Mar 30, 2015

The Maryland/D.C. corridor is frequently ranked as one of the worst traffic areas in the country. Despite (or maybe because of) this, Marylanders are pretty industrious about how they get from Point A to Point B.

Sure, a lot of states do walking, biking and commuting better than us, but do travelers in those places also board a Water Taxi, go dirt-biking through the city streets and catch the Collegetown Shuttle between campuses? We didn’t think so.

: Streetcars were the way to roll back in the day. Operated by the Baltimore Transit Company between the 1890s and the 1960s, many of the original streetcar routes served as the precursors to what would eventually become the city’s main bus routes, including the popular Number 8, which ran from Catonsville to Towson. Today, many of those original streetcars can still be found at the Baltimore Streetcar Museum where visitors can also ride some of the historic, restored cars. (Handout photo)

: Baltimore’s Arabbers, who peddle their wares through the city streets via horse and wagon, are among the city’s more unique (though endangered) transportation traditions. The salesmen have been delivering fruit, produce and other goods door-to-door since the 1800s. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Of course, Baltimore is home to Pimlico Race Course and the Preakness Stakes — the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown — but it has also been home to the Baltimore City Police Mounted Unit in which officers use a stable of horses for specific traffic events. (Elizabeth Malby/Baltimore Sun)

: According to The Sun, the unit started in 1888 and is one of the oldest continuously operated mounted police divisions in the United States. (Richard Childress/Baltimore Sun/1979)

: Baltimore’s Pennsylvania Station was constructed in 1911 for the Pennsylvania Railroad and was known as Union Station until 1928. Since then it has been helping day-trippers get to Philadelphia, commuters get to D.C. and weekenders get to New York, among other popular destinations, aboard Amtrak, MARC and Acela trains. (1928 Sun file photo)

: About 2 million people a year pass through Penn Station, which sits along the nation’s busiest transit corridor, and local officials have been promoting efforts to improve Baltimore’s national image through investments in the station. –Kevin Rector (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)

: The Chesapeake Bay Bridge has been connecting beach-bound Marylanders with Ocean City and the Eastern Shore since 1952 (and serving even more Marylanders following a 1973 expansion). Though, some would say it’s only for the most intrepid of travelers as the bridge’s height and frequent high wind warnings have added to its reputation as one of the scariest bridges in the country. And in cases of extreme weather — Hurricanes Isabel and Sandy, for example — the bridge closes altogether. So, it may not be your best option if you’re headed to the beach. The bridge, which is often busy during rush hour and can be jam-packed with vacationers during the summer months, saw 25.5 million vehicles in fiscal 2014, up from about 1.1 million in 1952. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Yes, Baltimore really does have a subway, but less than half of its line is actually underground. Operated by the MTA, it opened in 1983 with service between downtown’s Charles Center and Reisterstown Road Plaza. Eventual extensions added service to Owings Mills and Johns Hopkins Hospital. The good news is, city-dwellers wanting to get to the county and vice versa can do so within 30 minutes end-to-end. About 14.6 million rides were taken on Metro in fiscal 2014, down from about 15.2 million the year prior, according to the MTA (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: The MTA’s light rail system opened in 1992 using existing, but no longer operational, streetcar and commuter rail routes. These days, the light rail is especially popular among baseball and football fans trying to get to Orioles and Ravens games without paying exorbitant parking fees. Lines run from Timonium to Glen Burnie, as well as Hunt Valley, Penn Station and BWI Airport. About 8.1 million rides were taken on light rail in fiscal 2014, down from about 8.6 million the year prior, according to the MTA. (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)

: Area coeds in the know take advantage of the free Collegetown Shuttle, which transports students, staff and faculty to six local campuses — Goucher College, Towson University, Loyola University Maryland, Notre Dame of Maryland University, Johns Hopkins University and Morgan State University. It’ll also shuttle you to the Towson mall and Baltimore’s Penn Station. All you need is a university ID. Talk about perks! (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: There is such a thing as a free ride for the rest of us when it comes to Baltimore’s Charm City Circulator. It’s probably more useful to tourists or as a connection to the next step in your commute. But, if you want to get to multiple attractions within the city in one day, this is a convenient way to do it. Billed as a green alternative that reduces congestion and pollution, the Circulator utilizes 30 free shuttles on four routes with stops at City Hall, Fells Point, Johns Hopkins University, Penn Station, Federal Hill, Hollins Market, Inner Harbor, Harbor East and Fort McHenry. More than 4 million people use the Circulator each year, but it was operating at an $11.6 million deficit at the end of last year and its future has been questioned. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)

