Protected Bike Lanes, Vehicle Lane Reductions Cause Stir in Baltimore

Residents and business operators say they weren’t warned about a road diet planned for a major thoroughfare in Baltimore. Planners and advocates say the changes have been a long time coming.

2 minute read

November 30, 2022, 7:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Old brick buildings line Central Avenue in Baltimore. The street is filled with construction equipment.

Signs of road construction were visible on Central Avenue in Baltimore in June 2022. | Google Streetview

“Work is wrapping up on a $55 million, yearslong upgrade of a major downtown roadway serving Baltimore’s developing waterfront neighborhoods,” reports Lorraine Mirabella in a paywalled article for the Baltimore Sun. “But the revitalization of Central Avenue’s streetscape has surprised some business operators and residents.”

Based on the article’s telling of the story, some local businesses and residents were expecting the project to add vehicle capacity—instead the project is eliminating a vehicle lane in each direction and adding a protected bicycle path. Doug Schmidt, a principal with Workshop Development, is quoted in the article saying the “road diet” was never made public.

“Opponents fear the rebuilt road won’t handle current traffic or heavier use as workers return to offices and as new apartments, offices, hotels and stores open in the corridor. They worry about safety, loss of parking, disruption to businesses that rely on loading areas and increased congestion on neighborhood streets,” writes Mirabella.

Proponents, including bike and complete streets advocates, support the changes. The article notes that the political conflict is indicative of similar struggles in other cities—where increasing awareness of traffic safety and climate change is butting heads with the car-centric planning status quo.

The article documents the planning process that produced the road diet for Central Avenue. The process dates back to 2015, with more direct changes implemented by the city’s adoption of a complete streets ordinance in 2018 and public outreach in November 2021.

Monday, November 21, 2022 in The Baltimore Sun

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

People sitting and walking in plaza in front of historic Benton County Courthouse in Bentonville, Arkansas.

Placekeeping: Setting a New Precedent for City Planners

How a preservation-based approach to redevelopment and urban design can prevent displacement and honor legacy communities.

March 28, 2025 - Emily McCoy

Rusty abandoned oil well and equipment with prickly pear cactus next to it in West Texas.

Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage

Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.

March 31, 2025 - Pennsylvania State University

Two people on bikes riding down paved Burke-Gilman bike trail in King County, Washington on a sunny day.

Washington State Plans Ambitious ‘Cycle Highway’ Network

The state is directing funding to close gaps in its existing bike network and make long-distance trips more accessible.

6 hours ago - Momentum Magazine

Small green ADU cottage in lush backyard in San Jose, California.

Homeowners Blame PG&E for Delays in ADU Permits

The utility says it has dramatically reduced its backlog, but applicants say they still face months-long delays for approvals for new electrical work.

7 hours ago - San Francisco Chronicle

Large oak tree in meadow with sun filtering from behind it in Angeles National Forest.

Rethinking Wildfire Defense: How a Landscape Approach Can Protect Neighborhoods

Post-fire analysis of the Eaton Fire reveals that a landscape approach — including fire-resistant vegetation, home hardening, and strategic planning — can help reduce wildfire risk, challenging assumptions that trees and plants are primary fire hazards.

April 8 - ASLA The Dirt