There’s a new organization among the ranks of pro-cycling groups in Baltimore: Bikemore. Bikemore’s mission is to “to build a more livable Baltimore by promoting all forms of cycling, expanding the number of people who ride a bike, and advocating for the rights, safety, and equality of Baltimore’s diverse cycling community.”
Bikemore sees the achievement of safe road conditions and the encouragement of cycling as imperative for Baltimore. Bikemore works with community associations to identify how rider safety can be improved in a particular neighborhood and organizes cycling-supporters to take action. The significant number of Baltimoreans who don’t own a car and high rates of obesity in low-income areas are, according to Bikemore’s Chris Merriam, reasons for Baltimore to present its citizens with a real cycling option by addressing cyclist safety throughout the city. A City Paper article from April uses the struggle for a bike lane on Mt. Royal Avenue as an entry point to Bikemore’s unique focus and philosophy among Baltimore transportation groups.
Wherever you live in Baltimore, even if you aren’t an active cyclist, you can already do something to support Bikemore’s mission. In addition to the actions below, you can stay informed by joining their mailing list.
You can help enforce bike lane violations by taking a photograph of an offender and submitting it to Bikemore for their Facebook album. Here’s the procedure as described by Bikemore:
1.) Take a photo, if you can, including the offender’s license plate and any other identifying information, plus any signage that proves the vehicle is parked illegally. (Note: if someone is in the car, photographing it might be perceived as an aggressive act and could provoke a confrontation. Use your best judgement.)
2.) Record the time and exact location of the violation.
3.) Report it to 311. You can do this on the phone (dial 311) or online (click here). There is also a Baltimore 311 app for both iPhone and Android.
4.) Record the complaint number that 311 gives you after your request is recorded.
5.) E-mail all this information, including the photo and complaint number to info@bikemore.net.
You can also take political action help by advocating on behalf of the construction of two “Cycletracks” (barrier separated bike lanes): one on Mt. Royal Avenue between Guilford Avenue and McMechen Streets, one on Maryland Avenue between Pratt Street and 29th Street.
Anyone interested in speaking on behalf of the Mt. Royal lane should look out for public meetings on the proposed project coming in September. Bikemore is especially looking for supporters who fit one of these descriptions:
- You regularly use Mount Royal Avenue (whether as a pedestrian, cyclist, driver, or resident);
- You are a MICA or University of Baltimore student, faculty, or staff member;
- You are involved with the Mount Royal Improvement Association (MRIA) or the Mount Vernon Belvedere Association (MVBA), the two neighborhood associations affected by the plan;
- You are a Lyric Opera House board member, staffer, or frequent patron.
If you do, contact Chris Merriam at info@bikemore.net to get involved.
Bikemore is also looking for supporters to advocate on behalf of the Maryland Avenue Cycletrack, and are particularly looking for individuals who fit one of these descriptions:
- You use Maryland Avenue/Cathedral/Liberty Streets or any of the parallel streets in the area, regardless of mode (this includes residents);
- You are at all involved with the following institutions: Downtown Partnership, MICA, University of Baltimore, Johns Hopkins University (Homewood Campus), Lyric Opera House, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall, Enoch Pratt Free Library (main branch), Waxter Senior Center, Baltimore School for the Arts, Maryland Historical Society.
- You are involved with the community association(s) in the following neighborhoods: Charles Village, Old Goucher, Station North/Charles North, Mount Vernon.
If you do, contact Chris Merriam at info@bikemore.net to get involved.
This post is presented as an opportunity for citizen engagement and does not necessarily reflect the mission of CPHA.
