What is Pike Ride?
Pike Ride is the name given to Metrobus 16 Line service and ART-Arlington Transit routes serving the Columbia Pike corridor and the surrounding Arlington neighborhoods.
On September 7, 2003 Arlington transformed bus service on Columbia Pike. Simply put, Arlington increased the number of weekday bus trips by 45%, increased Saturday service by 64%, and nearly doubled the service on Sunday. Service is better timed and more customer information is provided at every bus stop.
While keeping Metrobus service to the Pentagon essentially the same on the 16 A,B,D,J,F routes, Arlington added brand new service to Pentagon City via Metrobus 16 G,H,K,W. If you’re a Metrorail Blue Line rider, the 16 G,H,K,W is the perfect way to beat the crowds at the Pentagon Metrorail station. Plus, the Pentagon City service is timed to arrive within five minutes of a train.
In addition to the Metrobus 16 routes, ART-Arlington Transit routes 74 and 75 serve the neighborhoods along the Columbia Pike corridor. ART 41 connects the western portion of Columbia Pike with the Ballston, Clarendon, and Court House neighborhoods.
PHOTOS OF PIKE RIDE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY EVENT
SHOP AND DINE THE PIKE - DOWNLOAD RESTAURANT AND RETAIL MAP OR REQUEST PRINTED BROCHURES
More Often
Pentagon City service (to/from Columbia Heights West) – Metrobus 16G provides service every 12 minutes all day long. It is supplemented with Metrobus 16H service during peak hours. So, during those peak hours, Pike Ride will be at your stop every 6 minutes.
Pentagon service (to/from Annandale/Culmore) – Metrobus 16A,D provide service throughout the day every 30 minutes to and from Annandale. Metrobus 16 B,J travel to and from Culmore, also at 30-minute intervals. During peak periods, the 16 F Limited also makes the Culmore circuit. When combined during peak hours, these Pike Ride routes travel Columbia Pike every 5 minutes.
Farragut Square (to/from Annandale/Culmore) – Additional trips have been added during peak hours to the existing Metrobus 16 Y route.
Limited Stops
All Pike Ride buses stop at all Metrobus or ART-Arlington Transit bus stops. Metrobus 16 F stops only at the 8 most popular stops in Arlington to speed riders on their way.
Pike Ride Routes and Schedules
Printed schedules are available to be delivered FREE to your home or office using our Brochure Delivery Service. Bulk deliveries for residential complexes and businesses can be obtained FREE from Arlington Transportation Partners Brochure Service.
 Which Bus Should You Take?
If you need to connect to Metrorail, you can take any Pike Ride bus, because they all go to a Metrorail station. All Pike Ride bus stops are clearly marked and have route information. Metobus16 G,H Arlington buses (Pentagon City service) are easily identified by the distinctive Pike Ride logo and advertising on the sides. Most important, always check the bus marquee. The marquee gives you the bus route number and destination.
Pike Ride Area Maps
More About PikeRide
Leading the way in Arlington
In the Spring of 2002, the Arlington County Board adopted the Columbia Pike Initiative—a plan for the redevelopment for the Pike. As part of the Initiative, a new family of bus services called Pike Ride was introduced. In the next few years Pike Ride was improved with:
- traffic light signal priority, which speeds buses down the Pike;
- buses that run on clean-burning compressed natural gas;
- real-time arrival and departure information; and
- new bus stops designed with community input
In the long-term, Arlington envisions a bustling corridor that includes a transitway that will carry express bus service, tram or light rail.
Route maps and schedule information is available at PikeRide stops. For more photos, click here.
The Columbia Pike Initiative
On March 12, 2002, the Arlington County Board adopted the Columbia Pike Initiative – A Revitalization Plan for the Columbia Pike Corridor. The Revitalization Plan recognizes that bus service is a vital transportation resource in the corridor, which is not served directly by the regional Metrorail system. The Columbia Pike Initiative acknowledges the future vision of a higher-capacity transit system and specifies recommended interim steps to improve transit on the way toward that long-term transit vision.
As a first step toward developing a high quality transit system for the corridor, WMATA and the Arlington County Department of Public Works have worked closely in developing a comprehensive Metrobus service restructuring plan to support near-term changes in the Columbia Pike community.
The Future of Transit On Columbia Pike – The Pike Transit Initiative
 The Pike Transit Initiative, sponsored by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), aims to develop a new high-capacity and environmentally friendly transit service along Columbia Pike from the Pentagon/Pentagon City area to Baileys Crossroads. In the spring of 2006, the Arlington County Board and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors formally adopted the Modified Streetcar Alternative as the preferred alternative. For more information, visit www.PikeTransit.com.
Columbia Pike Businesses, Residential Complexes and Hotels
If you are in charge of a business, residential complex (apartment and condo building managers and civic groups) or hotel, Arlington County has a service called Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) specifically designed to assist you and your employees, tenants and customers make the most of transportation options on Columbia Pike. Visit ATP’s web site and give them a call to set up meeting to find out how they can help you.
Pike Ride History
Read about the Pike Ride Inauguration Event (September 10, 2003) and view other historical documents pertaining to the Pike Ride service.
Pike Ride Fact Sheet September 5, 2003
WMATA Metrobus Services Changes, Virginia, Effective September 7, 2003 (Revised); Official WMATA 7-page document with a route by route description of ALL the changes occuring on the Columbia Pike #16 Line including some handy charts. (08/15/03)
August 14 Letter To Columbia Pike #16 Metrobus Riders and Highlights of the New Service (English and Spanish, PDF)
Pike Ride Fact Sheet (English and Spanish) July 31, 2003 (PDF)
Columbia Pike Transit presentation to civic associations (PDF, 744K) Acrobat Reader v5 or later required.
Metro press release re: Columbia Pike
Columbia Pike Transit Forum
Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization
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