Posts Categorized in 'Parking'

Artscape Bike Parking Help Still Needed

Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts needs a few more volunteers to assist with bike parking at Artscape.

The shift times needing assistance are:

• Friday & Saturday 10:30am- 2:30pm, 2:30 – 5:30pm, 5:30 -9:00pm
• Sunday 10:30am - 1:30pm, 1:30 – 4:30pm, 4:30 – 8:00pm

If you are interested in taking a couple hours to park bikes & talk up biking in Baltimore, just email Heather St. Clair or register online by this Sunday, July 15th.

B’more Awarded Grant for Bike Racks

The Baltimore Department of Transportation was recently awarded $44,000 from the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board (BRTB) to re-start the city’s free bike rack service.   The BRTB administers Congestion, Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grants for the Baltimore region and selected the bike rack application in addition to several other applications.

Coming soon, the Department of Transportation will reactivate the “Bike Rack Request” page on the city’s website to make it easier for residents and property owners to request bike racks.  Once the request is received, DOT Maintenance crews will schedule a site evaluation and installation, which typically takes 1 hour.

With a program budget of $55,000, the Department of Transportation wishes to maximize the number of racks on the street while remaining under budget. This project will have three (3) different awards.

Two (2) bicycle rack purchases worth $20,000 each where the bicycle racks are

• an inverted U-shape style,
• approximately 2” think, 24” at the base and 30” high
• powder coating or similar weather protection
• in a variety of colors
• include bolts, anchors or other necessary hardware

Another bicycle rack purchase, worth $5,000 will focus on bike corrals (on-street bicycle parking), where the corral is

• an inverted U-shape style with five (5) racks per corral
• approximately 2”, thick, 24” at the base and 30” high
• powder coating or similar weather protection
• include rails, bolts, anchors or other necessary hardware

If you are interested in submitting a quote for consideration, please send a pdf no later than Wednesday, July 25^th to Nate Evans. Each quote should be at or below the amounts indicated above and include shipping and handling costs.

City Considers Secure Bike Parking Facility

The City of Baltimore is considering the development of a secure bike parking facility in downtown Baltimore.   A secure bike parking facility is a gated area in which bikes can be parked all day, typically for commuters (like the bike cage at UMB).  This joint project between the Departments of General Services, Transportation and the Parking Authority is seeking public input on concepts for the facility.

If you commute or frequent downtown by bike, please take this quick survey to assist with this project’s development.

Bad Bike Parking 103

No bike parking is worse than that area that makes it even harder to park bikes.  In an urban setting, there’s no lack of sign posts, trash cans and railings to attach a bike to.   In the vicinity of some institutions that use extreme caution, no chances will be taken to ensure that bikes can not and will not be allowed to be attached to any fixed object, even for a brief period of time.  In today’s episode, we see this in full actualization.  The “fence” would have made for a decent locking location, except that the base is 4 feet off the ground.  Nevertheless, the chicken wire is applied to improve aesthetics and guarantee no bike parking.  The sign is added just to get the point across.

Bad Bike Parking 102

Dick’s Last Resort   For the tourist center it is, Pier 5 only has one bike rack.  ONE!   Most cyclists lock up to the base of the handrails at the Promenade level.  Even then you need a cable to get the 3 point security down.  By angling the bike against the brick wall, pedestrian traffic remains unincumbered. Sometimes, the bad bike parking is due in part to the user.  Using the center handrail is vehemently advised against, especially at Dick’s Last Resort.   You may return to find your bike with a new saran wrap coating and nastigram.

Bad Bike Parking 101

With the reawakening of biking in Baltimore, new city ordinances and codes requiring bike parking, more racks have popped up around town.  While the intent to provide racks is always appreciated, the planning, installation and proper use can make good intentions seem for naught.

McHenry Row – The new bike racks at Harris Teeter became an instant urban legend .  Great place to shop, terrible place to park a bike.   While the site intended to park 6 bikes each, a poor rack design and incorrect installation made it only feasible to park 2.    As you can see from the picture, the rack is placed as close to the wall as possible, leaving no room for wheel clearance.  It is possible to park on the ends, which is the only part of the rack that’s going to last.   The small metal bands in the middle are not going to hold up to weather, bolt cutter or the swift impact from a Timberland.  On a good note, the racks are powder-coated, which will limit dinging up bikes.  There are total of 3 of these racks on site, which can only park 6 bikes out of an intended 18.

Bike Parking at Sailabration

One last day to celebrate Sailabration at the Inner Harbor

Plan for Sailabration, Bike Often!

Next week, Baltimore anticipates 250,000 visitors coming to the city for the 200th Star Spangled Sailabration.  Traffic conditions will be similar to that of last year’s Grand Prix (except for the road closures).  With the coming increased congestion, biking will again prove to be the most efficient travel mode! 

To prepare for biking to the Star Spangled Sailabration, here are a few tips:

• Bike parking will be available at the Inner Harbor on the Light Street side of the Visitor Center
• Bike parking will be available immediately outside Fort McHenry on Wallace Street.  Cycling will be prohibited on the grounds of Fort McHenry.
• If you plan on going to the Fort, especially for the Blue Angels Air Show, get there at or before 8am.
• For the Blue Angels Show, viewing space will be available at Port Covington (Sam’s Club) and at Harbor Hospital on the Gwynns Falls Trail.  Be aware that the Gwynns Falls Trail along Harbor Hospital will be congested with spectators, especially on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

For more information on Sailabration, click here

“Bike Cage” Provides Secure Parking at UMB

Looking inside the Bike Cage

The University of Maryland Baltimore has created the city’s first secure bike parking.  Sometimes known as a “bike station”, this “bike cage” provides bike parking secure from theives and weather.  Open 24/7, the bike cage is available to faculty, staff, students and affiliates of UMMC and Biopark.

Tony Green, Transportation Demand Management coordinator for UM, was instrumental in establishing the bike cage.  Participation in the program is open to students and employees at $10 per semester or $25 annually. The bike cage, located inside the Pratt St. garage, is a fenced area equipped with a keycard pass only available to members.   Bike cage members will also have access to the shower facility in the Southern Management Corporate Campus center. Standard wave racks are bolted to the green floor.  Several wall racks were installed planning for the program’s expansion.

Free, covered (but unsecure) racks outside the cage

Space in the bike cage is limited and access cards are availabe on a first come/first served basis. Free bike parking within the garage outside the bike cage is still available, between two guard booths.  For more information, download an application here.

Bike Parking at Convention Center

For years, visitors to our fair city have asked where to park their bikes at the convention center.  While the fence along Howard Street was the closest place to lock a bike, it certainly wasn’t a formal place to park nor was it inviting to cyclists. 

This morning, a new red bike rack appeared at the corner of Howard & Pratt Sts.  Definitely an eye-catching bike rack on a main corridor into downtown.  Given the location, another rack or two like this could be needed.