Using OurStreets App to Identify Dangerous Hotspots

During a time when biking is becoming an ever more critical tool for essential workers to get to jobs and for communities to get the food and resources they need — we’re excited to share our partnership with OurStreets. Our Streets is an app to use crowdsourcing to report and analyze dangerous driving behavior and scooter and bike share issues.

We had already been working on parting with OurStreets before COVID-19, but we think it’s ever more relevant now. 

What is OurStreets?

OurStreets is an app to use to report issues on the street - like a car parked in the bike lane, a scooter tipped over, or a near miss. Similar to 311, you can take a photo of the issue, add the location, and submit your report. 

Why use this app?

While we previously directed our community to use the 311 app, we know that reporting a car parked in a bike lane on 311 wasn’t usually effective. By the time someone went to enforce the issue, the car was likely to be moved.

With OurStreets, we’ll have access to the reported data. The goal is to aggregate the data so we can identify hot spots that need targeted enforcement or dangerous hot spots that need infrastructure changes to make them safer.

And OurStreets is more user friendly than the 311 app, encouraging more people to use it. It uses automatic license plate recognition, has common issues clearly categorized, and allows you to upload a photo and report after the fact. It even gives you a citation history for the vehicle based on its license plate.

Comparison of submission times between DC’s 311 app on the left, and OurStreets app on the left. DC uses the same 311 app as Baltimore.

During this public health crisis, lessening the stress we put on the 311 service is also important. Many city employees have been pulled from their normal day jobs to focus on COVID-19 response, and this is a way for us to gather data now to make improvements later without stressing city systems and resources.

In the coming weeks OurStreets will be adding additional COVID-19 response tools to help users find and monitor supplies in nearby stores. We’re excited to partner with a company that is adapting to our current times.

Download on the Apple app store. / Download on Google Play.

What you need to know about Baltimore transit + bike shops

Bikemore staff and our furry friends are working remotely but staying connected.

Bikemore believes in a connected city. A Baltimore where people are connected to places they need to go, and connected to the communities they love. 

The need to be connected to food, health care, jobs, and to our neighbors has never been greater. As we continue to assess the impacts COVID-19 has on people’s access to transportation, we wanted to send a message to update and connect you to resources you may need during these challenging times. 

We're coordinating with MTA and Baltimore City DOT to ensure you receive up-to-date information on changes to transit service. And we will continue to advocate for transportation solutions that are available to all who need it. 

Bikemore staff is currently working from home, and our scheduled in-person programs are currently on hold. We’re developing creative ways we can stay connected to you — stay tuned for more details.

**This is a quickly changing situation. This is the current status of transit and bike repair resources as of 3/19/2020, but please check the links for current info and call ahead at bike shops. Are we missing something or have incorrect info? Email danielle@bikemore.net

Public Transit

Update:

The situation with public transit is rapidly evolving. Please only use transit if you have to get supplies, go to a medical appointment, to a required job, or if you are frontline medical personnel or someone working in an industry critical to the supply chain.

At present, all services are operational, but some are running with reduced service. To keep the bus operator safe, board from the rear door on all MTA buses and the Circulator unless you need an accessible entrance. On the MTA, we recommend using CharmPass to limit interaction with the bus operator. 

• MTA: Latest service information for the MTA can be found at www.mta.maryland.gov/coronavirus
  Update 3/20/20, 10:30am:

  As of yesterday evening, the MTA issued the following guidance to all riders and operators:
  "In an effort to mitigate the spread of COVID -19, PLEASE USE TRANSIT FOR ESSENTIAL TRAVEL ONLY. Essential travel means taking trips to work, hospitals, health care providers, pharmacies, grocery stores, banks, food distribution centers, schools, to provide care for family members, and other similar destinations. By reducing unnecessary travel, transit becomes safer for those who depend on it, especially essential healthcare workers, and for those who operate it. MDOT MTA encourages all employers to consider telework options where possible."

  This guidance makes it clear that operators should not be declining riders with a legitimate need to use transit service, and that operators should not be requiring any sort of evidence or proof of legitimate need in order for a rider to board transit service.

  Please share any continued issues with utilizing transit service with the MTA Transit Information Center at 1-866-RIDE-MTA and please let us know as well so we can continue to advocate on your behalf.For the latest information on MTA service, visit https://www.mta.maryland.gov/coronavirus

• Circulator: Latest service information for the Circulator can be found at www.charmcitycirculator.com/content/news

• Harbor Connector: Latest service information for the Harbor Connector can be found at @BmoreWaterTaxi

We are grateful to the transit staff working hard to stay safe while ensuring people maintain the mobility required in a time of crisis.

