Maryland Makes Progress on Bike Infrastructure Improvements

From bicycle planning to mapping to infrastructure expansion, counties and cities throughout the state are pushing forward with efforts to increase bicycling opportunities, reports Candy Thomson.

1 minute read

January 10, 2013, 7:00 AM PST

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


Maryland is already recognized as one of the top states for bicycling. It was ranked number 8 by the League of American Bicyclists, with good grades for legislation, enforcement, policies, education and planning. But, starting with Gov. Martin O'Malley's leadership, officials across the state are redoubling their efforts to increase bicycling opportunities. 

Thomson details what several of the state's cities and counties are doing to address weaknesses in infrastructure and funding, and advance bicycle system planning.

In Baltimore, where bike commuting has increased 50 percent over the past four years, officials are looking to update the 2006 master plan, noted Nate Evans, the city's bike and pedestrian planner. "The biggest accomplishment during the past 12 months, Evans said, was securing more than $400,000 in state and federal money to expand the city's 40 miles of bike lanes and 39 miles of trails."

"Those projects include cycle tracks that place a bike lane between the curb and a row of parked cars to provide a margin of safety for riders. Maryland Avenue, Cathedral Street and Park Avenue could be prime candidates, Evans said."

Friday, January 4, 2013 in The Baltimore Sun

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of full beer glass with purple train-themed design sitting on bar between two frosty tall cans.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?

TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

June 30 - Cities Today

Vintage red Toronto streetcar passing in front of Rogers Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events

Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

June 30 - blogTO

Map of Berlin with ring roads in green and red.

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan

The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.

June 30 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.