New DC Resident - What do I need to know?

[Anonymous]

I have a DC 1 card - you used to need it to get into the pool. Not sure what it is used for now.

Get a library card - we have a good library system.
In door and out door pools are free - although may not have is best times.

Navigating the DC public school system is not the easiest thing as there are a few in demand schools and many children (parents) who want to get then into the school.

Getting your car inspected and registered can be a pain - make sure you bring your title.

[Anonymous]

Parking enforcement is something like 1/5 of the city's income. They are tenacious and predatory. Never ever park illegally.

I was once ticketed near Glover Park at 1 AM in the morning for "parking too close to a corner."

Yep - the meter maids are even out at 1 AM trying to make a buck for the city.

Never contest tickets - they will conveniently "lose" your appeal. Or they will just deny it.

Then they send it to collections. A private collection agency.

They will ruin your credit if you don't pay (and it will be double the original ticket price by then).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parking enforcement is something like 1/5 of the city's income. They are tenacious and predatory. Never ever park illegally.

I was once ticketed near Glover Park at 1 AM in the morning for "parking too close to a corner."

Yep - the meter maids are even out at 1 AM trying to make a buck for the city.

Never contest tickets - they will conveniently "lose" your appeal. Or they will just deny it.

Then they send it to collections. A private collection agency.

They will ruin your credit if you don't pay (and it will be double the original ticket price by then).

I've actually contested tickets and had them thrown out. One because the sign was missing and another with proof that I'd paid through Parkmobile. I also challenged a speeding ticket because the photo they mailed to me wasn't my car - someone had altered their license plate to my number. It's a time suck gathering all the evidence and mailing it in, but it can be done.

But yeah, I have sometimes felt that enforcement officers are just waiting in the bushes.

[Anonymous]

You can get the DC one card for minors living with you. They can have access to the pools and also free metro and bus rides during school hours. Your child's school may already have ordered one for your child.

[Anonymous]

Check out the recreation centers. Some (unfortunately, you will see very quickly the areas of haves and have nots - programming is very segregated) have many activities that are rather inexpensive for adults and kids. If you want to do swim lessons, sign up as soon as the registrations opens, they fill up quickly.

Put the DC Metro App on your phone

[Anonymous]

Get your DC plates SOON! Otherwise the parking tickets will start showing up. And yes to the guy who said don't park illegally, they WILL get you.

My other advice would be to up your budget for eating out. There are so many delicious places to eat, but many are pricey. Worth it to try a bunch though for usre.

Welcome!

[Anonymous]

Always give yourself extra time to get places.

[Anonymous]

I disagree that DC is segregated. Capitol Hill is just not segregated, for example.

[Anonymous]

Figure out where the speed cameras are on routes you take most often (either via Waze app or the city list of them).

[Anonymous]

Or get rid of the car There are all sorts of wonderful options now for getting around DC - Capital BikeShare and my personal favorite Car2Go. Car2Go are little smart cars that you can fit in the smallest park spot. Great for going to the crowded parts of the city. They have an app which shows you where they are around you and you reserve one up to 30 minutes in advance. You can leave them in any legal parking space - do NOT have to pay the metes - the only exception is a street which changes due to rush hours laws. Then you go off and do what you want. Find another Car2Go to go home or call Uber/Lyft. Even if you do have a car which I do - I use all of these options plus metro a lot - really extends your mobility.

There's some great outdoors in DC - kayak, row or paddle board on the Potomac, Rock Creek Park has great hiking and trails. Towpath, Capital Crescent, Teddy Roosevelt Island. Oh - and learn to drive Rock Creek - you might need a native to teach you - it changes directions based on what time of the day but it is the most stress free way to navigate around NW.

Try to be a little laid back about everything initially - it's a lot better than than the Barry years but there are still things that make you scratch your head. Crime is real but don't get freaked out about it -the media always makes it seem worse. That said - be smart and don't be afraid to be considered rude to be safe. I've lived here since 1990 and was the only one I knew who didn't get mugged back in in DuPont in the early 90's. Cross the street if you want to. If you live in a high street crime area - leave your car unlocked with nothing in it - better than broken windows

Often there is more property crime in the nicer areas but more street crime in the rougher.

Avoid the mall and the museums in the summer and spring break!

Best outdoor swimming pool for laps is Hains Point - you can see the Washington Monument! The DC public pools are kept in pretty good shape for the summer heat. Leave town in July and August if you can.

[Anonymous]

Speaking of crime - specifically the home-invasion robberies - you might consider how to protect yourself.

It's virtually impossible to get a gun in DC so forget that option entirely.

A viable option are the pepper sprays - but remember they these have to be registered with the DC police. The sell will help you register at the time of sale.

It's a good idea to buy several for the home; keep one by the front door, another by the back door, but also keep one in the nightstand.

A dog is a great deterrent. Consider an alarm system too.

As the previous poster suggested, really watch yourself on the street. Stick to populated areas - especially after dark.

[Anonymous]

When are you going to move again?

[Anonymous]

Your DC One card will give you access to recreation centers and functions as a library card. It's worth getting it, but not something that needs to happen asap.

Get to know the 311.dc.gov website. From there you can make service requests of the government (new trash bin or recycling can - assuming you're in a single family home), schedule a bulk trash pickup, report a burned out street light and so forth.

[Anonymous]

OP here: Moved already. Been here a month. I went to school in DC (GW), so I'm familiar with the city, the metro (including walking on the left - used to drive me crazy when people didn't), being smart about crime, etc. But I've been in suburbia for 20+ years and I have kids now (and it looks like I need a DC1 card to enroll them in the school lottery) and a lot has changed (including technology - wow). But I did once get a ticket for parking within fill-in-the-blank feet of an intersection. They filled in 40. So I guess that hasn't changed.

We're near Fort Totten, BTW.

Thanks for all the tips. Which Metro app do you recommend? There are several.

[Anonymous]

I would say be prepared to be pleasantly surprised by the city's services. A lot has changed since the 90s-- they actually do repair potholes, pick up the trash, fix street lights etc. It's not perfect of course, but it's not the unresponsive hell hole our MD and VA neighbors claim.

Frankly, I think the city handled the snow far better than the 'burbs.