Baltimore is known for many things, two among them being a fierce loyalty to its beloved Orioles and a vibrant biking community. What happens when they intersect?
Noah Shumway and Rory Nealon see great potential in creating a group of bike riders of all abilities getting together before the Orioles play and riding to Camden Yards together for the game. The two are in the early stages of planning, but they have already done a test ride, are looking at groups in other cities doing something similar, and putting feelers out in the Baltimore biking community.
Shumway told Baltimore Fishbowl that the idea is to have a group of people meet up 30-40 minutes before they want to get to Camden Yards, ride to the stadium, lock up their bikes (there are bike racks and lockers), and go to the game. The two are planning out logistics surrounding the types of rides and routes possible to make it work. They’re also hoping to have rides on days when the Orioles play away games, having the destination be a place where they can watch the game together on TV instead of Camden Yards.
“We’re in our early stages, and we’re workshopping different plans that can be the most inclusive and get the most folks riding their bikes to the game,” Nealon told Fishbowl. “The first unofficial-slash-official ride we did was with … another ride called the Taco Tuesday ride, an informal meetup of folks who biked to different taco places every Tuesday.”
After seeing how that worked, Nealon and Shumway did their own test ride to a bar in Hampden called Zissimos. They offer deals on game days, like a hot dog and chips for $2.50 and a domestic beer for $2.50. The bar is able to accommodate them, and they now have planned rides to Zissimos for away games on July 4, Aug. 1, Aug. 8, Aug. 29, and Sept. 26.
Other details they are working out involve questions like, is it best to meet in one location consistently, or is it smarter and more equitable to rotate it? Which games should they choose, and how far in advance should they advertise it? They are aiming most of all for community and inclusivity, welcoming people on scooters, e-bikes, and everything in between.
Shumway notes that riders don’t need to be decked out in spandex and bike shoes to participate.
“You don’t necessarily have to be in any kind of special biking gear,” he said. “I just ride in what I’m going to wear to the game, so I don’t have to change or anything like that. Just sneakers and t-shirt and walk right in.”
And helmets, of course.
“You can leave stuff like that, helmets, anything like that you can leave on the bike rack, and I’ve not experienced an issue,” Shumway said.
Nealon said in at least one of the areas where bikes are parked there is usually an attendant who keeps an eye on the bikes. While he doesn’t leave anything valuable in his bike bag, he’s left a few small things he didn’t want to bring into the park and not had a problem.
Regarding infrastructure at Camden Yards, Shumway said there are two areas with bike racks. One has a newer “U”-shaped rack that works very well, but also fill up very quickly. The other area closer to M&T Bank Stadium has an older style of bike rack, which he says are a bit more challenging for e-bike users to use, but even they fill up quickly.
Shumway told Fishbowl that many stadiums have bike valets, which Camden Yards does not. Nealon has used the bike valet at Nationals Stadium. Other stadiums with the service include the San Francisco Giants, San Diego Padres, and Chicago Cubs.
“They have attendants at the stadium, on the outside the big gate, and you roll your bike up and like a classic valet, you get like a little ticket,” Nealon described. “You keep the other half and they’re open like an hour after the game, and you bring your ticket back and there’s someone watching your bike in a very safe place.”
The Baltimore Orioles organization told Fishbowl in an email that Camden Yards has bike racks around the facility that can accommodate nearly 200 bikes.
As far as Baltimore City’s bicycle infrastructure goes, the two think that it is not where it should be, which is part of why riding in a larger group might appeal to the less experienced bicycle riders.
“We have some protected bike lanes,” Shumway noted. “Pratt Street, Conway, Sharp Street having separate lanes, is really helpful.”
Those lanes aren’t everywhere, though, and riding in groups might help those who get a flat tire or fall or take a wrong turn.
If they know a certain number of people will be coming, they might venture into sitting together as a group if people were interested. The Orioles told Fishbowl they offer discounts on tickets for groups of 15 or more.
“Cyclists are a pretty crusty bunch,” Nealon said. “We don’t need a suite or anything like that. Just a hotdog and a Boh and a place to sit together and we’re pretty happy campers.”
