Comments on: Talkin’ Transit: Tourist Tips

By: Orlando

Orlando — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:45:53 +0000

This is a quality post. You can tell a ton of time was put into it. Travelers will certainly benefit from the travel tips. Including my self and family.

Cheers,

Orlando

By: Charles Kaluwasha

Charles Kaluwasha — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:15:50 +0000

I wish these rules could be printed in the visitors booklets and distributed in all the information centers on at the airport so that when they arrive, they can acquaint themselves with these rules.

By: We Love Resolutions: 2010 Edition » We Love DC

We Love Resolutions: 2010 Edition » We Love DC — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 18:21:13 +0000

[...] Ben: 1) Drive more, Metro less. 3) Get a WeLoveDC lunch club going near Franklin or McPherson Square. 3) Convince more museum officials to let me photograph exhibits before they go public. 4) Eat at Hawk and Dove simply to eavesdrop and pretend I’m a Hill intern. 5) Attend more special events at the National Museum of the American Indian. 6) Be nicer to tourists, even when they don’t pay attention to our handy tips. [...]

By: Getting around DC on the Metro | Orientation Guide Online

Getting around DC on the Metro | Orientation Guide Online — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:49:50 +0000

[...] Click here for metro-riding tips and the “unwritten rules” of the Metro. under: Uncategorized « Top 5 Things You Need to Know about Mason blog comments powered by Disqus var disqus_url = ‘http://orientation.onmason.com/2009/06/18/getting-around-dc-on-the-metro/ ‘; var disqus_container_id = ‘disqus_thread’; var facebookXdReceiverPath = ‘http://orientation.onmason.com/wp-content/plugins/disqus-comment-system/xd_receiver.htm’; var DsqLocal = { ‘trackbacks’: [ ], ‘trackback_url’: ‘http://orientation.onmason.com/2009/06/18/getting-around-dc-on-the-metro/trackback/’ }; [...]

By: Rules of the Ride « Close Encounters of the Me Kind

Rules of the Ride « Close Encounters of the Me Kind — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:59:06 +0000

[...] you think all I do is complain, here are some GREAT tips and rules from We Love DC about how to behave in the metro. My favorite (and personal pet peeve) [...]

By: AggieGirl

AggieGirl — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:33:49 +0000

And please do not try to be The Hulk and hold the Metro doors open as you try to run & get on the train. These are NOT elevator doors and will close on you. There’s another train coming soon. You’re only going to break the train and everyone will be ticked off at you when the conductor points out that you’re the one who put the train out of service and is forcing everyone to de-train.

By: TheDenverite

TheDenverite — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:01:14 +0000

Oh- I almost forgot. If you’re one of those horrible human beings who believes your purse/briefcase/shopping bags/whatever deserve the seat next to you on a crowded train instead of your fellow riders, get your head out of your butt and show a little kindness for the people around you- maybe they’d like a seat? Or is your purse really more important than they are?

By: Tiffany Bridge

Tiffany Bridge — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:16:05 +0000

Speaking of leaving the vertical bars for short people like myself: DON’T HOG THE POLE! I will not hesitate to grind my knuckles against the spine of any jerk who is leaning against a pole in a crowded train. But if you’re one of those people that does the full-body lean against the pole, such that the pole rests in the space between your ass cheeks, you deserve a beatdown.

By: TheDenverite

TheDenverite — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:21:52 +0000

I promise you that if you really do need to use your cell phone on the train, talking like a normal human being into the phone works fine- there is no need to shout so people at the other end of the car can hear you complain about the rash on your butt (true story, the whole car was staring at her). We all need to answer that work call or let someone know where we are on the track, but be polite about it.

Oh- and if you’re one of those types who sings along to whatever you’re listening to on your earphones, I assure you that your love for Kanye West or whatever you’re listening to isn’t shared by everyone on the train. SHUT. UP.

One more- the rails along the roof of the train car are great to hold onto- if you’re tall like I am (6′5″). But there’s no shortage (pardon the pun) of people who can’t quite reach them. So if you’re one of the taller folks, please use the roof bars, and leave the vertical bars for those who can’t reach that high.

By: Sassy Diva

Sassy Diva — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:11:00 +0000

To add to Lynne, please don’t stop as soon as you get off the escalator. Use some common sense and realize that people are behind you and will fall on top of you if you plant yourself at the bottom. Also, please, please, please, even if you just think I’m fat, err on the side of caution and offer me your seat–as I am 6 months pregnant and I see you looking at me anyway. Thank you kindly.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:10:48 +0000

Don’t come to an immediate stop at the end of the escalator. That thing is continuing to move a conveyor belt full of people behind you and you don’t want them piling up or running in place because you decided to come to an abrupt halt. Man I hate that.

