Bike Shorts

Friday is Bike to (and from) Work Day

Ron Cassie — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:59:28 +0000

The weather forecast for Friday — 83 degrees and sunny — couldn't be any better for the 16th Annual Bike to Work Day tomorrow in the Baltimore region.

Online registration closed Wednesday, but bicycle commuters — and would-be bike commuters — can still participate simply by showing up at one of the 11 "pit stops" located around Baltimore City, or one of seven stops in the region.

Bicycling in Baltimore — whether to work or school, for errands, shopping or recreation — got a boost last week when the city Board of Estimates approved a grant agreement with the state Department of Transportation that will move the city one step closer to establishing a bike-share program.

Also Friday: A Bike From Work Party from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Pratt Street Ale House near the Inner Harbor.

Russ Ulrich, of the Baltimore Metropolitan Council, which sponsors Bike to Work Day, said more than 1,100 people registered for the event this year, adding with the good weather forecast, he expects a lot of "ride up" participants.. More information can be found at their website here.

Most of the pit stops open at 7 a.m. and will remain open until 9 a.m., offering coffee, bagels, prizes and bike checks.

Baltimore City pit stop locations include:

Baltimore Bicycle Works (1813 Falls Road)
Baltimore City Health Department (1001 E. Fayette St.)
Brooklyn (Bambeco at Baltic Avenue & Hanover Street)
Harbor East (Aliceanna Street & President Street)
Inner Harbor (McKeldin Plaza)
Johns Hopkins University (Outside Mason Hall)
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutes, Armstrong Building (1500 block E. Monument St.)
Joe’s Bike Shop, Mt. Washington (5813 Falls Road)
McHenry Row (1400 Whetstone Way)
MD State Highway Administration (Guilford Avenue & Madison Street)
University of Maryland Medical Center (Lombard & Greene Streets)

Other pit stops in the region:

Annapolis (City Dock, 7 to 9 a.m.)
Bel Air (Harford County Govt Admin Building, 7 to 9 a.m.)
Catonsville (Santa's House @ Catonsville Fire Dept)
Columbia (The Mall in Columbia, 7 to 9 a.m.)
Towson (Towson Courthouse, 7 to 9 a.m.)
Westminster (Carroll County office building, 12 to 1 p.m.)
White Marsh (CCBC to IKEA, 8:30 to 10 a.m.)

11 bicycle "pit stops" around the city tomorrow; plus 'Bike From Work' Happy Hour.

Preakness 5k Set for Saturday

Ron Cassie — Wed, 08 May 2013 20:34:30 +0000

For the fourth year, local runners can compete on the dirt track where Secretariat and Seabiscuit once raced.

The "Down the Stretch for Susan G. Komen" Preakness 5k takes place this Saturday, May 11, at Pimlico on the historic venue's dirt track.

Last year, nearly 650 runners participated, including Doug O’Neill, trainer of Preakness Stakes and Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another, according to a press release from Corrigan Sports Enterprises.

“We get a tremendous amount of positive feedback on this event,” said Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas in a statement. “It has to be a thrill to be able to run on the track where the Preakness takes place and to possibly hear track announcer Dave Rodman call your name as you pass the finish line."

Three-quarters of the funds raised from the race will go to the Komen Maryland Affiliate for community outreach programs in the state and 25 percent will be directed to the national Komen organization to help support breast cancer research, according to the press release.

The registration fee is $35 for adult registration and $15 for youth registration. For registration and event information visit:http://www.preakness5k.org.

'Down the Stretch for Susan G. Komen' benefits breast cancer organization.

MDOT: Green Light for Baltimore Bike Sharing Program

Ron Cassie — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:29:26 +0000

The Baltimore City Board of Estimates is expected to approve a bike-sharing grant agreement with the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) at its scheduled Wednesday evening meeting.

The approval of the bike-sharing agreement represents the next step in bringing a bike-sharing program—now found in more than 500 cities worldwide—to Baltimore after a similar effort last year fell apart. Bike sharing programs, for those unfamiliar, rent bicycles—for a small membership or fee—from convenient public stations around cities, typically for short trips. The idea is to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions while providing cheap, healthy alternative transportation.

Michael Jackson, director of pedestrian and bicycle access for MDOT, told Bike Shorts that several minor hurdles remain in the process, including a final review by MDOT’s Darrell B. Mobley, the transportation department’s acting secretary. But Jackson said the go-ahead for Baltimore City’s bike-sharing program is “95 percent” certain at his point.