Bike Repair + Resources

• Baltimore Bicycle Works: Both the Falls Road and Belvedere Square locations are open for drop off/pick up only. Please call ahead. Check here for updates.

• Bike and Brunch: Need access to a bike or alternative transportation during this time? Get in touch and they’ll work to connect you to community resources. Connect here.

• Joes: Both the Fells Point and Mt. Washington stores are open. They are reassessing daily. Please call ahead to ensure they are open.

• Race Pace: All Race Pace locations are open for drop off/pick up only. Check here for updates.

We are grateful for our local shops are working hard to keep their staff safe while keeping your bikes working.

Where to Ride

We know that getting exercise, fresh air, and the simple joy of biking is crucial right now. We strongly advise that our community follows the social distancing guidelines and keep 6’ of space between individuals. Please only ride by yourself or with members of your households. Here are a couple ideas for inspiration:

• Druid Hill Park has plenty of trails for a day’s adventure and family-friendly riding. You can get there by taking the Big Jump on 28 St.  to the entrance on Swann Dr./Madison Ave, and pick your route with guidance from this Baltimore Green Map.

• Bmore Photo Tag is a local facebook group where folks take a photo of their bike at an interesting spot in Baltimore, and others in the group try to identify the spot and ride to it. It’s a fun way to find new and beautiful spots to ride.

Bikemore Programs + Events

All planned in-person Bikemore programming is suspended until further notice, including our Mobile Bike Shop. If you’re signed up for an upcoming Biking 101, look out for an email update. And keep an eye on our calendar as we creatively adapt programming online. 

If you are interested in supporting Bikemore, set up a recurring monthly gift of $5-10. Small monthly donations have a big impact on our future sustainability. We couldn’t be more grateful.  

Action Alert: Send a quick email now!

Email your Senator TODAY to pass HB368 - The Transit Safety and Investment Act!

The Maryland House of Delegates has passed this critical legislation that will provide funding to MTA Maryland to keep trains and buses from breaking down. 

If the State Senate doesn’t pass this legislation by Wednesday, we will need to wait at least another year to increase funding for our transit system.

In the meantime, we can expect reliability of our transit system to decline as buses and trains continue to break more than almost any other transit system in America. 

COVID-19 has made the urgency to take care of our most vulnerable even clearer. Our leadership needs to take action to provide resources to everyone, like a reliable source of transportation. 

You have to tell your Senator TODAY to pass HB368, or it may be too late to save the MTA.

Stay home! Watch the live stream!

Tomorrow, Bikemore in partnership with Central Maryland Transportation Alliance, Baltimore Transit Equity Coalition, and Real News Network, are hosting our Council President Transportation Forum.

In an abundance of caution regarding the spread of COVID-19, the forum will no longer be open to the public, but will be available to watch by live stream. 

Nick Mosby, Leon Pinkett, Shannon Sneed, Dan Sparaco, and Carl Stokes are all still scheduled to participate. We hope you can join us online.

For those who can not watch the livestream, a recording will also be available for future viewing. 

Candidate questionnaires for City Council races have just been published - find your district candidates here: www.ibikeivote.com. 

Bikemore is committed to ensuring Baltimore City voters are informed and encouraged to vote in the Primary Election on April 28th. Stay tuned for further analysis of the races and ways we can continue to be champions of equitable transportation. 

Action Alert: Support the Transit Safety and Investment Act

In 2018, advocates and legislators passed a bill requiring the MTA (Maryland Transit Administration) to figure out the cost of repairs needed to keep Baltimore public transit running.

We got the results this year. It’s bad. The MTA system has a backlog of more than $2 billion in critical needs just to maintain our current infrastructure.

We’re working with advocates across the region and the MTA on a new regional transit plan, setting the stage for improvements over the next 25 years. But none of that will be possible without first fixing what’s broken in our current system.

The Transit Safety and Investment Act will add an additional $132 million a year over the next four years into the MTA to be spent on critical maintenance. This bill was introduced this session by Team 46 Delegate Brooke Lierman and backed by the new Annapolis Transit Caucus.

Governor Hogan has failed Baltimore through a willful neglect of our public transportation system. This bill is an opportunity to begin repairing that damage.

Tell your Senator to get this bill passed now before it’s too late. Without this additional investment, we risk further disruption and reduced reliability of MTA service.