussions on:

Teaching safe cycling practices
Encouraging bicycle commuting through mentoring and other programs
Getting people on bikes including new information on how to find the right bicycle for you!
Fostering public/private partnerships to promote bicycling and active livingIf you are interested in volunteering at or sponsoring the event please contact Traci McPhail at
traci.mcphail@baltimorecity.gov or Nate Evans at

nate.evans@baltimorecity.gov. 

>;> View Baltimore City’s Bicycle Master Plan

A 5 minute preview of the recently released DVD – Geared Up
The Essentials of Adult Bicycling – is now available on the
AdultBicycling.com web site.

With so many adults bicycling, this DVD is very
timely. Competence, Confidence and Safety is the message. Please take a moment
to view the video or share with others.

On Tuesday, January 27, 2009 from 7 to 9 p.m. several area organizations will host a 2nd Transit Oriented Development Summit at the Thumel Business Center Auditorium (11 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21201).  

Topics to be discussed include Central Maryland’s opportunities and challenges for TOD, new initiatives and advances in local TOD planning, and an emerging national agenda to promote smart investment in infrastructure and innovation.

The event is free and open to the public and is accessible by MTA Bus Lines 3, 11, 21, 61, 64, Light Rail and MARC Train.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Brian O’Malley at

bomalley@cmtalliance.org or 410-332-4172 ext. 122.

>;>> Download a flyer

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