Harry's comments are rather interesting in light of MLK being a "beatification" project for Baltimore as MLK has the "best of" elements of Champs-Élysées so what could possibly go wrong? Only in America can someone design something to attract pedestrians that actually repeals them.

Have you seen the speed tables with beautified pave along the tops. They seem to do double-duty as cross walks.

I just finished reading "The Bicycle Diaries" by David Byrne. Interesting read as he explores some of the major cities in the world and their + or - attitudes towards biking. He also looks at the art and music worlds. His music diversions were funky but I didn't much care for some of his art cultures discussions. This book is NOT "all about biking" but does give a good slant. I especially like the chapter on NY city, his current hometown. I guess he gave up on Baltimore:-(
He wrote about Copenhagen and their renaissance into the biking world. He showed a picture of an area that was once a street with cars parked along it. A city planner named Gehl was able to get the city to ban parking on this street and today it is swarming with pedestrians and cyclist. Gehl initially met with a lot of the typical resistance from the city. He is now sought out by many large US cities to help in their transportation woes.

Which ones? The ones in Balto County that use a side of cobble stone wall as if it were a good surface to walk or bike over or the ones in Balto City with low contrast brick to make the area invisible at night and fill the raised area with sand so in a little time it becomes a very irregular surface? We have so many designs that look good on paper and are cool as long as nobody actually uses them.

A clip from The City Paper on Google bike routes:

http://www.citypaper.com/digest.asp?id=19917

You just can't mention MLK Boulevard and the Champs-Élysées in one sentence, although Paris does have some ugly roads on the outside.

Charlie, I read that book too, well, half of it. Didn't hold my interest but I admire and am envious of him for all the cities he's ridden in.

That was written by Michaell Byrne....I wonder if he is related to David, previously mentioned in one of my post along with MLK blvd. Wow, cosmic!!

You probably lost interest when he started going on and on about the art world. I know I did but powered through and enjoyed the last sections of the book. He has ridden through so cool areas of the world.

I'll try to get a picture sometime. It may be a while, since we'll be thrusted into darkness this weekend, again. I don't use the same route going to work that I use coming home.

Talking Heads David?

yes, Baltimore's own(actually Landsdowne).

You would be shocked and horrified how often some street "improvement" gets compared to Champs-Élysées around here, a couple years back there was a completion design for Pratt St and by narrowing the sidewalks and adding two additional travel lanes and some fountains and sculptures we would have our own "Champs-Élysées"

Hey NR, What is Double Rock Park like? I was thinking about using it as a NE ride start. Bathrooms? Water? Safe parking?

There are no facilities that I can see for the portion of the park that I pass on my way home--no parking, no restrooms, no water. Nothing.

What, no NR bike report for todays floods??? Needed a kayak paddle today.
I really got hammered in the rain on yesterdays commute. It didn't rain much during the day yesterday but when I got on the bike to go home all hell broke loose. The rain came in my gortex rain pants through the zippers.
Today I spent the last couple hours mopping my basement. Took in a few gallons of the wet stuff.

Well this AMs commute was really dark and dreary. Included a closed road due to a down tree. Police allowed me to pass which was good as it prevented a 6 mile detour. On the bright side my rain gear kept me dry.

Rode past an accident scene this morning--fire truck and police present:

http://twitpic.com/show/full/18qmnu.png

It looked like somebody ran up on to a median strip.

For change of pace, I took a slightly different route to work. The ride was ok, if not soggy, and getting rainier the closer to Towson that I got.

Makes me very jealous. Living in a town like this would be nirvana. I looked at their 'portlandize" link. They paled in comparison to Amsterdam. And they(Portland) is the best we got.

Columbia Md, Howard County. I don't always get over to this page, but I show up on others.

Hey, fletchh. How's it going?

My Key West trip has been set. I will be gone April 10 & 11. I can make the next wknd though, April 17-20th. Max, can you make that one? NR? GB? Anyone else?? I don't think the cherry blossoms will be peak but the trail will be drier. This weeks temps will have a lt to do with the blossoming time of the trees. Spring is in the air. I feel like a nooner ride but work is calling....gotta go

Welcome, come again. We're always here. I recognize your avatar and name. From here?? or perhaps the commuting forum?

April 17-20 should be fine for me (pending my request for leave being approved.) Yes, that will probably be well past the blossom peak, but the warmer temps and drier trail are great tradeoffs!

It is sooo nice outside, I can't wait for the weekend. My boss okayed my day off Friday, so I'm going to load the bike and head down to DC around 12:30 or 1:00 to meet up with my Pittsburgh friends for the weekend. So far, the forecast looks great, I might catch a few showers on the way home Sunday, but the temps should be mild.

I thought the cherry blossoms were peeking the first week in April.

April 3-8, according to the official "Bloom Watch." :)

I'm from dundalk. it sucks