On 5/5/04 there was a meeting at the Baltimore Museum of Art concerning the changes being considered for Charles Street from 25th Street to University Boulevard. Bicycling advocates were well represented there!

The City of Baltimore is collecting comments about the redesign proposals. Deadline for comments is 5/15/04. Please adopt a very polite and respectful tone of voice and ask the City for bike lanes on Charles Street.

The comments form is at
www.charlesstreet.mdprojects.com/comments.htm

Since bike lanes are actually already under consideration, it is very important to be courteous.

For more general info on the project, go to:
www.charlesstreet.mdprojects.com/introduction.htm

For the powerpoint slides of yesterday's meeting (including drawings of potential bikes lanes) check out:
www.charlesstreet.mdprojects.com/040505-pmd.htm

(Thanks to Darren G. for the info.)

Finally, please compose your own letter rather than copying and pasting from someone else. Meanwhile, the letter I sent follows.

peace,
Scott

* * *

Hello, I attended last night's Charles Street Redesign Meeting (5/5/04) at the BMA. I thought that the presentation and the posters in the lobby were all first-rate. The City of Baltimore has been serving its residents well so far with such a transparent process.

I strongly support having bicycle lanes on Charles Street. It would provide a huge quality of life impact for those of us who use bicycles while living, working and paying taxes within the city of Baltimore. In addition, there are numerous examples, in the US and internationally, where adding "traffic calming" devices like bike lanes provide increased economic revenue for local businesses.

I also would prefer it if the bike lanes were striped. I understand that the bike lanes will share time with part time parking. However, adding striping will signify that this lane belongs to the bicyclists and the parked cars. It will discourage very aggressive motorists from trying to encroach upon this safety-sensitive stretch of public road.

I would also like to say that I oppose having south bound traffic on Charles Street north of 25th Street. We already have Howard, Maryland and St. Paul for south-bound traffic. In addition, when cars make left turns they cause congestion. Adding south-bound traffic north of 25th street will double the number of left turns made by automobiles.

Sincerely,

Scott Loughrey