Protected Bike Lanes, Vehicle Lane Reductions Cause Stir in Baltimore

Residents and business operators say they weren’t warned about a road diet planned for a major thoroughfare in Baltimore. Planners and advocates say the changes have been a long time coming.

2 minute read

November 30, 2022, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Old brick buildings line Central Avenue in Baltimore. The street is filled with construction equipment.

Signs of road construction were visible on Central Avenue in Baltimore in June 2022. | Google Streetview

“Work is wrapping up on a $55 million, yearslong upgrade of a major downtown roadway serving Baltimore’s developing waterfront neighborhoods,” reports Lorraine Mirabella in a paywalled article for the Baltimore Sun. “But the revitalization of Central Avenue’s streetscape has surprised some business operators and residents.”

Based on the article’s telling of the story, some local businesses and residents were expecting the project to add vehicle capacity—instead the project is eliminating a vehicle lane in each direction and adding a protected bicycle path. Doug Schmidt, a principal with Workshop Development, is quoted in the article saying the “road diet” was never made public.

“Opponents fear the rebuilt road won’t handle current traffic or heavier use as workers return to offices and as new apartments, offices, hotels and stores open in the corridor. They worry about safety, loss of parking, disruption to businesses that rely on loading areas and increased congestion on neighborhood streets,” writes Mirabella.

Proponents, including bike and complete streets advocates, support the changes. The article notes that the political conflict is indicative of similar struggles in other cities—where increasing awareness of traffic safety and climate change is butting heads with the car-centric planning status quo.

The article documents the planning process that produced the road diet for Central Avenue. The process dates back to 2015, with more direct changes implemented by the city’s adoption of a complete streets ordinance in 2018 and public outreach in November 2021.

Monday, November 21, 2022 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.

July 2, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

White and purple sign for Slow Street in San Francisco, California with people crossing crosswalk.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths

Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

July 1, 2025 - KQED

Google street view of red brick multi-story power plant building in Pittsburgh, PA.

Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower

A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.

2 hours ago - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Cyclist on protected bike lane in middle of street in Washington D.C. with Washington Monument obelisk visible in background.

Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”

The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.

3 hours ago - Streetsblog USA

Blue and silver Amtrak train at small station.

Amtrak Rolls Out New Orleans to Alabama “Mardi Gras” Train

The new service will operate morning and evening departures between Mobile and New Orleans.

July 3 - New Orleans City Business