Metro is not "cheap" by public transportation standards, and certainly not if you don't use it right!

There's "cheap" and there's cheap. Metro is (arguably) the finest subway system in North America -- for good reason. It's in our national capital! It needs to have cathedral-esque stations and spotless everything. It's a Lexus in a Yugo world. But there are ways to drive a Lexus on a Yugo budget!

Metro charges time- and distance-sensitive fares. If you ride 40 miles, you're going to pay more than if you rode 4 miles. If you travel during peak (rush) hours, you'll pay more than at off-peak hours. If you transfer to a bus after riding the rails, grab a transfer from the machine on the way in (near the platform escalators).

Tourists don't pay the big bucks to ride -- the commuters do. Metro had NO idea the system would face this much demand, and they're trapped in their design choices dating back to the mid-1960s. Ooops! Victims of their own success! But, compared to the extraordinary (make that EXTRAORDINARY!!!!!!) costs of commuting by car in the DC region (second-worst congestion in the nation... is this a good time to give a lecture on the topic of irony?), Metro is a first-class bargain. Park in a Metro garage for 3 or 4 bucks a day? Sure beats 3 or 4 bucks an HOUR downtown! A few bucks to train into the city in about 25 minutes? Sure beats your car's idling along in a linear parking lot for an hour and a half. It's a no-brainer for those who can replace part of their driving with riding.

For tourists? Another no-brainer. Get a DAY PASS. It's cheaper than a fancy coffee drink and danish at Starbuck's, Caribou, or Buck's County. Unlimited riding after the morning rush ends. Longer-term passes are available, it may make sense depending on the length of your stay. Check out their website, wmata.com.

Gib