Public transportation in Washington DC

neosoul · #1 08-31-2006, 10:35 AM

^^^^ dang skippy too... my previous employer gave us 65 bucks a month... I hustled half of them on the side, but it helps out soo much PLUS they get a tax break for offering the metro checks to their employees

OrchidAlum · #2 08-31-2006, 11:50 AM

I am a big fan of the DC public transit system. The Metro (subway) is clean, quiet, and fast. If you are living and working in DC (or near a MD or VA Metro stop) you do not need a car.

Welcome to DC!

adpiucf · #3 08-31-2006, 12:40 PM

Depends on where you are living and working. Some jobs/places are not metro-friendly. However, the metro system and the busses are wonderful, so you can certainly get by if you know the bus schedule. I lived in NOVA for a year-- commuted alternately to DC by bus and metro; and a job in Southern MD by car. Traffic isn't really that bad. Then again, I've also lived in Houston and Los Angeles, so I'm a sucker for traffic. I will say the roads suck-- tons of potholes and super teeny directional signs (GW Parkway WHAT?!)

shinerbock · #4 08-31-2006, 01:20 PM

I was there for last summer, and I thought it was great. Most people I knew wrote it, and it was always quick and reliable. I kinda liked the routine of leaving my apartment, getting coffee, walking to the station, etc... Plus there was that guy every day giving out the WP express papers, so I had that to read on the train.

As for the Gtown thing, I didn't think it was too bad. I lived on Penn. right where it ran into M street in Foggy Bottom. It was about 2-3 minutes to walk to gtown, and about the same in the other direction to get to the foggy bottom station

OtterXO · #5 08-31-2006, 01:54 PM

When I lived in DC I didn't have a car and I was fine. Granted, going grocery shopping is a little different without a car but I got used to it. I lived in Arlington (by the Rossyln stop) and the only place I ever wanted to go that the Metro didn't take me was Georgetown. But cabs are pretty inexpensive for occasional use. Otherwise, I second what someone above said about checking to see where your job is located in relation to a metro stop and then going from there.

shinerbock · #6 08-31-2006, 02:44 PM

Tip for grocery buying your first couple times...I was only there for a couple of months, so I didn't have to do it consistantly. However, I used a couple of those delivery grocery companies, many of which have free delivery for your first time or two. I also found a discount online (maybe amazon or something), so every time I used it I got free shipping, and a couple times I even got a discount beyond that. It was a lot cheaper than taking a cab both ways, and the quality was quite good. I think I used Peapod.

ADqtPiMel · #7 08-31-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shinerbock

Tip for grocery buying your first couple times...I was only there for a couple of months, so I didn't have to do it consistantly. However, I used a couple of those delivery grocery companies, many of which have free delivery for your first time or two. I also found a discount online (maybe amazon or something), so every time I used it I got free shipping, and a couple times I even got a discount beyond that. It was a lot cheaper than taking a cab both ways, and the quality was quite good. I think I used Peapod.

Yea, we use Peapod. It's really convenient. We also have a little pushcart for when we actually have time to go to the store.