Bicycle Friendly Community

Baltimore, MD | Bronze Level

Community Highlights: Baltimore hosts a number of successful bicycle related events, attracting often up to thousands of people from in and around the city. The Kinetic Sculpture Race kicks off Bike Month with human powered works of art, custom built for the race. BikeJam at Patterson Park is a circuit bike race with trail riding. The Mid-Atlantic Off-Road Enthusiasts (MORE) provide additional trail maintenance opportunities during Bike to Work Month.
Bike Maryland, a statewide non-profit, contributes information sharing and outreach efforts by hosting the annual Bicycle and Smart Transportation Symposium and other social events focusing on issues that increase bicycle safety and the number of bicyclists. Bike Maryland will further expand this program to high-risk populations through the mentoring and education provided by the bike ambassador program. This is complimented by a Safe Routes to School program at all Elementary and Middle Schools. The Baltimore City Council took up the cyclists’ cause this past year through a number of efforts: passing the Complete Streets resolution, Cyclovia events, creating a Baltimore Streets public committee, Cyclists' Bill of Rights, Mandatory bicycle-safe grates on all city projects, mandatory bicycle parking for employees and new or expanded structures, and mandating a hearing between local law enforcement and area cyclists.

Recent Accomplishments: Baltimore has added a number of infrastructure projects including the Southeast and Park Heights Bicycle Networks, Baltimore's first contraflow bike lane and the city's first cross-downtown bike route. Baltimore is incorporating innovative approaches to improve on-road conditions such as bicycle boulevards and "green" bike lanes through downtown.