Everyone knows the knock on DC Metro buses. They're slow, they bunch up, and make too many stops. Well, Metro and the city of DC have addressed some of those concerns and begun to offer limited stop buses. The buses don't necessarily aim to mimic subway trains, but instead augment train service and local bus service. Mount Pleasant is served by several of the lines including the city sponsored Circulator and Metro's S9 and 43 buses. The 43 isn't so much a limited stop bus. It just skips two stops on Dupont Circle in order to avoid the traffic tie up that is the circle itself. For riders traveling from downtown back to Mount Pleasant, the after work trip is made that much shorter. Like other limited stop buses in DC, they only enhance service, not eliminate it. Riders can still catch local buses that make stops on nearly every block if needed.The Circulator and S9 are true limited stop buses. The new Circulator from Woodley Park to McPhereson Square has only seven pick up and drop off points for the entire route. The southbound bus makes a stop in Mount Pleasant proper at Irving and Mount Pleasant Streets. The S9 is a breath of fresh air (well, not literally) for 16th Street NW commuters, providing a much faster route from Silver Spring to Downtown. It stops about every five blocks, instead of every block, or every other block. I appreciate the trend and hope it continues, especially with a cross town bus or two. Limited stop H4 anyone?
6 comments:
Crosstown service is in dire need of improvement. We freaking love the new circulator. I take it all the time, which I probably wouldn't if it stopped as much as the K Street/Georgetown line, which stops like every 25 feet.
In just a few months, bus service to Mt.P and columbia heights just got significantly better. S9, 43, and circulator. We were born under a lucky sign apparently.
(Personally, I don't understand why EVERY 42 doesn't go under the circle. It stops on either side of the circle. Seems like that should be good enough, eh?
'cept that those riders exiting Dupont Circle metro station north exit might not take the bus since right now the bus stop is right there next to Kramer's and instead they'd have to one, be aware of and two, walk an extra block and a half to get to the stop in front of Best Cellars, and even that is not too obvious.
but point taken.
Yeah, and bus stops tend to be set up with those other than the young and spry in mind. After all, I can walk from Adams-Morgan to Dupont in about 15 minutes. But many people can't. The distance between the next stops after the tunnel on either side -- I think R Street and N street -- is actually kind of a hike. I think the best compromise is the one they now have with this new 43.
Riding the S lines every day, I've quickly learned that the old rule still applies -- take the first bus that comes. Unless you're far uptown, the limited-stop will get you there faster, but not fast enough to justify skipping a couple of locals to wait for it.
"Yeah, and bus stops tend to be set up with those other than the young and spry in mind." True Alex.
Just as blogs tend to be written for the young in terms of where to go to a newest (mediocre) restaurant or bar, park your bike, etc etc... not much mention of the things families need: affordable housing, public schools that are also good, etc etc..I guess parents do not have the time to also write blogs.
What I don't get is why do all the 43 buses terminate at Farragut? Why not make all the Metro Center buses the "limited stop" buses? This would ensure a faster ride for those going all the way to Metro Center and, more importantly, discourage crowding on the Metro Center buses by people just trying to get to the Dupont metro.
i can't tell you how frustrating it is to see three 42s pull up with the Metro Center bus in the lead - overcrowded as usual - so I can't get on. And the 43 is riding thrird in the line!
It is this kind of illogical metro thinking that drives me crazy!
Hmmm...I didn't know that all 43s end at Faragut. Not very smart.
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