Getting around the Washington, D.C. area is easy using public transportation, especially compared to tackling the city’s famed dead end and expensive and hard-to-find parking. Since driving in Washington, D.C.
1. Metro
If you’re staying in downtown DC, it’s a very accessible city on foot, but for longer trips, you will inevitably have to take Metrorail (202-637-7000). The metro opens at 5 a.m. on weekdays and at 7 a.m. on weekends, and operates until 3 a.m. on Friday, Saturday and midnight every other day. The system is relatively clean and easy to use, with six lines and 91 stations serving most of the city and all major suburbs. It is worth buying a reusable SmarTrip card, which you will also need if you plan to use certain car parks at the station (daily parking rates and availability vary by station). SmarTrip cards cost $ 10 and cost $ 8; they can be purchased online at wmata.com, at all metro stations and at some grocery stores and pharmacies in the city. SmarTrip users benefit from a $ 1 discount on all Metrorail journeys and cheaper transfers to bus lines. Trips start at $ 1.75 and reach a maximum of $ 5.90 with a SmarTrip card.
Other things to note: recent rate hikes, broken escalators and extensive track work (especially on weekends) have made many runners unhappy with the system. When you are on the escalators, “Metriquette” dictates that the runners go up the left side and stand on the right. Eating and drinking on the metro is prohibited, which is why trains and stations are generally clean and free of pests.
2. Bus
If you go to a place where Metrorail does not serve, like Georgetown, you can take one of the 325 Metro bus lines. Trips are $ 1.75 each, whether you pay by SmarTrip or in cash. If you use a SmarTrip card, you will receive a 50 cents discount when transferring from train to bus, as well as unlimited transfers from bus to bus within two hours. The NextBus service based on GPS will notify you of the arrival of your bus. Most bus stops have a clearly marked stop identification number. Call 202-637-7000 and, when prompted, enter your stop id to get an idea of how long you have been waiting.
3. Bike
In the past two years, Capital Bikeshare bikes (877-430-2453), red like firefighters, have become ubiquitous in the region – at last check, there were more than 350 docking stations in Washington. For visitors, Bikeshare offers two membership options: 24 hours of use for $ 7 or a three-day pass for $ 15.
Journeys are free for the first 30 minutes, which should be long enough to get you where you are going. If you reach this deadline, you can anchor the bike and immediately remove another (or the same), and the clock will reset. User fees are posted on each dock, but for 30 minutes to an hour you will pay $ 2, and for the next half hour you will pay an additional $ 4.
Popular Visas
4. Cab
It is usually fairly easy to report a taxi in Washington, but it is not always an inexpensive proposition (trips within DC generally cost between $ 10 and $ 20). Yellow Cab Company of DC (202-544-1212) can be booked in advance, and all DC taxis now accept credit cards.
Shy Washingtonians love Uber, the smartphone app that sends city cars, SUVs, or regular taxis to your door and also lets you pay with a card – tip included. Black cars drive about 50% more than a normal taxi; taxis are the same, plus an additional $ 2. UberX is generally cheaper than a taxi.
