The following are some experimental bike audits that were completed by the Outreach and Advisory Subcommittee of the Bath Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transportation Committee on October 2, 2024 and again on December 2, 2024. I collected the notes from their various rides and put them into some google maps to as an experiment to see what might we might learn.

This is an experimental approach with a goal of quickly gathering a snapshot of information about a particular bike route to provide helpful information to the Bath Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Transportation Committee, and to learn more about what areas in the City of Bath need improvement. Another desired outcome is to familiarize the public with possible routes they might consider taking when riding their bikes around the City of Bath.

South End Loop from Waterfront Park

This route was identified as a way to explore connectivity issues between Downtown Bath and the South End, and to examine possible north to south routes that feel safe and comfortable for people on bikes.

Downtown (Waterfront Park) to the Bath YMCA

This bike route was identified as the most bike-friendly route to get from Waterfront Park to the YMCA due to its gentle incline, and the use of roads that either have limited vehicle traffic or have plenty of room for both vehicles and bicycles to coexist happily. The route makes an attempt to avoid busy or dangerous intersections.

Congress Avenue to Shaws

This bike route explores the ease with which residents can get to Shaws using the Multi-use trail on Congress Avenue along with an alternate route via Bluff Road.

YMCA to Morse High School

A2K Alternate Route to Multi-Use Trail

Each year the League of American Bicyclists, the national organization advocating for more Bicycle Friendly America for everyone, declares May as National Bike Month. During this celebration of bikes and the people who ride them, the City Of Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee invites residents to try biking to work, go for a family bike ride or participate in one of the activities planned by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee to celebrate National Bike Month. 

Motherload

Thursday, May 16 @ 6:30 PM
Union + Co. at 31 Centre Street, Bath

On  Thursday, May 16th the documentary film Motherload will be shown at 6:30pm at Union + Co. at 31 Centre Street in Bath. The film follows film director and new mother, Liz Canning, as she explores motherhood and discovers how the bicycle can offer answers on how to be a responsible parent and earth inhabitant in this time of changing climate.

In the film, Liz meets people who are passionately demonstrating that a purpose built bike can replace an automobile for many of life’s daily activities. Following the film there will be a short time for Q&A with members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. This event is generously co-sponsored by Union + Co. and the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. 

eBike Demo and Bike Safety Check

Thursday, May 16 @ 4:30 – 6:00 PM
Bath Police Department Parking Lot at 250 Water St, Bath

Prior to the viewing of the film on May 16th,  Pedego Electric Bikes of Boothbay Harbor will host e-bike demos in the parking lot of the Bath Police Department on Water Street. E-bikes will be available for a spin from 4:30-6:00 pm.  Also during the same timeframe, Bath Cycle and Ski of Woolwich, will be offering free bike safety checks in the Police Department lot. Ride your bike to the demos and safety check, enjoy  light refreshments from 6:00 – 6:30 pm at Union + Co, and watch the film at 6:30pm. Bike parking is available at the permanent bike racks located on Centre and Front Streets. 

The evenings events are sponsored by Union +Co, Pedego Electric Bikes, Bath Cycle and Ski, Liz McGregor -film producer, Main Street Bath and the City of Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. The film and demos are free but donations will be happily accepted to further the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee’s goals and mission. 

Community Bike Ride to Butler Head

Meet Up @ City Hall | Saturday, May 18, 2024 @ 8:30 am

The Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee will be leading a bike ride to Butler Head Preserve in North Bath on Saturday, May 18th. The moderately challenging ride departs from Bath City Hall at 8:30am. Cyclists must have a bicycle in good working order, wear a helmet, wear high visibility clothing, have a full water bottle and maybe a snack.

The return route will go through the south end of Bath, finishing at City Hall. The ride will be 12-13 miles, with the an option of shortening to about 8 miles for those that want a shorter ride. Total riding time is about 1.5 hours. In the event of inclement weather the ride will be canceled.

