Photo Credit: Alex Mazzarisi
Washington D.C. is home to loads of different ways to get around the city but people interviewed in the Tenleytown neighborhood this month said they have hassles and how you get around is a matter of preference.
The capital’s Metro system that covers 118 miles is ongoing major renovation that has created inconveniences for commuters and made regular travelers face more traffic.
“I use Metro most of the time, it’s expensive, but it’s easier for me,” said Alistar Wallbaum, 51, as she pushed her two sons in a stroller. “It’s gets us to where we have to go.”
However, ongoing renovations to Metro have had a negative impact on Wallbaum’s daily commute.
“It’s made it slower and less reliable,” Wallbaum said.
Max Green, 34, has had to alter his commute because of the renovation.
“It makes things more difficult for me,” Green said. “I don’t have a car and so I rely on the Metro to go everywhere, but now I’m going to have to change my plan.”
According to wmata.com, there are 91 Metro stations on six train lines. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 400,000 people use the Metro daily in D.C. The D.C. metropolitan area ranks third in the nation in the percentage of commuters who take mass transit.
Not all commuters in the district rely on Metro, and others take the bus, bike, rely on taxis and Uber or walk. Metrobus service includes 11,269 bus stops, and 328 routes on 187 lines, according to wmata.com.
But others are paying more to avoid public transportation.
“Metro freaks me out,” said Sahar Eini, 23. “I don’t like it at all.”
“I could get stuck on the Metro,” continued Eini, who relies on friends and Uber. “I can’t deal with that.”
For others, transportation revolves around one’s lifestyle and practicality.
Jairo Valencia, 50, delivers pizzas for Papa Johns and relies on his car. He believes that cars are extremely practical for his lifestyle, but he’d rather be walking or biking.
“For work, I have to drive,” Valencia said. “But, I like my bike. D.C. is a small city. When I have the time, I walk. The Metro is okay, but I don’t use it.”
Transportation options abound around the 64.34 square mile city and vary in convenience and cost.
“If you don’t like one form of transport, pick another,” said Dehrah Maceto, 25. “The good thing about D.C. is that everyone has a choice here. None of them are flawless, but you can make it work and get where you need to be.”