2018 was the year we delivered

A letter from Liz Cornish, Executive Director, Bikemore

2017 was the year we laid a foundation for our advocacy. 2018 was the year we delivered.

In just three years since my arrival in Baltimore, I have watched new infrastructure and policies we’ve championed change how we as a city talk about bikes. Bikes are no longer an afterthought or a nuisance to plan for, but an indicator of a healthy neighborhood and a safe street.

We went head to head with the Fire Department and removed a piece of suburban-oriented fire code that was preventing the construction of bike lanes and millions of dollars in economic development projects. Our work was featured in this recent piece from CityLab, which affirms our policy position through new research from the USDOT Volpe Center.

After years of delays there is now a two way protected bike lane on Centre and Monument Streets. This means that you can now travel from MLK to Hopkins Hospital separated from fast moving traffic. This east-west connector is transforming how people get across town.

We pulled off something that people two years ago thought was impossible. We connected Reservoir Hill and Remington--two disparate neighborhoods separated by a highway--with a protected walking and biking path. This means someone in a wheelchair can now cross the Jones Falls Expressway for the first time since its construction in 1961.

These three things are pretty impressive for an organization that three years ago was staffed by one person. But we didn’t stop there. This month the Complete Streets Bill was signed into law. Together with Councilman Dorsey, Councilman Pinkett, and our entire coalition, we have fundamentally changed the way streets are designed and how communities are included in Baltimore City.

We are punching above our weight. We’ve done so much with a little--imagine what would be possible with a lot? Our work is driven by grassroots donations from people just like you. We’re excited and ready to keep fighting for you in 2019.

Please support our efforts with a gift in an amount that is meaningful to you. And consider sharing our work with the people in your life. Together we are building a force for biking in Baltimore.

Mayor Pugh Signs Complete Streets Ordinance

As of Thursday, December 6th, the Baltimore Complete Streets ordinance is law. Mayor Pugh signed the legislation earlier this week, just days before the bill would have become law automatically.

Over the past two years, a broad coalition was formed to support and promote Complete Streets. The Baltimore Complete Streets Coalition is comprised of over 30 organizations including local groups like Bikemore, The League for People with Disabilities, No Boundaries Coalition and neighborhood associations, statewide organizations like the Maryland Builders Industry Association, and national groups such as AARP, the American Heart Association and Safe Routes to Schools.

This bill is about giving communities the power to work with DOT to build more equitable and healthy transportation infrastructure. When we began this effort, I aimed to set a new national standard for complete streets policies, including answering the imperative to put equity at the core of all transportation measures. So many community leaders and stakeholders have stepped up to build a policy that is truly best in class. Now it's time to work together to implement complete streets to ensure all our communities see real benefits from transportation decisions. - Councilman Ryan Dorsey

The bill received national recognition when the National Complete Streets Coalition named Baltimore’s Complete Streets Ordinance one of 2017’s best initiatives and named Councilman Dorsey a Complete Streets Champion. Complete Streets prioritizes the safety of all people using Baltimore’s streets and prioritizes multi-modal transportation. Complete Streets often have slower speed limits, wide sidewalks and crosswalks, protected bike lanes, bus lanes and shelters, and beautification like trees and plantings. The bill also contains several equity-focused provisions to address the disparities created by decades of structurally racist and car-oriented road design.

Baltimore's Complete Streets ordinance is a remarkable new model for the nation not just because of its strong, direct approach to equity and implementation, but also because of the broad, engaged coalition responsible for its adoption. The National Complete Streets Coalition is proud to recognize Councilman Ryan Dorsey, Bikemore, and the City of Baltimore for their leadership. - Heather Zaccaro Program Manager, National Complete Streets Coalition

Bikemore was an early champion of passing a robust, equity-focused Complete Streets ordinance, working to place it as a priority in the mayor’s transition report and drafting bill language for introduction alongside Councilman Ryan Dorsey.

We’re thrilled that the mayor has signed the legislation into law, and will continue to work over the next few months to ensure implementation is as intended.

None of this work is possible without the support of our volunteers and donors. Thank you!

#GivingTuesday: The Stories that Steer Bikemore

This #GivingTuesday, donate to Bikemore to create a more livable, bikeable Baltimore for all.

Today is Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving. In the 24 hours of #GivingTuesday, follow along on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. We'll be sharing stories of the Baltimore’s biking community — stories of people now able to get to their jobs on their bikes, stories of businesses investing because of bike infrastructure, stories of elected officials listening to their constituents — and many more. These people and their stories are what drive Bikemore to work hard everyday.

We're grateful for your support that has allowed us to come this far, and grateful for your continued support today!

Donate below, share one of our posts that’s meaningful to you, or share your own story to tell your friends and family know why you give.

