Bicycle riders get on-street parking in Charles Village
Racks part of effort to make Baltimore bike-friendly
By Adam Bednar
abednar@patuxent.com
Posted 3/25/09
On March 20, a blustery first day of spring, Mayor Sheila Dixon and several bikers rode into Charles Village to celebrate the city’s first on-street bike parking.
The parking, essentially a bicycle rack, is in the 3000 block of St. Paul Street in front of Eddie’s Market.
Dixon said the parking is just one of many steps the city is taking to make Baltimore a more bike-friendly city.
“If you notice more and more people are riding their bikes in the city because we’re making it easier for them,” Dixon said.
Jerry Gordon, owner of Eddie’s, said he was glad to see the bike parking installed because they were originally part of the streetscaping that was supposed to be part of the construction of the Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse’s proposed Olmsted Building at the corner of 33rd and St. Paul streets.
However, the streetscaping stalled when the plans to build the mixed use condominium, office and retail building stopped last spring because of the declining housing market.
Gordon, who gave up a parking space in front of his store for the bike parking, said he wanted it because it will entice people to shop locally.
“We want these bike racks, we want people to be able to come to Eddie’s and the neighborhood, by bike, or by foot and we want to keep people in the neighborhood,” he said.
Mark Counselman, an Oakenshawe resident that has advocated for a more bike-friendly city, said he thought the parking was reason for a celebration.
Although, in the grand scheme of things, the bike rack was “no big deal,” it’s an important part of making Baltimore a more bike-friendly place, Counselman said.
“It’s a simple detail. If you’re going to come by bike you need a bike rack,” he said.
Now cyclists won’t be forced to lock their bikes on the street signs and trees along the commercial district of St. Paul Street that stretches from 30th to 33rd streets.
Not having a place to safely secure a bike is a big deterrent to cyclists, he said.
“You have to have a secure place to park, period,” Counselman said.
Dana Moore, president of the Charles Village Civic Association, said she was very excited that the neighborhood was the first in the city to have on-street bike parking.
“It’s always nice to be first. It shows how open we are and receptive we are to doing things a little different and doing whatever it takes to enhance the city,” Moore said.
Moore said she was glad to see the bike parking for a personal reason.
“Last summer I was trying to park right along here, and managed to back into a bicycle that was illegally wrapped around a tree and busted out my taillight,” Moore said. “I couldn’t be happier that we’re getting some official parking because that cost me about $500.”
The parking, essentially a bicycle rack, is in the 3000 block of St. Paul Street in front of Eddie’s Market.
Dixon said the parking is just one of many steps the city is taking to make Baltimore a more bike-friendly city.
“If you notice more and more people are riding their bikes in the city because we’re making it easier for them,” Dixon said.
Jerry Gordon, owner of Eddie’s, said he was glad to see the bike parking installed because they were originally part of the streetscaping that was supposed to be part of the construction of the Struever Bros., Eccles & Rouse’s proposed Olmsted Building at the corner of 33rd and St. Paul streets.
However, the streetscaping stalled when the plans to build the mixed use condominium, office and retail building stopped last spring because of the declining housing market.
Gordon, who gave up a parking space in front of his store for the bike parking, said he wanted it because it will entice people to shop locally.
“We want these bike racks, we want people to be able to come to Eddie’s and the neighborhood, by bike, or by foot and we want to keep people in the neighborhood,” he said.
Mark Counselman, an Oakenshawe resident that has advocated for a more bike-friendly city, said he thought the parking was reason for a celebration.
Although, in the grand scheme of things, the bike rack was “no big deal,” it’s an important part of making Baltimore a more bike-friendly place, Counselman said.
“It’s a simple detail. If you’re going to come by bike you need a bike rack,” he said.
Now cyclists won’t be forced to lock their bikes on the street signs and trees along the commercial district of St. Paul Street that stretches from 30th to 33rd streets.
Not having a place to safely secure a bike is a big deterrent to cyclists, he said.
“You have to have a secure place to park, period,” Counselman said.
Dana Moore, president of the Charles Village Civic Association, said she was very excited that the neighborhood was the first in the city to have on-street bike parking.
“It’s always nice to be first. It shows how open we are and receptive we are to doing things a little different and doing whatever it takes to enhance the city,” Moore said.
Moore said she was glad to see the bike parking for a personal reason.
“Last summer I was trying to park right along here, and managed to back into a bicycle that was illegally wrapped around a tree and busted out my taillight,” Moore said. “I couldn’t be happier that we’re getting some official parking because that cost me about $500.”
user comments (1)
user hart444 says...
Great news for Baltimore. Here in Portland, OR we have many on-street bike corrals, and they are constantly full and provide tons more foot traffic to businesses while relieving automobile congestion and noise.
Posted 1:17 PM, 03.25.09
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