Metrobus riders will be required to board from rear doors, making rides essentially free

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Now Metrobus can be more like Metrorail. A lot of riders don't bother paying for that either. I got to watch two of our nation's youth walk right through the fare gates Friday afternoon. Not for the first time. One did come back. Apparently he was there to see his friend off.

Gridlock

Metrobus riders will be required to board from rear doors, making rides essentially free

The agency is looking to stabilize service schedules after a week of sudden changes.

By Justin George
March 22, 2020 at 5:24 p.m. EDT

To help stop the spread of the novel coronavirus, Metrobus riders will be required to board using the rear doors and will not have to tap their fare cards, according to a letter sent to employees Sunday.

The change, which begins Tuesday, means rides essentially are free.

“As an additional step to protect the Metro family and the communities we serve, effective Tuesday morning, we will move to rear-door-only boarding on Metrobus,” Metro General Manager Paul J. Wiedefeld said in the letter.

“At that time, passengers will no longer be required to tap their fare cards, and no cash will be accepted on board. Essentially, bus travel will be free during this time,” Wiedefeld said.

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Justin George
Justin George is a reporter covering national transit and Metro, the D.C.-area public transportation system, for The Washington Post. He previously covered criminal justice for the Marshall Project and the Baltimore Sun. Follow https://twitter.com/justingeorge