Sept. DC taxi question. Please help.

[Mnemosyne]

My friend and I will be in DC for the march. Due to minor disabilities, we need to take a cab to and from the march and the meet ups.

Can anyone tell me how to avoid changing zones to keep our costs down? I think we will be staying in zone 2D and the places we need to go are in zone 1.


We need to get from the downtown Super8 at 501 NY Ave. NE to the following places.

Friday night:
motel to 231 PA Ave. SE - Capitol Lounge

Sat. a.m:
motel to Washington Monument

Sat. night:
to 810 7th ST. NW - DA's Regional Food and Drink

Any and all info/advice will be deeply appreciated.


We could take a bus, but am afraid we are rural women with no clue on how to take buses. If anyone has advice on this possibility it will also be appreciated.

I need to run some errands, but will check back later.

Thanks to any and all!
V:hi: :hug:

[Democrat 4 Ever]

1. Be sure and check the Metro. Safe, clean, cheap and handicap

accessible. I lo-o-o-o-o-o-ve the Metor.

Very easy to get around and will save you tons of money. Just a thought.

[jackstraw45]

2. That was my first thought as well

www.wmata.com

However, it looks like their hotel is about .45 miles from the closest metro station.

[Mnemosyne]

5. Thanks for the link jack!

:hi:

[Mnemosyne]

4. Is the Metro a bus or a subway?

Thanks for taking time to reply!:hi:

Does it run at night? How late?

[jackstraw45]

7. Metro is both train and bus but trains are easiest...

Just use the links on that website above to make sure the stations you want to use have elevators (most do I think). Definitely the cheapest way to go.

As you probably see, you can type in two addresses on their front page and specify bus or train and the site tells you where to go.

Good luck!

[Mnemosyne]

9. Thanks so much jack,

I edited my reply too late.

Does the Metro run at night also? How late?

[jackstraw45]

11. When I lived there...

I think it ran to midnight weekdays and 2 am on weekends but I would double check as this was a few years back.

[Mnemosyne]

13. I checked, near midnite. n/t

[obxhead]

3. Go Metro

Much cheaper and easier to get around. Almost all stations have elevators and the Metro people will help a lot. The trains have seating to accomodate almost any needs you may have. Forget those smelly run down cabs.

[Mnemosyne]

6. Cabs are bad huh?

I've been seeing warnings about the drivers taking the long way and going to several zones to increase the fair, was worried due to low cash.
The Metro is sounding pretty good!
Thanks!:hi:

[obxhead]

8. Yeah the cabs suck. link to metro maps etc.

http://www.wmata.com/
enjoy the city. There is lots to see and do.

[anarch]

10. I agree with everybody that Metro is better...

but it doesn't quite go everywhere you need to go. The busses sort of do, but I tend to get extremely frustrated taking unfamiliar busses...and I live here.

Metro's OK if you don't mind hoofing it for part of the way...

Anyhow, in case you do need to take some cabs, here's something useful.

http://citizenatlas.dc.gov/atlasapps/taxifare.aspx

Going across two zones with two people, unless it's rush hour or if it miraculously snows a lot at the end of September :), should cost you $10.10 every time. You can always ask the cab driver to tell you the fare up front, and if you don't like it, don't get in the cab.

Just thought I'd add all this, since I wind up taking cabs frequently when drunk and/or lazy and not feeling like dealing with the bus or trains.

[grasswire]

12. I would not consider taking a bus after dark....

...nor would I consider walking in an unfamiliar area off the tourist path after dark. It could be very dangerous. Even knowing my way around the District fairly well, I would not do so. Even taking the Metro to certain parts of the area after dark could be trouble once you leave the station itself.

I would cab, for sure. But why don't you ask the cabbie the approximate cost to your destination BEFORE you get in the cab? Just say "How much to go to XXX?" Then he's less likely to be able to gouge you. Note: I've had D.C. cabbies make excuses as to why they don't want to take me, if the trip is short or they want to get a more lucrative fare. And once I was stuck in a risky part of town where I could NOT get a cab to stop, so think about where you can call for a cab when your event is over at night.

Use the front desk of your motel to get as much good info as you can. And try not to appear too much like "rural" women who could be conned. Confidence is your best asset. Know where you are going and be able to tell the driver with some authority.

Have a great time!