Portland, Maine
By Steve on Jun 1, 2008 in Featured City, Living Car Free
Portland, Maine is an old seacoast town. It is also a funky city filled with galleries, one-of-kind boutiques and shops, and incredible restaurants serving everything from New England clam chowder, lobster rolls and Maine seafood to nouvelle cuisine.
Portland is home to major international law firms, import/export companies, and modern high-rise office buildings located in historic districts with centuries old architecture.
From Portland, visitors and residents enjoy visiting the Casco Bay Islands. For longer trips, there is a seasonal ferry, which provides service to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, several days a week during the summer and fall. For details, check out the Cat Ferry Schedule, under the Public Transportation links page.
People enjoy the coziness of a small city, combined with the cultural resources (music, art, theatre) and downtown stimulation of a larger city.
Location: Southern Coast of Maine, near the Maine – New Hampshire – Massachusetts tri-states-intersection.
Population: City: 64,000; Metro Area/Region: 230,000
Portland has Several Neighborhoods Where You Don’t Need a Car:
Munjoy Hill area is served by Route 1 Monday-Saturday and the combined 1/5 on Sunday. It is a very walkable neighborhood with shops and places to eat and the Eastern Promenade, which offers beautiful views and a beach.
Back Cove is located near the University of Southern Maine and is a mix of larger homes, traditional homes and Cape-Cod homes. The Back Bay Trail is a 3-4 mile bike, walking and jogging trail along the nearby Inlet. Metro Routes 4,2 & 8 provide service near the area.
Peaks Island is home to 1,000 year-round residents and approximately 4,000 summer visitors. It is a 15-20 minute ferry ride from the mainland on the Casco Bay Lines. The ferry to Portland operates 365 days a year. Metro bus #8 operates to the Casco Bay Line Ferry terminal, Monday-Saturday. On Sunday, you can walk or take a taxi from the terminal.
Small business on the island include a general store, arts and crafts galleries, an ice cream and souvenir shop, restaurants and other services. The island has its own elementary school, library and police station.
Irene Schensted, author of “Daytrips from Boston by Public Transportation” and several scientific books, has been a resident of Peaks Island for many years. She tells us, “Peaks Island is a wonderful place to be car-free. It is very beautiful with the ocean shore a short walk in any direction. There are services and stores on the Island, easily accessible by walking, and frequent ferry service to the mainland.
“The mainland ferry docks are in Portland’s Old Port district, a few blocks from its city center, with shops, restaurants, coffee houses, music, parks etc.etc. all along the way. There is public transportation about the City (Portland), and you are a two-hour bus or train ride from Boston. The Portland airport connects you to everywhere.
“The Island itself is a community of artists, performers, professionals, fishermen, and construction people, city workers, retirees and summer folk and hosts of day-trippers. It is, I think, the grand park of the City of Portland.”
Visiting Portland Without a Car is Easy
Visitors can choose from several areas close to a bus:
Downtown Portland, the area near the airport is served by Metro Route #5, and Falmouth near Metro Route #7 are good choices. Also, the area near the Maine Mall in South Portland is convenient to shopping and seven-day bus service.
2 Comment(s)
By Maine Land on Sep 22, 2008 | Reply
that seems like a great town i have heard grea things about it but never made it up there
By Carolyn on Nov 3, 2008 | Reply
We just moved from Falmouth ME to Portland ME.
I sold my old Honda and am trying to mostly bike walk and take bus..I share my husband’s car if I need to and also can rent at Enterprise.
Portland is really amazing..