I love finding creative solutions to travel problems. Sometime you find the answer in new old ways.

I was invited this morning to ride with Gov. Martin O'Malley and transportation officials on a short jaunt from Locust Point to Camden Station aboard a new MARC locomotive. That was cool, but they weren't offering a return ride to the CSX yard in Locust Point to pick up my car.

Obviously, I could take a taxi back to Locust Point, but that seemed like the easy but expensive way out. And it would have delayed my return to The Sun at 501 N. Calvert Street to file my report to the web site.

The solution: Leave the car in The Sun garage, walk one block at St. Paul, catch the No. 64 bus to Light Street and Redwood Street and transfer to the No. 1 bus, which runs out Fort Avenue to Fort McHenry -- making it one of the most historically significant bus lines in the country.

Getting to the point -- there is a point -- it was a fine ride. I hear a lot of complaints about surly drivers for the Maryland Transit Administration, but the ones I dealt with were courteous, friendly and alerted riders to transfer points in a loud and clear manner. Especially helpful was the driver with Badge No. 159 on the No. 64 line. I didn't get the badge number of the equally capable operator of the No. 1 bus -- for which I apologize. It was nice of her to wake me out of my trance and let me know I'd passed my stop.

After the news conference at Camden Station, it was an easy matter to jump on the Light Rail to Centre Street. A five-block walk and I was back at The Sun.

This is such a car-oriented society that it's easy to overlook the fact that public transit is a great resource in many situations. In a big advance from olden times, comprehensive information on MTA routes and schedules is available on line. So is a trip planner that does just fine if not challenged with an overly complex problem.