The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) has announced that Washington DC Metrobus customers who travel at night will now have the option to get off between stops along the route, closer to their destination to provide a safer and better experience.
According to WMATA, customers using the Metrobus may request a courtesy stop between 9pm and 5am. If the operator determines it is safe to do so, the bus will pull over to the curb and allow the customer to exit. In some cases, it may not be safe to exit, such as along busy highways, at or approaching intersections, or locations without a curb or place of safety. When exiting, customers should use the front door of the vehicle.
“The safety of every customer is important to us and for those traveling alone at night, having the option of a courtesy stop will provide an additional sense of security,” said Metro General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Randy Clarke. “It’s a small but meaningful measure, along with the added value that comes with your peace of mind.”
WMATA says that the Metro program is modeled after best practices from transit agencies across the US that already allow courtesy stops, including those in Los Angeles, New York City, Philadelphia and Austin.
The courtesy stop program is one element of Metro’s Better Bus Initiative to improve the Metro with new facilities, zero-emission buses, more dedicated lanes, improved communications and additional customer improvements.