In case you have missed it somehow, One Less Car‘s annual Tour du Port takes place this Sunday, all over Baltimore’s lovely waterfront. The forecast for Sunday is GORE GEE US. If folks who go would like to share pictures/stories, please email us (northbaltimorebikebrigadeATyahooDOTcom) to have them featured with credit and glory on this site. ElRo and I were going as a couple, but she’s not feeling up to cycling with “morning” sickness and a tiny person in there.
Also, a reminder for this weekend, when folks will be cycling all over Baltimore even more than usual: TAKE THE LANE WHEN YOU HAVE TO!! I was on the MTA bus yesterday, and I saw a guy who was obviously new to cycling, and he turned onto a busy street to the right of the right-turn lane, with traffic. When the bus stopped for a second, and I couldn’t see him, I thought the worst. If there’s ever a situation to take the lane, it’s turning right in a right-turn lane! (and turning left, and some downtown streets, etc.) For the love of JEHOVELO, take the lane! You’re a vehicle!
Also, useful info for those headed to TDP by bike from the North: St. Paul Street is getting resurfaced and is gridded and scary right now. It’s been too crater-rific lately to cycle on for the last few years, so this will be a great thing when it’s finished — and they are making pretty speedy progress. But this weekend, watch out. Also, University Parkway is still full of holes near the bus pads and has the bike lanes closed for much of the length. Heading South between Roland Avenue and 40th Street, there’s only one lane. TAKE IT!
Best wished to all Tour du Porters!
13 comments
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10.02.09 at 9:38 am
dukiebiddle
Where is that bike rack?
10.02.09 at 9:47 am
Johnny
In Rehoboth, Delaware. I was at the shore last weekend.
10.02.09 at 10:05 am
dottie
Yes, great advice. I’m always nervous for the cyclists who ride inches from parked cars. Yikes.
10.02.09 at 12:44 pm
dukiebiddle
Following the tip I found in the comment section here, I’ve replaced St. Paul with Guilford (I actually live on Guilford, but it never occured to me to use it north of Mt. Royal). With the exception of a couple blocks of board-ups around North Ave., which doesn’t feel too scary for some reason, Guilford Ave. is like a cyclists dream come true. it is almost completely car free all the way to Mt. Royal, where is becomes a sharrow all the way downtown. Even when they finish repaving St. Paul, apparently with bike lanes, I think I’m going to stick with Guilford for all southward travels between University and downtown.
10.02.09 at 1:49 pm
Johnny
Thanks, Dottie:)
Dukie, you’re completely right on. Guilford is some nice riding. Whenever I ride to Fell’s Point, I always get on Guilford, to Lexington, to Holiday, to Baltimore, to that street by Port Discovery, which puts you at a light to cross Lombard and Pratt, and you’re golden. Sometimes I have late meetings at Guilford and 23rd, where it’s two-way. It’s an easy ride back up to University Parkway and home for me. I am a big fan.
10.02.09 at 2:01 pm
dukiebiddle
I just take Guilford, left on Baltimore (where I get to take in an eyefull of skuzzy old toothless strippers on the street… yum), cross President and turn right on Albemarle through Little Italy to get to FP. A little simpler than the little port discovery street to busy Lombard and Pratt.
10.02.09 at 2:04 pm
Iandanger
I’ve been biking for the last 2 weeks or so, and I can say taking the lane gets you a LOT of agression, honks, screams, etc. Its kinda funny if you think about the amount of energy the driver is putting into it, they could easily just merge.
10.02.09 at 2:45 pm
Kali Durga
I may be sending you some photos from TdP, if I get any decent ones.
Might also need to take a detour to see if I can get any shots of the toothless hookers to go with the graffiti about Pigtown hookers from my last Gwynns Falls ride: http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z163/KaliDurga/Baltimore/Gwynns%20Fall%20Trail/182-s.jpg
10.02.09 at 2:48 pm
Johnny
Ian, I find that, too. But at least then you know they see you and are less likely to run you over, LOL.
Kali, I look forward to it!
10.02.09 at 3:06 pm
dukiebiddle
Pig town toothless hookers and the old toothless strippers on The Block are two totally different animals. About a month ago, a couple of friends and I were walking on The Block on a Sunday afternoon and passed quite a trio: grandma, mom and toddler. Mom was wearing a GPSS monitoring anklet… and grandma was holding toddler’s hand and pointing in a window displaying a g-string. Grandma was saying to toddler, and I am not kidding: “See? Your grandma used to wear those back in her dancing days.” Wow. The woman I was with is still traumatized.
10.02.09 at 3:12 pm
Johnny
This brings up memories of when I used to work for The City at 417 Fayette during the summers when I was an undergraduate, and the bouncers would open the doors at lunch time on Fridays to invite people in. Wide open. Wow. You know, I’m thirty, and I’ve never been to a strip club?
10.02.09 at 5:16 pm
Kali Durga
Thanks to this blog, I’m learning things about B’more that I probably never would’ve learned otherwise.
Who says this city doesn’t have character??
10.02.09 at 9:40 pm
Johnny
Its things like this that put the CHARM in Charm City!