At Bikemore, we believe a great city is a connected city. We focus on putting people before cars and expanding opportunity for all of Baltimore's residents.
Using a traffic speed monitoring device, we analyzed speeds along 28th Street the months before and after installation of the road diet.
๐ Congestion (under 18mph) is only up ~5%.
๐๏ธ Dangerous speeding (over 43mph, the speed camera threshold) is down over 90%.
That's a win.
.
@GovLarryHogan
just vetoed the bipartisan Transit Safety and Investment Act.
Just two years ago Hogan was only too happy to release $97 million in funding to WMATA, the Washington, D.C., transit system, but somehow he draws the line on funding his own stateโs system.
The Baltimore Complete Streets ordinance sets a default of 9ft lanes, and requires lanes be no wider than 10ft unless it is a bus or truck route, which can have a single 11ft lane in each direction.
Baltimore leading the way.
New Johns Hopkins report finds that narrower street lanes are safer.
For roads with 30-35 mph speed limits, 10-12 ft lanes "have a significantly higher number of crashes compared to those with 9 ft lanes."
Another month of 28th Street traffic data is in.
Dangerous speeding is down 96.5%. Congestion is trending down, 3.8% *improved* vs pre-install.
๐๏ธ>43mph๐๏ธ
Pre-install: 13.57%
Sep: 0.99%
Oct: 0.79%
Nov: 0.47%
๐<18mph๐
Pre-install: 83.79%
Sep: 87.66%
Oct: 86.24%
Nov: 80.54%
Road diet and parking protected bike lane striping is underway on University between 39th and Charles.
This was a standard
@BmoreCityDOT
resurfacing that triggered a mandated retrofit under the Baltimore Complete Streets ordinance.
You may have seen
@marylandzoo
's parking lot renovation project. They reached out to us during planning to discuss improvements to bike parking, and took our recommendations to heart.
New covered parking, a fix-it station, and Jones Falls Trail improvements underway!
We waited a day to post because it's no April Fools'
๐๏ธDangerous speeding (43mph+) is now down over 97% along the 28th Street road diet since pre-install.
๐ธThat was apparently enough to remove the speed camera at 28th and Sisson!
A safer street for all. ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐จโ๐ฆฝ๐ด๐ฒ๐
Today,
@MDOTNews
announced that all MARC trains (Penn, Camden, and Brunswick Lines) will accommodate full-sized bikes every day. This is huge in expanding access to multimodal, regional transportation.
Most people living in majority Black, formerly redlined neighborhoods lack access to a car in Baltimore City.
Injuries and deaths of people walking and biking by drivers are disproportionately located there.
Most renters citywide lack access to a car too.
It's not even close.
Let's talk about Sinclair. Over the weekend, they aired more false claims about the cost of bike facilities.
They interviewed Linda Batts, who they've interviewed for four bike lane stories, and Jovani Patterson, a paid Sinclair operator. No disclosure for the latter.
To date,
@FOXBaltimore
and
@JeffAbellFOX45
have been unable to produce evidence for their claims in this story and the story aired Monday on bike facility costs.
They've since stopped returning our phone calls and emails.
This video of a driver in the Monument Street bike lane was sent to us.
This is a fairly regular occurrence, even when there's no adjacent traffic.
Flex posts alone aren't protection. Lanes must be hardened with concrete separation.
To date,
@FOXBaltimore
and
@JeffAbellFOX45
have been unable to produce evidence for their claims in this story and the story aired Monday on bike facility costs.
They've since stopped returning our phone calls and emails.
New from
@StreetLightData
:
Bicycling has increased 56% in Baltimore since 2019, putting us in the top 10 metros for ridership growth.
The warning referenced below? We must continue to build dedicated infrastructure to sustain this growth.
The Mount Royal separated bike lane extension is finally underway.
It will fill two critical gaps (in red below) between existing separated bike facilities on North Avenue and the Guilford Avenue bike boulevard/Jones Falls Trail.
Huge thanks to the
@Orioles
for their upgraded, zoning code compliant bike racks.
They work so much better than the former wheel benders--so much so that all of the parking was full and even more racks are needed!
Argonne Drive resurfacing this year included upgrading faded standard bike lanes to separated bike lanes.
Baltimore's Complete Streets ordinance at work!
Tonight Baltimore City Council passed the
#SlowStreets
legislation introduced by
@CouncilPresBMS
unanimously.
It requires
@BmoreCityDOT
install 25 miles of
#SlowStreets
with at least 1 mile in each council district and no more than 15% total in any one district. (1/2)
We're super grateful
@BmoreCityDOT
maintained bike access to the Monument Lighting this year.
