Mondays are hard enough without adding traffic snarls to the start of the work week, so why not ditch the car and take public transportation – for free.
Monday, Sept. 22, is World Car-Free Day, and the Maryland Department of Transportation (DOT) Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) is celebrating with free rides systemwide.
The agency encourages the public to choose any travel by bus or train instead of driving to make the most of Car-Free Day. Take public transit to school or work in the morning, then to the Ravens Monday Night Football game against the Detroit Lions.
“Car Free Day is a reminder that transit is one of the most enjoyable and stress-free ways to get around,” Maryland Transit Administrator Holly Arnold said in a statement. “By choosing public transit over car travel, you help to improve our environment by reducing emissions and ease congestion on our roads.”
World Car-Free Cay is observed annually around the world, encouraging people to consider leaving their car at home in favor of other travel options. Biking, walking, public transit, and carpooling contribute to cleaner air, safer streets, and lower commute times.
First-time MTA riders can use the agency’s website to plan their trip or download the Transit app, which is free. Activating the GO feature in the Transit app gives users convenient step-by-step guidance for their entire trip.
Average annual daily traffic on Baltimore City and surrounding area roads is still lower than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Baltimore Metropolitan Council (BMC). The BMC maintains a Traffic Count Database as a public service. The database provides a Traffic Count Dashboard, which is an interactive map that provides traffic counts for areas around the Baltimore region.
Hope the politicians observe this. “Leave the limo!”