RIDE ON:
085732 54 (Lakeforest)
085733 54 (Rockville)
085734 34 (Friendship Heights)
085735 34 (Wheaton)
085745 20 (Silver Spring)
095747 20 (Hillandale)
FAIRFAX CONNECTOR:
9631 402 (Franconia- Springfield)
9634 401 (Tysons West*Park)
9635 950 (Reston Town Ctr via Herndon-Monroe)
7820 505 (West Falls Church)
PRTC OMNIRIDE:
308 (Manassas)
330 (West Falls Church Metro)
370 (West Falls Church Metro)
147 (Gainesville/ Linton Hall Road)
METROBUS:
6107 NH1
6580 36
6110 NH1
6349 36
4259 R2 (Ft Totten)
4366 28A (King Street Station)
4367 F4 (Silver Spring Station)
2010 F4 (New Carrollton Station)
2074 2B (Ballston Station)
2075 K6 (Ft Totten)
2085 L2 (Chevy Chase Circle)
2093 K6 (White Oak)
2095 Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
2115 10A (Hunting Towers)
2133 10B (Hunting Towers)
2149 70 (Archives)
2153 70 (Silver Spring Station)
2174 R3 (Ft Totten)
2176 R2 (Ft Totten)
6014 F4 (Silver Spring Station)
6015 Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
6019 C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6041 F8 (Cheverly Station)
6133 34
6200 C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6201 C2 (Greenbelt Center)
6345 S2 (Federal Triangle)
6346 E4 (Riggs Park)
6364 E4 (Friendship Heights Station)
6365 C2 (Wheaton Station)
6394 Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6395 1B (Ballston Station)
6439 S9
6454 J4 (College Park Station)
6460 J4 (Bethesda Station)
6509 70 (Silver Spring Station)
6510 F4 (New Carrollton Station)
6566 C4 (PG Plaza Station)
6567 1A (Ballston Station)
2439 R2 (Ft Totten)
2383 R2 (Calverton)
2454 80 (Kennedy Center)
2178 80 (Ft Totten)
4301 on the S9 with the Fliptop wrap, broken down at 16th & Park Road.
RIDE ON:
095331 10 (Twinbrook)
015613 10 (Hillandale)
METROBUS:
6139 NH1
6580 36
6110 NH1
6349 36
4020 Q6 (Shady Grove Station)
4100 Q6 (Wheaton Station)
5210 X2 (Lafayette Square)
4256 F4 (New Carrollton) with an L (Landover) block
4257 34
4310 Q4 (Rockville Station)
4319 K6 (White Oak)
4349 Q4 (Silver Spring Station)
4352 K6 (White Oak)
4357 K6 (Ft Totten)
4366 28A (Tysons Corner)
4367 F4 (Silver Spring Station)
4383 F4 (Silver Spring Station)
4384 F8 (Langley Park)
2010 F8 (Cheverly Station)
2112 28A (King Street Station)
6112 34
6200 C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6201 C4 (PG Plaza Station)
6214 B30
6364 64 (Ft Totten)
6365 K6 (Ft Totten)
6383 Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
6390 C8 (White Flint Station)
6394 Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6395 1A (Ballston Station)
6439 S9
6461 J4 (College Park Station)
6462 S2 (Federal Triangle)
6475 S4 (Federal Triangle)
6479 S4 (Silver Spring Station)
6485 S2 (Silver Spring Station)
6492 52 (L'Enfant Plaza Station)
6494 52 (Takoma Station)
6509 70 (Silver Spring Station)
6510 T18 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
6534 T18 (New Carrollton Station)
6535 C8 (College Park Station)
6564 K6 (Ft Totten)
3020 R4 (Highview)
3021 9A (Pentagon)
3022 9A (Huntington Station North)
2613 38B (Ballston Station)
2675 REX (Fort Belvoir)
2679 REX (Fort Belvoir)
2685 REX (King Street Station)
2504 REX (King Street Station)
2439 X2 (Minnesota Avenue Station)
2822 R2 (Calverton)
2823 80 (Kennedy Center)
2824 80 (Ft Totten)
2414 R2 (Calverton)
Ride On: bus number (05)5834 running the Route 74 service at Great Seneca Highway and Kentlands Boulevard, Gaithersburg. It is very unusual to observe a 40 foot coach on this route. I had the privilege of pacing it down Great Seneca Highway at speeds up to 55mph - definitely keeping up with traffic.
