Charm City Lights is an opportunity for all of Baltimore to enjoy the magic of the season and take part in our city's festive spirit of the holidays. Unfortunately, this celebration is not as accessible as it should be for all members of our community. Many people in the neighborhood surrounding the park and throughout Baltimore do not own cars, yet they are unable to fully enjoy this public display due to restrictions on pedestrian and bicycle access. There is only one night dedicated for walkers, and one night for bikes, while every other night is reserved for cars. Tickets sold on Event Brite show that pricing makes it more expensive to walk or to bike than to go in a car. For a family of 5, the ticket price for a car admission costs only $12.51. However, the ticket to walk as a family of five is almost double at $23.18 per family.  If a family wants to bike together it is even more expensive, adding up to $35.90 for a family of five. 

Baltimore is a city where 27% of households do not have access to a car (source: Baltimore Neighborhoods Indicators Alliance). This means that many residents are excluded from enjoying Charm City Lights on the car nights and only have two nights to access on either foot or on bike, and that experience costs them more than what car owners pay for the experience. Furthermore, it's important to note that public parks are paid for by tax dollars, and they should be free to access and accessible and enjoyable for everyone in our community, regardless of their mode of transportation, or their ability to pay. Everyone in Baltimore deserves to enjoy the magic of Charm City Lights. Making it more accessible to people walking or on bikes will make it more inclusive, and make it a community building event. Being closed up in our cars does not build community, but walking together with your neighbors and enjoying the festive season together does.

Please open up Charm City Lights to walkers and bikers on at least half of the nights, and make it free to walk or to bike. This will make it what it is intended to be - a communal celebration of the magic of the season rather than an isolated experience within individual cars. We believe that making Charm City Lights accessible for pedestrians and bicyclists every night will foster stronger community bonds while ensuring fair access for all Baltimorians.

We call upon Mayor Scott and the Department of Parks and Recreation to review their policies regarding pedestrian and bicycle access and cost so everyone can enjoy Charm City Lights without having to rely on a car or pay extra fees. Please sign this petition if you agree with us.