With $4 gas now the norm I’ve never been happier to commute by bus, metro or bike.
AAA Mid-Atlantic says that D.C. reached the $4 average in gas prices either late Thursday night or early Friday morning, with the D.C. becoming the fifth jurisdiction in the country to reach the unwanted distinction. The District joins California, Hawaii, Alaska, and Illinois as the other places in the nation with the ungodly high average. Believe it or not, the $4 average actually isn’t the highest D.C. has seen - on July 16, 2008, gas prices topped out at $4.19 per gallon in the District. (via Gas Prices Average $4 in D.C.: DCist)
Heading to the Nationals Game tonight, by bike, boat and bus!
I’m feeling very “multi-modal” and wanting to enjoy this day to the fullest, so not only are Liz and I catching a Nationals game at home tonight, but I’m planning on taking a Capital Bikeshare bike from work to the game, and then hopping on the new American River Taxi up to Georgetown Waterfront and the DC Circulator up Wisconsin Ave to get home.
Along with the walk in between stops, I’ll be taking just about everything except a plane, train, or (private) automobile!
(Photo via the202cool.blogspot.com),
The NextBus app now shows MetroBus and Circulator arrival times on the same screen! My day is officially made!
(Nope, it doesn’t take much…)
Greater Greater Washington asks:
This weekend Capital Bikeshare featured half price monthly and annual memberships on the social coupon site Living Social. By the end, more than 8,000 memberships were sold. But is this really good for CaBi?
There are a lot of interesting perspectives on this growing program, and whether the Living Social move was ultimately a good or bad deal.
Without knowing the exact terms that CaBi got from Living Social, I think it in the immediate term, the infusion of cash will help the service expand somewhat quicker, and that an expanded base of subscribers leads to more stakeholders who care about the service and want to see it improved. I also think that the secondary question of whether allowing existing subscribers to renew at the discounted rate “left money on the table,” is also overblown. In fact, I’m not sure that the numbers of new memberships sold would be anywhere near as high without including current members on the deal, due to the viral nature of LivingSocial.
In many cases, current CaBi members are the best ambassadors for the system. Renewing an annual membership for $37 gave each current subscriber an incentive to recruit three more new members (in order to get their own deal for free). This created an additional PR push from current members who were trying to subsidize their own purchase, to get more friends to join.
Ultimately, cashflow concerns will become an issue for Capital Bikeshare, but in the first year when most of the capital costs are covered by federal and local grants, expanding the base of stakeholders seems to be the right move strategically.
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Hey DC-area readers: tired of hearing me prattle on about the wonders of Capital Bikeshare (the best way to get around DC, especially on a nice day)? Here’s your chance to get in on the fun.
Through Living Social, CaBi is offering a deal of $37 for an annual membership (1/2 off the regular $75 price) or $12 for a one-month membership (1/2 off the $25 price). And once your a member, all rides under 30 minutes are free!
The system has over 100 stations in DC, Pentagon City, and Crystal City, and will be expanding this year to include 16 stations along the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor (first ones going in this month) and at least 20 new stations in the District.
The deal is only good for three days, though, so get it by Sunday! But don’t just take my word for it… ask Kevin Spacey.
Today was a gorgeous day for a Capital Bikeshare ride on the homebound commute. It doesn’t hurt that it takes almost exactly the same amount of time as my bus/metro regular commute.
The T’s pet policy does not expressly prohibit snakes, though it allows them and other non-service pets only at off-peak hours. Dogs are supposed to be well-behaved and properly leashed, while small domestic animals must be carried in lap-size containers and kept out of the way of exits, according to T policy.
Moorhouse said she usually totes Penelope in a plush pouch — “almost like a pillowcase that is tight on top” — but instead hugged the snake close to her skin that day to keep her warm in frigid weather. She did not immediately notice when Penelope slithered away.
“I specifically sat away from everybody else, and I concealed her, because I really didn’t want to make anybody unnecessarily uncomfortable,” she said. Subsequently, she has kept Penelope in the tote while riding the T.
"— Woman who lost a 3-foot boa on the Red Line objects to cleanup bill (via boston.com)
(via organizingthesoup)
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There’s a metaphor in here somewhere.
MBTA train drives over fire on tracks
- A Green Line train drove over a small fire on the tracks Wednesday night on Beacon Street, according to a witness who snapped photographs of the incident.
Among Moscow’s large population of homeless canines, a small minority who frequent or inhabit its metro have attracted international attention due to their having learned how to use the trains to commute to and from various locations.The dogs have learned to cross the street with pedestrians and have been observed obeying traffic lights.
Read more here.
(via iopenedpandorasbox:breakingintoheaven:lettingmyselfsink:mylesxvx:neverbea:that is insane
Researchers say D.C. is tied with Chicago for the worst traffic congestion in the country. Los Angeles is ranked third with 63 hours. Houston is No. 4 with 58 hours.
On the positive side, researchers say the increase in traffic is a sign of the improving economy. In 2008, the economic downturn and high gas prices caused a drop in congestion. They say the increase in traffic is correlated to people returning to the workforce.
Read more about the study by clicking here.
This makes me even happier to ride the bus/metro into work.
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