A Simple Guide to the DC Metro

David explains the Washington DC Metro, it's history, map, payment system, etiquette, and then takes us on a demo trip.

TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Overview and History
01:07 The Map
05:36 Navigation Apps
06:32 Payment
08:23 Demo Trip
11:43 Rules of the Rail

SOCIALS

ABOUT BRIGHT TRIP
Bright Trip creates video-based travel courses to help you travel smarter. From our location courses that visually demystify places like Tokyo, London, Costa Rica, or Cape Town to our skills courses that cover how to travel solo, with kids, or how to document your travels more effectively and efficiently - each course is created by real travelers, like you, and aims to create a community of curious travelers that are eager to travel smarter.

CREDITS
Executive Producer: Andrew McGarrity
Script: Driaan Louw, David Gordon
Host + Camera: David Gordon
Post: Driaan Louw

Music: MusicBed

#brighttrip #travelguide #travelsmarter

[danielf]

As a long time Silver springer, I am extremely proud of far DC Metro has come.

[Madwonk]

One clarification at 8:15: You *DO NOT* need to tap off of buses in DC. You ONLY tap when you are GETTING ON the bus, not off!

My previous city I lived in did require this but not in DC!

[bareth_]

i'm a DC resident and i just wanted to say that this is an amazing guide!

[JonathanCLacy]

America would be a much better place if every major city had a metro system like DC

[PiplupJames]

I live in DC. My work commute only involves a metrobus but Metro is one of my favorite systems of all time. It does have its gripes but coming from Hampton Roads, VA which rejected light rail extension; I’m grateful for WMATA.

[tonytins]

I was born and also raised in DC for a few years. While I knew what the Metro was even back then, I was never aware of the full scope of the network since I only lived there for a short time before moving to NYC. So, this is very helpful.

[himbourbanist]

my girlfriend used the DC Metro when we came down from Philadelphia to visit last summer and we were blown away by just how good the transit and the rider experience was. It was like stepping forward 50 years into the future compared to what we have in Philly

[Mrcake]

The older trains are more comfortable in my opinion, but the new ones definitely have better signage.

[GilmerJohn]

The DC metro compared to NYC: 1) DC doesn't have 3 or 4 track segments. That means you can't have express trains and track work requires major inconvenience.

2) the State of Virginia didn't require a way of operating complete trains completely in Virginia. It would have taken a bit of extra tunneling near Roslyn.

[josephmassaua]

Can't wait for the stop in Georgetown!

[louiszhang]

The unlimited pass is so clutch sometimes, even if you're not a tourist. I live far out, so if I am taking a round-trip, it costs me $13.50 ($6.75 one-way), the same price as the unlimited 1-day pass. But if I need to go somewhere else along with that round-trip commute (such as to get dinner with a friend), then the unlimited pass will be cheaper. So the trade-off bar is very low. Highly recommended for tourists.

[edwardjones]

Please take note of the large empty space on the Metro map west of the Pentagon. During the early planning stages of the subway a route was under consideration between the Pentagon and Bailey's Crossroads, an area at the intersection of Leesburg and Columbia Pikes. In anticipation of such a Metro line a massive complex of high rise buildings, Skyline City, was developed at Bailey's Crossroads. A less accessible route along I-66 was in due course chosen because of lower cost.

[cornbreadman]

Been trying to find nice and quality videos to see about dc. And yours is the bomb dude. Watching the second video from you now. Good job dude!! Awesome audio, perfect cuts and transition, very fluid. God bless

[pizzajona]

How are you a DC native and letting your friend stand on the left side of the elevator at 8:46?

[jefuryo]

Northern Virginian here. We love our Metro.

[himbourbanist]

I absolutely love the carpeted metro trains, that's so weird and cool. Managed to catch one when I was in DC last. The carpet hasn't held up too well after decades of spills and people walking on them. Still a novel idea for a metro train to have a carpeted floor, really sets them apart. The new 7000 series trains are definitely very modern and clean feeling though, and the wayfinding is impeccable. The 8000 series trains are going to be even better from what has been shown so far.

[erinjohnson]

Oh wow, I haven’t been up this way in a while, I didn’t realize the silver line expansion to Dulles was complete. Omg FINALLY. I’ve been a flight attendant for 20 years and was IAD based 2004-06. If I had to commute in and catch a flight to DCA, I used to have to get off at the Falls Church station and catch the “Washington Flyer” bus to Dulles. Lol such a hassle but it ran efficiently back in the day. I’m going to have to come check out the updated silver line soon. Great video!

[duangerous]

Oh this is sooo informative, thank you.

[cythrosi]

DC Circulator busses are not operated by Metro. They are operated by DDOT whereas Metro is operated by WMATA (they also have MetroBus).


Also it's National Airport 😜

[hadjnabil]

thank you lot's😘, same to you "i love you". god bless you and all your familly.