Quote from: WMAveteran on November 03, 2010, 12:10:00 AM
Ride On: bus number (05)5834 running the Route 74 service at Great Seneca Highway and Kentlands Boulevard, Gaithersburg. It is very unusual to observe a 40 foot coach on this route. I had the privilege of pacing it down Great Seneca Highway at speeds up to 55mph - definitely keeping up with traffic.
I love the 74. That's one of my favorite north county routes.
Around 9:30 this morning i saw 3032 in upper marblo by the courthouse.
Quote from: WMAveteran on November 03, 2010, 12:10:00 AM
Ride On: bus number (05)5834 running the Route 74 service at Great Seneca Highway and Kentlands Boulevard, Gaithersburg. It is very unusual to observe a 40 foot coach on this route. I had the privilege of pacing it down Great Seneca Highway at speeds up to 55mph - definitely keeping up with traffic.
there's actually plenty of 40-ft buses on that route. I don't know if they still do this, but some of the 74 trips are interlined with the 55, which is why you may see some New Flyers and other 40-ft buses. Yeah, the 74 is fun especially on that portion of Great Seneca Hwy between Quince Orchard Rd and Mateny Road, that 1-2 mile stretch of nothingness makes a great opportunity to see a bus going full speed.
Wow, was the 74 always a Gaithersburg route? I'm trying to figure out how I missed it all these years. If it ran cutaways, it's purely understandable! :) I see that it's a weekday only route as well :(.
Quote from: Tritransit Area on November 03, 2010, 03:06:07 PM
Wow, was the 74 always a Gaithersburg route? I'm trying to figure out how I missed it all these years. If it ran cutaways, it's purely understandable! :) I see that it's a weekday only route as well :(.
It has been Gaithersburg for as long as I can remember, but it was rush hour only until it got midday service in the first phase of Go Montgomery. It is a fun route to ride with the long stretches of no stops between Germantown and Kentlands.
Speaking of the 74, I saw 5808 and 5809 on there today. Is it me, or does it seem like Ride-On's running more 40-footers on that route?
Apart from that, here are two more sightings I'd like to report:
This morning, I was riding 5921 on the 100 to Shady Grove, and as we passed over Diamond Avenue, I saw a THE-BUS Gillig Low Floor pass us on the left. The bus was 63199; I wonder what it was doing in Gaithersburg?
Later, I boarded 5595 on the 49 at Rockville; the interior looks like a mess. One of the pull cords was loose, one of the windows in the back kept falling open, and it was missing not only an announcer system, but its original "Stop Requested" indicator as well. On top of that, the engine sounded a bit off. Normally, these buses have a Voith transmission, but this one sounded like a mix between that and an Allison. Maybe it's because I could hear it kick into 4th gear from time to time, I don't know.
If you saw that THE BUS 63199 passing you, most likely it was being delivered. I didn't think their next batch would be coming now. One question, did it look like a 35 footer or a 40 footer.?
Quote from: RideOn5905 on November 03, 2010, 04:09:24 PM
Speaking of the 74, I saw 5808 and 5809 on there today. Is it me, or does it seem like Ride-On's running more 40-footers on that route?
Apart from that, here are two more sightings I'd like to report:
This morning, I was riding 5921 on the 100 to Shady Grove, and as we passed over Diamond Avenue, I saw a THE-BUS Gillig Low Floor pass us on the left. The bus was 63199; I wonder what it was doing in Gaithersburg?
Later, I boarded 5595 on the 49 at Rockville; the interior looks like a mess. One of the pull cords was loose, one of the windows in the back kept falling open, and it was missing not only an announcer system, but its original "Stop Requested" indicator as well. On top of that, the engine sounded a bit off. Normally, these buses have a Voith transmission, but this one sounded like a mix between that and an Allison. Maybe it's because I could hear it kick into 4th gear from time to time, I don't know.
