Like a lot of people, when I first heard Metro was raising fares, I was annoyed. Then, briefly, I reconsidered. Hey, times are tough, and if DC, Maryland, and Virginia won't step up and increase their subsidies, the money has to come from somewhere.
Then I read some of the proposed ideas, and just got annoyed again.
Increasing fares is one thing. Holding riders upside down by their ankles and shaking the money out of their pockets is another.
This is just retarded. People don't ride Metro during the peak hours because they enjoy waking up early or being pressed up against a total stranger or because there's just something magical about the eight o'clock hour.
They ride then because that's when people need to get to work. Would it be nice if they could go to their employers and say, "Hey, Metro wants fewer riders during rush hour, so I'm going to start coming into work an hour late. Is that cool?" Sure. But they can't. Penalizing people for having to get to work by 9 or 9:30, or wanting to leave on time at 5, is stupid. If they actually implement this horrible, horrible idea, I demand that during peak hours, Metro stop allowing its employees to ride for free. If we have to suffer, so should they.
This one, I'm more or less fine with. Why park at Metro stations in the first place? Just take the bus. It's cheaper, and it gets more cars off the road. And there's nothing more annoying than standing behind someone who's counting out a lot of change or trying to force a wrinkled dollar bill into the slot, when you just have your SmarTrip card ready to go.
Another bad idea. 19 downtown stations? I mean, I could maybe...maybe...see them applying a surcharge for the busiest few. Metro Center, Gallery Place, etc. If nothing else, this might encourage a few people to travel to the next, less busy, no-surcharging station, and walk a little further to their destination. Because frankly, a lot of people could use the exercise.
But 19 stations? Come on. You can't declare all of downtown to be a high crowding area. At least, not with a straight face.
When did Metro become such a fucking petulant, passive aggressive child?
Yes, we get it. Metro would rather we use SmarTrip cards. And rightly so. But punishing people for continuing to use the paper farecards seems a bit much. And while it's extremely rare for this blog to stick up for tourists, it's going to suck for them when they get hosed simply because they don't want to waste their money on SmarTrip cards, which become worthless coasters once they leave DC.
Anyway. Congratulations to Metro. Once again, you've dealt with adversity by passing it on to your riders. Well done.
Then I read some of the proposed ideas, and just got annoyed again.
Increasing fares is one thing. Holding riders upside down by their ankles and shaking the money out of their pockets is another.
Agency officials hope that the fare proposals will encourage more people to ride less-crowded, off-peak trains, said Jack Requa, Metro's acting general manager.
This is just retarded. People don't ride Metro during the peak hours because they enjoy waking up early or being pressed up against a total stranger or because there's just something magical about the eight o'clock hour.
They ride then because that's when people need to get to work. Would it be nice if they could go to their employers and say, "Hey, Metro wants fewer riders during rush hour, so I'm going to start coming into work an hour late. Is that cool?" Sure. But they can't. Penalizing people for having to get to work by 9 or 9:30, or wanting to leave on time at 5, is stupid. If they actually implement this horrible, horrible idea, I demand that during peak hours, Metro stop allowing its employees to ride for free. If we have to suffer, so should they.
As part of the proposal, Metro staff members will recommend increasing daily parking fees at its lots by 75 cents and bus fares, for those paying cash, by 75 cents. Bus fares would remain unchanged for riders who use SmarTrip and weekly passes.
This one, I'm more or less fine with. Why park at Metro stations in the first place? Just take the bus. It's cheaper, and it gets more cars off the road. And there's nothing more annoying than standing behind someone who's counting out a lot of change or trying to force a wrinkled dollar bill into the slot, when you just have your SmarTrip card ready to go.
Additionally, all rush-hour rail riders who pass through one of 19 downtown stations where crowding is most severe would pay a 35-cent surcharge.
Another bad idea. 19 downtown stations? I mean, I could maybe...maybe...see them applying a surcharge for the busiest few. Metro Center, Gallery Place, etc. If nothing else, this might encourage a few people to travel to the next, less busy, no-surcharging station, and walk a little further to their destination. Because frankly, a lot of people could use the exercise.
But 19 stations? Come on. You can't declare all of downtown to be a high crowding area. At least, not with a straight face.
Under the proposal, the current maximum rush-hour fare of $3.90 would increase to $4.75 for SmarTrip users and $6 for paper farecard users.
When did Metro become such a fucking petulant, passive aggressive child?
Yes, we get it. Metro would rather we use SmarTrip cards. And rightly so. But punishing people for continuing to use the paper farecards seems a bit much. And while it's extremely rare for this blog to stick up for tourists, it's going to suck for them when they get hosed simply because they don't want to waste their money on SmarTrip cards, which become worthless coasters once they leave DC.
Anyway. Congratulations to Metro. Once again, you've dealt with adversity by passing it on to your riders. Well done.
1 comment:
Amen. Any idea who to contact about this? It seems pretty ridiculous that at a time when we should be encouraging mass transit at rush hours metro is going to raise the fare by so much.
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