Cleveland City Guide - Getting Around

Cleveland has a relatively developed public transit system consisting of four rapid transit lines and over 100 bus routes. These services are operated by the Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority (tel: (216) 566 5100). Buses serve downtown and the suburbs; some routes operate 24 hours, others only during rush hour, and the rest throughout the day. Rapid transit lines operate 0400-2400. Fares on express routes are slightly higher than on normal ones. The red line is a heavy rail system running from Cleveland Hopkins International Airport through downtown to east Cleveland. Both the blue and green lines run from the eastern suburbs to downtown. And the Waterfront line runs, as its name suggests, along the waterfront from Tower City along the east bank of the Flats to the Muni Parking Lot. All the lines intersect underground at Tower City Center. It is possible to transfer a fare onto buses. A weekly transit pass is available.

As with all American cities, taxi service is cheap and efficient. Taxis can be hailed on the street at any time, or can be ordered from a dispatching company if none are available. Companies include: Ace Taxi (tel: (216) 361 4700), Americab (tel: (216) 881 1111) and Yellow Cab Co. (tel: (216) 623 1500). A tip of about 10% is not mandatory but appreciated.

Cleveland’s traffic is usually heaviest around rush hour (0800-0930), particularly on the highways leading into the city. Visitors should be aware that winter snowfalls can bring on dangerous road conditions, particularly on the highways and freeways. The city is laid out on a loose grid system, one that is by no means as uniform as those found in cities like New York, as some avenues traverse the city at odd angles. Roads running north–south are mostly named according to numerical convention, whereas those running east–west are avenues. Cleveland’s most important streets are East Ninth Street and Euclid Avenue. Street parking is available in the downtown core at parking meters. Garage parking is often more reliable. An abundance of garage parking is available near Public Square, adjacent to the Tower City Shopping complex.

A number of different car hire companies operate within Cleveland including Avis (tel: (216) 265 3700; website: www.avis.com), Enterprise (tel: (216) 898 2200; website: www.enterprise.com) and Hertz (tel: (216) 267 8900; website: www.hertz.com), all on Maplewood Avenue.

Drivers must be at least 21 years, and some companies will only rent cars to drivers over 25 years. Drivers with non-American licences must have a national licence from their country of origin. It is recommended that individuals always check with the car hire firm first, in case an International Driving Permit is required. Insurance can be purchased from the car hire firm.

Cycling around Cleveland is fairly unusual; however, bicycles can be hired from Garfield Bike Shop, 4521 Warner Road (tel: (216) 441 6430).