Pedal Pushers

Concerning City Paper's Bike Issue (April 20), I wanted to challenge the notion that Baltimore has bike advocates.

Certainly, Baltimore has a pro-bike crowd, and there is a lot of interest to build more bike infrastructure. However, there are no groups that in any serious way do the work to advocate for better bike facilities in the city. Bike Maryland, the one group that operates in the city, spends more time in Annapolis than at City Hall.

Considering this fact, it is frankly amazing that we have as much bike infrastructure as we do—and hats off to city officials for making that happen.

The challenge for your readers is this: If you want more bike infrastructure, you’re going to have to do more than complain. Nobody is out there actively lobbying on your behalf. With the internet, it should be relatively easy for folks to organize meetings with their legislators. So just do it.

Paul Day
Baltimore

Michael Byrne responds: Please see last year’s Bike Issue feature about the issue of cycling advocacy in Baltimore (“3 Feet Wide and Rising,” April 21, 2010).

Hill Yes

On behalf of the boards of directors of both Federal Hill Main Street and the Federal Hill Business Association, we would like to point out that our mission is to promote all businesses in Federal Hill, in response to the “Liquored Up” article (Mobtown Beat) in the City Paper issue of April 20.

Our organizations work tirelessly with hundreds of volunteers from the community to promote all of the businesses in Federal Hill. This focus includes shops, galleries, restaurants, professional services, and audiences of all ages, from families to empty-nesters and everyone in between. Activities include special events such as retail sidewalk sales, holiday promotions for families, Little Ones Lanes for children at our street festivals, an annual fashion show and gala, and the publication of a community cookbook, to name a few.

Contrary to the quote in the article, we do not engage in activities to “‘market [Federal Hill] for young people to congregate, and hopefully strike up a meaningful relationship over alcoholic beverages.’” Our efforts are focused on spreading the word about what a great place Federal Hill is to live, work, shop, dine, and play.

Patrick Mutch
President, Federal Hill Main Street Board of Directors
Barry Werner
President, Federal Hill Business Association
Baltimore

Editor’s note: Check out next week’s issue for Film Fest Frenzy, our annual guide to the Maryland Film Festival (May 5-8).