Liz Cornish Joins Mayor-Elect Brandon Scott’s Transition Team

Liz speaking to Real News Network staff at the Mayoral Forum in February 2020.

Last week, Bikemore’s Executive Director Liz Cornish was named Co-Chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure committee for Mayor-Elect Brandon Scott’s transition team. She will serve alongside Dr. Celeste Chavis, associate professor in the Department of Transportation & Urban Infrastructure Studies in the School of Engineering at Morgan State University. 

Transportation and Infrastructure is one of ten committees that will set priorities for Mayor-Elect Scott’s first term in office. Cornish will lead a committee of approximately twenty Baltimore City leaders all committed to shaping the future of transportation in Baltimore. 

Bikemore has consistently exceeded expectations of a small organization with fewer than five full time employees. We passed the nationally recognized Complete Streets Ordinance in 2018, won Bike Advocacy Organization of the Year from the League of American Bicyclists in 2019, and now are joining a group of talented professionals tasked with setting the course for the future of Baltimore and supporting the youngest Mayor in Baltimore’s history. 

An opportunity like this does not come by chance, but by building a broad network of supporters who allow us to keep doing this work. This year has brought many challenges for organizations like ours, but Bikemore is committed to success no matter what. 

Please help us stay the course by making a donation today.

Be it a recurring donation of $10 a month, or a one time contribution, your investment in our work will mean safer streets, better infrastructure, and a growing movement for streets for people. 

Make a donation to our direct action work today.

If you’d like to make a charitable contribution to our 501(c)(3) instead, please click here.

Interested in volunteering for the transition team?
Email transition@brandonforbaltimore.com.

Five ways to stay connected with Bikemore

Mobile Bike Shop around sunset at Druid Hill Park tennis courts.

We're finding ways to stay connected with you through everything. This Fall, you can find us at a Mobile Bike Shop, join us online to learn together, help us create collective art, and ride in our 6th Annual Cranksgiving! We hope we get to see you in-person, or virtually.

Mobile Bike Shop @ Lake Montebello

Thursdays, November 5 & 12 | 4pm — Dusk | Around 3451 Hillen Rd. 

We'll be at Lake Montebello, by the Valve House for the next couple Thursdays. Get your bike checked out, and bike or walk around the Lake!

Bicycling 101: Intro to Infrastructure Ride

Saturday, November 14 | 12pm — 2pm | Meet at Carroll Park

Join us for a bike ride from Carroll Park to up north to explore existing bike infrastructure and low-stress streets. Spots are limited, and masks + social distancing are observed. 

FREE | Details + RSVP

Baltimore's Budget Advocacy Workshops

Thursdays, November 12 & 19 | 5:30pm — 6:30pm | on Zoom!

To improve access to safe, reliable, and affordable transportation, significant investments must be made on both the operating and capital side of our City’s budget. Want to learn how you can advocate for the funding you want to see? Join us for either of our budget workshops!

FREE | Details + RSVP

Draw the bikes of Baltimore with us!

We want to celebrate the bikes of Baltimore with you! We’re asking you to submit a drawing of your bike. We’ll then compile the drawings into a poster of everyone's drawings, and the posters will be for sale online. A portion of proceeds will benefit Bikemore. 

Learn how to participate.

Baltimore's 6th Annual Cranksgiving

Saturday, November 21 | 12pm — 5:30pm | Around the City!

Cranksgiving is on this year! Our annual bike ride/food drive/scavenger hunt looks a bit different, but we're just as excited to bring our bike community together to support our food partners.Check out all the details and register early bird by Nov. 8 to get a t-shirt!

FREE | Details + RSVP

See all events

Want to help make these events possible + FREE? Sign up to donate $5/month!

Draw the bikes of Baltimore with us!

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Drawings by Bikemore staff!

Drawings by Bikemore staff!

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Bikes have played a huge role in maintaining access to transportation, mental health, and ability to enjoy the outdoors safely during this pandemic. We don't need to tell you how great your bike is - you already know.

We want to celebrate the bikes of Baltimore with you! We’re asking you to submit a drawing of your bike. We’ll then compile the drawings into a poster, and the posters will be for sale online, and a portion of proceeds will benefit Bikemore.

Here's how to participate:

  1. Draw your bike on a white background. The drawing can be color or black-and-white. You can do a quick sketch, your child can do a marker drawing, or you can get really creative. The only requirement is that the background of the drawing is white.

    Just like we appreciate the diversity of bikes our community, there is no wrong way to draw a bike. And bikes are notoriously hard to draw for everyone!

  2. Scan your picture, or take a photo of it. Take the photo in a well lit area (sun light works great!) or use the flash. If you drew it digitally, send the drawing file to us as a JPG or PNG.

  3. Send your drawing to bikedrawing@bikemore.net. Or you can snail mail it to us at 2209 Maryland Ave. Be sure to include your name and email address, so we can credit you and update you about the project.

  4. Feel free to share your drawings on social media to encourage others to participate. And tag us!

UPDATE: Submit your drawings by Thursday, 11/12 at 11:59pm.

