Spring of 2020 has been like no other. With a global quarantine underway to combat COVID-19, many Bike to Work Day and Bike Month events have been canceled or postponed. Many Americans are finding themselves stuck at home, but they’re also walking and biking more, as exercise is one of the approved reasons to leave home. This has been accompanied by a decrease in vehicle traffic. These factors have combined to create safer conditions for biking. For people interested in biking within the provisions of social distancing and other restrictions, MDOT and BMC are providing a series of resources to help you ride. To celebrate Bike Month, MDOT and the Baltimore Metropolitan Council are providing a series of resources. Throughout the month of May, learn how to ride, where to ride, and who is making a difference for bicycling in Maryland. 

 

What started as a movement in Copenhagen to help the elderly get back on bicycles has quickly gained popularity, spreading throughout Denmark and to over 47 other countries, now has over 2,050 Cycling Without Age Chapters. 

 

Christina Allen was inspired to start the Cycle Without Age chapter in St. Mary’s County to help seniors be more mobile. In August 2019, their first trishaw arrived from Copenhagen. A trishaw is a three wheeled vehicle for carrying people (senior passenger), pedaled by the pilot (Cycling Without Age representative). To get started, a senior just needs to get in contact with a Cycling Without Age representative and schedule a free ride. 

 

“Many seniors don’t have a convenient way to get around to get groceries, visit a friend, have lunch out, or even get some fresh air, and I believe that Cycling Without Age can help improve their quality of life.”

- Christina Allen, St. Mary's Chapter

 

To learn more about Cycle Without Age's St. Mary's Chapter and read the full story click here!

 

If you are new to biking or haven’t been on a bike in a while, you can practice your skills in a parking lot or on a quiet street. Get familiar with braking, turning, positioning, using gears, and signaling. Then practice! There’s no substitute for getting out on your bike and riding! Remember to follow social distancing guidelines when riding. 

 

Did you know that 40% of all trips in the U.S. are less than two miles, making bicycling a feasible and fun way to get to get around? If you are riding to a specific destination such as the grocery store, it may not be feasible to take the same route as you would driving. However, there are plenty of secondary streets throughout the region that you can take to safely arrive at your destination. 

Not sure where your nearest trail or roadway bike facility is located? Find routes in Google maps by selecting the bicycle setting: https://www.google.com/maps/

 

For routes mapped out by riders in your area or to join an online bicycling community, check out the links below.

Maryland is home to many great trails.  During Bike Month, we’re featuring trails that are Maryland biking destinations. If you can’t make it to these trails under current travel restrictions, consider a trip when travel restrictions are lifted.

 

With over 50 miles of paved trails, Montgomery County has no shortage of trail opportunities. The Magruder Branch Trail is a 4.2-mile-long trail through its namesake stream valley, extending north from the Seneca Creek Greenway Trail.  The Magruder Branch Trail is relatively flat as it passes through fields, wetlands and upland forest. This boardwalk and asphalt trail provides a quieter alternative to the Capital Crescent Trail.