Hey now, don’t be too tough on Baltimore. I like the place, for all its struggles. (I live in the DC burbs, but work in Baltimore.)
While they’re cracking down on the dirtbikes, my experience has been that Baltimore cops are pretty laid back regarding bikes in general. For example, if I park my bike in a place that isn’t getting in anyone’s way, there’s not much anal-retentive enforcement of parking laws. (In other parts of Maryland, I’ve found that police won’t hesitate to write you up, despite having a perfectly fine spot that isn’t in anyone’s way and that keeps you from taking up a spot that could otherwise fit a whole car.)
Then again, I sure hope they don’t start confusing my Versys with a dirtbike. And, yes, there are some parts of Baltimore than are in depressingly bad shape. I lived in some tough parts of DC for over a decade and have done work overseas in warzones, so it takes a lot to keep me out of a place, but a few times I’ve had a conversation with my GPS while riding in Baltimore that went along the lines of “A left here? Seriously? Oh hell no. Are you trying to get us killed?”
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