Bike travelling in Baltimore? (rentals, buying, dangerous)

[timlee]

Do you suggest bike travelling daily in Baltimore?

Which is less expensive for daily travelling in Baltimore, renting bikes or buying bikes?

Is there some free bike-renting service in Baltimore, like what I heard in Austin Program installs bike-sharing kiosks throughout Austin | The Daily Texan

Thanks!

[dogpark]

Originally Posted by timlee

Do you suggest bike travelling daily in Baltimore?

Which is less expensive for daily travelling in Baltimore, renting bikes or buying bikes?

Is there some free bike-renting service in Baltimore, like what I heard in Austin Program installs bike-sharing kiosks throughout Austin | The Daily Texan

Thanks!

More and more folks are biking around town. I see many using Guilford as a major north/south route.

I don't knwo of any bike rentals, but there are places to get used bikes and cheap bikes. I suggest not getting anything too nice/flashy adn using a good lock and cable.

[kharing]

Buying is cheaper. Baltimore Bike Works rents bikes, but it's geared toward visitors at $25 a day/$100 a week. I would look on Craigslist for a used bike and invest in a great lock.

[deeliz]

Originally Posted by kharing

Buying is cheaper. Baltimore Bike Works rents bikes, but it's geared toward visitors at $25 a day/$100 a week. I would look on Craigslist for a used bike and invest in a great lock.

Agree with the Craigslist recommendation. Biking is becoming more common in Baltimore, but you need to pay attention to road conditions and be aware of what's going on around you. Baltimore drivers, generally, are unaware of/do not respect bike laws and cyclist rights. Not to mention many pedestrians in this city have a habit of stepping into streets and crosswalks before looking to see if any vehicles are coming.

[dogpark]

Originally Posted by deeliz

Agree with the Craigslist recommendation. Biking is becoming more common in Baltimore, but you need to pay attention to road conditions and be aware of what's going on around you. Baltimore drivers, generally, are unaware of/do not respect bike laws and cyclist rights. Not to mention many pedestrians in this city have a habit of stepping into streets and crosswalks before looking to see if any vehicles are coming.

Great comment and true on the road hazards, both concrete and human. Biking in Baltimore has definitely gotten better in the last ~5 years.

I use the typical Kryptonite U lock and a heavy cable for my bike, all bolts and no thumblever quick disconnects.

[picardlx]

With the streets being so narrow and folks driving so fast, I sometimes cringe when I see a cyclist on the road because it seems so hazardous. In no way am I blaming the cyclists -- its just that most of our streets were not designed for it (even with that narrow bike lane) and seems more dangerous here than other cities. But, I've never road a bike here; so I may not know what I'm talking about.

[dogpark]

Guilford has bike lanes. Part of Fort Ave has bike lanes (riding down Fort and around the seawall at Ft McHenry is one of my favorite city rides, short but very pretty). One can ride around the harbor promenade. I find it quicker to hop on my bike to go from South Baltimore to buy fresh tortillas in Upper Fells Pt than to drive.

[deeliz]

Originally Posted by dogpark

Guilford has bike lanes. Part of Fort Ave has bike lanes (riding down Fort and around the seawall at Ft McHenry is one of my favorite city rides, short but very pretty). One can ride around the harbor promenade. I find it quicker to hop on my bike to go from South Baltimore to buy fresh tortillas in Upper Fells Pt than to drive.

Agreed. You can generally get from Canton to Locust Point in 10-15 minutes by bike. There is a nice path around the Inner Harbor all the way from Little Havana to Harbor East so you can avoid vehicle traffic.