We counted 142 bikes parked in the two blocks of Cathedral adjacent to the event.
Sheila Dixon on Complete Streets, the ordinance directing more funding to ADA access, walking, biking, and public transit:
"I would put a halt on it."
Sheila Dixon on Remington's Big Jump Extension, funded by a neighborhood grant:
"I would clearly remove the one on 28th St."
There's actually no controversy here. Traffic volumes support a road diet and city law requires prioritizing the safety of people biking and walking over commute times out of the city for county residents.
Someone *just died* on this dangerous road.
Today
@USDOT
awarded 235 Safe Streets for All grants totaling $82 million to local communities.
@BmoreCityDOT
received $9.9 million for the Baltimore Complete Streets Demonstration Program, by far the largest award in the nation.
Our ordinance at work!
The largest grant by far--$9.9 million--was awarded to
@BmoreCityDOT
to support the Baltimore Complete Streets program.
Our complete streets ordinance--a national model--is winning Baltimore repeated Federal Safe Streets for All, RAISE, and Reconnecting Communities grants.
Last week,
@USDOT
announced 235 Safe Streets and Roads for All grants totaling $82 million.
This funding helps communities develop strategies that prevent roadway fatalities and injuriesโmaking communities safer on Halloween night for generations to come.
If North Ave isn't the "right place" for bus infrastructure, nowhere is.
If 70+ community meetings, a 25 person resident advisory group, and thousands of street interviews isn't "sufficient outreach" for a painted bus lane, nothing is.
This is a "Change Nothing" platform.
โWe really need to be thinking about this, as one, connected, amazing district that is not car-centric with a highway running through it, but itโs one amazing district that you can feel like you can traverse easily on foot or on a bike.โ
City residents respond:
"Although I'm not a bicycle rider, [the lanes on Central] make me feel safer crossing the street in my neighborhood."
"I don't currently ride a bike but have been considering getting one now that there are safer places to ride them."
"Dozens of Remington residents who spoke with The Banner said they feel safer walking along 28th Street since the redesign. And a representative of
@BmoreCityDOT
says it has received hundreds of thank-you messages from residents for implementing the changes."
Be careful if you're going to the monument lighting or commuting home from work.
@BmoreCityDOT
has illegally parked trucks and set up an illegal car valet in the cycletrack.
We've long requested our delegation introduce legislation to 1) lockbox camera revenue to complete streets infrastructure improvements and 2) authorize an income based fine structure.
That hasn't happened, but it still could.
This is horrible. All of these cameras in neighborhoods. Further taxing Baltimore City Residents. Most within the Black Butterfly (East
@SenatorMcCray
& West
@jillpcarter
). What message are we sending to our residents?
@BmoreCityDOT
The program was started to make it safe forโฆ
Higher hood = higher chance of a dead pedestrian.
Delegate
@RobbynLewis46th
is attempting to reduce these risks with HB0028, the Pedestrian Fatality Prevention Act of 2024.
It charges higher fees for heavier, larger, more dangerous vehicles.
"If you want to kill someone, do it with a car."
Powerful read from Dan Langenkamp, the husband of Sarah, who was killed riding her bike by a truck driver who failed to yield crossing into a bike lane.
Legislation to strengthen penalties is being heard in Annapolis today.
In our commentary section today, a heart-wrenching must read from the husband of the diplomat who was killed while riding her bicycle in Bethesda in 2022
We're aware of robocalls this evening from former Council Pres Lawrence Bell claiming
@RepKweisiMfume
supports repeal of the Baltimore Complete Streets Ordinance.
We've been in direct contact with his office, who ensured us the calls are inaccurate. He supports Complete Streets.
We had a blast this morning joining
@BaltFamilies
, Friends of German Park, and Cafe Los Sueรฑos on what we hope is the first of many family bike parties across The Big Jump.
The 28th Street Big Jump extension makes all-ages riding safe between Charles Village and Reservoir Hill.
Great piece from the Sun editorial board:
"Yet, what has been created so far appears to be doing the trick. On Maryland Ave, for example, a protected bike lane has not only reduced car crashes with pedestrians and cyclists, but it appears to have reduced crashes of all types"
Today we announce that after six years of service, Liz Cornish is stepping down from her role as Executive Director of Bikemore. Liz joined Bikemore as the sole staff person in 2015 and has grown the organization in myriad ways. Full story is on our blog:
In-lane bus boarding improves on time performance for buses. Protected bike lanes increase business sales $ and frequency. Investments like this are a huge win for Baltimore. Thank you
@ElectRyanDorsey
.
Baltimoreโs first floating bus stop is complete and in action. The second is almost complete, and the first bike lanes on Harford Road are looking closer to completion.
