The wheels on the Baltimore Bus go round and round

But do they go fast enough?

So we had to test-drive the bus recently so K could figure out how to get to her summer job at Hopkins. The bus wasn't in any hurry to get to us, but maybe just because it was in the middle of the day and not during rush hour. Once it reached us it was easy to pay the fare and fast enough getting where we needed to be. I especially liked the clear automatic announcements of each upcoming stop. But I have a few complaints. Of course.

The MTA Web site is terrible. Not enough information on how to use the system, poorly designed, and the maps don't reflect any of the "Greater Baltimore Bus Initiative" Changes ... or do they? I don't know, but the maps still warn riders that the light-rail will be shut down to the north from 2005 to early 2006 for double track construction that ended months ago so I'm guessing no, it's not up-to-date. Not that the maps in the bus shelters are, either.

How do you make a transfer from one bus to another? Can you transfer to the light rail , or is that a separate fare? Why does the Web site not say anything, one way or another?

Monthly passes should be for a 30-day period that starts the day you buy them, rather than for one particular month. And you should be able to buy them whenever you want, rather than in a certain time each month.

None of the vehicles, bus or train, run often enough to be much help. If Boulder can get their buses running every 8 minutes or so, why can't Baltimore?

I hear the light rail is running more frequently and more reliably than before, thanks to the double tracking, but haven't had the chance to try it out. Now that we are temporarily living in an undisclosed location near the Mt. Washington station, we can try it out again. Maybe things are improving after all.