|
BALTIMORE (May 29) – Take a bike ride – for recreation, exercise or the thrill of competition – and discover Maryland's diverse landscape, says the Maryland Office of Tourism. Each of the state's five regions (Western, Capital, Central, Southern and Eastern Shore) offer signature experiences that reflect their physical, historical and cultural characteristics.
"Cyclists get an up-close perspective of the areas they travel through," says Margot Amelia, executive director of the tourism office. "They're more apt to experience our natural treasures, while seeing places that perhaps they've only seen from inside a car – if at all."
In June 2011, the state launched Cycle Maryland, a program that Gov. Martin O'Malley initiated to raise awareness of Maryland's biking resources and to advocate for biking as a recreational and fitness activity, and as an environmentally-friendly mode of transportation.
Now, a year later, the League of American Bicyclists has ranked Maryland among its top 10 "Bicycle Friendly States" – number 8 in the nation and number 3 in the Northeast. The ranking considered such factors as: infrastructure and funding for bicycle facilities; education and programs that encourage cycling; and bicycle-friendly laws that promote safety.
"We recognize that Maryland's capacity for accommodating bicyclists enhances the quality of life for our residents, while making our destinations more inviting for visitors," says Carol Silldorff, executive director of Bike Maryland, a nonprofit organization that advocates for improved bicycling conditions and the rights of bicyclists.
Below is a sampling of cycling events and trails across the five regions of Maryland. Additionally, a number of Maryland's counties have online bicycle maps, including Caroline, Carroll, Dorchester, Talbot, Washington andWorcester counties. Itineraries for bike routes between Civil War battlefields are also available. And, Cycle Maryland 's web site links to an interactive state bicycle map, biking trails and biking events.
Western Maryland
Also known as Mountain Maryland, this scenic region has the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, Historic National Road and C&O Canal Towpath. Bike routes also go through and around Antietam National Battlefield.
- Tour of Washington County Kick-Off Classic Criterium, June 15, Hagerstown – Presented by the Antietam Velo Club, this evening race – along a .8-mile course with four 90-degree turns and one uphill section – cuts through the Hagerstown Arts and Entertainment District. A bike parade at 5:30 p.m. precedes a series of divisional races. More races take place the next two days in Smithsburg, Boonsboro and Williamsport.
- Garrett County Gran Fondo, June 23 – Cyclists of all types – recreational to professional – can select one of five ride options in this mass-participation cycling event that starts and ends atop Wisp Mountain (above Deep Creek Lake) at Adventures Sports Center International. Five individual itineraries range from extreme to engaging: the 125-mile Diabolical Double Metric to the 25-mile Garrett's Greatest . Participation is limited to 1,200 cyclists and a sell-out is expected, so register early.
- Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath – As part of the C&O Canal National Historic Park, the towpath is a 184-mile corridor that runs along the Potomac River, starting in Washington, D.C., and extending to Cumberland. In Cumberland, it merges into the Maryland stretch of the Great Allegany Passage, a route that continues through Frostburg and westward to Pittsburgh.
- Western Maryland Rail Trail – This 23-mile route traces the C&O Canal and the former Western Maryland Railway line. Hancock is the mid-way point. Going east, the trail stops a half mile from Fort Frederick State Park, site of the restored star-shaped fort used in the French and Indian War (1754-1763).
Capital Region
Civil War history is plentiful here. The region, which hugs the Potomac River, also has numerous parks. And, theFrederick Wine Trail is a concentration of wineries amid a rolling landscape.
- Ride the Riverside, June 9-10, National Harbor (Prince George's County) – Route options for this long-standing event (30 years) range from 30 miles to 150 miles, and travel through Prince George's and Charles counties along the Potomac River. Each cyclist agrees to raise $300 to benefit multiple sclerosis research. Family and friends of riders are invited to waterfront finish-line party.
- Capital Crescent Trail – This 11-mile pathway follows a former route of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C., to Silver Spring in Montgomery County. Bikers pass over four historic bridges and through two tunnels along the Potomac River. It connects with the C&O Canal Towpath and the Rock Creek Trail.
|
