County Planning Board Approves Bike Plan

The comprehensive bike plan for western Baltimore County is one step closer to reality after the Baltimore County Planning Board approved it last week.

At its meeting on April 19, the board unanimously approved the , which is a master plan for bicycle and pedestrian improvements for the western portion of Baltimore County.

The eastern portion was completed in 2006. The western plan includes the southwestern portion of Baltimore County, through Owings Mills, Reisterstown, Hunt Valley and Timonium.

The major improvements for southwest Baltimore County include:

1. Creating a Patapsco River path from the Baltimore city line through the edge of southwest Baltimore County that could link UMBC to the city
2. Extending the Short Line trail into Baltimore city
3. Trails that connect UMBC to both downtown Arbutus and Catonsville

Earlier this month, Catonsville and Arbutus residents at a public hearing before the board.

While no funding has yet been attached to any of the projects, Baltimore County Councilman Tom Quirk told Patch last week that approving the plan is the first step towards implementing some of them.

The plan will now be scheduled for a vote before the Baltimore County Council at a later date.