Baltimore Biking

Baltimore City is finally taking initial steps to build bike infrastructure.

Actually, one big thing they could do is repave streets. This city has the bumpiest urban roads I've ever seen, and it's not only jarring, but it can be dangerous when you have to swerve or lose control.

A couple of interesting tidbits gleaned from reading the city planning department's new (draft) bicycle infrastructure design guidelines:

1) For traffic lights that turn when cars are present, there are differently configured sensors available that detect bicycles. (Page 8) Doesn't work if your bike wheels are made of something other than metal, though.

2) Some cities have experimented with something portentiously called an "Advanced Bicycle Box." (Page 29) This addresses a thorny problem -- bikes trying to make left turns at busy intersections -- by allowing left-turning cyclists to move in front of queued auto traffic at the light. In combination with the above-referenced bike detectors, lights can even be programmed to give bikes their own left-hand turn signal before cars are allowed to go.