One car parking space was removed on 23rd Street and 7 people on bikes are replacing it.
Even at max car capacity (which are typically driven alone) this is an equal or better use of space.
Studies also show people on bikes visit more and spend more.
Bikes bring business.
We joined other advocates and elected officials to go get
@BmoreCityDOT
more money in Annapolis, and now the city plans to take it and spend it elsewhere.
Our testimony from today's CIP (capital budget) hearing at the Baltimore City Planning Commission:
NO RIDE ZONE: Steer clear of the bike lane on North Avenue. It is unfinished and dangerous.
Significant improvements are needed and we do not have a timeline on fixes from
@mtamaryland
and
@BmoreCityDOT
. (1/5)
High visibility crosswalks, flex posts and kermit are in on President Street. Thanks
@BmoreCityDOT
for using this resurfacing as an opportunity to upgrade the bike lane and crosswalks. President Street is still a long way from being a safe, all-ages street, but this is a start.
It's happening!
#TheBigJump
connection between Penn North, Reservoir Hill, and Remington is being installed today, providing a road diet on Druid Park Lake Drive and a safe walking and biking connection between these neighborhoods!
@leonfpinkett
@peopleforbikes
@BmoreCityDOT
.
@mtamaryland
reversed their decision to cut bus service to the Baltimore region. While there's more work to do to ensure Maryland receives the transit funding it deserves, today thanks to the hard work of lawmakers, advocates, and transit riders, we have reason to celebrate.
The cancelled proposal to permanently eliminate 25 MTA bus lines and reduce service on a dozen others due to plunging state revenues had been harshly criticized as inequitable even before next weekโs planned public hearings, which the MTA has called off.
Should be easy. Electeds that said they support banning turns on red in our 2020 Candidate Questionnaire:
Mayor Brandon Scott
Zeke Cohen
Danielle McCray
Ryan Dorsey
Mark Conway
Sharon Green Middleton
James Torrence
Kristerfer Burnett
Phylicia Porter
Robert Stokes
Odette Ramos
"Our region and state needs a transit system that is better connected...we will only have a better connected system if we have a well funded system" -
@MayorBMScott
Thank you Mayor Scott for testifying in support of the Transit Safety and Investment Act today.
Unfortunately, virtual testimony was unexpectedly not permitted during tonight's Rules and Legislative Oversight Hearing on bike lanes. We wish the two dozen participants who could not make an in-person 4:00pm 3.5 hour hearing but wished to testify had the opportunity to do so.
Research is clear speed cameras work to reduce injury and fatal crashes, so it's no surprise installation of the JFX speed cameras correlates to a reduction in crashes.
If you have any information on this fatal hit and run crash, please contact
@BaltimorePolice
and us.
Baltimoreans of all ages, races, and incomes rely on bikes for transportation. They should not have to fear for their lives or have those fears realized.
Only cowards flee.
Nearly every day for the past week, Sinclair owned Fox45 has been airing unsubstantiated and outright false information on bike lanes. They're stoking opposition for the coming council hearing.
Submit your personal testimony if you haven't already:
The latest city council hearing on bike lanes has been announced for March 7th.
Why are safer, more accessible streets with all ages bike infrastructure important to you?
Submit testimony. Tell your biking story.
Tomorrow! This would connect the existing Maryland/Cathedral/Hopkins separated bike lane through the Convention Center to Solo Gibbs Park along Sharp Street.
It's critical that the entire length is a separated, all-ages and abilities bike lane.
The Sharp St Separated Bike Lane Virtual Meeting is happening!
Wed, Dec 7, 6p.
Weโll be talking about connections to the Gwynns Falls Trail and crossing conditions.
Access the WebEx meeting:
Or call: 408.418.9388
passcode: 2340 732 9898
Spoiler: the answer is "pretty safe."
What experts and riders point to in the article as a solution to improve safety of this successful program:
More safe, separated infrastructure. ๐ฒ๐ด๐ฆฝ๐ฉโ๐ฆฏ๐ถโโ๏ธ
Itโs not always easy going without a car in Baltimore, but a growing number of people, particularly those on limited incomes, are turning to scooters not just for short leisurely rides but as a primary means of transportation. But how safe are they?
In a 2 hour board meeting featuring verbal testimony from residents over 90% in support, Bolton Hill Community Association voted to write a letter of support for
@BmoreCityDOT
to unpause the Eutaw bike lane project.
"People only ride for recreation" they say, ignoring the folks who deliver food to their doorsteps and scoot home from work to their families.