: For “the coolest distance between two points,” hop aboard the water taxi, which has been getting nautical at the harbor for more than three decades. Thousands of the city’s residents and visitors catch a taxi each day to deliver them to Harborplace, Harbor East, Locust Point, Fells Point and Fort McHenry (seasonally). Additionally, as part of the Charm City Circulator’s Harbor Connector commuter service, the taxi offers three water routes that are also free. Just watch out for severe weather, all of the Water Taxi routes operate on a weather-permitting basis. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Yellow/Checker Cab has a fleet of approximately 600 taxis in Baltimore, made up of Crown Vics and Dodge minivans, plus some Prius hybrids. If you can hail one, this might be one of the more convenient and affordable ways to get around town. At Penn Station or BWI, you can wait at the designated area for the next one in line. The company operates Yellow, Checker and Sun Cabs in Baltimore City and Jimmy’s Taxi in Baltimore County. (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)

: Yellow Cab also operates wheelchair accessible taxis. The government subsidized Taxi Access program provides 700 trips a day to the elderly and handicapped. (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Annapolis’ Circulator Trolley loops through downtown Naptown from Westgate Circle to Memorial Circle with stops at City Hall and City Dock. Rides are free inside the Central Business District and $2 if you’re catching a game at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. If you’re looking for a more touristy experience in the state capital, Towne Transport offers 40- and 60-minute historic Annapolis trolley tours. Highlights include City Dock, State House, St. John’s College and the waterfront. So, leave those maps in the glove box and let someone else do the driving. (There are also 90-minute history and sights tours available at Baltimore Trolley Tours.)

: Operated by the Maryland Transportation Authority, the Intercounty Connector links Interstate 270 in Gaithersburg to Interstate 95 in Laurel. Its initial portion opened in 2011 as the state’s first all-electronic toll road. in order to control volume and avoid too much gridlock, toll fees vary depending on the time of day. You’ll pay more during peak hours, so keep that in mind if you intend to use the ICC as a shortcut to your destination. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Ahh, cars. We have a lot of them, as anyone who travels around Baltimore during rush hour (or has tried to get to D.C. on a weekday) can attest. While there have been some indications recently that the number of annual miles driven in Maryland is leveling off and that Millennials are more inclined to take public transit than their parents, annual mileage has still risen by the billions in recent years. In 2014, for instance, annual miles traveled in Maryland stood at about 56.5 billion, up from about 46.9 billion in 1997.–Kevin Rector

: In just about the most creative way to capture the “On the Road” trip, Baltimore’s visionaries deck out their hoopties, jalopies and wheeled sculptures with accoutrements of all sorts. But, we’re on to them: We figure they just want to nab a prime parking spot at Artscape. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: The MTA’s most-used service, the bus system had nearly 76 million riders and a budget of about $220 million in fiscal 2014. MTA buses link city neighborhoods and Baltimore and its suburbs, including Columbia in Howard County and White Marsh in Baltimore County. Commuter lines also connect other suburban residents to job centers in Baltimore and Washington. Still, ridership fell sharply last fiscal year and riders routinely complain that MTA buses are unreliable, dirty and inefficiently run. A broad state plan to improve the system has been delayed for more than a year, and has faced new scrutiny under the administration of Gov. Larry Hogan. At this point, the timeline for improvements is anyone’s guess. — Kevin Rector (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: The preferred option for many commuters between Baltimore and various destinations south, including Washington, the MTA’s MARC train service launched on weekdays in 1983 and began offering weekend service for the first time at the end of 2013. Its Penn Line connects Perryville to Baltimore and Washington, its Camden Line connects Baltimore to Washington, and its Brunswick Line connects Frederick and Martinsburg, W. Va., to Washington. Ridership across all lines in fiscal 2014 stood at about 9.1 million, slightly up from about 9 million the year prior.–Kevin Rector (Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun)

: This express service of Amtrak offers hourly trains between Washington and Boston, passing through Baltimore’s Penn Station. It’s popular among business travelers and is seeing its ridership grow, offering one of the fastest means of travel along the busy Northeast Corridor. In fiscal 2014, Amtrak said Acela posted 28 days where trips topped 14,000, compared to just five days the previous year. It’s not the cheapest way to travel, though, so buyers beware.–Kevin Rector (Rachel Woolf/Baltimore Sun)

: You may not be able to travel cross-country, or even cross-state on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad, but steam train buffs like to go all aboard for a scenic 32-mile, round-trip between Cumberland and Frostburg on the old Western Maryland Railway line. Travelers may also opt for the chance to solve a murder mystery while aboard.

