Bike Boulevards

Yesterday, I gave a presentation to the Dept. of Transportation explaining the bike boulevard concept and how it can be applied to Baltimore.  A bike boulevard is a low volume, low speed road usually in a residential area where bike thru-traffic is given priority.  Originating in Holland and americanized in Portland and Berkeley, instituting bike boulevards boosts bike traffic by providing safe corridors for cyclists with little roadway experience. 

Bike boulevards are not a traditional bike lane with two lines, but rather an entire roadway with traffic calming applications, such as bike-friendly speed humps or cushions and mini-circles. Traffic diverters like cut-thru medians and contraflow allowance create easier passage for bikes while reducing vehicular use.

Guilford Avenue (between University Pkwy and Mt. Royal Ave) will be the city’s first bike boulevard.  This stretch of road was selected due to its residential nature, high bicycle traffic and the existing cut-thru at the North Avenue (school parking lot & ramps with pedestrian signal across North Ave).  Improvements to Guilford will include striping the parking lanes & centerline, wayfinding signs, and speed cushions.  Select stop signs will be “turned” giving bikes on Guilford priority.

For more information, DOT & Toole Design Group will present this bike bouevard concept to the community on Wednesday, June 30th, 6:30 pm at Johns Hopkins Univerity (Levering Hall’s Sherwood Room). 

I’m looking at other streets that would make good bike boulevards.  If you know a good candidate, please comment below