Questions? Email clarissa@bikemore.net

Big Thanks for the Big Jump Community Clean Up

The 28th St. Bridge before and after Installation of the Big Jump pathway.

From Liz Cornish, Bikemore Executive Director:

Three years ago, following a long meeting, I walked from Baltimore Community College to my house in Charles Village. I walked down Park Heights. Across the parking lot at Mondawmin Mall. Headed into to Druid Hill Park and went home across the 28th Street Bridge. Knowing that in the months to follow construction would begin on the Big Jump, a separated walking and biking path that connects two neighborhoods divided by a highway, I wanted to document my walk along the tiny sidewalk next to high speed traffic once more. 

When these photos and video popped up on my phone this week I was reminded how challenging it was to get this project installed and the community push back it received in those first months. And most importantly how noisy and scary it used to be to walk along the highway. By all measures, the Big Jump has been a big success. Even now with detours to accommodate the remaining construction on the Reservoir, this safe place to walk and bike has become essential to those who need to walk, bike, scoot, or use their mobility device to go in between Reservoir Hill and Remington. 

One of the challenges of the Big Jump is keeping it free of trash and debris. Trash from cars, debris from the overpass above, all collect in the little channel between the barriers and the sidewalk. Despite repeated requests, the City has never put it on its regular street sweeping schedule. Now with DPW services diminished due to the pandemic, it seems even less likely we will see regular cleaning of the well used path. 

Last weekend people from across Baltimore gathered and held a massive clean up on the Big Jump. This was all community led. On behalf of Bikemore, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who came out and pushed a broom and hauled some trash.

The Big Jump was my big dream from the moment I moved to Baltimore in 2015. For every academic paper or panel discussion on the harm caused by the Jones Falls Expressway, every architectural rendering of what could be, I knew there was a “right now” solution to improving safety and connectivity between two disparate parts of the City. Many people felt the same and shared that vision. And thanks to the hard work of folks like Caitlin Doolin with Baltimore City DOT, Jon Laria Chairman of the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Commission, Councilman Leon Pinkett and with critical early support from People for Bikes, it came to be. 

But it has stayed, despite all odds, because of people like you out there riding everyday.

We take care of each other when we take pride in the things that keep us safe. Transformative change has to last beyond the initial excitement. That requires the commitment of people beyond those of us who have chosen this cause as our profession. And volunteers cleaning up the Big Jump shows how the movement for streets built for people has grown: in a few years, the Big Jump went from some idea in a grant application that faced major backlash, to a treasured resource the community feels compelled to take care of. What an amazing harbinger for Complete Streets. 

Thank you to everyone who organized and contributed to last weekend’s clean up of the Big Jump. Nothing feels better than when your mission lives completely outside of yourself. And we are all deeply grateful for each and every one of you that continues to fight for bikes, be it testifying at City Hall or pushing a broom down a bike lane.

How to Vote in Baltimore City - General Election Edition

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Vote in this general election! Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd. Voting local is the single most important thing you can do to make Baltimore a more livable city.

So, this is your reminder to vote - either to send in your ballot, drop it off at a local ballot drop-off box, or show up for early voting or day-of voting. 

If you're unsure on how you can participate and vote this year, keep reading, or forward this email to a friend!

Already received your ballot in the mail?

Awesome! Everyone who has requested a mail-in ballot earlier this Summer/Fall should have received their ballot last week or should be receiving them this week. Don't wait to send it back. Fill it out as soon as you can following the instructions carefully, and drop it off at a ballot drop-off box, or send it back. No paid postage is necessary.

Not registered yet, or didn’t receive your ballot?

You can still register on Election Day at the polling locations, listed here

If you're not sure of your registration status or whether or not you are receiving a mail-in ballot, check your status here

Want to vote early in-person?

Early voting is available at a limited number of sites from Monday, October 26th - Monday, November 2nd, from 7:00am-8:00pm. 

You can find the full list of early voting locations here.

Want to vote on Election Day in-person?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3rd and polls are open from 7:00am-8:00pm. A limited number of polling locations will be open, and you can go to any of them, even if they aren't in your district. The full list of them is here. 

If you need transportation to and from a polling location, you can use a Lime scooter or a JUMP bike for free. Use the code LIMETOPOLLS2020 on your Lime app. Read about the Lime to the Polls Program here.

Who should you vote for?

Candidates Endorsed by Bikemore:

Brandon Scott | Mayor
Bill Henry | Comptroller
Zeke Cohen | 1st District
Ryan Dorsey | 3rd District
James Torrence | 7th District
Kristerfer Burnett | 8th District
John Bullock | 9th District
Eric Costello | 11th District
Franca Muller Paz | 12th District

Read more about all the candidates. 

Want live help or have questions?

You can call the Baltimore City Board of Elections at (410) 396-5550 or the Maryland State Board of Elections at (410) 269-2840 on Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. A staff person will pick up the phone and guide you through your questions.

This work is made possible through Bikemore in Action, our 501(c)(4) funded by hundreds of small donations from Baltimoreans.

Want to ensure Bikemore can continue advocating for mobility for all?  
Sign up to donate $10/month to Bikemore!