Notes on Baltimore City Route Selections

Notes from Gerry Neily on Baltimore bike route selections:

By far the most important criterion for my selection of a route is TRAFFIC SAFETY. Other criteria are continuity, simplicity, topography and scenic value. Connectivity to important destinations is also a factor, but just barely. If I could not identify an acceptably safe route between two points, I didn't include one.

I changed or eliminated all of the routes that were not useable in their present condition. I wanted all the routes to be available now, but I also wanted the map to be used to indicate where improvements are necessary. So I have indicated in RED where the City should make specific improvements to accommodate bicycles. (Note from Margie: These are not yet reflected on the electronic version)
Also, I did not consider roadway maintenance or pavement condition as a factor. The City should use the map to determine where to focus in on maintenance and establish priorities for resurfacing. For example, the bike path from Middle Branch under Hanover and Potee Streets to Reedbird Park is in deplorable condition, but I was not going to delete it from the map just because of that. Instead, the City needs to properly maintain all bike routes. I didn't want "out of sight" to become "out of mind".
The specific traffic engineering measures appropriate for each route were also not considered, particularly the eternal questions of signals vs. Stop Signs and the desireablity of bike lanes. These should be determined on a case by case basis. The route map can help to focus in on locational issues.
The locations in RED on the map are not necesssarily the most dangerous, but simply those for which the bicyclist needs to take special care, because the City has not taken bicycles into adequate consideration. Sometimes it is simply a matter of needing to walk the bike through the affected area. The following is an outline of what the City needs to consider doing at each location:
1. Hanover Street Bridge over the Patapsco River - Cyclist should use sidewalk and shoulder. City needs to eliminate the right lane (of four) and convert it to a bikeway north of the intersection Frankfurst to south of Reedbird. This project should already be in the planning process.
2. Russell Street from Annapolis Road to Haines Street - East side sidewalk should be upgraded for bike riders.
3. Sharp Street from West to Henrietta Street - Upgrade sidewalks for bikes, including a connection to Cross Street.
4. Inner Harbor Bikeway - Upgrade former trolley lane for bikes from Light/Key to Pratt Street Bridge over Jones Falls.
5. Jones Falls Promenade - Adapt promenade for bike use between Pratt and Aliceanna Streets.
6. Holliday Street north of City Hall - Adapt for bike use (especially in the northbound direction). Consider converting Holliday to two-way operation as part of a larger comprehensive traffic improvement plan.
7. Guilford Avenue from North Avenue to 20th Street - Adapt Department of Education parking lot to accommodate bike connection.
8. Eutaw Place entrance to Druid Hill Park - Restore entrance to lake loop road from Eutaw Place for bikes.
9. Northern Parkway from Greenspring to West Belvedere - Construct a safe way for bikes to cross Northern Parkway at these offset intersections.
10. Labyrinth Road from Fallstaff to Bonnie - City should install a contraflow bike lane to accommodate bike traffic in the opposite direction on this one-way street segment. Parking would not be appreciably affected.
11. Chase Street from Eden to Caroline Street - Adapt sidewalk through school property for bike connection.
12. Bank Street at Patterson Park Avenue - Adapt Patterson Park entrance for bikes.
13. Rose Street north of Belair/Sinclair - Adapt Clifton Park entrance for bikes.
14. Charles Street between Art Museum Drive and 32nd Street - Adapt intersections for bikes.
15. Tinges Lane from Gorsuch to Homestead - City should install a contraflow bike lane to accommodate traffic in the opposite direction on this one-way street segment. Parking would not be appreciably affected.
16. Southway/Chauncery from Greenway to Calvert - City should install a contraflow bike lane to accommodate traffic in the opposite direction on this one-way street segment. Parking would not be appreciably affected.
17. Underwood from Wendover to Greenmount - City should install a contraflow bike lane to accommodate traffic in the opposite direction on this one-way street segment. Parking would not be appreciably affected.
18. Lake Montebello - City should construct a small bike connection from 35th Street to the lake loop road. Through automobile traffic should be eliminated fromt he loop road. The entire loop road should accommodate bikes in both directions.
19. University Parkway from Roland to Overhill/Somerset Place - All movements should accommodate bikes, even those which are illegal for motor vehicles.
20. Loyola and Notre Dame College Campuses - A bike route should be designated through these campuses from Cold Spring Lane to Homeland Avenue.
21. Morgan State University - A bike route should be designated through the campus from Argonne Drive to Pentwood Road at Hillen Road.
22. Herring Run Drive from Echodale to Woodbourne - City should install a contraflow bike lane to accommodate traffic in the opposite direction on this one-way street segment. Parking would not be appreciably affected.
23. Anthony Avenue from St. Thomas to Woodlea Avenue - City should install a contraflow bike lane to accommodate traffic in the opposite direction on this one-way street segment. Parking would not be appreciably affected.
Of course, this list is not intented to be all inclusive regarding what the City needs to do to accommodate bikes on City streets.
Gerald Neily
VISIT "BETTER BALTIMORE TRANSPORTATION"
http://www.erols.com/gpneily/trans.htm