Baltimore, MD (May 17, 2024) – Today, Mayor Brandon M. Scott was joined by Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller, Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) Deputy Secretary Samantha Biddle, MDOT Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs and Strategy Jawauna Greene, MDOT Assistant Secretary for Transportation Equity and Engagement Tony Bridges, MDOT MTA Administrator Holly Arnold, Councilman Ryan Dorsey (District 3), Baltimore City Department of Transportation Director Corren Johnson, Baltimore Metropolitan Council Executive Director Michael Kelly and biking partners including Bikemore, Rails to Trails Conservancy, Black People Ride Bikes, the Baltimore City Department of Planning’s Office of Sustainability, and the Baltimore City Department of Human Resources to celebrate the city’s 27^th annual Bike to Work Day. 

“Bike to Work Day is a great way for the city and our biking partners to celebrate cycling as a healthy commuting option, while promoting public awareness of its sustainability and environmental benefits,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott.  “As we continue to strategically grow Baltimore’s infrastructure to make our roads safer for all modes of transportation, Baltimore’s many biking facilities and robust dockless micro-mobility program provide equitable and accessible transportation options that Baltimore residents can use every day.  I was grateful to be joined by so many people who chose to bike to work today for the environment, their health, and their love of cycling.”

Bike to Work Day events are held annually across the United States to promote cycling as a viable option for commuting to work.  Since 1996, the Baltimore Metropolitan Council and regional partners including Baltimore City have organized Bike to Work Day celebrations to encourage biking as an equitable, safe, and healthy transportation alternative.

“Biking has so many benefits – it’s good for your health, your wallet and the environment,” said BMC Executive Director Mike Kelly.  “Whether you bike every day, or haven’t biked in years, we hope you’ll gear up with us for Bike to Work Week 2024.”

Bike to Work Day also promotes a clean commute by reducing harmful vehicle emissions and improving air quality in urban areas. Biking to work is a simple and easy way to help reduce our carbon footprint and improve the air we breathe. 

“Maryland is committed to encouraging and expanding safe, healthy and sustainable transportation options,” said Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller. “Bike to Work Day is a great opportunity for commuters to leave their cars behind and ride on the state’s ever growing extensive network of bikeways.” 

In addition to promoting biking as a viable commuting option, Bike to Work Day is also part of a larger movement to get people out of single-occupancy vehicles.  With the implementation of its dockless micro-mobility program, the city has created new and equitable transportation choices.  E-scooters and e-bikes, along with adaptive vehicles for use by those with special mobility needs, are widely available throughout the city, making commutes in Baltimore more active and sustainable.  Since the program launched in 2019, dockless vehicles have become an integral part of Baltimore’s transportation infrastructure.

“Many Marylanders rely on biking to reach their jobs and connect to life’s opportunities,” said Maryland Transportation Deputy Secretary Samantha Biddle. “People who ride on two wheels deserve to be just as safe as those who drive on four wheels.  Whether you walk, bike or roll, the Maryland Department of Transportation is enhancing safety across our system for all Marylanders.”

This spring, the city’s dockless vendor Spin introduced a special plan to provide free micro mobility trips for low-income residents. The goal of this plan is for 18% of all Spin miles traveled in the city to be a part of this free program. In Baltimore, residents that have low-income plans take about 50% more trips using dockless vehicles each month than riders without. Dockless vehicles also provide residents with crucial first and last-mile connectivity to public transit.

“At the Maryland Transit Administration, we’re focused on growing a system that works for everyone,” said Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold. “By expanding our bike-friendly policies and infrastructure, we’re continuing to grow the ways riders can connect to transit.”

With the adoption of Baltimore’s Complete Streets Ordinance, the city is now changing its transportation infrastructure by elevating the priority of cyclists, pedestrians, users of public transit, and shared mobility. Bicycles are an essential part of the transportation network, serving as the primary mobility choice for many residents. The City’s Complete Streets Ordinance ensures that our infrastructure is planned, designed, and constructed to accommodate all users of the transportation system. 

“Bike to Work Day is a great opportunity for residents to explore alternative modes of transportation by considering cycling as a practical option for commuting to work,” said BCDOT Director Corren Johnson. “Biking is an essential part of our transportation network, and we are committed to designing and constructing infrastructure that promotes equity and safety for all.”

Additional information about Bike to Work Day is available at www.biketoworkmd.com.

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