The Unnatural Demise (and Possible Revival) of the Baltimore Streetcar

Unless you happen to stumble over the occasional wayward track protruding from asphalt, it's difficult to tell today that the city of Baltimore was once home to an extensive streetcar system. In the late 1920s, however, over 400 miles of lines formed a latticework over the city, making virtually every corner accessible within a half hour trip.

Most people assume that streetcars, and the compact development and street life they nurtured, fell victim to consumer preferences for automobiles after a struggle in the free market. But the transition was prompted by very deliberate interference from the automobile industry, writes Mark R. Brown at Car Free Baltimore:

The reason other cities are warming to streetcars, Brown writes, is their documented benefits for economic development, mobility and tourist attraction. The Obama administration is also giving many projects a boost through its livability programs. And after all this time, there is some evidence that Baltimore is starting to see the light, reports Brown:

Elsewhere on the Network today: The Chicago Bicycle Advocate looks at the potential benefits of non-owners car insurance as an option to protect for carfree bicyclists in case of injury by uninsured motorists. Bike Portland reports that a $200 million funding gap in the Portland-Milwaukie light rail project is likely to lead to cuts in bike and pedestrian projects. And The Transport Politic examines the city of Tampa’s plan to ask voters to approve a tax increase to pay for light rail.