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 July
2005Small Town Girls Make Good As is frequently the case during the summer months, the girls and I played host to visiting out of town guests. This particular group was some college friends from the Midwest who were making their first trip to D.C. Taking first-timers on the Metro is always an adventure (read, headache), we of course had to give them an orientation before they arrived, so that we wouldn’t have to deal with all our favorite tourist pet peeves— standing on the wrong side of the escalator, getting off at the wrong stop, eating on the trains, etc. So, Stacey put together a cheat-sheet for them so they wouldn’t stick out like sore thumbs (or—shudder—tourists) while they were in town. But can you turn small-town girls into big-city successes? After careful consideration we decided to order daily Metrorail passes online for our friends’ visit. Five friends times four days equals twenty one-day passes. Part of helping our tourist friends blend in was keeping them from actually having to navigate the Passes/Farecards machine. It was bad enough that we’d have to visit all the tourist attractions in the height of the summer, but trying to teach five Midwest girls how to buy Metrorail passes was more than any of us could stand in the summer heat. I reminded the girls about CommuterDirect.com’s bulk ordering system, where we could get as many passes as we needed for our friends visit. First thing Monday morning, I placed the order, and two days later we received our passes, in plenty of time for our friends’ Friday arrival. Step one was taken care of, but how could we get our friends easily acclimated to the system before they were using it? We met for lunch in Clarendon on Thursday to plan the visit and get things organized. Erika, our resident realist, reminded us how hard it can be when one first starts riding the train. I had been riding Metrorail for as long as I could remember, but I tried to imagine what it was like for the other girls. Stacey had used the New York Subway for years, having grown up in New Jersey, so she adapted easily, but Erika and Alison both had to learn the ropes and admitted that they had definitely gotten tangled in them the first few times. I wondered, how do you go from amateur to professional in a matter of days, or were we expecting too much? The Midwest girls arrived Friday morning raring to go. Stacey and I met them at National Airport so we could take them into the city to their hotel and then be on our way for a day of tourist fun. She had e-mailed them their list of rules for riding the day before, so they had studied up on the plane and were ready to roll. It wasn’t too bad getting them aboard, aside from our one friend whose bag got stuck during the “doors closing” of the train. She only had to hear one “Please stand clear of the doors” before yanking her bag in and filing orderly to her seat. We chattered away quietly on the train which, luckily, wasn’t as full as we had anticipated. After the hotel, we were off to the Mall for a day of sightseeing. I was truly surprised at the savvy of the “girls from the middle” on the train. There was only one major freak-out when Erika had to remind them to stand on the right of the escalator so that others could pass. By the end of the day, they were almost as “professional” as we were, commenting on “tourists” who stood on the left, talked too loudly on the train, or stood in front of the doors while the train was boarding. I was so proud –a new generation of transit disciples had been created! Perhaps being a big-city success was just a matter of paying attention, being patient, and, like the Boy Scout motto says, always being prepared. The Six Commandments of Transit
2. Stand to the right, walk on the left – nothing frustrates seasoned veterans more than newbies who stand on the left side of the escalator, especially during busy rush hour. Don’t forget to move once the escalator stops moving. There are maps and station masters to help you figure out where to go next! 3. Shh, keep it down – just because you find your conversation, music, or telephone call interesting doesn’t mean that everyone on the train or bus does. Remember that public transit is just that and you don’t want to share your most intimate details with the general public. 4. Please stand clear of the doors – when you get on the train, make sure you move to the center aisle or to the seats, even if you are getting off at the next stop. Standing blocking the doors is a sure way to get dirty looks and maybe even a nasty remark or two from frazzled city travelers. 5. No food or drink – with all the great restaurants in Washington, why not wait until you’re at one before nibbling or guzzling your favorite snack? Besides, it’s a punishable offense, and you could end up in jail! 6. Doors closing – make sure you allow people off the train before attempting to board. There is a method to the madness of rush hour travel, and if followed properly, all can be right with the world. And one last word of wisdom—as a general rule for transit, use common sense. Remember that paying attention and being aware of the people around you makes a nice place for everyone. Common courtesy is a simple rule of thumb for getting around without heartache. |
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