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Home - City Guide - Baltimore - Road | ||
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Road The motorway (interstate and freeway) network in America is very good. The general rule for numbering on US freeways and interstates is that the odd numbers go north-south and the even numbers go east-west over their whole length, although at any single, localised point it may seem different. Driving is on the right. The speed limits on the different motorways can vary. The general maximum is 90kph (55mph), with some spots being 110kph (70mph). Town residential areas can be as slow as 30kph (20mph), with specifically posted limits near schools. It is also illegal to pass a yellow 'School Bus' when it is stationary with its lights flashing. Seat belts are obligatory for front-seat passengers. Prosecution for drink-driving is severe; the maximum legal alcohol to blood ratio is 0.10%. A British driving licence is valid, but a temporary International Driving Permit is also a good idea because it carries a photograph. Petrol ('gas') is four to five times cheaper than in Europe. Virtually all 'gas stations' are open 24 hours a day on main roads and operate a pre-pay system at the pumps using a credit card; otherwise, it is necessary to make yourself known to the cashier. The American Automobile Association (AAA; tel: (800) 222 1333) can provide information, and may offer reciprocal benefits to members of automobile clubs in other countries. Emergency breakdown service: AAA (800) AAA HELP or 222 4357 Routes to the city: All the major routes approaching Baltimore meet the I-695, called the Baltimore Beltway, which circles the city. The Jones Falls Expressway, the I-83, winds right into the central Inner Harbor district, from the north and Harrisburg. The I-395 comes in from the southeast, with good access to downtown Baltimore and to the Port of Baltimore. The Baltimore National Pike road, the I-40, comes in from the west, from Frederick. The I-95 comes from the northwest, Philadelphia, and beyond that from New York. The I-95 continues southwest towards Washington, DC, running parallel to the Baltimore-Washington Expressway. The I-97 leads in from the south as the main route linking Baltimore to the peninsular on the east side of Chesapeake Bay. The I-895, the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel Thruway, bypasses downtown. Tolls operate at the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel (I-895), at the Fort McHenry Tunnel (I-95) and both north and southbound at the Francis Scott Key Bridge (part of the Baltimore Beltway). There are also tolls northbound on the John F Kennedy Memorial Highway (part of I-95). Driving times to Baltimore: From Washington, DC - 35 minutes; Philadelphia - 2 hours; Harrisburg - 2 hours; New York - 4 hours. Coach services: Greyhound (tel: (410) 752 0919 or (800) 231 2222, toll free USA and Canada; website: www.greyhound.com) operates frequent coach ('bus') services, connecting Baltimore with all major US and Canadian cities. The main bus station is located at 210 West Fayette Street, which is downtown, but is in quite a run-down area, although it is nonetheless busy during the day. There is a second, less frequent, station point at the Baltimore Travel Plaza, Best Western Hotel, 5625 O'Donnell Street (tel: (410) 633 6389). |