How to Ride DC Metro 🚇 2022

Use these tips and ride the DC Metro like a pro. This video is especially useful for anyone who is visiting Washington, DC and planning to use the Metro subway system to get around.

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~Trip Hacks DC resources for your trip~

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~Resources from this video~

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~Video Chapters~
0:00 How to ride Washington DC Metro
0:50 DO Get a SmarTrip Card
1:35 DON'T Stand on the Left
2:16 DO Understand the Pricing
3:15 DON'T Buy SmarTrip Online
3:52 DO Check Planned Track Work
4:23 DON'T Ride During Rush Hour
5:03 DO Give Yourself Extra Time
5:50 DON'T Mess with Train Doors
6:22 DO Wait for Others to Exit
6:48 DON'T Eat on DC Metro
7:32 DO Download a DC Metro App
8:17 DON'T Bother with Unlimited Passes
8:54 DO Avoid Unnecessary Transfers
10:01 DON'T Be Surprised by Face Masks
10:39 DO Check DC Metro Hours
11:02 DON'T Stand at the Top of a Metro Escalator
11:36 Trip Hacks DC Metro resources

[tessat]

FYI - Metro is less crowded during off hours but remember that the trains do not run as often, every 15 to 20 minutes as opposed to every 5 to 10 minutes. My uncle from out of town was standing on the Metro escalator with one hand on each handrail, marveling at the size of the station and was "spoken to" by a lady who was hurrying to get past him. He was surprised and chagrined but understood her point. Another time I was hurrying to catch my train back to work on my lunch hour when I ran into a school group blocking the way on the Metro escalator. I politely asked them to stand to the side so I could pass. The chaperone replied, "We're trying to stay together as a group." I replied, "Then stay together as a group on the right and please leave the left side clear. I really need to get to my train." They grudgingly made room because I was politely insistent. Seriously, stand to the right so people can walk on the left.

[comeonrb]

Please feel free to extend your point about Stand on the Right & Walk on the Left to EVERY path of travel on earth, at least in the US where we drive/walk on the right. This should apply to hallways, sidewalks, streets, highways and even a path in the woods. Slow or stopping traffic moves to the right. Our population is getting more dense. Cheers.

[GordonLF]

The tip "Do not buy a Smartrip card online" should be "Don't forget the card that you bought online at home when you come to DC".

[brandonedwards]

Visited DC with the family this weekend and rode the metro quite a bit. This video was extremely accurate and beyond helpful. Plus the city mapper app was a HUGE help. Thank you!!!

[williamjordan]

Do not try to load more money on your card online. I did this and it took days and days for the new money to register on the card. It's too bad because I thought this would be a very convenient way to make sure to keep my card loaded.

[ashxf]

Thank you so much for these videos! We are heading to DC soon, and we live in an area where public transportation is basically nonexistent, so all of this is a mystery to us, and I'm nervous about bringing my kid into a system I'm not familiar with. This is demystifying a lot of it for me, thank you!

[WillsJazzLoft]

If traveling on the Metro during inclement weather, make sure to have adequate layers of clothing. The platforms in elevated and at-grade stations can get unexpectedly chilly! I was up there in early December and it was cold!

[pnoy]

visiting DC for the first time this Nov, been watching your videos and they are all so informative and useful. You made my research so much easier. Thank you.

[marblehillpjs]

that escalator rule is what keeps you out of fights in NYC lol

[mdingel]

Thank you so much for this video, and all of your videos. You are concise, to the point and talk about the subject, not yourself. All of your tips are helpful and your updates are very valuable. We are just finishing our first trip in DC and had a great, easy time, thanks to you,

[kevind]

You should note that "peak" hours (5-9:30a and 3-7p) are much longer than "rush" hours you noted (7-9a and 4-6p), so don't think if you're not riding during rush hours you aren't paying peak fares.

Also, I believe Metro does allow water bottles for drinking during the hot summer months.

[TwirlGirl]

I know about the “walk left, stand right” rule from studying abroad in Europe. Same rule applies on the Paris, Brussels, and Antwerp metro systems (and probably more but those were the only ones I used on my trip).

[lifegotmelike]

we have the same escalator rule in London! and we have the same kind of metro (underground in the UK) system, our underground lines are color coded too. So I feel like i'll be right at home when I visit DC lol

[nof]

Metrohero is useless if you're a tourist how can you recommend that - you can't even plan a trip easily on that :)

[davinp]

DO NOT stand in front of the train doors, blocking people from entering and exiting and do not cut in front of people standing. Please walk back to the center or the other side of the railcar. The only time it is acceptable to stand in front of the door is when the train is packed and there is no other place to stand

[ocelot]

I use an App called Transit it has Metrorail, Metrobus, Fairfax Connector, Dash, CUE, ART, the Circulator, not really sure about MD, but pretty sure it has all the various lines for MD…..it also has tons of other cities too like NYC, Chicago, , Philly, San Francisco, LA, and many more

[Kazuki]

Was in DC last week (from Ohio)! I've been there two other times with family but was delighted to go back with just my sister. We love DC so much we are thinking of coming back next year and maybe stay longer. Also, I tried a few apps to get around on the metro but was disappointed in most of them so I used Google maps and was pleasantly surprised at the information it gave me as well as if I had to make a transfer and where to go when out of the station. It never let me down. I'll make sure to brush up on your videos again before going back!

[RapidTransitFan]

On my last metro trip I went with my two younger cousins, my grandma, and my aunt, we started out at branch Avenue like usual then we went to
L’Enfant plaza and we had to wait 15 minutes for a blue line train to go to the Smithsonian station but then grandma regretted not getting off at
L’Enfant plaza, we were going to the air and space Museum, I showed of this video to grandma and it helped

[beckymorgan]

Hello, I am watching your videos and I have a few questions. 1: how do I book your tours. 2: we are staying at the State Plaza. You state in you videos ...do not stay too far out. What do you think of this location. Thank you, Becky

[costaricaflyer]

OUTSTANDING video! I'll be visiting DC for the first time in 40 years and will need to use the Metroline to travel from Chantilly in VA to the museums in DC. This video gave me a LOT of good information. Many thanks again!