No car? No worries: A guide to navigating Baltimore

So you’ve found an off-campus event you want to attend — perhaps an Orioles game at Camden Yards or the Sunday morning farmers market on Holliday Street — but you have no clue how to get there without a car.

You’re not alone in facing this challenge. In fact, most students don’t have access to personal transportation throughout their four years at Hopkins. But don’t let long distances discourage you! Hopkins students have access to a number of public and university transportation options that are both safe and convenient. Here are a few ways that I’ve navigated Charm City: 

Public Transportation:

Baltimore is well-connected by public transportation. Before traveling, be sure to download the app CharmPass on your phone, where you can purchase and store transit tickets. Alternatively, you can pay at turnstiles with cash. 

MTA Bus System

The Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) operates over 60 CityLink and LocalLink bus routes throughout the city. All bus stops have signs detailing which routes service the stop. Buses can be tracked using Google or Apple Maps, or by texting the stop number to ‘mtamd’. Keep an eye out for route 51, which stops at Towson Mall, and the CityLink Silver, which runs towards Inner Harbor. Both buses stop by the Interfaith Center and run every 40 minutes. Fares are $2.00 for a one-way ride and $4.60 for a day pass. 

Charm City Circulator

If you plan to travel downtown, look out for Charm City Circulators. Charm City Circulators are free buses that run every 15 minutes along four routes. The Orange line runs east-west, connecting UMBC to Little Italy. Meanwhile, the Purple, Green and Banner lines run north-south. You’ve likely already spotted the Purple line, which stops in front of Kajiken on 33rd Street and travels down St. Paul Street. Some stops along the way include Penn Station and the Baltimore National Aquarium.

University-Sponsored Transportation:

Hopkins operates a number of shuttles and buses that are available to all students and staff free of charge. Before traveling, be sure to download TransLoc, your one-stop-shop to find stops, track shuttles and make reservations. For a list of all shuttles and schedules, check out the Hopkins transportation website.

Homewood-Peabody-JHMI Shuttle

The JHMI shuttle, often referred to as the “Jimmy,” is the most frequently used transportation option on campus. The JHMI shuttle connects the Homewood Campus to the medical campus, stopping at Penn Station and the Peabody Institute along the way. At Homewood, you can board the shuttle at either the Interfaith Center or behind the Barnes and Noble along St. Paul Street. Shuttles run roughly every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m Monday through Friday, and also run during the weekends with modified hours.  

Night Ride

Think of the Night Ride as a university-sponsored taxi service. Between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m., Night Ride Shuttles can take you to Charles Village, Hampden and most locations along N. Charles Street down to Inner Harbor. To book shuttles, simply open TransLoc and navigate to the “OnDemand” tab. From here, select “Homewood Night Ride” and input your pickup and drop-off information as well as the number of passengers. From there, the app will assign you to a shuttle. If you are waiting longer than 15 minutes, you will be sent a Lyft instead. 

It’s important to note that Night Rides are shared. This means that one shuttle may pick up other people along the way to your stop. Make sure to factor in at least 15 to 30 extra minutes in your travel time to account for delays. In addition, Night Rides cannot be booked in advance and can only be reserved within the shuttle’s service area. 

Giant Night Ride Shuttle

Running low on snacks? The Giant Night Ride transports students from multiple stops along N. Charles Street and W. University Parkway to the Giant Supermarket on 41st Street. Unlike most night rides, the Giant shuttle has fixed stops and runs every 20 minutes from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. No reservation is required! Check TransLoc to find stops and track the shuttle in real time. 

Collegetown Shuttle

The Baltimore Collegetown shuttle connects the Homewood campus to Notre Dame of Maryland University and Towson University, and is jointly funded by these institutions. Although more infrequent than city buses, the Collegetown shuttle is a great way to travel to the Towson Town Center (Towson Mall). The shuttle stops in front of Scott-Bates Commons along N. Charles Street. A J-Card is required to board. Detailed information about the shuttle’s time schedules can be found on the Baltimore Collegetown website. 

Travel Tips

Before you set off on your adventure, here are three tips to keep in mind:

1. Arrive at bus stops at least five minutes early. CityLink and LocalLink busses frequently face delays or leave stops early if there are no riders waiting. JHMI shuttles tend to fill up quickly in peak morning (7 a.m. to 9 a.m.) and evening (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) hours. 
2. While it might be tempting to scroll through your phone to pass time, please pay attention to your surroundings. Keep track of your belongings. If you’re on a city bus, don’t forget to pull the yellow cord to request your stop. 
3. Carry some $1 bills in case you are not able to access CharmPass. If you plan to use your phone throughout the trip, be sure to bring a portable charger and/or a charging cable. It’s better to be prepared than stressed!

Tarini Basireddy is a sophomore from Fairfax, Va. majoring in Biomedical Engineering.