Learn More about Biking, Walking, and Transportation in Bath

Spring into Summer | Saturday May 18th @ 10:00 AM
Visit the Transportation & Bicycle and Pedestrian Table in front of Bath City Hall

The Transportation and Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee will be hosting a table at Main Street Bath’s “Spring Into Summer “ event. This is a great opportunity to talk with members of the committee, learn about current projects, and share your thoughts and concerns about biking, walking and all other forms of transportation in the City of Bath.

Back in 2018, the BikeWalkBath blog was launched by a couple of volunteers who were members of the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. Members of the committee saw a need for a flexible way to communicate with interested residents about the activities of the committee. Over the years, the committee used the blog to post information about events and occasional updates about accomplishments.

In February of 2024, the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee voted to discontinue their use of this blog and instead have decided to utilize the standard City of Bath communication channels using the City’s Social Media and eNewsletter Platform.

This blog is now being run solely as a citizen volunteer effort, and although there may be posts related to the work and effort of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee, this is no longer the Committee’s official blog.

Join City Staff and Members of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee to learn about the improvements to Bike Parking in Downtown Bath.

When: Wednesday, May 31, 2023 @ 4pm
Location: Bath City Hall Auditorium

What: We will provide an overview of the process for identifying the City’s bike parking needs and the benefits of improved parking downtown. We will take a short walking tour of the bike parking locations and address any concerns or questions raised by residents and business owners.

The updated bike parking is based on a multi-year process of testing and evaluating several different bike rack types and locations, incorporating ADA requirements, and responding to an increased demand from residents and visitors who are increasingly expecting reliable and secure places to lock their bikes when visiting Downtown Bath.

Benefits of Improved Bicycle Parking

Inadequate bike parking facilities is one of the leading reasons that people decide not to ride their bikes to a given location. Improved bicycle parking will encourage residents and visitors to bike Downtown, instead of driving cars, which will help support Bath in the following way:

• Help Bath meet its climate goals and keep our air clean
• Free up vehicle parking for others who need it
• Improve community health
• Strengthen Bath’s image as a bike-friendly community

What’s the Plan?

The improvements being made will add 18 new year road bike parking spaces, and up to 38 seasonal parking spaces for bikes.

9 New Permanent Hitch Racks

The City will be installing 9 permanent hitch racks, in convenient locations throughout Front St and Centre St. These racks can accommodate multiple styles of bikes and sturdy enough to handle eBikes and touring bikes with weight on them (eBike usage is on the increase in Bath). Each rack can hold two bicycles.

The racks are positioned to avoid impeding pedestrian walkways and adhering to ADA compliance. The racks are located in specific locations where bikes have historically been parked up against trees, lamps, and other non-official parking areas.

For approximate location of these new permanent racks, look for this image on the map above.

2 New Seasonal Parking Areas

Building on the success of a well received pilot project done in 2019, the City will be adding additional seasonal bike parking capacity with two bike parking popups: one in the north end of Front Street, and the other on the South End of Front Street.

While replacing a vehicle parking spot during the warmer months, each of these seasonal parking areas will allow for up to 10 people, and are indicated on the map with the following icon:

Letter of Support from Main Street Bath

Bath has always been a diverse traveling community. Whether walking the trails at Kennebec Estuary Land Trust, exploring the Riverwalk, crossing the street with thousands of others on your way into Bath Iron Works or stopping in at Reny’s for almost everything you’d ever need. There are lots of moving pieces to our daily lives in Bath. One increase in traveling we’ve seen is with bicycle use in downtown areas both from residents and tourists. Bike tours are constantly heading across the Sagadahoc bridge through the summer months and our locals have found it much easier to get their errands done on two wheels instead of four. To keep these habits sustainable as well as continue to support things that keep our community green, Main Street Bath is in support of the Bike & Pedestrian Committee’s plans to create more space for bicycle parking within our historic downtown. After several tours of other Main Street Communities across the nation, a healthy downtown is one that has plenty of bike access, and we are grateful for the continued work of the Bike & Pedestrian Committee that is in line with Main Street Bath’s mission to promote and preserve our historic downtown.

Amanda McDanial, Director of Main Street Bath

May is National Bike Month. This is a great opportunity to blow the dust off your bike and to be reminded that riding a bike is a fun way to get exercise, save money commuting to work, run errands around town or it can simply be a healthy and enjoyable family activity.  The Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee has organized several rides in celebration of National Bike Month.  

