The main reason for the free fare is that with so many tourists the gates can actually become blocked and dangerous as they may not know how to use them. It can be challenging after a busy Nats game for example - but since is 95%+ locals they get through.
that's what I meant by "tape". Cherry blossom week is usually the busiest one week on metro because of the normal commuters and all the blossom people.
Was a pleasure meeting you and Andy on the ride back from DC. Would have loved to chat longer but Court House was my stop. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you again soon! -guy wearing the cherry blossom wizards hat
thanks for saying hi, I was debating whether to include that encounter, but I didn't want to invade ur privacy, hope to see you some other time! Once you left Andy's GF told us that she heard your companion asking you "are you sure its them" pretty funny stuff!
I remember the Red Line pre-pandemic and getting on just as packed trains at Cleveland Park in 2019. It’s weird that it takes an event like Independence Day to get the trains this full when it used to be a daily occurance, but I’m glad to see the system operating better than ever! I like that they made Metro fare-free. I agree, there’s no way they could handle the crowds through the barriers. Plus, imagine the lines of people at fare machines at all the core downtown stations?
@@sammymarrco47 Not necessarily the platforms (but if there was an issue at Rush Hour they certainly could), but the trains themselves. It was pretty normal to barely be able to stand on the Red Line many mornings and evenings.
I used to commute on metro every day circa 2008-2009 and the trains were so full on the orange line that when the doors opened at foggy bottom going home, there would be no room and people would do a running jump from the platform on to the car to compress people into the car and sort of be smooshed up against the doors the whole ride. This was every day. It was pretty terrible.
I don't know if it's going to get more popular, they were running trains every 10 mins on BOS, the maximum is around every 8 mins so it's do-able but idk if they have the personnel or the number of rail cars to do that!
ya know maybe id have a different opinion if I was a regular metro commuter or older, but I wouldn't mind it doing it again, as long as it was with friends!
Stars and Stripes Forever is a classic to me. It was apart of the band set of when I did American Music Abroad in 2016 (we had an original song called We Are As One that involved Choir, which I was apart of, and orchestra). Good memories from that
Last year I walked to the Arlington Cemetery station from the Memorial and it was the same crush crowd but thankfully a special 8 car train was sent so it was empty when it arrived at the station but didn’t stay empty for long.
Was down at the mall on the 4th had to take Smithsonian home then waterfront train was packed and national guard was at the station so it was a mess but had a good time hope to catch you on train one day brother
Nice video, but definitely do not envy you dealing with the crowds and muggy heat! Still, looked like a fun time, everything is better with friends! 😊🎉 Personally, opted for the indoor option, watching the fireworks over the National Mall... on PBS! 😁
Looks like I got lucky when boarding at L’Enfant Plaza, I managed to have only a two minute wait to get into the station and not much longer to get on a Yellow line train. That train was still the busiest I’ve ever been on, with it only being 6 cars also. It was an awesome night for sure
Went to the National's 11 am game using Red and Green lines. Crowded but NO holiday fare, there were no signs about this meaning myself and many others were delayed using EXIT FARE machines. The vending machines are especially vague as to when the lower weekend fares apply. Paid $6.75 vs the $2.50 that seemed to be the fare on the vending machines. But typical from my experience as an out of town visitor using METRO. Confusing vending machines esp on a holiday. METRO goes out of it way to use multiple fares and complicate the sales process.
$2.25 - $2.50 is weekend and weekday (after 9.30pm) weekday holidays are usually the full fare. On the 4th they specifically waved fares after 5 for the massive crowds as shown in the video. The fare machines are old, but they're reliable (more than the app) all this is on their site. www.wmata.com/fares/basic.cfm
Please please please do some homework before making these videos. It really degrades the quality of your work when basic facts that are easily researchable are overlooked. 1. Medical Center station is very much in Bethesda (which technically has no fixed borders), I think you meant to say it is just north of Downtown Bethesda. 2. If this is the most crowded you've seen a Metro platform, you haven't seen anything... 3. The primary reason Metro is free on July 4th is to keep crowds moving. The other reasons you cite are non factors, especially your economic boost downtown theory given that the free rides do not start until 5 PM. Until the mid 1990s or so, they opened the fare gates and had buckets for people to put their fares into on the honor system. Most didn't pay, so they opted to collect fares instead, despite the lines that resulted in some cases. 4. Wiehle is pronounced "whee-lee".
when I think of Bethesda I think of the downtown area with the "official" metro station. Unfortunately I used the system very little before covid and live near Manassas so I don't use it super often. I know the main reason was for crowd movement, I just wanted to brainstorm some secondary reasons. Yeah i know but my brain always goes to why-lee idk why. I made this video very quickly after the 4th so I may have forgotten some research, I will endeavor to do better research next time.
Some metro stations and trains used to be that busy at peak times in the years before the pandemic. I never thought I'd see it that busy again.
I had not used metro much pre covid, that's insane
The main reason for the free fare is that with so many tourists the gates can actually become blocked and dangerous as they may not know how to use them. It can be challenging after a busy Nats game for example - but since is 95%+ locals they get through.
indeed!
They had moveable barriers and crowd control at Smithsonian for the cherry blossoms as well! Crowds weren’t nearly as bad as on the 4th, though!
that's what I meant by "tape". Cherry blossom week is usually the busiest one week on metro because of the normal commuters and all the blossom people.
Was a pleasure meeting you and Andy on the ride back from DC. Would have loved to chat longer but Court House was my stop. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you again soon! -guy wearing the cherry blossom wizards hat
thanks for saying hi, I was debating whether to include that encounter, but I didn't want to invade ur privacy, hope to see you some other time! Once you left Andy's GF told us that she heard your companion asking you "are you sure its them" pretty funny stuff!
