Per Montgomery County: Montgomery County Ride On bus riders and Metrobus riders on most Montgomery County routes will be able to request to be dropped off between stops when traveling late at night starting Sunday, July 2. The Montgomery County Department of Transportation’s (MCDOT) Ride On buses and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) Metrobuses will begin offering the “Courtesy Stop” program to allow bus riders more options to get to their destination safely and easily when traveling after dark.
Available after 9 p.m., the Courtesy Stop program will let riders request to be dropped off at any point along the regular bus route, in addition to designated bus stops.
“The Courtesy Stop program complements our ongoing efforts under Vision Zero to prioritize pedestrian safety, including adding sidewalks and additional lighting to high-traffic areas,” said Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. “We know safety is a particular concern for riders traveling late at night. With the Courtesy Stop program, riders will have more control over their surroundings when exiting a bus after 9 p.m. and be closer to their final destination.”
Riders can request a Courtesy Stop on any MCDOT Ride On bus or WMATA Metrobus. However, Metrobus Express and Limited Stop buses, such as Flash, operating in Montgomery County, are excluded from the program.
“We don’t anticipate that the Courtesy Stops will have any significant impact on the overall travel times for buses, and it will offer riders an extra level of security at night,” said MCDOT Director Chris Conklin. “With WMATA buses also participating, riders can take advantage of these nighttime options when traveling by bus anywhere in the County.”
Requesting a Courtesy Stop
- When you board the bus, inform the bus operator where you want to get off.
- A block from your stop, remind the bus operator where you want to get off.
- The bus operator will drop you off at the safest location near your requested stop.
- Use the front door when exiting the bus.
The requested stop must be along the regular bus route, and cannot be at an intersection, along a highway or freeway. A bus operator can refuse a requested stop if the driver deems the undesignated stop as unsafe.
More details about the Ride On program can be found on the MCDOT Ride On Courtesy Stop webpage.