Jacksonville Bicycle Travel Examiner – Donald Crowson
Baltimore, Maryland offers many things to do and places to cycle. Inner Harbor, Baltimore’s downtown attraction, with its boardwalk, Science Center, restaurants and shops and many other places of interest is centrally located near hotels and Baltimore’s new Cruise Terminal. From the Inner Harbor to Fort McHenry and back, this ride features a stop at Fort McHenry and Federal Hill Park. The New Baltimore Bicycle Map, produced by the city’s Department of Transportation, BikeBaltimore program, displays a wealth of information, like roads with bikes lanes, common routes used by cyclists, shared use trails and even future trails. A printed copy may be obtained by calling 410-396-6856.
The closest bike shop to the Inner Harbor is Light Street Cycles. Their daily rental fees are $25 ($15 add. day) for hybrids and $50 ($35 add. day) for road bikes. Their friendly and knowledgeable staff is eager to help fellow bicycle travelers.
This 6.2 mile ride starts at Light Street Cycles (See Google Map below). Heading south on Light Street the route then turns left on Fort Ave. Traveling through the Locust Point community on Fort Ave is enjoyable and calm. Fort Ave is not a major thoroughfare and thus has less traffic. A ride through Latrobe Park, and past the Locust Point Dog Park offers an exciting diversion to the strait trek to Fort McHenry Park.
If you are reading this before November 2010, you will find that Fort McHenry Park is temporarily closed to cyclists due to construction of their new Visitor Information Center. On foot or bike, Fort McHenry is filled with excitement and to experience the important history of the park its best to leg it. Along with being a pivotal battle site of the Revolutionary War, Fort McHenry has the rare double distinction of being a national monument and historic shrine. The feeling of patriotism and gratitude is very palatable there.
The return route zigzags its way through Locust Point to Key Hwy. Once on Key Hwy the route passes, the American Visionary Art Museum. Take a ride around the Museum for examples of interesting sculpture. Next to the American Visionary Art Museum is Federal Hill Park. Its a great place to take a breather (after one climbs its many steps and finds a close-by bench) and view the Inner Harbor and downtown Baltimore from a birds eye perspective.
After a few blocks ride back to Light Street Cycles stop next door at Cross Street Market for some lunch and/or a stroll through. As always, review the bicycle safety article, don that helmet and get cycling.
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