: Grab your passport and slather on the sunscreen because two cruise ships operate out of the state’s cruise terminal at the port of Baltimore: Royal Carribbean International’s Grandeur of the Seas and Carnival Cruise Line’s Pride, back in March after a stint in Florida. Cruise line executives have said they view Baltimore as a prime jumping-off point for travelers throughout the region.Trips can be booked to Caribbean destinations and to Canada and New England. –Kevin Rector (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: If you’ve ever walked along the waterfront promenade from Harbor East to Canton, you’ve seen how that other half lives (and presumably gets around). Some of Baltimore’s more seafaring crowd, docks its yachts, sailboats and houseboats at one of several convenient downtown marinas.There are marinas at the Inner Harbor, Inner Harbor West, Harbor View, Lighthouse Point and Pier 7. And, in the interest of not leaving out any of our beloved modes of transportation, we should mention that the Baltimore Marine Center also operates a full-service heliport with six landing pads at Pier 7 on Clinton Street. (Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)

: Want to explore, Baltimore, Annapolis or D.C. without hoofing it and aren’t too hung up on appearances? Your Segs in the City chariot awaits! Guided “safari” tours and rentals are available of D.C. hot spots, Annapolis Colonial history, Gettysburg battlefield and the Inner Harbor. It’s also worth noting that you’ll be in good company, as Baltimore Washington International Airport security officers use Segways to patrol the airport and decrease fatigue, as well as response time to incidents. (Glenn Fawcett/Baltimore Sun)

: The Pedal Mill is a 17-foot-long, 16-person covered bicycle steered by a staff member that transports passengers from bar-to-bar on pub crawls in Fells Point and Harbor East. Contrary to popular belief, you can’t drink on-board, but food is allowed. The Pedal Mill offers public and private tours during the summer, whether you’re with a whole birthday party or just in town for the weekend. A stereo system on board with an auxiliary cord allows groups to pedal to their own tunes, and the route is negotiable with the operators. — Colin Campbell (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)

: Quite possibly the tackiest — or quackiest, at least — way for tourists to experience Baltimore, the Ride The Ducks amphibious tours operated in the city for seven years in the early 2000s. The unmistakable, giant white vehicles were based on a World War II design that allowed them to roll along city streets and straight into the Inner Harbor to show tourists all the sights from land and water while they blew on little plastic quackers. The Branson, Mo., company discontinued the tours in Baltimore in 2009. — Colin Campbell ( Mauricio Rubio/Baltimore Sun)

: “Scotland may have its ‘Nessie,’ but only at the Inner Harbor will you spot a Chesapeake Bay ‘Chessie’ Monster,” proclaims Baltimore’s paddle boat company. A little cheesy, but perfect for a warm summer’s day out on the water, “Team Chessie” offers its lake monster-shaped boats, regular paddle boats and electric boats, for half-hour round trip rentals during the summer. –Colin Campbell (Jed Kirschbaum/Baltimore Sun)

: And the winner for the most creative way to get around is by kinetic sculpture. Be it in the form of FiFi the giant pink poodle or a less-recognizable papier-mache contraption. The hitch is these amphibious, human-powered works of art can only be used seasonally and all but guarantee a dip in the harbor. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: Did we mention these road warriors are meant to run on both land and sea? That’s the goal, anyway, at the American Visionary Art Museum’s annual Kinetic Sculpture Race. The event covers 14 miles over pavement, sand, mud and Chesapeake Bay. The 17th annual race takes place May 2, 2015, with an Out of This World Theme. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: Ahoy, mateys (You knew we were going to say that…). Where else can you take a swashbuckling adventure on the high harbor while imbibing in glog and shooting water cannons at unsuspecting enemy kayakers below? Urban Pirates ships sail from the Ann Street Pier in Fells Point on family adventure cruises, bring your own grog cruises and private charters, seasonally. (Kaitlin Newman/The Baltimore Sun)

