Attached are the comments from League of American Bicyclists concerning Baltimore \u2019s status on becoming a bike-friendly community. While the comments were compiled by LAB, the actual reviews were done by local persons with knowledge of Baltimore \u2019s bike \u201cculture\u201d.<\/p>\n
If you have any questions or comments, please let us know.<\/p>\n
\nFeedback on Baltimore\u2019s application to be designated a Bicycle Friendly Community.<\/p>\n
The Bicycle Friendly Community review committee was impressed with the potential
\nand growing commitment to make Baltimore a great place for bicyclists. The Honorable
\nMention given by the reviewers reflects their view that some of the key building blocks
\nof creating a bicycle friendly community are in place but that significant measures remain
\nto be done.<\/p>\n
Some of the highlights of the application included Friday bike rides with Mayor Dixon;
\nhiring a full time bicycle coordinator; the aggressive Bicycle Master Plan and its rate of
\nimplementation; and the Safety City program.<\/p>\n
Reviewers provided the following suggestions to further promote bicycling:<\/p>\n
Engineering Education Encouragement Enforcement Evaluation\/Planning Attached are the comments from League of American Bicyclists concerning Baltimore \u2019s status on becoming a bike-friendly community. While the comments were compiled by LAB, the actual reviews were done by local persons with knowledge of Baltimore \u2019s bike \u201cculture\u201d. If you have any questions or comments, please let us know.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"1","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-125147932","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-biking-in-baltimore"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125147932","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=125147932"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/125147932\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=125147932"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=125147932"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.baltimorespokes.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=125147932"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n\u2022 Adopt a Complete Streets policy. Every street should accommodate bicyclists,
\npedestrians, motorists and transit users of all abilities and ages.
\nhttps:\/\/www.completestreets.org\/<\/a>
\n\u2022 Fully implement the comprehensive bike plan and continue to close gaps in the
\ncycling network. Also, expand the encouragement, education, and enforcement
\nprograms to increase usage. Set an ambitious, attainable target to increase the
\npercentage of trips made by bike in the city.
\n\u2022 Increase the number of arterial streets that have wide shoulder or bike lanes.
\nContinue to expand the bicycle network and increase network connectivity
\nthrough the use of bike lanes, shared lane arrows and signed routes. Set annual
\ntargeted implementation goals until the bike network is complete. On-street
\nimprovements coupled with the expansion of the off-street system will continue to
\nincrease use and improve safety. These improvements will also increase the
\neffectiveness of encouragement efforts by providing a broader range of facility
\nchoices for users of various abilities and comfort levels.
\n\u2022 Ensure that new and improved facilities to accommodate bicyclists conform to
\ncurrent best practices and guidelines \u2013 such as the AASHTO Guide for the
\nDevelopment of Bicycle Facilities and MDOT\u2019s own guidelines.
\n\u2022 Provide opportunities for ongoing training on accommodating bicyclists for
\nengineering, planning staff, and law enforcement. Consider hosting a Smart
\nCycling course for city staff to better understand cyclists\u2019 needs, behavior, and
\ntheir right to use city streets as well as multi-use paths for transportation. Consider
\na membership to the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals
\nwww.apbp.org<\/a> for city Bicycle and Pedestrian Staff. Training opportunities and
\nthe listserv provided by this organization are excellent resources.
\n\u2022 Increase the amount of secure bicycle parking throughout the community \u2013 in
\naddition implement a regulation that requires bike parking. See Madison,
\nWisconsin\u2019s Bicycle Parking Ordinance and guidelines for choosing racks at
\nwww.cityofmadison.com\/trafficEngineering\/bicyclingParking.cfm<\/a> Funding is
\navailable — The Chicago DOT used a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air
\nQuality (CMAQ) grant to provide indoor bike parking in Loop offices and
\nparking garages. For more information on this project see
\nhttps:\/\/www.chicagoareaplanning.org\/cmaq\/default.asp<\/a>
\n\u2022 Continue to improve the access to public lands for mountain bicyclists as well as
\nthe connectivity of the bicycle network to these open spaces.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Improve the reach of the community\u2019s bicycle safety campaigns. Use valuable
\ninformation from the League\u2019s Ride Better Tips in your outreach education and
\nencouragement efforts. See the Ride Better Tips pages at
\nhttps:\/\/www.bikeleague.org\/resources\/better\/index.php<\/a> , PSA\u2019s
\nhttps:\/\/www.bikeleague.org\/programs\/bikemonth\/psas.php<\/a> and the downloadable
\nBicycle Safety Tips for Adults video at
\nhttps:\/\/www.bikeleague.org\/programs\/education\/shortversion.wmv<\/a>
\n\u2022 Work to get bicycling and motorist education messages added to routine local
\nactivities such as tax renewal, drivers licensing and testing, or inserts with utility
\nbills.
\n\u2022 Start a motorist education programs for bus and taxi drivers in the city. See what
\nSan Francisco has done https:\/\/www.sfbike.org\/?drivertraining<\/a> Also, use the
\nmaterials listed above for this purpose in addition to classes that can be offered by
\nLeague Cycling Instructors.