Part of Gov. Martin O’Malley’s “Cycle Maryland” initiative, the state is funding the majority of the start-up costs of the bike-share program with a grant of $881,300. Baltimore efforts to implement a bike-sharing program in the city by last fall ended when an exclusive negotiating agreement with B-Cycle—a bike-sharing company operating in 15 cities— expired without a deal when the company couldn’t line up enough private, local sponsors to offset the capital start-up costs.

Jackson said that Baltimore is working on a deal with Alta Bike Share, the company that Washington, D.C. contracted with to develop, design and launch its successful Capital Bikeshare program. Capital Bikeshare, which has expanded to include nearby Arlington and Alexandria, recently surpassed 4 million rides since its September 2010 launch. The Capital Bikeshare program now has more than 1,800 bikes at 200-plus stations.

Capital Bikeshare offers daily, monthly and yearly membership rates (yearly rates, for example, are $75) and the first 30 minutes of any ride after a membership is purchased is free.

In an email, Baltimore bicycle and pedestrian planner Nate Evans said Phase I of the proposed Baltimore bike-sharing program would include 250 bikes at probably 25 stations.

“We should double the size (of the number of bikes and stations) for Phase 2,” Evans wrote, adding that the best hope for the launch of project is April 2014. Evans also said the city is waiting on final approval from the state on its proposed contract with Alta.

Last month, Montgomery County’s Department of Transportation signed a contract with Alta that will bring an estimated 50 bike stations and 450 bikes to the county.

The City of Frederick and Howard County are also currently exploring bike-sharing programs.

Similar to Baltimore, College Park also received a state grant to launch last year to launch a bicycle sharing program.

City Board of Estimates is expected to approve agreement Wednesday.

Opening this Saturday: Fell's Point Farmer's Market

Ron Cassie — Fri, 03 May 2013 17:26:25 +0000

The tradition of waterfront shopping for local, farm fresh goods dates back to the 1700s in historic Fells Point. This weekend, the modern incarnation of the Fells Point Farmer's Market returns for the third year — opening at Broadway Square and running on Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. through November.

Accessible by foot, bike, water taxi and car, the Fells Point Farmer's Market website list 32 farm and food vendors, and 13 craft vendors. Usually, there's some live music, too. The market's Facebook page can be found here.

Local chefs in Fells Point, Canton and Harbor East also purchase the fresh local produce available at the market to go along with their daily specials.

18th century tradition of waterfront shopping for local, farms fresh goods returns.

Tonight: Ride Around Lake Montebello Kickoff

Ron Cassie — Thu, 02 May 2013 16:09:22 +0000

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake will help celebrate the start of National Bike Month tonight with a 5 p.m. kickoff ride around Lake Montebello.

Organized by the Department of Recreation and Parks and Department of Public Works, "Laps Around the Lake" is free and open to the public. Bikes are available from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

From May through August, Lake Montebello will host rides around the lake from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. while Druid Hill Park will host similar rides on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The League of American Bicyclists recognizes May as National Bike Month, which includes National Bike to School Day May 8 and National Bike to Work Week from May 13-17. National Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 17. The share of Americans commuting by bike has grown by 47 percent since 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Upcoming bike events in the Baltimore area this month include the not-to-be-missed, 15th Annual Kinetic Sculpture Race, hosted by American the American Visionary Arts Museum, this Saturday, May 4; the Monument to Monument ride this Sunday, May 5; Bike Maryland's Rec Ride — part of Patterson Park's annual Bike Jam — May 19; and the May edition of the Baltimore Bike Party, May 31. The Baltimore Family Bike Party also organizes a ride each month.

The Baltimore Bicyling Club, which hosts recreational rides every weekend (and many weekdays) in Baltimore County and beyond, also gets out to the 31st Annual Kent County Spring Fling, May 24-27.

Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake helps celebrate the start of National Bike Month tonight.

Goucher Named To ‘Green College’ Honor Roll

Ron Cassie — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:10:10 +0000

The Princeton Review recognized Goucher College’s environmental efforts last week, naming the Towson school to its Green Honor Roll.

One of just 21 colleges named to list, the Princeton Review praised Goucher for its “strong commitment to the environment and sustainability,” giving the school a green rating of 99. Goucher was the only Maryland school named to the honor roll.

