With as many as 325 routes, Metrobus is the sixth largest bus system in the country. It provides connections to rail stations and many important work centers in the District, Maryland and Virginia. It also connects to other small bus systems such as Ride On in Montgomery County, Fairfax Connector in Fairfax County and the D.C. Circulator. Here are the basics for riding it:

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Paying the fare

It costs $1.75 to ride and you can use cash or a SmarTrip card to pay. Make sure your card is loaded with enough money for the ride. You can add value on the bus but it can be challenging and often slows down passenger boarding. If you choose this option, be prepared for annoyed riders lining up behind you. A better option is to load your SmarTrip card at a Metro station or online at wmata.com. If you pay cash, you must have exact change.

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You pay the fare by tapping the SmarTrip on the farebox. If you hear beep, the fare was paid and you can move on. If you hear a buzz when you tap, it means the fare is not paid. You can try tapping again. It’s possible you need to add value to the card. A ringtone at the farebox means your SmarTrip balance is running low and you should add value before your next ride.

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Some express buses have higher fares of $4 per trip using a SmarTrip® card or cash ($2 using a SmarTrip® card or cash for seniors and people with disabilities). The fare on the lines to Dulles International Airport (5A) and Baltimore Washington International Airport (B30) is $7.

Oh, and when the farebox breaks, you ride for free.

Bus transfers

One benefit of paying with SmarTrip, and of riding the bus, is that you can transfer to another bus for free within a two-hour period. This includes transfers to D.C. Circulator buses.

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Metrobus riders who transfer to the Metro system receive a discount of 50 cents if they use a SmarTrip card.

Riding with children

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Metro’s policy allows up to two children, ages four or younger, to ride free with an adult. Children five and older pay regular fares.

Metrobus hours and frequency

Schedules vary per line, but rush hour service tends to be more frequent than mid-day and night service. Some of Metro’s busiest bus lines run every six to 10 minutes, and run almost 24 hours a day. Corridors such as 16th Street, Georgia Avenue, Wisconsin Avenue, 14th Street, and Benning Road, are among the busiest.

You will need to wait longer at the bus stop on weekends. Find out hours to specific routes here.

The bus stop

Expect a bus shelter and a bench. Some stops now have digital signs that show bus arrival predictions. There are still plenty of stops that have only the Metro flag showing the bus route number.

You should be able to find maps and timetables at the bus stop, and a phone number to call for information.

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As a rule, wait for the bus on the sidewalk away from the curb and wait for the bus to stop before you approach. Don’t run after a moving bus once it has left its stop. The bus driver will not stop; it’s safer to wait for the next one. Also, don’t cross the street in front of a bus unless it is stopped at a traffic light. Don’t assume the bus driver sees you.

Your bike rides for free

You can bring your bike aboard. But bicycles have to be loaded on racks attached to the front of each bus. The instructions on how to load the bikes are on the racks. You can find more instructions here. This video might also be useful. You must load it yourself; the driver will not do it for you.

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Tracking the bus

Metro’s prediction system for bus arrival isn’t perfect but it is helpful if you ride often and don’t want to wait long at the bus stop. BusETA helps you track down where buses are in real-time by bus line or intersection. You can see the time and distance for the next bus arrival, and how many stops away your bus is.

There are Smartphone apps such as DC Metro and Bus and BusTrackDC you can try to track down the bus. Whether using BusETA or an app, be prepared to deal with inaccuracies. For example, sometimes when the GPS tracker isn’t working on a bus, you will get an arrival prediction that is based on the scheduled timetable. This will likely disappoint you because that bus is probably stuck in traffic somewhere.

Rider etiquette:

Bus riders, just like Metro riders must follow some rules. Here are few tips that are useful no matter which bus system you ride: