Do's and Don'ts of the DC Metro System

Most interns in this city, including myself, take the metro to and from work each day and for day-to-day expeditions. Even though it takes a while to get the hang of, once you know the rules, you'll be good to go. There are fives lines: red, green, yellow, blue, and orange. (There is supposed to be an up and coming "silver" line, but we can't hold our breaths for that one.) The commutes are decently quick and contrary to popular belief, there aren't that many delays-but maybe I'm just lucky. The metro is a wildly convenient public transportation system that makes getting around DC extremely easy. Rides are usually $1.70 or $2.10 during rush hour, but the price can very depending on how far your trip is. The metro has been a huge part of my experience here in DC. For your convenience, I've provided the do's and dont's of the DC Metro system.

Do: Only stand on the right side of the escalator. The left side is for walking and people take this very seriously. No better way to stand out as a new kid in town than by standing on the left side

Don't: Listen to music without headphones.

Do: Wait for everyone to exit the metro car before you enter.

Don't: Stand too close to the edge. Accidents do happen and you don't want that to be you.

Do: Leave the front seats open for the elderly and handicapped.

Don't: Eat or drink on the metro. You will most likely get asked to throw it away.

Do: Hold on tight if you're standing. Rides can get jerky and stop suddenly.

Don't: Mess around. I personally found out that the Metro Police take their jobs very seriously:

Peace, Love, Metro.

Blaire Goodrick