Other Maryland schools selected among the 322 “Green Colleges” by the Princeton Review, but not named to the honor roll are Frostburg State University, Johns Hopkins University, Loyola University, Salisbury University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Towson University, the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the University of Maryland, College Park.

In a press release on its website, Goucher notes the school was cited for:

Conducting public inventories of all greenhouse gas emissions on campus
Implementing an institutional action plan to combat its carbon footprint and become climate neutral
Spending 30 percent of its food budget on local/organic food
Offering transportation alternatives, such as carpool systems and free bus services
Purchasing 100 percent of the school’s energy from renewable resources
Maintaining 100 percent of the grounds organically
Having an environmental studies major
Providing guidance on green jobs
Making environmental sustainability a core educational requirement

Towson school one of 21 colleges named to Princeton Review's eco-friendly list.

Bike Party Goes Prom

Ron Cassie — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:56:50 +0000

Time to rent a cheap tux. Or dig up that one-of-a-kind dress that’s been tucked away for, oh, a decade or more. Commemorating the one-year anniversary of its launch last spring, the Baltimore Bike Party is breaking out a prom-themed ride for its April event Friday night.

Last month, the first warm, clear Baltimore Bike Party night in a while brought a return of the huge cast of bicyclists to the last-Friday-of-every month recreational ride. As usual, the meet-up begins at the Washington Monument at 7 p.m., with the 10-12-mile social ride rolling out promptly at 7:30 p.m.

The after-party—replete with D.J, dancing, prom decorations, lights, and cheesy photo opps—is scheduled for the Pratt Street Ale House. The after-party details are still being worked out, but expect a Bike Prom king and queen to be named as well. The event’s Facebook page can be found here.

This month’s ride is also associated with Baltimore Green Week, which hosts daily events this week, including several bike rides.

Next month, lead organizer Tim Barnett said, Bike Party will partner with Station North on their May Final Friday’s event. And in June, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is expected to join Bike Party as it partners with the west side Bromo Tower Arts & Entertainment District.

The Baltimore Bike Party celebrates its one-year anniversary with prom-themed ride Friday.

Patterson Park Named 'Frontline Park' By National Group

Ron Cassie — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 15:47:03 +0000

Highlighting Patterson Park’s renaissance over the past decade and a half, the national urban parks advocacy organization City Parks Alliance has named the 135-acre park in East Baltimore a “Frontline Park.”

City Parks Alliance recognizes a Frontline Park each month to promote inspiring examples of urban park excellence, innovation and stewardship across the country, according to a press release accompanying the announcement. The Frontline Park initiative also highlights challenges facing urban parks “as a result of shrinking municipal budgets, land use pressures, and urban neighborhood decay.”

In particular, the City Parks Alliance noted the work of the Friends of Patterson Park, a nonprofit formed in 1998, in turning around an historic park that had fallen into serious decline in 1970s and 1980s, and its partnership with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks. The City Parks Alliance press release also mentioned the Friends of Patterson Park’s outreach to the Latino community around the park, including the formation of Friends Consejo Hispano to receive ideas and input for park events and programs.

“We selected Patterson Park for recognition because it exemplifies the power of partnerships to create and maintain urban parks that build community and make our cities sustainable and vibrant,” said Catherine Nagel, executive director of City Parks Alliance. “We hope that, by shining the spotlight on this park, we can raise awareness about both the necessity and the promise of these kinds of partnerships to spur investment in our nation’s urban parks.”

Patterson Park will be featured on City Parks Alliance website during the month of April.

Recognition highlights 135-acre East Baltimore park’s renaissance.

Daytrip: Riding the Historic B & A Trail to Annapolis (and back)

Ron Cassie — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 17:42:42 +0000

Besides 60-degree temperatures and clear blue skies, how perfect was Sunday’s bike ride down and back to Annapolis on the B & A Trail?

Halfway through the trail, park rangers at the Earleigh Heights station were handing out big, homemade, chewy chocolate chip cookies. Apparently, the ranger station doesn’t offer free cookies all the time — these still-moist leftovers wrapped in cellophane came courtesy from an event the previous night — and we just got lucky. Nonetheless, it’s the kind of unexpected surprise that makes you want to return right away and do a ride like that again.

I’m almost embarrassed to admit that I’d never ridden the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail before because it’s been around a while.