Cranksgiving FAQs

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This Saturday is Cranksgiving — and we CANNOT wait! But maybe you’ve never participated in food drive/bike ride/scavenger hunt before? We’ve put together some of the questions we hear the most below! Don’t see your question answered? Email danielle@bikemore.net!

Can I come by myself?

Of course! Lots of people come solo, and we’ll help connect you with other people looking for a team. Cranksgiving is ridden in teams of 3 or 4, because we find that’s the ideal number to be able to ride together and stay safe. Plus — riding with new and old friends is way more fun!

Who wins?

The team that make it to the most stores on the list, collects the most food items on the list, and in the fastest time wins! We’ll have a first, second, and third place. This year we also have prize categories for WTF teams (teams where all team members self identify as women/trans/femme non-binary), and Youth + Family teams (where at least one team member is under 16!).

Do I need to register beforehand?

This year we have an online pre-registration, to make check in the day of really easy! But if you decide last minute to come, you can still register on-site day of. As always, registration is free, but we ask that you bring ~$10-15 to purchase the food to donate.

What do I need to bring?

• Working bike

• Bag to carry purchases (backpacks, panniers, baskets — whatever you have!) 

• $10-15 for purchasing food items to be donated

• Water, layers, and anything else that will make you more comfortable riding for a couple of hours around Baltimore

Can my kiddos ride?

Yes! This year we are having a new youth + family category for teams with at least one kid! For this category we'll be providing a suggested route map that is mostly on bike lanes and quiet neighborhood streets. The basic route for the youth category is ~6 miles, with options to make it shorter or longer depending on how your team is feeling.

Keep in mind that the ride is not supported and you’ll be navigating on your own to the grocery stores, so be sure to bring anything you and your kids would need to ride for an hour or two. Definitely bring some extra snacks, water and layers! If you’re riding with a kid that you are not the parent or guardian of, be sure to have their parent or guardian fill out the online registration or bring a signed waiver with them.

Can I ride my commuter bike? My mountain bike? My cargo bike?

Ride whatever bike you have! The key is to be able to carry groceries and ride something that’s comfortable to ride around the city for about 2 hours. On Saturday you’ll see tons of different types of bikes, and lots of different methods for carrying groceries.

What’s the route?

There is no official route! At the start of the ride we’ll give you a manifest that has a list of grocery stores on it. It’s then up to your team to devise a route that makes the most sense for you, keeping in mind that you get the most points by going to the most stores.

Will there be food?

Yes! The Mexican on the Run food truck will be at Charm City Meadworks after the ride! Food and drink are pay as you go.

Why does Bikemore host Cranksgiving?

Cranksgiving is an opportunity for the bike community to give back to organizations that do so much for the city we love. And supporting our friends and neighbors in whatever way we can is at the heart of Bikemore. Plus, it’s a good excuse to get together, ride bikes, strengthen the bike community, meet new people — and maybe someone will even discover that carrying your groceries on your bike isn’t too hard!

More details about Cranksgiving are on the event page.
Don’t see your question? Email danielle@bikemore.net.

What's new at Cranksgiving this year?

Cranksgiving is an annual event that takes place in cities across the country, and it’s all about having fun and giving back. This food drive/bike ride/scavenger hunt sends riders across the city to collect food donations for local organizations. If you’ve been to it before — you might notice some new things this year!

New location!

This year Cranksgiving will start and end at Charm City Meadworks! It’s easy to bike there using the bike lanes on Fallsway and Guilford, and Preston and Biddle. Plus, starting in a new location means we get to support new local grocery stores!

New food partner organization!

This year, the food collected at Cranskgiving is going to two amazing Baltimore organizations! in addition to longtime partner Moveable Feast, we’re also supporting the Franciscan Center! Moveable Feast fosters a community that cares for men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening illnesses by preparing and delivering nutritious meals and groceries and providing nutritional counseling and other services. The Franciscan Center is Bikemore’s neighbor, and provides emergency assistance and supportive outreach to persons who are economically disadvantaged, including community meals and pantry bags, job readiness training, healthcare, transportation assistance and much more.

New t-shirts!

You might be a fan of our Cranksgiving posters designed each year by local designer and bike rider Ian Jackson, and this year we’re going a t-shirt version too! T-shirts are only available to order during early bird registration from October 29 to November 4.

New team categories!

This year we have two special team categories! WTF is for teams made up of women, trans, femme and non-binary folks, and a Youth/Family category for teams with at least one member under 18!

New online registration!

Participants can now register online beforehand! This means you can sign your wavier online, and will make check in day of super quick! Each teammate needs to fill our their own registration form.

New sponsorship and prizes!

Prizes include basket bags from Swift Industries, tool rolls from PTAP Designs, customs straps from HoldFast, and much more!

Prize sponsors

Event Sponsors

Want more info about how Cranksgiving works?

Read all of our FAQs here!