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Debate continues over fire codes and their impact on bike lanes

Posted at 8:45 AM, Jun 20, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-20 08:45:01-04

The debate over fire codes and the impact of separate lanes for bicycles continues Wednesday in Baltimore City.

Members of a city council committee are expected to vote on a bill that would change a section of the city's fire code. Right now, there's a bike lane on Potomac Street in Canton, but the city's fire department says that lane violates international standards of how wide streets need to be for emergency vehicles to get through.

Last year, the Baltimore Transportation Department opted to get rid of the bike lane, but the advocacy group 'Bikemore' filed a lawsuit to keep it in place.

Now, supporters of the bike lane want to keep the lane and change the fire code. Council members heard testimony from both sides on Tuesday and are expected to vote on Wednesday,