Wait a minute. Now I just realized. I think the 74 interlines with the 61 at GTC (and less likely the 55 and 100).
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 03, 2010, 08:53:16 PM
Quote from: RideOn5905 on November 03, 2010, 04:09:24 PM
Speaking of the 74, I saw 5808 and 5809 on there today. Is it me, or does it seem like Ride-On's running more 40-footers on that route?
Apart from that, here are two more sightings I'd like to report:
This morning, I was riding 5921 on the 100 to Shady Grove, and as we passed over Diamond Avenue, I saw a THE-BUS Gillig Low Floor pass us on the left. The bus was 63199; I wonder what it was doing in Gaithersburg?
Later, I boarded 5595 on the 49 at Rockville; the interior looks like a mess. One of the pull cords was loose, one of the windows in the back kept falling open, and it was missing not only an announcer system, but its original "Stop Requested" indicator as well. On top of that, the engine sounded a bit off. Normally, these buses have a Voith transmission, but this one sounded like a mix between that and an Allison. Maybe it's because I could hear it kick into 4th gear from time to time, I don't know.
Wait a minute. Now I just realized. I think the 74 interlines with the 61 at GTC (and less likely the 55 and 100).
Like I said earlier, some 74 runs do interline with the 55. This also may be the reason why you may see some 35-footers on the 55. And yeah I forgot that it also interlines with the 61, it has been doing that for a while now. As for the 100, I never seen it happen, but I can't say that it's not possible.
Quote from: WES on November 03, 2010, 08:51:45 PM
If you saw that THE BUS 63199 passing you, most likely it was being delivered. I didn't think their next batch would be coming now. One question, did it look like a 35 footer or a 40 footer.?
I guess these new units coming in are going to the new route #35 to National Harbor that is suppose to start in a few weeks.
I forgot to mention on Tuesday that I saw Ride On 5313 driving around Landover (not the garage). Also to note the facility next door to Landover Division had 2 WMATA Flx's and a Howard Transit Blue Bird.
There's actually a third Flx farther in the back. Brother needs some book sales big time, I will buy all three of them.......just need a place to store them. I wonder if 5313 was coming from the contractor near there or THE BUS is actually testing a hybrid. I did see one of the latest batch of hybrids sitting in the contractor lot, didn't see 6608 in there, they might be fixing whatever needed to be fixed.
RIDE ON:
015112 29 (Friendship Heights)
025131 29 (Bethesda)
025178 30 (Medical Center)
075210 30 (Bethesda)
045919 54 (Lakeforest)
045932 54 (Rockville)
095332 34 (Friendship Heights)
095338 34 (Wheaton)
095342 10 (Twinbrook)
025600 10 (Hillandale)
FAIRFAX CONNECTOR:
7910 RIBS 1
7912 RIBS 2
7919 RIBS 3
9788 RIBS 4
METRORAIL:
3154-3155 & 3286-3287 are all wrapped in the Target ad.
