WMATA Police to begin stopping students without valid DC One cards and deny them entry

[Anonymous]

Before this new WMATA policy is implemented, I think DCPS schools need to do a quick, pro-active campaign to make sure all children have working cards.

I know, something else to do. All these schools already have a lot going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Before this new WMATA policy is implemented, I think DCPS schools need to do a quick, pro-active campaign to make sure all children have working cards.

I know, something else to do. All these schools already have a lot going on.

No, this is not new. It's been the policy since this program started 3 years ago. And the schools can only do one piece of it -- make the cards and confirm the students' enrollment. The rest is on families who want to use metro or metro bus for free to go to the Farecard machines and activate them. If there is a problem, contact the Kids Ride Free office and they will troubleshoot.

As for the deadline, the 'crackdown' has been messaged to schools since last spring. The mayor and DME have talked about it since August and back to school. It has been in the Washington Post. Most kids at our charter school use this benefit. The school has included messages about this deadline in every newsletter since school opened this year.

This really isn't that hard. And it's not the schools' responsibility to get a kid to school. That's on the parents.

[Anonymous]

I'm glad to see Metro stepping up enforcement of the law. I'm a big believer in the broken window theory of policing. Now, I'd like to see them enforce the food ban. The other day there was a spilled chocolate shake oozing all over a seat on the train. It's starting to get gross.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad to see Metro stepping up enforcement of the law. I'm a big believer in the broken window theory of policing. Now, I'd like to see them enforce the food ban. The other day there was a spilled chocolate shake oozing all over a seat on the train. It's starting to get gross.

+1000. And I wish they'd tell folks that there's no toddler exception to the food ban. Drives me a little crazy to see little kids shoving goldfish in their mouths and sipping apple juice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad to see Metro stepping up enforcement of the law. I'm a big believer in the broken window theory of policing. Now, I'd like to see them enforce the food ban. The other day there was a spilled chocolate shake oozing all over a seat on the train. It's starting to get gross.

+1000. And I wish they'd tell folks that there's no toddler exception to the food ban. Drives me a little crazy to see little kids shoving goldfish in their mouths and sipping apple juice.

Kids didn't used to eat on the run, nor did adults! Part of the obesity problem in our country. Unless it is a medical emergency wait until you get off!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad to see Metro stepping up enforcement of the law. I'm a big believer in the broken window theory of policing. Now, I'd like to see them enforce the food ban. The other day there was a spilled chocolate shake oozing all over a seat on the train. It's starting to get gross.

+1000. And I wish they'd tell folks that there's no toddler exception to the food ban. Drives me a little crazy to see little kids shoving goldfish in their mouths and sipping apple juice.

Kids didn't used to eat on the run, nor did adults! Part of the obesity problem in our country. Unless it is a medical emergency wait until you get off!

I agree, this business of pacifying kids with food is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before this new WMATA policy is implemented, I think DCPS schools need to do a quick, pro-active campaign to make sure all children have working cards.

I know, something else to do. All these schools already have a lot going on.

No, this is not new. It's been the policy since this program started 3 years ago. And the schools can only do one piece of it -- make the cards and confirm the students' enrollment. The rest is on families who want to use metro or metro bus for free to go to the Farecard machines and activate them. If there is a problem, contact the Kids Ride Free office and they will troubleshoot.

As for the deadline, the 'crackdown' has been messaged to schools since last spring. The mayor and DME have talked about it since August and back to school. It has been in the Washington Post. Most kids at our charter school use this benefit. The school has included messages about this deadline in every newsletter since school opened this year.

This really isn't that hard. And it's not the schools' responsibility to get a kid to school. That's on the parents.

Refusing entry to the metro bc students don't have the card is new. That's why there's a thread.

Not sure it makes sense to conclude that alll kids should be ready to go based on your experience at a single charter; we haven't had that messaging about new enforcement parameters at the DCPS schools my DCs attend. And another poster noted it takes time to actually produce cards. I am not pointing the finger; they've got a lot going on.