#streetsforpeople
We have questioned the legality of charging a higher and per square foot fee to restaurants for curbside dining vs. the fixed right-of-way use fee of $1,100 for valet parking when the former must be prioritized over the latter under our Complete Streets Ordinance. No response.
The city is considering a new annual fee for restaurants with street-side seating: $10/sqft.
If you were a restaurant owner, would you keep your parklet?
If you have any information on either of the cowardly hit and run drivers that killed a 47 year old riding a bicycle last night and injured a child earlier in the weekend, please DM us and contact
@BaltimorePolice
at 410-396-2606.
This afternoon we attended
@POTUS
kickoff of the Frederick Douglass Tunnel. This project creates 20,000 direct construction jobs in Baltimore.
We were vocal advocates for a Project Labor Agreement (announced today) and $50m in local workforce training and community investment.
We are honored that Bikemore ED
@lizbybike
has been selected as co-chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure transition committee alongside
@morganstateu
's Dr. Celeste Chavis.
We continue to build our team for
#ANewWayForward
for Baltimore. Last month, I announced the steering committee that will work closely with me to guide the transition process.
Today, I'm announcing the 10 priorities we will focus on, along with their respective co-chairs.
Some good news: Baltimore won 2 Bikeways grants including $326k for rapid projects to fix gaps on Mt. Royal Ave., Madison Ave., 27th St., and Sharp St., and $120k for a feasibility study to connect the Jones Falls Trail to the Torrey C Brown (NCR trail)!
Bill would give Baltimore City power to tow, impound cars improperly registered out of state - NBC
Some Maryland state lawmakers seek to crack down on residents dragging their feet when registering their cars.
The Frederick Douglass Tunnel project will create 30,000 jobs in the Baltimore region during construction, directly inject >$50 million into West Baltimore through a community compact, and deliver MARC and Amtrak commutes to DC under 30 minutes.
@amtrak
President Stephen Gardner announces 150th Anniversary of the groundbreaking for the B&P Tunnel, dedication of the new Frederick Douglass Tunnel, making the new tunnel electric trains only, and a community benefits investment commitment. Big news on Juneteenth observed.
Multiple sections of the Maryland Ave/Cathedral cycletrack are closed today without the legally mandated accommodation of an all-ages detour.
This is a *constant* issue across the city. Do better
@BmoreCityDOT
.
The Bicycle Safety Yield passed out of the House Environment and Transportation Committee today!
Huge thanks to vice chair
@reginatboyce
for her work on this legislation.
We're hoping for a favorable vote in the senate committee soon!
The Bicycle Safety Yield, legal in 11 states and DC, is the safest way for a bicyclist to cross a controlled intersection.
We are grateful to Delegates
@reginatboyce
and
@Embry4Delegate
and Senator
@Willcsmithjr
for sponsoring this legislation.
Here's a brief explainer:
As a Black pedestrian citizen in Baltimore, I find it important to contextualize the bike lane conversation through my Black lens. So hereโs some perspective as I wrap up editing the video tomorrow. I hope
@CCMiddleton6
keeps in mind the needs of us w/o cars.
Streets for People.
Pictured: $30k in local business sales, multiple safe ways to arrive, and placemaking that makes businesses more attractive to hang out at.
What a Bike Breakfast!
We were so lucky to have bicycling legends stop by while in town for
@MarylandClassic
.
Nelson Vails likes the 28th Street lane they rode this morning, but suggests Baltimore get some better bike lane sweepers like they have in San Diego.
Agreed ๐
Unfortunately, virtual testimony was unexpectedly not permitted during tonight's Rules and Legislative Oversight Hearing on bike lanes. We wish the two dozen participants who could not make an in-person 4:00pm 3.5 hour hearing but wished to testify had the opportunity to do so.
The future Baltimore Greenway Trails 35 mile trail loop will get a new spur that connects Baltimore City to BWI and Annapolis entirely by trail.
We're proud to have supported this application by
@MedStarHarbor
, and are grateful to the many other champions and supporters!
Bikemore's work to pilot
#BigJumpBaltimore
, combined with the Complete Streets ordinance, delivers $6 million in Federal Reconnecting Communities funds to advance permanent redesign of the Druid Park Lake Drive/Auchentoroly highway barrier to Druid Hill Park.
@JamesTorrenceJD
Full list of
@USDOT
Reconnecting Communities/Neighborhood Access & Equity grants announced
Highlights:
โATL BeltLine & Stitch over I-75/85
โBirmingham Main St redesign
โPortland Broadway redesign & I-5 hwy cap
โSelmaโMontgomery trail
โPhilly I-676 cap
Notably, this vote approved a plan that contains insufficient funding for the Red Line?! and plans a result in 2050 of *increased vehicle miles traveled* and no change in transit mode share.