METROBUS:
6580 36
6161 NH1
6110 NH1
6349 36
4020 J2 (Montgomery Mall)
5210 X2 (Lafayette Square)
4259 R3, bus broke down @ Ft Totten Wednesday
4260 54 (L'Enfant Plaza Station)
4266 52 (L'Enfant Plaza Station)
4271 52 & is no longer wrapped in the Capital One Bank ad
4297 70 (Silver Spring Station)
4304 92 (Duke Ellington Bridge)
4308 Z6 (Burtonsville)
4311 C4 (PG Plaza Station)
4319 K6 (Ft Totten)
4337 C4 (Twinbrook Station)
4349 J2 (Silver Spring Station)
4352 K6 (White Oak)
4356 Q4 (Rockville Station)
4357 Q4 (Silver Spring Station)
4366 28A (Tysons Corner)
4367 F4 (Silver Spring Station)
4369 F6 (Silver Spring Station)
3919 60 (Georgia Ave Petworth)
2010 F4 (New Carrollton Station)
2037 32 (Southern Avenue Station)
2057 32 (Friendship Heights Station)
2058 1A (Ballston Station)
2074 2B (Ballston Station)
2075 Y8 (Montgomery Gen Hospital)
2169 86 with destination signs stuck on "NOT IN SERVICE"
2174 R4 (Highview)
2177 83 & is no longer wrapped in the Capital One Bank ad
2178 R3 (Ft Totten)
2199 R2 (Ft Totten)
2207 E4 (Riggs Park)
2208 E4 (Friendship Heights Station)
2214 31 (Friendship Heights Station)
6016 C2 (Wheaton Station)
6019 C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6026 L4 (Dupont Circle) & then on the C4 (PG Plaza Station)
6029 C8 (White Flint Station)
6038 C4 (PG Plaza Station)
6042 F6 (Silver Spring Station)
6323 F6 (New Carrollton Station)
6343 52 (Takoma Station)
6350 64 (Federal Triangle)
6363 64 (Ft Totten)
6364 60 (Ft Totten)
6365 K6 (Ft Totten)
6383 Y7 (Norbeck Park & Ride)
6394 Z8 (Briggs Chaney Park & Ride)
6395 1B (Dunn Loring Station)
6403 1B (Ballston Station)
6409 1A (Ballston Station)
6410 F4 (New Carrollton Station)
6417 F6 (New Carrollton Station)
6428 K2 (Takoma Station)
6436 K2 (Ft Totten)
6455 J4 (College Park Station)
6461 J4 (Bethesda Station)
6462 S2 (Federal Triangle)
6479 92 (Congress Heights Station)
6509 70 (Silver Spring Station)
6510 F4 (New Carrollton Station)
6529 F8 (Langley Park)
6534 F8 (Cheverly Station)
6535 C8 (White Flint Station)
6565 Z8 (Silver Spring Station)
6566 Q4 (Silver Spring Station)
6567 1A (Ballston Station)
5439 Y7 (Silver Spring Station)
5446 Q4 (Rockville Station)
5447 70 (Archives)
2533 38B (Ballston Station)
2613 38B (Farragut Square)
3017 D8 (Washington Hospital Center)
2818 D8 (Union Sta)
2323 R2 (Ft Totten)
2416 X2 (Minnesota Avenue Station)
2417 R4 (Highview)
2403 R2 (Calverton)
2823 R2 (Ft Totten)
2424 R2, freshly rehabbed & repainted in silver/red
2304 R2 (Calverton)
Interesting sighting the other day...2204 on the 32 going to Friendship Heights during PM rush. Note that 2204 is now a Bladensburg bus, the block was BP-- (I think it was P), and the sign said it was going all the way to Friendship Heights (this was at I and 15th NW). Since when did Bladensburg 30s go all the way up to FH in the afternoon? or was this a special case or something?
RIDE ON:
095348 10 (Twinbrook)
025600 10 (Hillandale)
METROBUS:
6580 36
6161 NH1
6600 36
6349 31 (Friendship Heights Station)
4020 C8 (College Park Station)
5219 X2 (Lafayette Square)
5220 X2 (Minnesota Avenue Station)
4205 R2 (Ft Totten) Dude this shouldn't be in bold, this bus has been at Bladnesburg for a while now.
4219 1C (Fair Oaks Mall)
4220 1C (Dunn Loring Station)
4294 52 (Takoma Station)
4314 J2 (Montgomery Mall)
4318 N2 (Friendship Heights Station)
4324 J2 (Silver Spring Station)
4333 L2 (Chevy Chase Circle)
4349 C8 (White Flint Station)
4354 Q4 (Rockville Station)
4357 Q4 (Silver Spring Station)
4366 28A (King Street Station)
4367 F4 (Silver Spring Station)
4371 F4 (New Carrollton Station)
4394 F6 (Silver Spring Station)
2010 F6 (New Carrollton Station)
2021 F8 (Langley Park)
2078 C8 (College Park Station)
2162 70 (Archives)
2168 R3 (Ft Totten)
2175 80 (Kennedy Center)
2208 32 (Southern Avenue Station)
2219 32 (Friendship Heights Station)
2220 42 (Metro Center)
6004 F8 (Cheverly Station)
6019 C4 (PG Plaza Station)
6042 F8 (Cheverly Station)
6175 NH1
6308 F8 (Langley Park)
6323 F8 (Cheverly Station)
6364 31 (Foggy Bottom Station)
6365 C4 (Twinbrook Station)
6423 T18 (Rhode Island Avenue Station)
6424 S9
6439 K2 (Takoma Station)
6485 52 (L'Enfant Plaza Station)
6578 60 (Ft Totten)
6583 60 (Georgia Ave Petworth)
2675 REX (Fort Belvoir)
2540 REX (King Street Station)
2641 16J (Culmore)
2577 16J (Pentagon)
2615 38B (Ballston Station)
2610 38B (Farragut Square)
2412 R2 (Ft Totten)
2310 80 (Ft Totten)
2439 86 (Calverton)
2423 R2 (Calverton) & then the D8 (Washington Hospital Center)
It looks like the wheelcovers are coming off of the NABI BRTs also. Saw an unidentified NABI heading towards Minnesota Avenu without them. Oh and 5240 was also on the X2.