\n\u2022 Continue to improve bicycling education opportunities for children. Set goals of
\nincreased participation in Safety City and in-school presentations with the WABA
\nsafety trailer until all schools have this programming available.
\n\u2022 The community should work to increase bicycling education opportunities for
\nadults. Better utilizing Baltimore\u2019s League Cycling Instructors will enable the
\ncommunity to expand cycling education, to be cycling ambassadors, to deliver
\neducation to motorists, provide cycling education to adults, and have an expert to
\nassist in encouragement programs.
\n\u2022 Implement a Safe Routes to School program that includes bicycling and
\nencourage all schools to get involved. In Arlington, Virginia every school in the
\nCounty was visited by a team with representatives from Department of Public
\nWorks, the Police and Schools to access conditions for walking and biking to each
\nschool. A list of problems and solutions was developed measures were identified
\nto address problems. Short-term projects such as painting crosswalks were done
\nright away while larger construction projects are on-going. Funding is available in
\nthe federal transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, among several other sources at
\nboth the federal and state levels. See www.saferoutesinfo.org<\/a> for more
\ninformation.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Continue to expand encouragement efforts during Bike Month. Have the Mayor
\nand\/or the City Council proclaim May as Bike Month. Encourage local businesses
\nto promote cycling to the workplace. During Bike to Work Week set up a
\ncommuter challenge or bike to work pit stop. Olympia, Washington holds a Bike
\nCommuter Contest during Bike Month and encourages people to participate in the
\nmonth-long Contest to see who can ride the most number of days or miles in the
\nmonth of May. The growth in participation has been stunning. Olympia also
\noffers city employees a $2 per day incentive for commuting by bike (as well as
\nfor walking, riding the bus or carpooling). Each year, approximately 50 to 60 of
\nthe City’s 600 employees participate in the Bicycle Commuter Contest.
\n\u2022 Work to create more active involvement of bicycle community. Consider a
\nBicycle Ambassador program like Chicago\u2019s. This could be based out of a transit
\nor community center. Read this paragraph is from the Transportation Alternatives
\nnewsletter:
\nMayor Daley’s Bicycle Ambassadors
\nThe five summer Ambassadors attend 200 community events a year where
\nthey teach the public about bike safety, sharing the road, bike lane and
\nbike path etiquette and how to bike to work and school. They also help
\nnovice bicyclists bike more, fit helmets and per-form bike safety checks.
\nhttps:\/\/www.chibikefed.org\/ambassador<\/a>
\n\u2022 Consider passing an ordinance or local code that would require larger employers
\nto provide bicycle parking, shower facilities, and other encouragement tools. The
\ncity could be the model employer for the rest of the community.
\n\u2022 Develop a series of short (2-5 mi.) loops rides around the community and provide
\nappropriate way-finding signage. Integrate these rides into local bike map.
\n\u2022 Continue to increase the amount of way-finding signage around the community.
\n\u2022 Set up community celebrations and\/or rides each time the community completes a
\nnew bicycling related project. This is a great way to show off the city\u2019s good
\nefforts and introduces new users to the improvement.
\n\u2022 For more information on encouragement ideas please visit
\nhttps:\/\/www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org\/tech.htm<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Ensure that police officers are aware of the Share the Road message and have
\ngeneral knowledge regarding traffic law as it applies to bicyclists. Host
\nEnforcement for Bicycle Safety seminar
\nhttps:\/\/www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org\/popup\/enforcement.htm<\/a> in addition to
\nthe planned Chicagoland Bicycle Federation training. This is a great continuing
\neducation opportunity for law enforcement.
\n\u2022 Encourage police officers to use targeted enforcement to encourage motorists and
\ncyclists to share the road. This could be in the form of a brochure or tip card
\nexplaining each user\u2019s rights and responsibilities.
\n\u2022 See the video put out by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
\n(NHTSA)https:\/\/www.nhtsa.dot.gov\/portal\/site\/nhtsa\/menuitem.810acaee50c6511<\/a>
\n89ca8e410dba046a0\/ Here are some Law Enforcement Products
\nLaw Enforcement’s Roll Call Video: \u201cEnforcing Law for Bicyclists\u201d
\nEnhancing Bicycle Safety: Law Enforcement\u2019s Role (CD-ROM Training)<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Create and fully implement a comprehensive bike plan and continue to expand
\nencouragement, education, enforcement, and engineering programs to increase
\nusage.
\n\u2022 Work to improve data collection methods on bicycle usage and evaluation of this
\ndata. Consider creating a social marketing program to increase trips made by
\nbicycle. See what Portland, OR has done with their Smart Trips program:
\nhttps:\/\/www.portlandonline.com\/transportation\/index.cfm?c=43801<\/a>
\n\u2022 Continue to evaluate the crash statistics and implement the plan to reduce the
\nnumber of crashes in the community. Consider using these statistics to help focus
\nyour educational outreach, targeted enforcement efforts and engineering priority
\nlist.
\n\u2022 Continue to integrate the development of the cycling network into larger land use
\nplanning and development projects and plans.oldId.20081219111852941<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"