It ensures
@MayorBMScott
's Climate Action Plan cannot be met, yet the city voted for it.
Disappointingly,
@BaltoMetroCo
's BRTB unanimously voted to approve disproportionate highway expansion this morning despite overwhelming public comments against such expansion from
@strongtownsbalt
,
@bikemorebmore
, and literally hundreds of other people. ๐ฅด
Highlights of
#BigJumpBaltimore
evaluation:
๐Delay of 36 seconds at worst
๐No impact on parallel routes
๐ฅFewer crashes
๐ด10-15x usage vs parallel routes
๐87% of survey want it to be permanent.
๐
@tooledesign
recommends improving
#BigJumpBaltimore
and making it permanent.
The Baltimore City Department of Transportation Completes Evaluation of the Big Jump Initiative. The BCDOT conducted an evaluation of the project, which included a public survey and data analyses. To read more about the evaluation, please click the link
We have filed a protest with the Board of Estimates about a proposed transfer of speed camera revenue to Baltimore Police.
These funds should be invested in life-saving traffic calming that permanently reduces the need for cameras, not given to police.
A long known issue at a crash heavy intersection.
Design changes can prevent crashes like this. Automated enforcement may have stopped this driver running a red, or at least caught them when they fled.
Both routinely opposed by drivers valuing speed and convenience over lives.
Neighbors and advocates in West Baltimore want to see more done about a dangerous intersection. It comes after a bicyclist was killed in a hit-and-run Sunday morning. | Click on the image to read the full story
Opening of hearing: look at this mangled car!
Closing of hearing: that was actually my car, I support the bike lane that had nothing to do with the crash.
If y'all didn't hear the NASA scientist talking about his Mustang getting wrecked on 28th, and how he'd trade that car that was his baby anyday for a safer city, you missed out on some peak Baltimore bike lane drama.
A safer ๐ฒ๐ด connection to North Ave made. And after the BGE work is done, we're slated to get the long promised safer connection to Guilford Ave Bike Boulevard and the Jones Falls Trail.
Overall, we get a safer street for students, faculty, and residents to cross. ๐ถโโ๏ธ๐จโ๐ฆฏ๐จโ๐ฆฝ
We 100% agree with Senator Hayes here.
Lockbox this revenue entirely to physical roadway changes and shorter signal timings in camera geographies to reduce speeding and other dangerous driving behavior.
City has authority to do this. We've been calling for it for years.
@IanMWolfe
@kwamerose
Similar to the cameras on I-83 revenue generated from these cameras should be limited to the communities where they are located to finance permanent traffic mitigation โฆ ie..extensive hyper local traffic studies, narrower roads, bump outs, turnabouts, medians with trees. Why notโฆ
Great news on today's MBAC call: the road diet and separated bike lanes for University Parkway between 39th and Charles should begin work in the next few weeks.
Tune in this afternoon for the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Commission meeting at 4pm!
We'll be focused on a detailed review of the recommended goals & objectives for the updated Baltimore City Bicycle Master Plan.
Queue jump bus lanes like this one are a critical investment toward a faster, more reliable transit system.
All of that space devoted to cars is only moving ~20 people in this video, or ~1/3 the capacity of a single bus.
Good morning from the
@mtamaryland
54 bus! I love seeing our bus full of people speed past cars across the Harford Road bridge. Allowing our most efficient vehicles (buses) to bypass traffic helps us to improve travel time & reliability for riders. More bus lanes = better buses!
The recent mask mandate ruling does not prohibit local restrictions.
.
@mtamaryland
and
@CharmCityCirc
should not have removed their mask wearing requirements. This action will directly harm transit riders who are disproportionately vulnerable to COVID-19.
When constructed, this will connect to coming facilities on St. Lo Drive and existing and coming facilities on Harford Road, creating a separated connection from Fells Point through East and Northeast Baltimore to the County line.
Wolfe & Washington Bikeway Study
Tue
Apr 4
6p
Wolfe Street
Academy
245 S Wolfe St
In the Cafeteria.
Accessible via CityLink Gold
Join us to see the study results, including the proposed 2-way cycle track on Washington St and traffic calming on Wolfe St.
Anthony took a break from learning to longboard this afternoon to tell us about why keeping the Monument Street protected bike lane and investing in
#streetsforpeople
is important to him. Take 2 minutes to hear his story:
Baltimore City's permanent curbside dining program was approved today by the Board of Estimates.
While we have a number of equity and legal concerns around the fee structure, we're strongly supportive of a continued program and glad to see the city take this step as a start.