This year marks a record number of registered participants in central Maryland

 Baltimore, MD (May 20, 2016) - Today, Department of Transportation Acting Director Frank J. Murphy joined bicycling enthusiasts to celebrate National Bike to Work Day.   Celebrations were held this morning at various commuter stations throughout the city.  Over 1600 cyclists registered for Bike to Work Day events, which is a record number of registered participants for central Maryland.

This year marked the 19^th annual Bike to Work Day celebration held in Baltimore, which originated back in 1956.  Bike to Work Day events is held annually across the United States and Canada to promote cycling as a viable option for commuting to work. 

“Bike to Work Day is an excellent way to encourage citizens to use alternative modes of transportation,” said Acting Director Murphy.  “The City of Baltimore is making significant progress in becoming bicycle friendly, and we are committed to providing a safe and sustainable multi-modal transportation system.”

To promote Bike to Work Day in Baltimore, the Department of Transportation organized a number of cycle ‘commuter stations’ at various downtown locations.  These stations made it easy for cyclists to participate, by providing a number of convenient locations in the downtown area. 

Sponsors of the commuter stations included:

•Baltimore City Department of Transportation

•Baltimore Bicycle Works

•Bikemore

•Johns Hopkins University

•Merritt Athletic Clubs

• Maryland State Highway Administration

•MedStar Union Memorial Hospital

•750 East Pratt LLC/ Hord|Coplan|Macht

•University of Maryland Medical Center

• Waterfront Partnership

• Joe’s Bike Shop

• Zipcar

In order to promote biking initiatives, the Department of Transportation continues to implement its updated Bicycle Master Plan, which will connect the city through an extensive network of bike lanes and trails.  Within the past few years, 125 miles of bikeways and 41 miles of trails have been designated in the city.  DOT has placed over 600 bike racks in neighborhoods throughout Baltimore for safer and more convenient bicycle parking. 

The Department of Transportation recently received $1.2 million in Transportation Alternatives Program funding that will be used to construct the Downtown Bicycle Network Project this summer.  This includes parking-protected bike lanes on Maryland Avenue, Cathedral, Centre, Monument and Madison Streets as well as bike lanes on Preston and Biddle Streets.  The project will also include a $1.7 million local match and was expanded to include a parking protected bike lane on Potomac Street as well as painting the Jones Falls Trail green along the Inner Harbor.  Both of these projects are vital to promote biking as a viable transportation alternative.

The City is also on its way to launching its bike share program that will include the largest electric-assist bike share fleet in the United States.  The program is expected to launch this fall and citizens can now visit our new bikeshare website at ‘bmorebikeshare.com’.  Citizens are encouraged to participate in our on-line survey to provide their opinions on this new program and possible locations of bikeshare stations.

The Baltimore City Department of Transportation:

“Keeping Baltimore Moving Safely”

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