Peddling car-free, bike-friendly days for Baltimore
By Tom Dunkel
Sun reporter
Originally published April 2, 2006
<img width="160" height="120" align="left" src="http://www.baltimorespokes.org/images/articles/20060410092559539_1.JPG" alt="">Every Sunday, a 19th-century silence descends upon that mountain city. Some 75 miles of connecting streets are closed to traffic from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. As many as 2 million people pour forth to walk, cycle, Rollerblade, jog and simply socialize in communal peace.
No cars. No pollution. No gridlock. No roar of traffic.
"Ciclovia," as it's known, is the world's biggest block party, an urban transformation that borders on magical.
"It's like everyone puts on a new suit of clothes," says Cantori.
A thought quickly ballooned in his brain: Why not export the idea to Maryland?