: OK, this isn’t exactly a sanctioned — or even — legal way to get around downtown, but rebel crews of teenagers do it, nonetheless. As shown in the 2013 documentary “12 O’Clock Boys” (so named for the position of the bikes as the rider pops a vertical wheelie), dirt bike gangs have been known to take over city streets Wild West-style, with very little attention paid to traffic laws or stop lights. If you hear the recognizable buzz coming at you in the distance, get out of the way fast. Maybe flag down a passing pirate ship. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)

: Yep, our motorcycling mommas and papas are well represented. There’s even a Harley Davidson dealership on Pulaski Highway that hosts gatherings. What’s really bad-ass, though, is bikers who incorporate their machines into their routine. For example, Tadd Buffington, a NASA employee, has been known to ride his Harley-Davidson Road King from Baltimore to the BWI Amtrak/MARC train station and then take the train to D.C. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Yep, sometimes we even motor around on scooters, too. (Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun)

: Bike rules! Bike rules! Baltimore is a burgeoning biking city, but still lacks the kind of infrastructure needed for things to really take off, according to local biking advocates. New efforts by the city to encourage biking have begun, and a new Baltimore Bike Master Plan was recently unveiled promising new bike lanes, among other improvements. Advocates say the plans have promise, but only if they are brought to fruition. There’s also been increased investment in biking elsewhere in the state, with millions in grant funding being spread around for new trails and better trail connections.–Kevin Rector (Noah Scialom/Baltimore Sun Media Group)

: V-Linc is a Baltimore-based non-profit company that creates technological solutions for people with special needs. According to The Sun, V-LINC builds bicycles from scratch. Each is custom-fitted, with occupational and physical therapists assisting with specifications.The custom-fitted bikes include seat belts, high seat backs, altered pedals, and special steering and handle bars. Riders also get helmets, and some receive harnesses. (Handout by Theo Pinette of V-LINC)

: It’s just like riding a bike…lying down and without being exposed to the elements. It’s part tricycle, fully pedal-powered and very aerodynamic, which means you’ll get to where you’re going fairly quickly and you’ll be making an entrance when you get there. This particular yellow submarine-like contraption belongs to Pasadena resident Greg Cantori, the president and CEO of Maryland Nonprofits, who has been biking to work for decades. (Christopher T. Assaf/Baltimore Sun)

: The popularity of ride-share services hailed through the tap of a smartphone has skyrocketed around the world, and Maryland is no exception. But that popularity has also represented a challenge to more traditional taxi companies and raised questions about proper regulation of the emerging industry. Both the Maryland Public Service Commission and the Maryland General Assembly are considering ways to regulate companies like Uber and Lyft, both already widely used in Baltimore and other populated areas in the state. — Kevin Rector (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)

: OK, so this one isn’t unique to Baltimore, but it’s pretty nifty that you can simply open an app and get a ride anywhere in the city. The San Francisco-based rideshare company has faced pushback from traditional taxi services and regulators as it expanded to more than 300 cities internationally. Maryland regulators have allowed Uber’s upscale sedan and SUV services to continue operating in the state, but the UberX service — which is what most users call for a ride to the airport or home from a bar — could still be subject to broader regulation. As it tries to win over the state, the company has announced it will create 5,000 new driver jobs, about 500 of them in Baltimore, and donate $25,000 over the next two years to back University of Maryland student startup companies.–Colin Campbell (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun)

: The Boston-based car-sharing Zipcar touts itself as a changer of cities, giving local residents the convenience of a car without having to own one themselves, and claims thousands of members in Baltimore. Last year, it opened a new office in Harbor East after four years in which it expanded its initial fleet in Baltimore from 27 cars to more than 200 vehicles. Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has credited the company with making Baltimore “a more sustainable, a more clean, and a more attractive city” by linking with the Circulator and other infrastructure. –Kevin Rector (Amy Davis/Baltimore Sun)

