Ride 'em Cowboy!

Our ride in today was nothing that remarkable. No major delays, no breakdowns, but yet it still somehow captured the general unpleasantness of the whole Metro experience.

We were coming from Foggy Bottom this morning . Now you'd think the Foggy Bottom station would work through the crowds since it is served by two lines. Think again.

When we got there at about 8:15, it was obvious there hadn't been a train in a while. The platform was quite crowded, and there were a lot of people anxiously looking down the tracks wondering where the next train was. You immediately sensed Metro was at it again.

Finally, after about 6 minutes, an Orange Line train arrived, but it was filled to capacity. A few moments later, a Blue train came along, also fairly full, but with enough space to squeeze in a few.

Here's where the fun begins. We've talked a lot about the jerky ride Metro offers, but this Blue Line train was a whole new level, more akin to what you'd expect if you were a rodeo rider. At every station the train the departure was so fast, so sudden that it whiplashed many, causing many to nearly fall as they grabbed for anything to help them brace. This happened every time and a few more times for good measure during our unscheduled stops in the tunnels. The stops were almost as bone rattling. Yee Haw!

To top is off, we had an extremely officious driver who seemed to enjoy barking to the passengers about how if we didn't step away from the doors, we'd have to put the train out of service. Yes, it has come to threats.

Now we're not looking for a luxurious ride. It's mass transit, and it's really not made to be enjoyable. We don't expect velvet ropes and Champagne, but the "service" Metro offers is beyond unpleasant. We just don't want to arrive to work with a sore neck and blisters on our hands from having to hold on so tight! Then again, maybe we should just be thankful the train is moving.

We're going to need an entirely new level of public support for mass transit in this country over the coming decades, and we feel Metro is discouraging many from championing public transport. Think about this: The population of DC turns over at an incredible rate. We'd love to know what kind of mass transit ambassadors Metro produces. Our guess: not very good ones.

Other news:

Metro has issued its March track maintenance schedule, which definitely could come in handy for planning ahead.

Not sure what to say about this.

This could make Metro's life 1/3 easier.

Can We Fit More In?

We've always thought there was a lot of wasted space on Metro. Those half glass partitions by each door, the two by two seating as opposed to bench style seating and vertical poles stuck here and there come to mind. Compared to other countries, there's also the American notion of personal space, which keeps people from really cramming in. Ride a subway in Japan during rush hour, and you'll get a whole new feel for "crowded." The DC Examiner touches on some of this in a blog post today, and Metro is currently studying new configurations like the 7000 Series. There is more information and some photos here.

Since we're faced with the very real notion of fewer trains, even at rush hour, what would be your suggestions for increasing the capacity of Metro?

--Entertaining piece on birds in the Metro from The Washington Post.

Telling Perception

In this "Dispatch from the Inauguration" published in yesterday's Washington Post, Adele Levine gives what I think is a telling insight into what many Washingtonians think of Metro:

"After envisioning myself caught in a malfunctioning Metrorail car and trapped in a dark tunnel with several hundred strangers, I decided the best way to get to the inauguration would be to ride my bicycle the 13 miles from Wheaton."

Does that sum up how you feel about Metro?

Photo: John Morris

Some Good Footage of Inauguration