Breakthrough for Baltimore bicyclists
by Matt Vensel | April 24, 2008 at 11:27 am
Posted in Uncategorized
It looks like the Maryland Transit Administration and the Maryland Department of Transportation are continuing their slow push towards making the city more bicycle-friendly. MTA is planning to add more bicycle racks on its bus routes and MDOT is installing bicycle lockers at some Metro, light rail and MARC stations. They still have a way to go before they’re up to par, but this is good news for those who get around town on two wheels.
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April 24th, 2008 at 3:44 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I would love love love the MTA to put in a bike lane or something on Charles St. headed north, St. Paul headed south. Commuting up and down them currently is... harrowing.
April 24th, 2008 at 3:50 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I would love to take my bike to work. I don't now because I'm lazy. But if I came to my senses AND there were facilities that encouraged biking then I would probably stick to it if I ever got around to it. Maybe I should actually read that Critical mass book that I have.
April 24th, 2008 at 4:15 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
DB I was also too lazy to ride until I literally parked my car at work and left it there. The temptation to drive my car from home to work is no longer available. I explained the idea to my employer and they didn't have a problem with it!
April 24th, 2008 at 4:38 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
To be honest, when working on this story a couple of weeks ago, I considered giving commuting by bicycle a try. I'm too lazy, though, which is sad because I live within minutes of where I work. Maybe I'll revisit the idea this summer when gas prices are near eight bucks a gallon...
April 24th, 2008 at 5:10 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
I have to say, it's pretty tough work. Because if there's one thing that Baltimore is not, it's flat. Heading north in the morning for 5 miles straight uphill leaves me red in the face and slightly sweaty, which is not the way I need to be arriving to work. Heading home, on the other hand, is a total joy - coasting downhill the whole time, laughing to myself while everyone is stuck in gridlock during baseball season, it's pretty great.
But by the virtue of this being a relatively small city and the fact that I can get anywhere pretty quickly via bike, I just can't justify those 50 dollar fillups even if they are relatively infrequent.
April 24th, 2008 at 5:39 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
a place to lock up bikes at lite rail stations would be a start, but i'd imagine they might get vandalized pretty quickly.
i've lobbied my employer for installing a shower/locker room to encourage biking to work, but despite their "green" intentions, i guess they think it would be too expensive and take up too much space. hooray for harsh reality.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:02 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Evan,
I luckily get the downhill in the morning.
April 24th, 2008 at 9:16 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Matt,
Given that you live withing minutes of where you work (by car or bike, doesn't matter), that is really, really sad.
And, to whoever said it: yes, one of the best things I can imagine the city doing right now for bike commuters are bike lanes up Charles and down St. Paul. Sometimes three times a day I wind up going between midtown and Charles Village and that I haven't gotten at least clipped is nothing short of a miracle, to say nothing of falling into a road crater, never to be seen again.
Bike racks on buses are a given. Let's hope it happens soon.
I'd add bike access to MARC trains in some form. If I did commute Baltimore to Washington DC, that would be massive.
April 25th, 2008 at 3:12 pm | Please log in to reply. | Log in to rate this comment | report this comment
Being lazy or "hills" are pretty pathetic excuses. Baltimore is an incredibly easy city to bike in. With the exception of the Hampden/Woodberry area, there aren't really any steep hills, more gentle slopes. Hopefully the city will add some well placed bike lanes, but as it is one can still avoid the most dangerous streets with a little forethought (ride down Maryland instead of St. Paul, Park or Greenmount instead of Charles or Calvert). I've never had a problem with my bike getting vandalized or stolen. I've seen bike's chained on the street for days without problems (not that it's smart, but still...).
Riding your bike everywhere is the norm in so many places. It's not much more difficult in Baltimore. If you keep making an excuse to yourself, you'll wind up driving everywhere.