Friday October Fifth, 3027-7X smart thinking metro...
I'm not sure... I think it was the last or second to last 7X.
Everybody I have great news... 2665 has finaly been seen on a actual "Express" route...
Route Destination Bus# Block#
29G Annandale 2665 FG46
4254 spotted on the P6 yesterday
I know all the Flx's have been put to "Ready reserve status" BUT I saw a 93XX on 7th St @ E St NW going Southbound at 730am this morning!! A good sign that a few stragglers make it out every now and then ;D
I think 6608 is already at Western. As for the Flxs, I am so willing to buy one of them, I even have some space to park it, but I don't think I would be able to afford it.
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2010, 07:54:03 AM
I know all the Flx's have been put to "Ready reserve status" BUT I saw a 93XX on 7th St @ E St NW going Southbound at 730am this morning!! A good sign that a few stragglers make it out every now and then ;D
Very nice. I honestly think the 9300s are the best Flxes in the fleet.
Quote from: NewFlyer9736BCT on November 10, 2010, 11:01:34 AM
I think 6608 is already at Western. As for the Flxs, I am so willing to buy one of them, I even have some space to park it, but I don't think I would be able to afford it.
You'd be surprised. More times often than not, surplus buses go for next to nothing, even the best running ones. I bought a Flx 7 years ago, it's wonderful to know I have preserved one with my name on it. And yes, fuel and repairs can be pricey. Upkeep aside, it's easy to buy one. Go to Adrian Sclawy at WMATA and ask him about buying one. At last count, he was in charge of that division. If you'd like to do a group effort with contributions from all of us, that would be the way to go. We here at DCATZ have pondered the thought of having a group Flx for some time.....
Quote from: Flxible on November 10, 2010, 12:10:30 PM
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2010, 07:54:03 AM
I know all the Flx's have been put to "Ready reserve status" BUT I saw a 93XX on 7th St @ E St NW going Southbound at 730am this morning!! A good sign that a few stragglers make it out every now and then ;D
Very nice. I honestly think the 9300s are the best Flxes in the fleet.
Can you say that a bit louder? I felt this way for quite a while, but alas, nobody ever agreed with me, lol!
Quote from: rideonrulez on November 10, 2010, 07:54:03 AM
I know all the Flx's have been put to "Ready reserve status" BUT I saw a 93XX on 7th St @ E St NW going Southbound at 730am this morning!! A good sign that a few stragglers make it out every now and then ;D
Sorry to learn they are now put to storage, but man oh man, I'm surprised they are still retaining Metro Bs! I surely thought that all the of Flxes that would be stored would be of the E variety.
Guess all the Ds are gone, eh? Sigh...it all happens so quickly!
I'm thinking about a field trip to NIMCO -- it's amazing how fast hundreds of vehicles have completely disappeared. Somehow I can't imagine admit to myself that they're really completely gone.
A NIMCO trip would be so sad and morbid. It is amazing how fast the buses can be replaced, eh? Gosh, I still, in the back of my mind, kind of think of the Metro Es as the "new buses", at least the "New Flxes". Most of them spent most of their lives in Virginia, didn't they?
Time flies indeed!
what exactly is NIMCO?
