This one comes not from Baltimore, but from the UK:

The Cambridge (UK) Green Bike Scheme:

http://www.iankitching.me.uk/history/cam/old/green-bike.html

Councillor Simon Sedgwick-Jell, as leader of the Cambridge City Council, pushed through this scheme, which started in October 1993.
Bikes from the Police bike pound were refurbished and painted green by offenders doing community service. The police officer in charge of the pound said that in all his years in Cambridge he’d seen some pretty stupid things but this…

Bike stands were erected at a number of sites around the City, along with a big “Green Bike Scheme” notice explaining that anyone could use the bikes provided they were left at another such site and not locked.

On day 1 of the scheme a number of bikes (50?) were distributed between these sites. Within about a day all had gone.

After a couple of months another batch of bikes was released, which went just as quickly.

[The day after the scheme was formally abandoned, in April 1994, I saw my first Green Bike. I've heard similar reports from many others.]

http://www.gwynnsfallstrail.org/news/FIWIntro.cfm

A Folklore Collection Project

FALLS INTO WORDS is a new and dynamic Gwynns Falls Trail Council project to collect stories, poems, songs, and photographs by area residents that help to enrich the experience of the Trail and explain the connection that people have toward the Gwynns Falls as a natural resource. We want you to tell your stories about the past, present and future of the stream valley, its neighborhoods, parks, and people. What is the history of the people who lived and worked along in the stream valley, how does the Trail help to connect people to this natural resource, and what can we learn about the use, conservation and preservation of this resource for the future? We are collecting material you wish to offer about your personal connection to the Gwynns Falls. The written materials and photographs collected may be used by the Trail Council in publications, guided tours, and audio recording on this website. This project is supported in part by the Chesapeake Bay Gateways Network.

If you want to participate, see click STORY GUIDELINES. To read some of our collected stories, click TELL ME A STORY.