Wednesday, September 16, 2009

WP: Metro Seeks Input on X1, X2, X3 Lines

Metro is seeking input on these popular local bus routes. The X1 and X2 run down H Street. The X3 goes down Florida. Share your thoughts at public meetings September 22nd and 24th.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Any way to make them less crazy/violent would be welcome.

oboe said...

Couple of these guys on each bus would be a start.

rambo said...

those guys would turn the guns on themselves before having to put up with the freaks and the crazies on the x line.

Tom A. said...

Actually, X3 goes up Florida (during peak times only.)

X8 is the one on Maryland to Union Station.

Tom A. said...

The Post article links to the summer ridership survey and information about the public hearings.

A fascinating read!

But, if they put as much effort into improving bus service in general and getting the light rail service started, it would eliminate all of these surveys and public meetings! They've spent a lot of time and money learning that the X line buses are too crowded and take too long to get downtown. Haven't people been telling them that for years?!

inked said...

Good catch Tom.

Derek said...

I have been riding the X2 a lot lately(mostly because I helped designed and installed a connecting trail and park at 42nd St. NE) and I have recently noticed that there are a series of 'H' flower boxes along H Street. I think these are great and add a nice touch.

Also, I have not noticed any crazy/violent people on the bus, but then again I try not to be narrow minded and am rarely intimated when I am outside of my 'element'.

Not Derek, Thankfully said...

Derek,

You sound like really cool. But I ride the X2 all the time, and I am always out of my element on there. But as a late 20's male I am really not afraid of anyone on that bus line...but you cannot deny that there are some CRAZY people on that bus. There are also smelly people, drunk people, racist people, aggressive people, sleeping people, too young people, too old people; but most assuredly crazy people. Kudos to you for not being "narrow-minded"...and not judgmental of others on the bus, just on the blog.

Karin R. said...

I ride the X1 to my office at the State Department and it is fine and nearly all riders are nice and courteous. Only problem is that sometimes it is and sometimes does not show up at all. It goes over H Street bridge then over to Constitution and down to 21st St. I think it could be a really great commuter bus if they would devote the same driver and bus to it every day. It only runs during rush hour so it always seems to be a different driver and bus.

Rob said...

Yeah, the X1 is less heavily used because it takes a different route. Combined with the D3, another rush hour bus, it gives us Trinidad people a choice of reasonable ways to get downtown to work.
You catch an X1 after an X2 just came through or a D3 after D4/D8, and you've got your own personal limo service to work.
The X2 is horrifying.

Dude said...

So, if we want to participate, we're going to have to do an hour and ten minute "group exercise"?!

Anonymous said...

yeah dude, you have sing kum-by-yah before you tell them that the bus does come often enough, nor on time. How else, is WMATA goining to justify the consulting fee?

Stephanie said...

I take the X2 everyday from 11th and H NE all the way down until 16th and H Sts. NW. The X2's are always overcrowded and tend to break down a lot. I also notice that a lot of the homeless people in the area tend to ride this bus until they get kicked off which makes the smell of a very tightly packed bus awful! I have also seen craps games being played where the double buses meet in the middle. With the kids being back in school and many of them being as rude as possible on the bus, there needs to be some sort of patrol on the X2line. There have been times where I just don't feel comfortable on the bus. The X2 line needs a complete overhaul!

oboe said...

Stepanie,

Why can't you be cool, like Derek? He's totally open-minded, and has never had a problem.

/snark

Joe said...

If we're actually talking about the bus line, and not the people on it, the biggest problem with the X2 is too many stops! Why does there need to be a metro bus stop on every single block of H? I understand that there are people who have mobility issues, but I swear the bus would go at least twice as fast if it didn't have to stop on every block (and thus stop at every red light).

anon said...

>>Why does there need to be a metro bus stop on every single block of H?

Completely. I'd say the same thing about every other bus line. Buses in general stop too much, and take too long. Need express lines.

I thought that's what the Circulator would be, but it's just a paint job. It still takes forever to get anywhere. I'd put up with some crazy people for a quicker ride.