Quote from: Tritransit Area on November 12, 2010, 12:37:36 PM
Most of them spent most of their lives in Virginia, didn't they?
Time flies indeed!
There was a time about 3 years ago when half of the Metro-Es were at Arlington. Other than that, they pretty much were in all divisions for much of their lives.
Quote from: NewFlyer9736BCT on November 12, 2010, 10:01:11 PM
what exactly is NIMCO?
http://www.nimcobus.com/about_us/ (http://www.nimcobus.com/about_us/)
Quote from: WayneNYC on November 12, 2010, 10:46:01 PM
Quote from: Tritransit Area on November 12, 2010, 12:37:36 PM
Most of them spent most of their lives in Virginia, didn't they?
Time flies indeed!
There was a time about 3 years ago when half of the Metro-Es were at Arlington. Other than that, they pretty much were in all divisions for much of their lives.
Quote from: NewFlyer9736BCT on November 12, 2010, 10:01:11 PM
what exactly is NIMCO?
http://www.nimcobus.com/about_us/ (http://www.nimcobus.com/about_us/)
yeah, Arlington had 4051-4104 a couple years back, it wasn't long before 4051 moved to Annex and 4095-4104 moved to Montgomery, then the rest slowly moved away. Plus before FMR was taken over by Orion VIIs, they had plenty of 9700s and 9800s, as well as some 8800s and 9200s, and probably more. And when Royal had a LOT of the 9300s, and some 9400s as well. Arlington also had some 9300s, and that was the point in time when Arlington had NOTHING but Flxibles, and when the first 4200s started moving in, it was pretty hard to find a 4200. Now they're all over the current West Ox routes.
I finally saw one of the new MTA MCIs in service. 176C was at Shady Grove on the 991 last night.
Also, I've noticed that those MTA D4500s are looking rather shabby and in need of some TLC.
NIMCO is a scrap dealer in Newark. They bid on all of the MTAs retired buses.
Chuck
I wonder how much they bid on them, and is the bidding process even fair anymore? Seems like at least one private owner candidate would step up to the plate and outbid NIMCO.
5376 could possibly be a Nicholson bus now; I saw it this morning at GTC. I was sitting on the 55 at the time, and I didn't notice it until it had already passed us; chances are it was NIS.
And the other day, my dad and I went to pick somebody up at National Airport, and I saw 5197 on the 83.
@Flxible,
Depends on your definition of fair. Is fair for one company to low-ball but then buy up whole lots of surplus without extreme regard for condition, or to wait for MAYBE a one or a bunch of individuals bidding separately and randomly showing up on their own schedules for inspected, top shelf, pristine equipment?
For us (the fan community), the latter is best, but for the TAs who want money now and don't have a sales team...?
Just saw 5209, one of the last 6 IKARUS on the X2 at 7th & H St this morning going Eastbound.
Ride On bus # (99)5725 on November 24, 2010 at approximately 4:45 PM operating Route 70 express service from Germantown (Milestone) to Bethesda. I had the opportunity to pace this bus for several miles on southbound I-270 at speeds up to 65 mph. I didn't think the old girl had it in her (lol)! Besides the operator there was exactly one (1) passenger enjoying this rapid commute.
Saw 5437 on the k6...and does ro 5613 have an allison? sounds different
Quote from: Tritransit Area on November 26, 2010, 02:59:00 PM
Saw 5437 on the k6...and does ro 5613 have an allison? sounds different
Could be... earlier this month, I noted that 5595 also sounded a bit weird (on top of that, her interior looked like crap).
Quote from: WMAveteran on November 25, 2010, 11:55:42 PM
Ride On bus # (99)5725 on November 24, 2010 at approximately 4:45 PM operating Route 70 express service from Germantown (Milestone) to Bethesda. I had the opportunity to pace this bus for several miles on southbound I-270 at speeds up to 65 mph. I didn't think the old girl had it in her (lol)! Besides the operator there was exactly one (1) passenger enjoying this rapid commute.
Nice. I rode 5733 on the 74 this morning. Pretty good ride up Great Seneca. Totally forgot about the modified holiday schedule (Ride On definitely needs to probably do something to the print schedules or something. Not everyone has internet access to the pdfs). Had 5812 on the 100 today and I was the only person from GTC to SG.