Anyway, I'm glad your kids are set. So are mine, for that matter. Thanks, actually, to a DCUM thread that outlined process to activate cards. We all have a role to play in getting kids to school.

[Anonymous]

I can't believe people are on here complaining about a free service.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Before this new WMATA policy is implemented, I think DCPS schools need to do a quick, pro-active campaign to make sure all children have working cards.

I know, something else to do. All these schools already have a lot going on.

No, this is not new. It's been the policy since this program started 3 years ago. And the schools can only do one piece of it -- make the cards and confirm the students' enrollment. The rest is on families who want to use metro or metro bus for free to go to the Farecard machines and activate them. If there is a problem, contact the Kids Ride Free office and they will troubleshoot.

As for the deadline, the 'crackdown' has been messaged to schools since last spring. The mayor and DME have talked about it since August and back to school. It has been in the Washington Post. Most kids at our charter school use this benefit. The school has included messages about this deadline in every newsletter since school opened this year.

This really isn't that hard. And it's not the schools' responsibility to get a kid to school. That's on the parents.

Refusing entry to the metro bc students don't have the card is new. That's why there's a thread.

Not sure it makes sense to conclude that alll kids should be ready to go based on your experience at a single charter; we haven't had that messaging about new enforcement parameters at the DCPS schools my DCs attend. And another poster noted it takes time to actually produce cards. I am not pointing the finger; they've got a lot going on.

Anyway, I'm glad your kids are set. So are mine, for that matter. Thanks, actually, to a DCUM thread that outlined process to activate cards. We all have a role to play in getting kids to school.

Actually stepped up enforcement was supposed to happen last year because WMATA was tired of the freeloading by students. DCPS wanted more time.

WMATA isn't a DC agency. The kids are stealing. And I bet most have cards already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm glad to see Metro stepping up enforcement of the law. I'm a big believer in the broken window theory of policing. Now, I'd like to see them enforce the food ban. The other day there was a spilled chocolate shake oozing all over a seat on the train. It's starting to get gross.

Metro used to be super strict, and you were ticketed for eating food/drinking in it. I remember when Fawn Hall was ticketed for eating a banana during Iran-Contra-link below. It was funny and made national headlines, but it also shows that WMATA used to take pride and that people didn't freak out when actual reasonable laws (like having a valid DC ONE card, ahem) were enforced. They understood consequences. -broken windows fan too, and we need more of it in DC

http://articles.latimes.com/1987-10-21/news/mn-10146_1_fawn-hall

[Anonymous]

I somehow get the feeling that the vast majority of posters on this thread don't have kids that ride Metro.

[Anonymous]

From WAMU in May 2017

http://wamu.org/story/17/05/09/metro-takes-new-steps-crack-fare-evasion/

"...D.C. school students who are allowed to ride free using the OneDC card will be directed to tap out through the normal fare gates, so Metro can keep track of the free trips. Students have been simply flashing their passes to station managers and walking through the swinging gate.

“Fare evasion creates real and perceived fairness issues among customers, most of whom pay for every ride. It also directly results in the loss of revenue that Metro needs to provide safe and reliable bus and rail service, and indirectly impacts federal funding formulas and local subsidy discussions by reducing our official fare box ridership count, a measure of our value to the region,” Leader’s memo said.

"The transit authority lacks a precise figure on fare evasion, but a Metro spokesman said lost fares are estimated at $5-$20 million per year. To put the latter in perspective, $20 million would have allowed Metro to avoid raising fares in the fiscal year starting July 1."

[Anonymous]

The video here is telling -- virtually every person not paying the fares is a student.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/06/12/watch-how-easily-these-brazen-fare-evaders-slip-through-metro-fare-gates-video/?utm_term=.8dd9db879c1c

[Anonymous]

DCPS and parents need to get their acts together.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I somehow get the feeling that the vast majority of posters on this thread don't have kids that ride Metro.

Why? I am on this thread and my kids ride Metro now and have for the last 5 years.

If/when they forget their DC One cards they have backup Smartrips loaded with money we've put on the cards. They know they shouldn't just wave at the attendant and walk through the gate because it would be stealing.