I remember the Red Line pre-pandemic and getting on just as packed trains at Cleveland Park in 2019. It’s weird that it takes an event like Independence Day to get the trains this full when it used to be a daily occurance, but I’m glad to see the system operating better than ever!
I like that they made Metro fare-free. I agree, there’s no way they could handle the crowds through the barriers. Plus, imagine the lines of people at fare machines at all the core downtown stations?
did platforms really get that busy every day? I didn't use or follow metro much till after covid.
@@sammymarrco47 Not necessarily the platforms (but if there was an issue at Rush Hour they certainly could), but the trains themselves. It was pretty normal to barely be able to stand on the Red Line many mornings and evenings.
I used to commute on metro every day circa 2008-2009 and the trains were so full on the orange line that when the doors opened at foggy bottom going home, there would be no room and people would do a running jump from the platform on to the car to compress people into the car and sort of be smooshed up against the doors the whole ride.
This was every day.
It was pretty terrible.
yeah that's when metro was busiest, they need to run more trains lol
Awesome video! I love seeing Metro at its full capacity to show everyone how great of a system it is! Hopefully I get to go next year :)
It was def at full compacity, I hope so too!
God bless America!
Great video! I’ve liked your transition to overdubbing!
Thanks! Overdubbing is just better, some will still be on site but dubbing is better for alot.
It’s awesome seeing the crowds took advantage of this! But they do need to address congestion as it’s going to get more popular each year.
I don't know if it's going to get more popular, they were running trains every 10 mins on BOS, the maximum is around every 8 mins so it's do-able but idk if they have the personnel or the number of rail cars to do that!
Metro taught me that Independence Day in DC is a nice thing to celebrate once and never again because oh my god its so crowded lol
ya know maybe id have a different opinion if I was a regular metro commuter or older, but I wouldn't mind it doing it again, as long as it was with friends!
Stars and Stripes Forever is a classic to me. It was apart of the band set of when I did American Music Abroad in 2016 (we had an original song called We Are As One that involved Choir, which I was apart of, and orchestra). Good memories from that
its still a classic, but the nat anthem is even more classic 😉
Last year I walked to the Arlington Cemetery station from the Memorial and it was the same crush crowd but thankfully a special 8 car train was sent so it was empty when it arrived at the station but didn’t stay empty for long.
they did the same thing this year, bringing empty trains to the stations that would be busy.
great video as always
I appreciate the kind words!
Was down at the mall on the 4th had to take Smithsonian home then waterfront train was packed and national guard was at the station so it was a mess but had a good time hope to catch you on train one day brother
feel free to say hi, I think the best course of action for you, if it was possible, would’ve been to walk to l’enfant Plaza. or maybe CaBi home.
@@sammymarrco47 yea your right a 15 min walk to buzzard point wouldn’t have been bad
Congrats on metro 😊
Nice video, but definitely do not envy you dealing with the crowds and muggy heat! Still, looked like a fun time, everything is better with friends! 😊🎉
Personally, opted for the indoor option, watching the fireworks over the National Mall... on PBS! 😁
that works too!
Great Video!
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!
Looks like I got lucky when boarding at L’Enfant Plaza, I managed to have only a two minute wait to get into the station and not much longer to get on a Yellow line train. That train was still the busiest I’ve ever been on, with it only being 6 cars also. It was an awesome night for sure
yellow is the least used line but im sure it was busy!
Yep I was squished in there for a while, although unlike the Silver line the train did empty out a little by the time we got to DCA
Nyc prolly got nothing on this lmao
NYC is one of a kind, but their stations are smaller, so crowds look bigger, also the NYC area has more than 4x the population of the DMV.
Brit national anthem 😅 \m/
It is, we just borrowed it to make the rhythm for My Country 'Tis of Thee. Not the first time we've done that, of course lol
or my country tis of thee
Went to the National's 11 am game using Red and Green lines. Crowded but NO holiday fare, there were no signs about this meaning myself and many others were delayed using EXIT FARE machines. The vending machines are especially vague as to when the lower weekend fares apply. Paid $6.75 vs the $2.50 that seemed to be the fare on the vending machines. But typical from my experience as an out of town visitor using METRO. Confusing vending machines esp on a holiday. METRO goes out of it way to use multiple fares and complicate the sales process.
$2.25 - $2.50 is weekend and weekday (after 9.30pm) weekday holidays are usually the full fare.
On the 4th they specifically waved fares after 5 for the massive crowds as shown in the video.
The fare machines are old, but they're reliable (more than the app) all this is on their site.
www.wmata.com/fares/basic.cfm
Go Hokies!
next fall 🤞🤞
Reason 6 should be "To discourage fare evasion," which is stealing a ride.
Please please please do some homework before making these videos. It really degrades the quality of your work when basic facts that are easily researchable are overlooked.
1. Medical Center station is very much in Bethesda (which technically has no fixed borders), I think you meant to say it is just north of Downtown Bethesda.
2. If this is the most crowded you've seen a Metro platform, you haven't seen anything...
3. The primary reason Metro is free on July 4th is to keep crowds moving. The other reasons you cite are non factors, especially your economic boost downtown theory given that the free rides do not start until 5 PM. Until the mid 1990s or so, they opened the fare gates and had buckets for people to put their fares into on the honor system. Most didn't pay, so they opted to collect fares instead, despite the lines that resulted in some cases.
4. Wiehle is pronounced "whee-lee".
when I think of Bethesda I think of the downtown area with the "official" metro station.
Unfortunately I used the system very little before covid and live near Manassas so I don't use it super often.
I know the main reason was for crowd movement, I just wanted to brainstorm some secondary reasons.
Yeah i know but my brain always goes to why-lee idk why.
I made this video very quickly after the 4th so I may have forgotten some research, I will endeavor to do better research next time.