Living the Transit Life: July 2011

Elisabeth Danner, MTA Intern

August is right around the corner and before we know it, Baltimore will be flooded with people from around the world gearing up for The Baltimore Grand Prix. With road closures and bus diversions, we here at the MTA want to make sure you are up to date with what’s happening in real time. That’s why we created a Twitter page devoted entirely to informing you about MTA Grand Prix updates. Check out our new page at http://twitter.com/#!/mtagrandprix and follow us so you can stay one step ahead with your transportation plans throughout Labor Day weekend.

MTA Ambassadors will also be in select locations during the event to answer any questions you may have about getting around town. Preparation is key when planning your transportation during an event as large as the Grand Prix. We’re happy to help ease your worries throughout this busy occasion so you can get where you need to go in a timely manner.

We hope you are as excited as we are for this monumental occasion. Make sure to stay connected to our Twitter page as we eagerly anticipate the fun and fast cars Labor Day weekend has to offer. Our website, Facebook and Twitter pages will have all the information you need to ease your traveling qualms. As always, we’re here to help and open to answering any questions you may have about this exciting time in Baltimore.

Guy Henderson

National Raspberry Cake Day

The temperature is heading to 98 degrees today, with 100 forecast for later in the week. Here at the MTA – and probably most other public transportation systems, for that matter – we’re reminded every day that extreme temperatures and weather conditions tend to play havoc with equipment, schedules, and (ahem) our customers’ views of public transportation.

When it’s crazy hot like this for days on end, heat kinks in the rails might necessitate a slowdown for our MARC passengers. Air conditioning systems on all our transport modes are more prone to breaking down (just when everyone needs them most, of course)! And we’ve noticed that tempers are prone to rise as the temperature does.

So this week, we’ve decided to take a cue from Mr. Spock and Zen masters by focusing on the positive instead of what’s vexing us all. You can read about the heat anywhere else. So right now, wherever you are, we’d like you to notice that July is National Baked Bean Month. If that doesn’t take your mind off the heat, keep in mind that July is also National July Belongs to Blueberries Month, National Ice Cream Month, Lasagna Awareness Month, National Culinary Arts Month, National Hot Dog Month, National Picnic Month and National Pickle Month.

And in case you missed it, last week was also Nude Recreation Week.

Apparently, there is no end to the commemorations this steam bath of a month can produce. So here’s a list of fun “celebrations” to contemplate (complete with links as to their origins) while you’re getting from place to place on MTA. Meanwhile, today is National Raspberry Cake Day. Seems like the perfect way to celebrate what seems like a very heated month all around the world.

Something to celebrate nearly every day in July.

1 Canada Day

1 Creative Ice Cream Flavors Day

1 International Joke Day

2 I Forgot Day

2 World UFO Day

3 Build A Scarecrow Day

3 Compliment Your Mirror Day

3 Disobedience Day

3 Stay out of the Sun Day

4 Independence Day (U.S.)

4 National Country Music Day