More than $3 million in funding from the Maryland Bikeways Program will jumpstart 23 projects across the state, including new community bike lanes, construction of new trails, bike racks and route signage.

Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and the state's Department of Transportation (MDOT) have announced more than $3 million in grants for nearly two-dozen bicycle projects across the state, encouraging bicycling as an alternate transportation option for Maryland residents.

"To build a modern transportation system that supports all Marylanders, we must seek a balanced approach and invest in alternative forms of travel like bicycling," O'Malley said in a statement. "These grants will help local jurisdictions enhance their bicycle networks, which encourage healthy lifestyles and play a role in improving our air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change in Maryland."

The $3.2 million in bicycle grants will help to fund 23 projects in four counties and 12 municipalities. The funding comes from the Maryland Bikeways Program, which is administered by MDOT to create and improve bike access for citizens to work, school, and recreational destinations. This latest round of grants are helping communities install bike lanes, allow for bike racks and signage on bike routes, and begin to construct trails, among other projects.

"If we are going to be successful in our efforts to reduce congestion, we must provide our citizens with transportation options," said MDOT Secretary James Smith, Jr., in a statement. "Thanks to the Governor's leadership, we are investing in an interconnected bicycle network that safely connects people to where they want to go."

A full list of all grant recipients is available here.