Bath Bike Party – June

[THIS RIDE CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST]

When: Friday, June 2, 2023
Location: Waterfront Park by The Virginia Dock @ 5:30 pm

Join a friendly group taking a fun, slow, and easy going ride around town with lights, music, and lots of laughs. Each party begins with a short demonstration and safety session to help reacquaint you with your bike. We will have a bike mechanics with tools to make minor adjustments and get your bike ready for the road. This is a good opportunity to get your started for the season!

We will have some bike lights and other items to give away to participants. The ride will include an easy-going tour around the north end of town and no one will be left behind. Participants will be invited to gather afterwards at the new Waterfront Park by the Virginia Dock.

Please pre-register, as it will help us plan better.

[REGISTRATION NOT AVAILABLE – THIS RIDE CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER FORECAST]

ARCHIVED: Ride of Silence in Bath, Maine

When: Wednesday May 17, 2023 @ 5:15 PM (COMPLETED)
Location: Bath City Hall, 55 Front Street, Bath, Maine

This ride is one of many across the state, and the world, and is considered part of Global Safety Week. The International Ride of Silence honors vulnerable road users who have been injured or killed by traffic violence while bicycling, raises awareness that bicyclists have a legal right to use the road, and reminds motorists to respectfully share the road with all users.

Join members of the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and other citizens for this silent and easy-going 30 minute ride around town. No one will be left behind. We will meet at 5:15 PM in front of City Hall on Wednesday, May 17th 2023.

THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON MAY 17

ARCHIVED: Bath Bike Party – May

When: Friday, May 19, 2023 @ 5:30 pm
Location: Waterfront Park by The Virginia Dock

Join a friendly group taking a fun, slow, and easy going ride around town with lights, music, and lots of laughs. Each party begins with a short demonstration and safety session to help reacquaint you with your bike. We will have two bike mechanics with tools to make minor adjustments and get your bike ready for the road. This is a good opportunity to get your started for the season!

We will have some bike lights and other items to give away to participants. The ride will include an easy-going tour around the north and south ends of town and no one will be left behind. Participants will be invited to gather afterwards at the new Waterfront Park by the Virginia Dock.

Please pre-register, as it will help us plan better.

THIS EVENT OCCURRED ON MAY 19, 2023

With spring in the air, the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and the League of American Bicyclists, the national organization of bicyclists, announce that May is National Bike Month and Friday, May 20th is Bike to Work Day. Riding a bike is a fun way to get exercise, save money commuting to work, run errands around town or can simply be a healthy and enjoyable family activity. 

The Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee invites area citizens to participate in several rides organized in celebration of National Bike Month. Pre-registration is required for all rides. 

Mountain Bike Ride, Lily Pond Preserve

When: Saturday, May 7, 2022 @ 10:00 am
Location: Lily Pond trailhead, 150 High Street, Bath, Maine

On Saturday May 7th, Lawrence Kovacs, founding president of the Six Rivers local chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association will lead an hour and a half ride at the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust’s Lily Pond Preserve in Bath. Bath is home to more than twenty miles of fun and challenging single track mountain bike trails. This is a ride for folks with at least intermediate skills.

You must be comfortable riding on single track trails that have some roots and rocks. We will be riding on the less challenging trails in Lilly Pond, but they are still narrow and uneven in spots. This will be a “no-drop” ride, so don’t worry about keeping up! We will not leave anyone behind. You should have a mountain bike in good working condition and a helmet is required. We will be carrying some basic tools and a pump in case there is a mechanical issue.

The ride will depart at 10:00 am from the Lily Pond trailhead, located at 150 High Street in Bath. Rain date is May 14th. 

Round Trip from Bath to Wild Oats in Brunswick

When: Saturday, May 14, 2022 @ 8:30 am
Location: Bath Parks and Recreation Department Office, 4 Sheridan Rd, Bath, Maine

On Saturday, May 14th, Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee members Kevin Shute and Tim Blair will lead a 22 mile round trip ride from Bath to Brunswick, with a stop at Wild Oats Bakery and Cafe for a snack and rest stop. In one direction the ride will follow a portion of the East Coast Greenway north of Route 1, and in another direction the ride will follow a route south of Route 1. Riders must wear a helmet, highly visible clothing, and have a bike in good working condition. Departure is from the Bath Parks and Recreation Department office at 8:30 am.