: Tucked behind the new Horseshoe Casino on Russell Street in the Carroll-Industrial Area of the city, the Greyhound bus station awaits travelers headed into and out of the city in all directions. Along with the Bolt Bus, which is also owned by Greyhound, the service is generally less expensive than taking a plane or a train, if you’re OK with a bit of a longer ride and less creature comforts. — Colin Campbell (Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: Of the top 30 metropolitan areas in the country, the greater Baltimore region ranked 11th in 2014 in terms of walkability, falling into a mid-range category of eight cities with “moderate walkable urbanism,” according to a study by The George Washington University School of Business and the nonprofit coalition Smart Growth America. However, Baltimore’s continuing trend of “driveable sub-urbanism” outside its city core will see its status drop, the study found. With plenty of towns that boast a Main Street-like atmosphere (Annapolis, Ellicott City, Frederick,we’re looking at you) and huge urban spaces with great walking paths (Druid Hill Park, Patterson Park, Lake Montebello, for example), we can do better, Maryland. Let’s pick up the pace, people. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Let’s not forget where it all began for many Baltimore natives — Safety City in Druid Hill Park! You may not have picked up valuable three-point-turn skills there, but you definitely learned how to be a good pedestrian and practice bike safety at this mini metropolis.(Hillery Smith/Baltimore Sun, 1996)

: The Baltimore region’s one and only major airport, BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport in Anne Arundel Co., has had a bit of a rockstar couple years. It’s expanded its international reach with new routes from its main carrier, Southwest Airlines, and has introduced new technologies to better serve its more than 61,000 daily customers under its “easy come, easy go” mantra. Passenger volume stood at 22.31 million in 2014, slightly down from the 22.5 million seen in 2013. But airport officials see that number continuing to grow, and Southwest executives have been bullish about growth, too. Who needs a vacation?–Kevin Rector (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: OK, this one’s a bit of a stretch as most Marylanders are not using hot air balloons to go anywhere but up. Unless they’re part of the Preakness hot air balloon celebration that has taken place at Druid Hill Park and Turf Valley in Ellicott City and dates back decades. This year’s festival, at Turf Valley, is expected to feature 25 hot air balloons. There was also, once upon a time (a.k.a. the early aughts), a tethered hot air balloon ride known as the HiFlyer at Port Discovery. It offered rides and great vistas until a 2004 accident shuttered the operation. While the HiFlyer was up and running, its gondola reached an altitude of about 340 feet. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Sun)

: Parasailing offers some of the most thrilling, beautiful views one can get of Maryland sites, from hundreds of feet in the air over the Chesapeake Bay or the Atlantic Ocean. The activity has grown popular in recent years in Havre de Grace and Ocean City, and the National Transportation Safety Board and one of the sport’s pioneers are pushing for increased regulations to make the sport safer. –Colin Campbell (Handout photo courtesy Old Town Parasail)

: We used to require some steep slopes and high winds to make hang gliding a viable option for getting around, or at least for getting off a mountain the easy way. But, modern hang gliding advancements have made it easier to glide for hours. And Highland Aerosports on the Eastern Shore offers tandem instruction and solo aerotows, so go ahead and soar like an eagle. (Handout photo courtesy Aerosports)

: Sometimes, you even get a guy who wants to get from one spot in the Inner Harbor to the next — and, perhaps, prefers not to do so on terra firma. In 1973, Karl “The Great” Wallenda crossed the harbor over 600 feet of wire 60 feet in the air to mark the opening of the fourth Baltimore City Fair. (Baltimore Sun File Photo)

: Then, Wallenda’s great-grandson Nik performed a similar feat in 2012 to celebrate the opening of Ripley’s Believe it or Not Odditorium.(Algerina Perna/Baltimore Sun)

: There’s even a very elite group of Marylanders — astronaut Reid Wiseman, for example – who opt to travel via space station as they orbit Earth. This is an expensive and time-consuming way to get around, mind you, and not for everyone. Those of us who are a bit more grounded but still dream of out-of-this-world exploits might stop by Johns Hopkins University’s Space Telescope Science Institute in hopes of being transported to distant galaxies. (Twitter image)

From the introduction of the Jones Falls Expressway (the first interstate to be built in Baltimore) in the early 1960s and the opening of the 23-mile long Chesapeake Bay Bridge in 1964 to the start of the Charm City Circulator’s service in 2010 and the addition of the tolled Intercounty Connector in 2012, Marylanders are going places in increasingly inventive ways. We’ve also lost a few rides along the way.

We’ve come up with 50-ish ways we get around (or once got around) in the Free State. How many can you name? And what did we forget (mushing, perhaps)?–Amanda Krotki, Colin Campbell and Kevin Rector

Also see:
Baltimore Sun traffic and commuting coverage
Current traffic conditions
100 Maryland places
How Maryland fares in national rankings

By land, Bay or air: Maryland on the move

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