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 26, 2010, 06:22:56 PM
Quote from: WMAveteran on November 25, 2010, 11:55:42 PM
Ride On bus # (99)5725 on November 24, 2010 at approximately 4:45 PM operating Route 70 express service from Germantown (Milestone) to Bethesda. I had the opportunity to pace this bus for several miles on southbound I-270 at speeds up to 65 mph. I didn't think the old girl had it in her (lol)! Besides the operator there was exactly one (1) passenger enjoying this rapid commute.
Nice. I rode 5733 on the 74 this morning. Pretty good ride up Great Seneca. Totally forgot about the modified holiday schedule (Ride On definitely needs to probably do something to the print schedules or something. Not everyone has internet access to the pdfs). Had 5812 on the 100 today and I was the only person from GTC to SG.
Thanks for the comment. I agree with you about the schedules for not only the 74 but also the 67 and 76. Unfortunately none of these routes have service on weekends either but none of the bus stops have a notation that the service on these routes is Mon-Fri only. A number of times I have driven by people waiting for the buses on weekends and I stopped and told them there was no service. I have communicated with Ride On about posting some notice about the limited service (the 67 is also rush-hour only) on the stops and I was ignored. Don't even start me on how this lack of weekend service denies westside Gaithersburg riders access to the closest Metro station (SG) and The Kentlands without having to go to Rockville or Lakeforest and transfer.
I swung past Annex and saw 6447 & 2209 there both had W blocks on them, they were there for repairs.
Quote from: WMAveteran on November 26, 2010, 06:49:19 PM
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 26, 2010, 06:22:56 PM
Quote from: WMAveteran on November 25, 2010, 11:55:42 PM
Ride On bus # (99)5725 on November 24, 2010 at approximately 4:45 PM operating Route 70 express service from Germantown (Milestone) to Bethesda. I had the opportunity to pace this bus for several miles on southbound I-270 at speeds up to 65 mph. I didn't think the old girl had it in her (lol)! Besides the operator there was exactly one (1) passenger enjoying this rapid commute.
Nice. I rode 5733 on the 74 this morning. Pretty good ride up Great Seneca. Totally forgot about the modified holiday schedule (Ride On definitely needs to probably do something to the print schedules or something. Not everyone has internet access to the pdfs). Had 5812 on the 100 today and I was the only person from GTC to SG.
Thanks for the comment. I agree with you about the schedules for not only the 74 but also the 67 and 76. Unfortunately none of these routes have service on weekends either but none of the bus stops have a notation that the service on these routes is Mon-Fri only. A number of times I have driven by people waiting for the buses on weekends and I stopped and told them there was no service. I have communicated with Ride On about posting some notice about the limited service (the 67 is also rush-hour only) on the stops and I was ignored. Don't even start me on how this lack of weekend service denies westside Gaithersburg riders access to the closest Metro station (SG) and The Kentlands without having to go to Rockville or Lakeforest and transfer.
I see nothing on the Ride On website about the day after Thanksgiving being a reduced schedule.
I personally thought the Saturday supplemental schedules in their last incarnation (with the trip times for non-Saturday routes pretty much matching up to the regular trip times on the trips that did operate) was the best way of doing it, short of weekday service (though I'm not sure weekday service was warranted on Presidents Day or MLK Day). My issue with the current system is that routes are running infrequently (40+ minute waits) on a schedule that bears little to no resemblance to the regular one and that currently isn't in any hardcopy form. (DISCLAIMER: I write this from 6000 miles away, so maybe there is more publicity, but this doesn't seem like the best method to me.)
Oh I forgot to mention there is an Orion VII at Bladensburg in the Local Colors I have no idea what # or if its a 30 0r 40ft, I spotted it last Monday, sitting in the back of the division next to an Orion V.
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on November 28, 2010, 10:52:56 AM
I see nothing on the Ride On website about the day after Thanksgiving being a reduced schedule.
