riding 101

3 ways to go

how to catch a ride

how to pay

AIM program for teens

transfers

SmarTrip cards

Metrorail stations in Arlington

using Metro's trip planner

how to read a timetable

places to go

iRIDE map (pdf)

how to get your parents to let you ride

more info

3 ways to go

when you're looking for a ride in Arlington County, there are 3 main ways to go. ART is Arlington's local bus service, connecting you to restaurants, shops, neighborhoods and Metro stations in the County. Metrobus and Metrorail are larger, regional services—they run throughout Arlington, plus go to Washington, D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia, too. find one of the signs to the right, and you've just found a stop.

how to catch a ride

	FIND YOUR BUS OR TRAIN start by checking out the iRIDE map. there's probably a bus or Metro line wihin a short walk of where you are and where you want to go
	CHECK THE TIME there are lots of places to find out what time you can catch a bus or train—most bus stops, any Commuter Store, CommuterPage.com's online bus schedules, or 703-228-RIDE. you can even download schedules for your web-enabled cell phone with CommuterPage.com's mobile services.
	LOOK FOR THE SIGN AT YOUR STOP all Metrorail stations are marked on the iRIDE map. ART and Metrobus stops are located every few blocks along each route.
	CLIMB ABOARD! when a bus or train arrives, check its line number and route name to make sure it's the one you want.

how to pay

ART & METROBUS
the regular fare for ART and Metrobus is $1.25, but students with IDs only have to pay 60¢ on ART. people with disabilities pay 60¢ with a WAMTA ID. to pay, insert your money (exact change only) into the farebox when you first board the bus.

special ART iRide tokens are available in bags of 20 tokens for $10. iRide tokens can only be used by students with valid middle or high school IDs. iRide tokens are available only at The Commuter Store.

ART and Metrobus fares are available at any Commuter Store location, or purchase online from CommuterDirect.com.

METRORAIL
Metro fares range from $1.35 to $3.90, depending on how far you ride. People with disabilities can get a 50% discount. to pay, first buy a farecard at one of the ticket/pass machines at each station’s entrance. then when you head to your train, use the farecard to pass through the platform gates. Metrorail and farecards and passes are also available at any Commuter Store location, or purchase online from CommuterDirect.com.

TRANSFERS
if you’re going to take more than one bus or train on your trip, get a transfer first. to transfer from a train to a bus, pick up a paper transfer when you first enter the Metro station. then when you connect to your bus, pay just 35¢ more (disabled passengers with ID connect for free). to transfer from one bus to another, ask your driver for a free transfer when you first board. then use the transfer to get unlimited Metrobus and ART connections for the next two hours.

SMARTRIP CARDS
SmarTrip cards are permanent, rechargeable farecards that make paying your Metrorail and Metrobus fares fast and easy. SmarTrip Cards are available at any Commuter Store location, or purchase online from CommuterDirect.com. for more info, click here.

AIM program for teens

Through June 30, 2008, the The Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources will continue to offer a discount to AIM members on Metrobus fares purchased from The Commuter Store. Please note:

• The AIM discount will only be extended to Arlington youth holding an AIM card. The Commuter Store will no longer allow parents, teachers or other adults to purchase tokens or farecards for young people.
• All AIM members will be asked to sign a pledge sheet, agreeing that tokens or farecards purchased with the AIM discount are for personal use only.
• AIM members will have a discount of 50% off regular price for tokens (good on Metrobus and ART) and Metrorail fares. Each month, young people will be allowed to purchase up to $25 worth of tokens or farecards for only $12.50.
• This program is intended for Metrobus. Any middle or high school student can ride ART at the Teen Fare of $0.60 or purchase ART Teen Tokens without having an AIM card.

For more information on AIM or other programs and services available to Arlington youth, please contact Edson Bravo at ebravo@arlingtonva.us or (703) 228-7783. TDD is available for the hearing impaired through Virginia Relay at 1-800-828-1120.

Metrorail stations in Arlington

there are 11 Metrorail stations in Arlington. six are on Metrorail's Orange Line, which runs east-west through Arlington. six are on the Blue Line, which runs northwest-southeast. The two lines connect at Rosslyn station, so it's on both the Orange and Blue lines. Check the Metrorail system map to see where the two lines go and how they connect with the rest of the Metrorail system.

Arlington stations on the Orange Line are, from west to east, East Falls Church, Ballston-MU, Virginia Square-GMU, Clarendon, Court House, and Rosslyn. stations on the Blue Line are, from northwest to southeast, Rosslyn, Arlington Cemetery, Pentagon, Pentagon City, Crystal City, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

ARLINGTON'S URBAN VILLAGES
Many of Arlington's Metrorail stations are in neighborhoods that have lots of residential and commercial development. called "Arlington's Urban Villages," these neighborhoods are places where people can live, work, and play... no car required. the urban villages that have Metrorail stops are Ballston, Virginia Square, Clarendon, Court House, Rosslyn, Pentagon City, and Crystal City.

using Metro's Trip Planner

Metro has a great online Trip Planner that tells you exactly how to get from point A to point B using public transportation. It not only figures out your route (or choice of routes), it also tells you what time all the buses are scheduled to be at your stop or transfer point. The Trip Planner takes advantage of local bus systems as well as Metrobus and Metrorail. You don't have to figure out all the bus systems and routes—the Trip Planner tells you exactly which bus to take. It's really impressive. try it!

how to read a timetable

so you know Metro's trip planner makes finding bus times ridculously easy. but where's the challenge in that? If you want to learn how to plan a trip without a website, here's your crash course.

	look at the top row of the timetable to find the stops closest to where you'll get on and off the bus (don't worry if you don't see your actual stop listed—there are lots more stops between these ones).
	move down the columns to see what times (am & pm) buses arrive at each stop. if your stop isn't listed, use the time shown for the stop before it, since it's better to get there too early than too late.
	follow the row with the times you want on it to the left to see which bus you should board.
for example, if you want to get to Washington Boulevard and Quincy Street by about 4:15 pm, and you're leaving from a stop that's in between Rosslyn and Court House, be at your stop by 4:01 pm. you'll catch bus 38B, which should get you there at 4:16 pm.