By: Ben H. Rome

Ben H. Rome — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:07:14 +0000

LOL You guys are soooo awesome. I should write a book…

By: Banksy

Banksy — Wed, 27 May 2009 20:01:07 +0000

Corollary A to Unwritten Metro Rule #2: If the train is really crowded, take yer damn backpack off your back so that you’re not whacking people in the face with it when you turn around to check the map to see if this is your stop.

Corollary B to Unwritten Metro Rule #2: Ladies with ginormous purses/bags: If a train is sardine-crowded, don’t keep that bag on your shoulder. Hold it down by your legs. It actually frees up space.

Unwritten Metro Rule #8: Let people exit the trains before you attempt to board. This is almost as basic as “stand right, walk left.” (Do other cities with subway systems follow this rule? They sure as hell don’t in New York!)

Unwritten Metro Rule #9: The poles — INCLUDING THE NEW WAIST-HIGH HORIZONTAL ONES — in train cars are not your personal back (or buttcrack) rest. Let others hold on.

Unwritten Metro Rule #10: On crowded trains, the seats are for people, not for briefcases or shopping bags.

Unwritten Metro Rule #11: You can’t always read on the train. This is for those folks who still insist on trying to hold an open newspaper, magazine, or book while grasping onto a pole, sometimes with the crook of their elbow, on sardine-crowded trains.

Unwritten Metro Rule #12: You don’t have to be right at the door as the train is coming to your stop. In other words, if you are seated or in the aisle between the seats, don’t make others stand or let go of their handholds WHILE THE TRAIN IS STILL MOVING. Even if you are in an inside seat on a packed train, you should still be able to get off once the train has stopped. If you can’t get off, you’re not trying/pushing/elbowing hard enough or vocalizing loud enough. You can’t always get onto a Metro train, but you can ALWAYS get off one.

Unwritten Metro Rule #13: If you are standing by or near the door on a packed train and it’s not your stop, step off the train to let others off. You’ll be able to get back on. This is the one exception to the “You can’t always get onto a Metro train” rule — people who step off a train to let others exit get first priority for getting back on.

By: Kirk

Kirk — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:51:21 +0000

I’ve got a suggestion for the Europeans: “Yes, DC is an American city. Accordingly, it will be filled with Colonials. Don’t look so disgusted.”

By: Ben H. Rome

Ben H. Rome — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:30:18 +0000

@Sabre: Yeah, I hear you. (And I'm a Virginian.) Fortunately, I learned to drive in Chicago and have had numerous I-95 trips up and down the coast, so I don't drive like my state brethren here do. Take heart, though - we're not as bad as District and Maryland drivers. :)

By: Sabre

Sabre — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:27:12 +0000

Ben, I agree with you – and I’m a Virginian. Virginia drivers are also prone to refusing to cede the left lane even though they are moving slowly, are quick to cut you off, and rarely acknowledge that someone let them in. I think they frustrate me more than the poor tourist lost trying to figure out how to get to their transfer train.

By: Lynne

Lynne — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:06:40 +0000

Metro Rule # 8: Don’t stop and block everyone else as soon as you get through the turnstile or get off of a train. MOVE! Get out of everyone’s way. If you need to stop and think in order to orient yourself, at least move out of the way of foot traffic to do so.

By: Arlene

Arlene — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:06:05 +0000

Walk. Seriously. For a lot of stuff in the area, walking may get you there faster plus you’ll see some cool stuff on the way. And Metro stopped air conditioning their tunnels long ago, so it’s probably not any cooler underground anyway…

By: Tom Bridge

Tom Bridge — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:41:35 +0000

It’s a perfectly legit thing to be in the intersection waiting to turn. While you’re obligated to clear the intersection when the light changes, so are the people in oncoming traffic, ideally stopping before the box to permit such a turn. Generally I’m cool with one car being in the intersection, not so much with more than 1.

By: nashpaul

nashpaul — Wed, 27 May 2009 18:40:16 +0000

Don’t walk 12-abreast on the sidewalk. You’re almost surely slower than everyone else, so please let them past.

If lining up outside the Spy Musuem, Ford’s Theatre, Hard Rock Cafe, whatever, remember that it’s a public sidewalk: leave room for people to walk.