A classic rails-to-trails path, the old Annapolis & Baltimore Short Line Railroad began carrying train passengers between the two cities more than 125 years ago. According to a history of the B & A from the Anne Arundel County Department of Parks and Recreation, on the morning of May 9, 1887, two-dozen passengers first boarded steam engine No. 1, pulling out of Annapolis’ Bladen Street Station bound for Baltimore. The maiden trip marked the beginning of 63 years of passenger service on the first major direct transportation route between the state capital and Baltimore City.

The ranger station, by the way, has been around nearly the whole time. The building is the former home of Frost’s Store, a general store built in 1889.

With hourly trains running from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., an estimated 1.75 million passengers a year — an incredible number, right? — used the 26-mile line during its peak in the Roaring Twenties. Of course, highway construction and increased competition from automobiles (sigh) and bus lines ultimately paved the end for the passenger line in 1950. However, the silver lining — granted a long-time coming — is today’s B & A Trail, which first opened 40 years after the last passenger train ran between the two iconic Maryland destinations.

Sunday, with one old acquaintance, Adam Hu, a Baltimore Bike Party organizer, and two new acquaintances, Audra Agnelly, a Dundalk High School chemistry teacher, and Kate Drabinski, a UMBC Gender and Women’s Studies professor, I finally pedaled my way to Annapolis via the old Short Line.

(Kate, by the way, also maintains the thoughtful blog, What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today.)

Rolling out from Mount Vernon, Waverly, Charles Village and Patterson Park, respectively, we met at the University of Baltimore/Mount Royal Light Rail station — bikes are allowed in the rear car — and took that train down to Linthicum. We started on the BWI Trail there, connected to the B & A Trail at its beginning in Glen Burnie, and then just spent a beautiful spring day cruising the 8-foot wide, smooth surface path down to Annapolis. Adding the entire BWI 12-mile loop, plus connecting links to the B & A Trail — 13.3 miles each way — we covered almost 50 miles at a leisurely pace. But you don’t have to ride the BWI Trail, if you’re looking for a shorter excursion, although you miss watching the planes take off and land overhead.

We grabbed lunch at Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, took a quick spin on the brick loop around the Maryland State House (“the oldest state capitol still in continuous legislative use and is the only state house to have ever served as the nation's capitol”) and headed back to Baltimore.

I even managed to get home in time to watch the final round of The Masters.

The trail itself weaves mostly though wooden areas near cozy residential neighborhoods, however, it also crosses U.S. Naval Academy Bridge over the scenic Severn River — the highlight of the ride. There were lots of bicyclists and joggers out, along with parents pushing strollers. I don’t know how many bike commuters use it during the work week, but the B & A seems like a great resource for Anne Arundel commuters — given the width and excellent condition of the path and its connections to mass transit.

There’s plenty of shops and stops available along the way, too, including a handy bike store, Pedal Pushers, The Big Bean coffee shop and the super-eco friendly Froyo House — a frozen yogurt shop — all in the same little shopping center right on the trail in Severna Park.

If there aren’t any cookies at the ranger station next trip, I’m definitely stopping at the Froyo House.

The 26-mile roundtrip path traces the old Annapolis & Baltimore Short Line Railroad

Baltimore to D.C. — The Monument to Monument Ride

Ron Cassie — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:58:00 +0000

Apparently, there's another Washington Monument in the nation's capital.

And in about four weeks, a group of Baltimore-area bicyclists are going to see for themselves, pedaling down to D.C. and back, leaving from Baltimore's Washington Monument in Mount Vernon.

The annual Mounument to Monument ride, a one-day, 97-mile round-trip trek on lightly trafficked roads, is scheduled for Sunday, May 5, leaving from Baltimore at 7:45 a.m. The ride (there's no cost) is part of the "Rando Ramble" long distance, monthly biking series in Baltimore organized by Bob Wagner and other volunteers.

Last year, about three dozen cyclists made the trip, which is not race, but a recreational ride — for the fit and prepared, granted — with a pace described on the ride's blog as "slow and steady."

Riders are asked to wear a helment, bring lights and money for lunch, make sure their bike is in good shape and be sure they are prepared physically.

A list of what IS important, if you are considering the ride can be found here.

A list of what IS NOT important, if you are considering the ride can be found here.

More info on Baltimore group rides can be found at Biking in B'more 's Meetup.com page.

Annual bike ride set from Baltimore's Washington Monument to D.C.'s