(Smar)Tripping Up

When SmarTrip came out and then began expanding, I didn't pay much attention to it. I kept not paying much attention it even when I moved out of metro-less Georgetown. And I still don't have one! Which has been due to a) laziness b) using bus/metro to get rid of my coins and c) my desire and decision, as of spring, to find a new city. But now unless I move before January, WMATA, I think you have got me! They are eliminating paper transfers, which would pretty much make taking the bus twice as expensive since I use them round trip. According to the press release, "Only passengers who pay with SmarTrip will continue to be able to transfer from one bus to another for free and transfer from Metrorail to bus for the discounted 35¢ fare."

It also sort of makes me feel like a jerk because of this bit:

Eliminating paper transfers will save Metro about $350,000 a year for the cost of paper and printing, plus expenses associated with the repair and maintenance of the old transfer machines in stations. It also is expected to minimize fraud and abuse of paper transfers by individuals who sell or give away their transfers to other riders, and reduce assaults on bus operators by riders who have disputes with operators about transfers.

To my credit, I've reused a lot of these slips in crafts (woven lightswitch covers--maybe I should tell DCist?), but having a SmarTrip card is really just logical at this point.

Scandalous fruit

Oregonians don't know how funny their fruit is:

Bikes appear at Dupont Circle!

For the past month or so, I've noticed what looked like a fancy bike rack next to the old Riggs bank at Dupont Circle. But there were never any bikes. Then today, for the first time, at about 8:45, there were four, each emblazoned with SmartBike DC. Not that I'm all that into biking (fear + discomfort), but somehow I hadn't heard anything about it.

They look like the old school bikes I sometimes see French people riding to work and less bulky than the Vélib bikes in Paris (at left). Judging from their online map of pickup and drop off spots, of which only 1/3 of which had bikes available as of posting, they are going to need to see expansion like the French version.

Two other things: first, it's sort of weird that they are operated by Clear Channel. Then again, what don't they own? Second, and most importantly, does this mean DOT is going to do something to make me feel safer as a cyclist???

Blaming it on the rain

Last night, I went to my first Nats game at their new stadium. It didn't start or end well.

I unthinkingly got on the D6 to Stadium-Armory, realized that said stadium didn't apply to where I was actually going, and got on the metro. Got off at Waterfront, like Tyler advised, but should have gotten off at Navy Yard; while walking, it started to pour. Then it rained some more.

Then, at the top of the fourth, they delayed the game. I ate peanuts, joked around, talked on the phone. Two hours later (about 10 p.m.), they resumed play. Some live-action bobblehead presidents ran a race; I was told it's rigged so that TR never wins (Wikipedia confirms it). "Jefferson" won. Maybe ten minutes later, the rain started again! Given that we had already patiently waited a few hours, we weren't going to stick around any longer. Don't think we get a rain check because they eventually finished the game. Apparently at some point they made an announcement that they were going to reimburse people $1.35 for the metro. (Can you hear my scoffing?)

From what I saw of it from under my umbrella, the stadium seems alright. Like most new(ish) baseball stadiums I've seen (Camden Yards + Citizens Bank Park) , it feels very open. Unrelated, but my hot dog made my stomach hurt. Finally, one of the weird things is that the women's restroom had no mirrors, just reflective plastic frames with Geico ads. I didn't really need one, despite feeling kind of disheveled from the rain, but that seemed weird to me.

Conclusion: I'll go back in July when the Phillies play.

Fix up, look sharp

RE: "As has been said many times before on the forum, if you want to attract a hipster you can’t act as though you’re too excited about your 'life situation.'”

Hey doods, you can also try dousing yourself in the suds of some handmade Pabst soap.

Avoid Champlain St. NW at night

This depressing City Paper cover story just came out about a guy Aaron had mentioned to me at least a few days ago. Christopher Savage had just gotten to D.C. and started working at the Black Cat, and he was mugged and beaten a few blocks from my house and near the City Paper office. After having been in town less than a week, he died (toxicology reports "are pending"). For how much shit some people give the paper, the story itself is heartfelt (Jason's good at that) and says it all pretty well.

I realize there's plenty of crime in D.C., and Savage's death certainly isn't the only one worth talking about. I mention it here because it hits literally close to home.

I rarely feel unsafe, but Champlain near Kalorama has always made me uncomfortable. Last year I learned it's in a police "hot zone." Champlain dead ends near Marie Reed, which I don't think helps things. (Less traffic flow? It doesn't seem to matter that the MPDC third district station is on V between 16th and 17th.) The fact that Savage was ganged up on by a bunch of kids there isn't so surprising to me, unfortunately, just based on stories I've heard from other people. My boss when I worked at CP had been beaten up by a group of teens, too, nearby.