Subtitle 1 – Definitions; General Provisions

In <cite data-path="|31">this article</cite>, the following terms have the meanings indicated.

“Alley” means any roadway open to the general public primarily designed and used for the servicing of contiguous buildings through their rear or side entrances.

“Authorized emergency vehicle” means any vehicle of the fire department, police department, and such ambulances and emergency vehicles of municipal departments or public service corporations as are lawfully designated or authorized by the Police Commissioner of Baltimore City.

“Bicycle” means every device propelled by human power upon which any person may ride, having 2 tandem wheels either of which is more than 20 inches in diameter.

“Bus” means every motor vehicle which is at the same time a mass transportation vehicle.

“Crosswalk” means:

“Curb” means the lateral boundary of a roadway, whether marked by curb stone or not.

“Department” means the Baltimore City Department of Transportation.

“Director” means the Director of the Baltimore City Department of Transportation or the Director’s designee.

“Driver” means every person in actual physical control of a vehicle.

“Driveway” means a communicating way between a roadway and an off-street facility designed in such manner as to permit a vehicle to leave said roadway at grade and enter entirely into said off-street facility.

“Expressway” means:

“Footway” means that section beyond the vehicular path along a paved or unpaved roadway reserved for and normally used by pedestrians.

“Highway” means the entire width between the boundary lines of every way publicly maintained when any part thereof is open to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel.

“Intersection” means:

“Lane” means any section of a roadway which is clearly delineated from the other sections of said roadway by lines, markings, or physical barriers.

“Loading” means the expeditious taking on or discharging of merchandise.

“Mass transportation vehicle” is any vehicle used primarily for the transportation of the general public, with a seating capacity of 10 or more persons.

“Motorcycle” means every motor vehicle having a seat or saddle for the use of the rider and designed to travel on not more than 3 wheels in contact with the ground, but excluding a tractor.

“Motor vehicle” means every vehicle that is self-propelled and every vehicle that is propelled by electric power obtained from overhead trolley wires, but not operated on rails.

“Motor vehicle repair service” means a person that is engaged in the business of performing major or minor repairs to a motor vehicle, including:

The terms “park” and “parking”, when prohibited or regulated as to vehicles:

“Pedestrian” means any person afoot.

“Police officer” means:

“Private way” means every way or place:

“Public transportation vehicle” means any vehicle used primarily for the transportation of the general public.

“Railroad” means a carrier of persons or property, other than streetcars, operated upon stationary rails.

“Railroad train” means a steam engine, electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated upon rails, except streetcars.

“Residential district” means the territory contiguous to and including a highway not comprising a business district when the property on such highway for a distance of 300 feet or more is in the main improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for business.

“Right-of-way” means the privilege of the immediate use of the roadway.

“Roadway” means that portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic.

“Safety zone” means the area or space:

“School bus” means any vehicle in use as a conveyance for students to or from a public, private, or parochial school, marked and equipped as specified in the Maryland Vehicle Law.

“Sidewalk” means any paved footway.

“Stand” or “standing” means to occupy or remain in 1 place.

“Street” means a highway, as defined in <cite data-doc="City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-107" data-path="|31|§1-1|(n)">§ 1-1(n) {“Definitions: Highway”}</cite> of this subtitle.

The term “taxicab” as used in <cite data-doc="City of Balt., Md., Ord. 26-107" data-path="|31">this article</cite> shall embrace any motor vehicle for hire, designed to carry 9 persons or less, including driver, operated upon any public street or highway in this City or, on call or demand, accepting or soliciting passengers, indiscriminately for transportation for hire between such points along public streets or highways in this City, as may be directed by the passenger or passengers so being transported.

“Traffic” means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, and any other conveyances either singly or together while using any highway for purposes of travel.

“Traffic control device” means any official device that controls or directs the movement of traffic.

“Traffic control signal” means any traffic control device, whether manually, electrically, or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and to proceed.

“Trailer” means a vehicle that:

“Transit loading zone” means a space at a curb or any other place properly designated by official signs or markings, reserved for the use of transit vehicles.

A “transit mall” is a street so designated by the Director upon which vehicular traffic, other than transit vehicles, is prohibited during certain hours by rule or regulation adopted and promulgated by the Director.

“Transit stop” means a transit loading zone.

“Transit vehicle” means any mass transportation vehicle.

“Truck” means any commercial vehicle.

“Vehicle” means every device in, on, or by which any person or property is or may be transported or drawn on a highway, except devices moved by human power or used exclusively on stationary rails or tracks.

provide for the safe and expeditious movement of traffic in the City of Baltimore;

protect the safety of the citizens using its streets; and

create conditions favorable to the safe and expeditious movement of mass transit vehicles in the City of Baltimore.