Bath Bike Tour

When: Friday, May 20, 2022 @ 7:00 am
Location: Bath City Hall, 55 Front St., Bath, Maine

On Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 20th, Kevin and Tim will also lead a ride promoting bicycling in Bath. The 8 mile ride will highlight new and proposed pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure projects in the city. Following the ride participants are invited to join members of the bike/ped committee for a coffee at Cafe Creme’ and share ideas on how to improve bicycling in Bath. Riders will depart from Bath City Hall at 7am. 

The League of American Bicyclists has renewed the City of Bath’s designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community at the Bronze level. This decision involved careful review of Bath’s application and supplemental materials, as well as consultation with local cyclists and bike advocates. This award is presented only to communities with strong commitments to bicycling.

“Biking has the power to strengthen our nation economically, environmentally and socially and we are proud to continue honoring those who have laid the groundwork over several years to make biking a safe, accessible option for all,” said Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. “We are at a pivotal point in the movement to build a Bicycle Friendly America for everyone as we head into a year that could be transformational for investments in better biking and we’re grateful to have these 57 places making it possible for more people in their community to safely and easily choose bikes.”

“The City of Bath continues to make progress in making Bath a safer and more enjoyable city to walk and ride bikes,” said Tim Blair, Chair of the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. “With our Complete Streets Policy in place and a city staff committed to ongoing improvements, we are working hard to meet the growing demands of residents who want to use active transportation. Receiving this acknowledgement from The League of American Bicyclists is a good indicator of the city’s efforts and also serves as an inspiration to continue this important work.”

The League of American Bicyclists’ Bicycle Friendly Community awards reflect local leaders’ ongoing work to build better places to bike and evaluate those efforts as part of a national movement. Each of the five levels of the Bicycle Friendly Community award – diamond, platinum, gold, silver, and bronze, plus an honorable mention category – provide a clear path for communities to continuously improve. Visit bikeleague.org/community to learn more about the BFC program.

The Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee is launching a campaign to help slow down vehicles and make the streets of Bath safe for all users. This campaign was originally inspired by a larger state-wide campaign being run by the Bicycle Coalition of Maine. To make sure we design a campaign to fit the needs of Bath, we gathered input from community members using an online questionnaire.

Thank you to everyone who completed our questionnaire about vehicle speed in Bath and how it impacts you. The questionnaire is now offline and we are reviewing the entries and compiling a report. The concerns and suggestions that you provided in our questionnaire will help inform and influence the direction of our “Help Bath Thrive: Drive 25” campaign. Stay tuned for more details.

The Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee has established the “Kevin Shute Bicycle and Pedestrian Education and Advocacy Fund” as a way to accept donations for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee while also recognizing Kevin Shute who is a current and a founding member of the Committee. 

Committee members wanted to find a way to properly recognize the contributions made by Kevin Shute and decided that this fund is a perfect way to honor Kevin for his passion and knowledge of cycling, his patience and ability to work with everyone, and for his generosity of the time he has given to the community over the past 10 years. 

The Purpose of The Funds Raised

The Committee works closely with Bath City Staff to help prioritize projects and other items for inclusion in the budgets of Public Works, Planning & Development, and the Parks and Recreation Department. There are occasions when the Committee identifies important but unexpected expenditures for which no funds have been budgeted. These might include signage for new walking trails, banners to promote biking and walking, educational materials and other unexpected advocacy and promotional expenses. Expenses like these can now be covered using this special fund.

How To Make a Donation

If you would like to make a donation, you may do so by writing a Check to the City of Bath, and in the memo field indicate “Bike Ped”. Checks can be delivered to the Treasurer’s Office at Bath City Hall, 55 Front Street, Bath, Maine.

Funds will be expended based on a committee vote to ensure they will be utilized for the purposes they were intended. These gifts to the Bath Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee are not tax deductible.