Visiting DC & using the metro, don't want you to hate me.

[Anonymous]

I'm coming with my child to visit DC in a couple of weeks, what do I need to know to not bother the natives? We will be using the metro and at least once during morning rush.

[Anonymous]

Regular subway etiquette. I don't think there's anything too weird, here.

Stay to the right on steps and elevators to let fast people pass you. Know that escalators and elevators can be broken, so strollers are a pain, if you need one. Let people out before you get in.

[Anonymous]

Let people off before you board the train.

Don't stop right inside the doors, and don't stand by the door when people are trying to get on/off.

Stand to the right on the escalators.

[Anonymous]

For the love of god, stand to the right on the escalator.

Allow people to get off the train before you get on.

Move all the way inside the car.

Don't stop when you enter or exit the turnstile (not that it's really a turnstile, but what are those called again?).

[Anonymous]

Oh-every person needs their own fare card (you can't share one like you can on some systems) and you need it when you enter and exit the system.

And don't try to hold the doors open if they're shutting-they don't reopen like elevator doors.

[Anonymous]

Anytime you stop to look at a map, or get your bearings notice where you are. If you'll be blocking the flow traffic into a train, coming off an escalator, going through a gate, then take a few more steps before stopping.

And don't hesitate to ask for help. Many of us DC natives are actually friendly people!

[Anonymous]

When a train arrives on the platform, do not stand directly in front of the door. Stand to one side and let riders exit before you board.

Do not eat or drink.

Make sure your music is turned down so others cannot hear it blasting through your earbuds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh-every person needs their own fare card (you can't share one like you can on some systems) and you need it when you enter and exit the system.

And don't try to hold the doors open if they're shutting-they don't reopen like elevator doors.

Except kids under 5

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the love of god, stand to the right on the escalator.

Allow people to get off the train before you get on.

Move all the way inside the car.

Don't stop when you enter or exit the turnstile (not that it's really a turnstile, but what are those called again?).

Oh and keep walking when you get off the escalator. Occasionally people amble slowly off the escalator while the rest of us are trying not to bump into them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh-every person needs their own fare card (you can't share one like you can on some systems) and you need it when you enter and exit the system.

And don't try to hold the doors open if they're shutting-they don't reopen like elevator doors.

Don't panic if you get caught by accident in the doors. The train can't move forward and the doors will reopen. But do realize that we don't appreciate people doing it on purpose because it makes it more likely something will break and the whole train will be taken out of service.

[Anonymous]

Get a plastic smartest card - it will save you on the extra fee metro charges for using a paper card and it will probably be easier for you to use it by holding it up to the round sensor than lining up the paper fare card and feeding it through the gate mechanism.

Try you best to avoid riding during rush hour. The fares are a little bit less if you wait to go through the gates between 9:30am and maybe 3:30pm. You'll sometimes see tourists waiting by the gates in the morning waiting for the clock to change to 9:30am before going through.

No eating or drinking allowed in the train or stations.

Don't be alarmed if you see metro police with dogs at the stations. Some of that is routine patrolling at some stations during certain times of the day or on certain days.

[Anonymous]

Smatrip card not smartest.

[Anonymous]

Stand to the right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let people off before you board the train.

Don't stop right inside the doors, and don't stand by the door when people are trying to get on/off.

Stand to the right on the escalators.

It's always surly locals who do this. Most tourists know better.

One tip I have is if you see a train coming on your side of the platform or the other side of the platform, observe where the middle doors are. Trains generally stop in the same spots, so if you're waiting on the platform near a middle door, you'll feel less crushed trying to get on a crowded train.

Also, there are 6, sometimes 8, cars on every train. Don't just get on the one at the bottom of the escalator. Also, another train will be right behind this one during rush hour, so don't feel like you need to run over people to catch it.

Get a SmartPass. Paper farecards are a real annoyance for tourists (and locals who have to wait on you). They're $5 but if you use it enough, you'll easily make up the difference in fares. You can buy them in many stations now, and at some local shops like CVS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let people off before you board the train.

Don't stop right inside the doors, and don't stand by the door when people are trying to get on/off.

Stand to the right on the escalators.

It's always surly locals who do this. Most tourists know better.

One tip I have is if you see a train coming on your side of the platform or the other side of the platform, observe where the middle doors are. Trains generally stop in the same spots, so if you're waiting on the platform near a middle door, you'll feel less crushed trying to get on a crowded train.

Also, there are 6, sometimes 8, cars on every train. Don't just get on the one at the bottom of the escalator. Also, another train will be right behind this one during rush hour, so don't feel like you need to run over people to catch it.

Get a SmartPass. Paper farecards are a real annoyance for tourists (and locals who have to wait on you). They're $5 but if you use it enough, you'll easily make up the difference in fares. You can buy them in many stations now, and at some local shops like CVS.

Sorry, that should be SmarTrip:

http://www.wmata.com/fares/smartrip/