Closing off traffic in downtown Baltimore on a Sunday

WashCycle is running a story on One Less Car's Greg Cantori idea about closing closing off downtown Baltimore to traffic on a sunday. In Theory I love the idea, the reality is I don't think it can work with out major changes to the traffic patterns of Baltimore, then there is issue of parking for locals. The Articles referenced don't give a lot of details on how he would propose making the change. I lived through the changes in Edinburgh that closed the major shopping street to only buses, taxies and cyclists, the one benefit they had over Baltimore is alternative wide streets that could absorb the displaced traffic. I just don't think Baltimore has the public transportation infrastructure to handle such a closing.

Now here is something the City can do, convert the old tram line in to a dedicated bike path that runs round the inner harbor. That way we don't have to fight with the ducks and tourist buses that currently use it as a pickup drop off point and force cyclists onto the busy and dangerous Pratt Street. Then install quality U style bike racks close to all the major shopping areas in the Inner Harbor, Canton and Fells Point. Then as a bonus install bike rental bus shelters. When we have that locals and Tourists will want to bike round the city.