I personally thought the Saturday supplemental schedules in their last incarnation (with the trip times for non-Saturday routes pretty much matching up to the regular trip times on the trips that did operate) was the best way of doing it, short of weekday service (though I'm not sure weekday service was warranted on Presidents Day or MLK Day). My issue with the current system is that routes are running infrequently (40+ minute waits) on a schedule that bears little to no resemblance to the regular one and that currently isn't in any hardcopy form. (DISCLAIMER: I write this from 6000 miles away, so maybe there is more publicity, but this doesn't seem like the best method to me.)
I found that they have "Modified Holiday Schedule" brochures on their buses for Veteran's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr Day, and President's Day. They just give basic overviews of how the service would work for each route (headways, etc), but you can only get the specific times and such on their website, which is understandable considering that the schedule would only be for 3 days and they have a limited budget).
Quote from: Southern Avenue Annex on November 28, 2010, 03:01:44 PM
Oh I forgot to mention there is an Orion VII at Bladensburg in the Local Colors I have no idea what # or if its a 30 0r 40ft, I spotted it last Monday, sitting in the back of the division next to an Orion V.
If it's a 40 footer, I'm gonna take a shot in the dark and say it's 2630, since that bus' GPS shows that it hasn't moved to FMR along with the rest of the 2600s. If you go by Bladensburg again anytime soon, make sure to have a camera ready to take a shot in case you see it again.
Quote from: Tritransit Area on November 28, 2010, 06:02:40 PM
Quote from: WMATAGMOAGH on November 28, 2010, 10:52:56 AM
I see nothing on the Ride On website about the day after Thanksgiving being a reduced schedule.
I personally thought the Saturday supplemental schedules in their last incarnation (with the trip times for non-Saturday routes pretty much matching up to the regular trip times on the trips that did operate) was the best way of doing it, short of weekday service (though I'm not sure weekday service was warranted on Presidents Day or MLK Day). My issue with the current system is that routes are running infrequently (40+ minute waits) on a schedule that bears little to no resemblance to the regular one and that currently isn't in any hardcopy form. (DISCLAIMER: I write this from 6000 miles away, so maybe there is more publicity, but this doesn't seem like the best method to me.)
I found that they have "Modified Holiday Schedule" brochures on their buses for Veteran's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr Day, and President's Day. They just give basic overviews of how the service would work for each route (headways, etc), but you can only get the specific times and such on their website, which is understandable considering that the schedule would only be for 3 days and they have a limited budget).
I'm willing to bet Columbus Day will be included next year.
They used to include the departure times for additional trips (since it was Saturday Supplemental) on the timetables and also issued a brochure before the holidays in question listing the changes for all routes, which was also posted on the Internet.
I figure they might include Columbus Day, day after Thanksgiving, and the weekdays after Christmas to New Years as a cost cutting measure to provide service levels in conjunction to ridership.
Quote from: 79MetroExtraMD on November 29, 2010, 08:18:50 AM
I figure they might include Columbus Day, day after Thanksgiving, and the weekdays after Christmas to New Years as a cost cutting measure to provide service levels in conjunction to ridership.
I don't see those happening this year. And there is a cost to not running weekday service, too, that has to be factored in.
Personally, I'd find 45 minute waits during the week between Christmas and New Years to be unacceptable and more likely to drive me to my car (especially since by the same logic used to say that ridership is going to be lower on the buses, there will also be less traffic on the roads). Ridership might be lower, but those longer headways can make getting around difficult. The buses don't even run that infrequently on the weekend.
Well there is a change in plan. The weekdays between Christmas and New Years will be regular weekday with a few "trippers" that won't operate. Also as of now, MLK and Presidents Day will be going back to a "Saturday Supplemental" schedule. Since this changed happened so fast, I would'nt be a bit surprised if it changed again...
I saw the plain-Jane all white C40LFR again near Rosslyn. Would love to get a pic, but I always see it when I'm getting on the highway in Rosslyn.
Heh, oh wow! Any idea of who is running that C40LFR?
Quote from: Tritransit Area on December 01, 2010, 12:58:22 PM
Heh, oh wow! Any idea of who is running that C40LFR?
Its owned by the Federal Government, Its an ex demo for MARTA. Sorry for the late response.