Bike-Lash Erasing Baltimore's New Bike Infrastructure

Baltimore took a while to get rolling with new bike infrastructure projects, but now a new mayoral administration is rolling back recent projects around the city.

1 minute read

June 26, 2017, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Maryland Avenue Bike Lane

The Maryland Avenue cycletrack while under construction in October 2016. | Elvert Barnes / Flickr

Luke Broadwater reports on the growing bike-lash in Baltimore, which has succeeded in pushing back the city's recent progress in bike infrastructure development.

Residents of the waterfront neighborhood of Canton complained that a bike lane there made the road too narrow for fire equipment, and the city decided to tear it out. The Roland Park Civic League has asked for a bike lane in North Baltimore to be removed, citing similar safety and design concerns. Now Mayor Catherine Pugh has ordered a review of all bike lanes and parking spaces citywide.

Bike advocates concerned about this trend also note that the city's bike director job has been vacant for more than a year. 

Mayor Pugh's case against bike lanes is a familiar one, claiming the redesigned streets are a detriment to the fire department. The article includes more of the specifics of each controversy, the original decisions, and the reaction to each.

Sunday, June 18, 2017 in The Baltimore Sun

Sweeping view of Portland, Oregon with Mt. Hood in background against sunset sky.

Oregon Passes Exemption to Urban Growth Boundary

Cities have a one-time chance to acquire new land for development in a bid to increase housing supply and affordability.

March 12, 2024 - Housing Wire

Aerial view of green roofs with plants in Sydney, Australia.

Where Urban Design Is Headed in 2024

A forecast of likely trends in urban design and architecture.

March 10, 2024 - Daily Journal of Commerce

Cobblestone street with streetcar line, row of vintage streetlights on left, and colorful restaurant and shop awnings on right on River Street in Savannah, Georgia.

Savannah: A City of Planning Contrasts

From a human-scales, plaza-anchored grid to suburban sprawl, the oldest planned city in the United States has seen wildly different development patterns.

March 12, 2024 - Strong Towns

Aerial View of Chuckanut Drive and the Blanchard Bridge in the Skagit Valley.

Washington Tribes Receive Resilience Funding

The 28 grants support projects including relocation efforts as coastal communities face the growing impacts of climate change.

March 18 - The Seattle Times

Historic buildings in downtown Los Angeles with large "Pan American Lofts" sign on side of building.

Adaptive Reuse Bills Introduced in California Assembly

The legislation would expand eligibility for economic incentives and let cities loosen regulations to allow for more building conversions.

March 18 - Beverly Press

View from above of swan-shaped paddleboats with lights on around artesian fountain in Echo Park Lake with downtown Los Angeles skylien in background at twilight.

LA's Top Parks, Ranked

TimeOut just released its list of the top 26 parks in the L.A. area, which is home to some of the best green spaces around.

March 18 - TimeOut

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

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.