Bike HoCo
Bike HoCo 2024 Symposium @ Wilde Lake HS

Repaving Projects Status As of 8/26/24

The following is an update from the Department of Public Works of road repaving projects that are underway or will soon be started in Howard County. The two dangers to cyclists are the road preparation which involves grooving the road which results in a rough surface and debris on the road and shoulder due to the grinding/grooving process. In addition, expect slow downs and single lanes when work is in progress.

Roads being repaved:

GATEWICK RD
WOODWICK CT
PINEWICK RD
EBBWOOD DR
FAWNWOOD DR
GINGERWOOD DR
HICKORYMEDE DR
HICKORYMEDE CT
MINTER LN
ROWLEY RD
SANNER RD
MEADOW WOOD WAY
TALL PINE WAY
JOHNS HOPKINS RD

In addition, MARRIOTTSVILLE ROAD is finally reopened in the vicinity of the Chapelgate development and Resort Road. Only 1 lane is open in each direction and repaving/road repair and reconfiguration is still in progress.

August & September Road Maintenance

Road Maintenance on Frequently Cycled Roads (Aug-Sept)

DPW/Highways is planning on a contractor performing complete chip and seal maintenance on the following roads in August and September. This process will put significant loose gravel on roads and shoulder areas until completion/sweeping.

  1. Windsor Forest Road (in progress)

  2. Shaffers Mill Road (in progress)

  3. Shaffersville Road (in progress)

  4. Mullinix Mill Road (in progress)

  5. Bushy Park Road (From Route 144 to Daisy Road)

  6. Cemetery Road

  7. River Road (Sykesville Area)

  8. Broadwater Lane

  9. Daniels Road

If you see work being done on any other roads that may pose a hazard to cyclists email president @bikehoco.org

Bike Corral, July 4, 2024

Beat the traffic and ride a bike to the Columbia Fireworks. Bike HoCo offers free, supervised bike parking—no lock is required!


On the 4th of July, about 40,000 people will squeeze into the Columbia Lakefront to ooh and aah at the fireworks. Most will bring their car on busy roads, struggling to find the closest parking spot. After the fireworks, a stadium’s worth of people will rush from their blankets to their cars and inch their way home.


Bike HoCo, a 501(c)3 non-profit,  offers a better solution: free bike parking known as a bike corral. It is located across from the GrillMarx Steakhouse at Little Patuxent Parkway and Wincopin Circle.


The bike corral will be open from 1:00 p.m. until after the fireworks. Because of the huge crowds, it is best to come early. After 6 p.m., the crowds will make walking and biking slow going. Avoid taking your bike to the lakefront after 6 p.m., but rather walk your bike on the sidewalk along the Little Patuxent Parkway to the bike corral.

SPECIAL ADDED BONUS FOR PARKING YOUR BIKE!

FREE RAFFLE



Click to see Suggested bike routes to the corral.

Bike HoCo Bike Corral at Fireworks Display

From Warren Wortman, chair of the Bike Corrals:

Wow, what a great day! The Bike HoCo 4th of July Corral was a big success. We corraled 52 bikes without incident. Our new weather-proof, paperless tags were very successful, and the check-out system went smoothly. Hats off to all of you!

This could not have happened without all our wonderful volunteers! Thank you for all your service. Volunteers put up signs the night before, set up the corral at 9 AM, and stayed until well past 10 PM. 

Thank you for providing a safe place to park bikes, resulting in less traffic, more efficient parking (no automobile parking spaces were used), less pollution, and, most importantly,  giving our bike corral users an opportunity to experience the joy of bicycling.

For those wanting more volunteer opportunities, please visit our corral website and click on Volunteer. We still need volunteers for the EC Music Fest on August 19th from noon until 8:00 pm.


________________________________________________________________________________________________

At a June 30 press conference, the County Executive and Director of Recreation and Parks announced the 4th of July celebration at the Columbia Lakefront and Bike HoCo’s bike corral:

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball, along with the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, Columbia Association, and other community organizations, announced the County’s annual Fireworks Display at the Lakefront in Downtown Columbia, beginning at 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4th. The free event will also include food trucks beginning at 5:00 p.m. and live musical performances hosted by the Columbia Festival of the Arts beginning at 6:00 p.m. Pictures from the announcement can be found here.

…

Howard County Police Department will be closing both directions of Little Patuxent Parkway between Symphony Woods Rd. and Governor Warfield Parkway beginning at 6:30 p.m. on July 4th. The road will reopen at approximately 11:00 p.m. Eastbound Little Patuxent Parkway between Broken Land Parkway and Symphony Woods Rd. will be closed from about 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Traffic delays can be expected. 
 
“July 4th is a perfect time to “park once” and enjoy all that Downtown Columbia has to offer and to experience just how close and connected our neighborhoods and amenities are,” said Phillip Dodge, Executive Director of Downtown Columbia Partnership. “Just like we suggest on concert nights, you should arrive early, park in our garages, and then enjoy the restaurants and other attractions nearby.” 
 
