Pitcairn friend urges more transit options
Monday's Getting There column in The Sun suggested ways in which the Maryland Transit Administration could make its bus service more attractive to travelers coming in to Penn Station -- especially late at night. That drew the following response from Danielle Gilkes, a friend of Stephen Pitcairn, the young Johns Hopkins researcher whose murder prompted the column:
Michael:
I am a friend and colleague of Stephen Pitcairn who worked with him at Johns Hopkins. I wanted to say thank you for printing suggestions that could potentially save other people’s lives when traveling within Baltimore. Your ideas for MTA are excellent.
I have been trying to get Hopkins officials to consider increasing their transit options. Stephen went to New York by Bolt bus often and would be back in time to catch the Hopkins shuttle from Penn Station to 29th Street (one block south of his residence). I am not sure if he decided to stay late that night or if the bolt bus was somehow delayed. The final Hopkins Shuttle bus Service is 9:30 pm on Sunday nights (6:30pm on Saturday). Unfortunately, the afterhours van escort service that Hopkins offers for its employees stops two blocks shy of Penn Station and therefore this was not an option for him.
I (like you) hope this will initiate change within Baltimore City as well as Hopkins. Please continue to push … I know I will.
Thank You.
Best Regards,
Daniele
COMMENT: Hopkins, like any operator of transit services, has to make rational choices about the hours during which it offers service. The university isn't wrong because it has set limits. However, it would be an abdication of responsibility of Hopkins officials didn't re-examine its previous decisions in light of this incident. The best outcome would be if multiple players who serve Penn Station came up with a creative solution. Perhaps Hopkins could offer vouchers good for taxi fare in lieu of running a late-night shuttle -- or at least do more to educate students and employees on the MTA routes that stop at the station and the need for caution in walking the streets at night.
Comments
I live about a block away from the home to which Stephen Pitcairn was walking that night. My roommate was returning from NYC on the same night, about the same time as Mr. Pitcairn.
She and I are both new to this area, and she told me later that week that she had decided that night to opt for the MTA bus to take her home. She had done her research beforehand, and looked up the schedules to ensure that she would not miss the last bus, and to see approximately what time the buses would be coming. She saw the bus once, but it passed her, so she crossed to the other side and waited for it coming up the other way. It passed her again. So she waited for the next bus, the last bus, and that one passed her as well, despite her waving and trying to flag it down. In the end, she took a cab home.
I think there are a lot more problems than a lack of transportation options if such things are occurring frequently. There is no legitimate reason why a public bus should at any point pass right by a waiting commuter.
Posted by: L | August 3, 2010 4:44 PM
L,
Was she waiting for an MTA bus or the Circulator? Where did this happen?
MTA rarely blows through stops outright--they more tend to blow by a stop if you aren't standing right at it. If you provide more details (not sure what you mean by "crossing to the other side") maybe we can help to ensure it doesn't happen in the future?
Posted by: Jed | August 3, 2010 9:00 PM
MTA Bus Route #3 which runs by Penn Station - operates 24/7.
The MTA - like other transit agencies around the country - operates on a budget. Members of the Penn Station/Charles Village communities are urged to contact their legislators in Annapolis concerning these budget issues.
Posted by: Chuck | August 4, 2010 12:08 AM
Back when MARC ran an awesome 11:30 train, I had the misfortune of not having cab fare. I live in the county so on the three or so occasions I used a cab from there, I emptied my wallet. Anyway, I planned ahead and took an MTA bus. The bus came... in about an hour. I had to transfer to the 8 in an uber-sketchy part of Waverly. There I waited another hour. I got home at 3:30. There has to be a better way.
Posted by: Tyler | August 9, 2010 12:10 AM