The City and the citizens of Baltimore need to plan for later this summer when gas hits $5 a gallon. A few weekends ago when running in Baltimore I noticed three city-owned vehicles idling when they should have been turned off. Baltimore needs to drastically cut down on allowing employees to drive city-owned vehicles and workers seen leaving cars to idle in the middle of the street need to be fired immediately. Millions of tax dollars could be saved if government workers carpooled or were even mildly efficient with vehicle usage. Those who work for Baltimore City need to start walking more instead of using city owned vehicles to get from point A to point B.
We as citizens can contribute to the well being of Baltimore by walking also. This last month I have been walking or jogging to numerous destinations that I would have driven to before. Some of these journeys are over 3 miles round-trip. This has saved me money that I can spend at local establishments and at the same time this has put another person on Baltimore's lonely streets. The more people on Baltimore's streets the safer the streets are and the more welcoming Baltimore becomes. The more people walking the less unhealthy a city we will be on many different levels.
Comments
The real way that $5 gas can help Baltimore is by forcing suburban residents to rethink their energy usage. Moving to the City is a great way to eliminate the costs of a long commute, but that's just the start. Heating that suburban tract home is costing a fortune, and cooling it isn't exactly free either. Consider that the lowly Baltimore rowhouse is just about the most energy efficient dwelling ever. And we have plenty of them at great prices.
High energy prices could mark trouble for sprawl, and yet another factor in the surging rebirth of Baltimore.
I've walked to work for several months now, after a year and a half of taking the Light Rail before realizing that it took me just as long to walk. My firm just moved to a new building, so my commute went from about 3 miles a day to almost 6, but it still takes about as long as if I took transit, which is pathetic.
While I think it'd be great if more people walked, the quality and safety of Baltimore's sidewalks is extremely variable, and there is so much construction going on that you have to cross the street all the time. Maybe more pedestrian commuters would raise some of these issues to the consciousness of politicians, I don't know.
I'd prefer to bike to the new office, but although I've found a reasonably non-suicidal route in, Baltimore's insistence on having one-way streets everywhere means I'm pretty much doomed to Calvert going home.
As more people start walking and biking, it's going to get more troublesome that many bikers use the sidewalks because the streets aren't safe enough, and those that try to use the streets are going to run into trouble with the abject lack of dedicated bike lanes.
I think walking/biking to work is a great way to cut down on pollution and cost of fuel. I personally enjoy running. For folks who live 5-6 miles away from their job, great, more power to you. However, I live in the northern part of Baltimore county and work downtown. At Meisner: No, I don't want to live in the city. I don't like the noise, crowds, or views. Not that i support sprawl-who really needs that much space between their neighbors and what's wrong with moving into a previously owned home? I digress...Going up 83 north on a bike would put my legs out of commission for a couple of days. Also, as a professional women, I cannot show up to work looking I just ran a marathon so i catch the light rail w/o guilt. i think Maryland needs to improve the public transportation system. I also think that more employers should subsidize part of cost for their employees taking public transportation. This would definitely cut down on the amount of cars/pollution. We all need to remember that biking or walking to work is a great alternative to driving and good exercise but it is not for everyone. not to mention, i am not going to bike very far in the middle of February when the temperature is 20 degrees outside and the wind is blowing.
Too bad there isn't a safe, efficient, cohesive, effective mass transit system as an energy-efficient alternative.
I think a lot of people just don't know better. They don't really understand or care that their car is idleing wasting money and gas. Simply it's not their gas. Why should they care?
At least I'd like to think that so many of the things I see around town are rooted in not knowing any better than simply not caring.
That is one of the beauties of city living. You actually can walk to many of the places you need to go.
I think there should be a MARC line that goes to York, a Red Line that runs East to West, an extension of the Light Rail to Columbia, busses that came on time and shelters that don't smell like urine.
I would really suggest riding a bike vs walking or jogging. The muggers cant' possibly catch you on a bike (unless they are on a dirt bike, OK).
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!