Free bicycle parking will be available for those who choose to travel to Downtown by bicycle. “Beat the traffic this 4th of July- ride your bicycle from all over Columbia to the Bike HoCo bike corral at the lakefront. Join us for free, protected bike parking at Wincopin Circle & Little Patuxent Parkway from 3 - 10 pm,” said Rebecca Bryant of Bike HoCo. [emphasis added]

Trip Rewards Available Now!

Bike HoCo in collaboration with the Downtown Columbia Partnership is excited to announce a new Trip Rewards Program.   With your minimum $20 donation to Bike HoCo, not only will you make advocacy for safe cycling possible, help fund needed rest stops and maintenance stations for bikers, as well as increase accessibility to cycling for those that to start, you will also become one of our Trip Rewards members! 

Bike HoCo Trip Reward members receive discounts from local merchants throughout Columbia.  Trip Reward members receive a vinyl sticker to attach to their bike helmet. When you ride your bike to a participating business, simply show your helmet with an attached sticker at checkout to qualify for your reward. 

Visit the Trip Rewards page to donate and see a list of participating merchants

12th Annual Bike HoCo Ride


Half and Quarter Century

Sunday October 2, 2022 Sunday, October 9, 2022

After a 2 year pandemic delay it is time again to join Howard County cyclists on Bike HoCo’s 12th Annual Bike HoCo Ride. Enjoy a great early Fall ride and prepare for next weekend’s Sea Gull Century in Salisbury with a half or quarter century ride. Bike HoCo is your local Howard County bicycling advocacy 501(c)3 non-profit. This is our only annual fundraiser and helps support our efforts in bicycling safety, education and as an active transportation alternative.

DATE & TIME:

Sunday, October 2, 2022 Sunday, October 9, 2022

  • Check-in/Registration -- 9:30 – 10am (ALL participants must check-in/sign waivers)

  • Distances: 51 or 26 mile routes (Half and Quarter Century +1)

  • Riders are welcome to BYOB/food to tailgate in the APL Picnic pavilion (across softball field) after the ride. We’ll have water and some snacks available.

LOCATION:

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

  • Start/Check-in/: APL Softball Field Parking Lot

  • GPS/Google Maps location: Across from 7188 Sanner Road, Clarksville, MD 21029  

eventbrite Registration

Please pre-register so we will have adequate rest stop supplies.

DONATION/ANNUAL FUNDRAISER:

Please donate using the button below:

  • Bike HoCo is a §501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization so donations are tax deductible.

  • We request a minimum donation of $5 per rider to help fund our efforts as advocates for Howard County bicycling. If you can, please consider donating $20 to become a Supporting Member of Bike HoCo and support our advocacy including school bike safety training, bike corrals and lobbying HC Government.

  • This is Bike HoCo only 2022 fundraiser, so please consider donating even if you don’t ride.

Donate

You can also pay/donate cash when you check-in/sign waiver

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Sign in starts at @ 9:30 am -- ALL riders must sign waiver

  • Ride Routes (Bike HoCo will post cue sheets and GPS data file on its web site prior to the ride and we will have paper copies at check-in):

  • Rest stop @ Glenwood Community Center (Rt 97 & Carrs Mill Rd. Otherwise, routes go by various convenience stores

  • You can BYO beer/wine/food for post-ride socializing in the picnic APL Pavilion.

  • Wear Club or Group jerseys if you have one.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We need volunteers to help staff rest stop.  If you can volunteer, please contact: president@bikehoco.org

New bicycle lanes, 108 and Centennial Lane

HEADS UP: Starting this spring, the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) will begin an improvement project to enhance safety and traffic operations at the intersection of MD 108 (Clarksville Pike) and Centennial Lane/Beaverbrook Road in Columbia. Utility relocations are already underway.

Project improvements include:

- Widening both directions of MD 108 approaching Centennial Lane/Beaverbrook Road to accommodate new turning lanes at the intersection and new bicycle lanes;

- Constructing a new second left-turn lane from eastbound MD 108 to Centennial Lane;

- Extending the right lane on westbound MD 108 by approximately 350 feet;

- Widening Centennial Lane to accommodate the new double left-turn lanes;

- Upgrading the pedestrian signal and crosswalk;

- Improving area drainage systems; and

- Installing a new traffic signal for the new turn lanes.

Electronic message signs and barrels and flagging operations will be in place as occasional single-lane closures will be required. However, SHA does not anticipate any traffic detours and pedestrian access in the area will be maintained during construction. Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed by fall 2022.

While SHA and its transportation partners work hard to maintain safe traffic mobility in work zones, drivers are reminded to stay alert and look for reduced speed limits, narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Please slow down and don’t follow too closely when traveling through a work zone. Remember, work zone safety is in your hands.

For questions and/or more information about this project, visit https://bit.ly/3c8spzd and/or contact SHA at 410-545-0303.

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