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) A Gillig compressed natural gas bus at Shady Grove station in the most recent paint scheme. | |
| Parent | Montgomery County |
|---|---|
| Founded | March 31, 1975 |
| Headquarters | 101 Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Rockville, Maryland, U.S. |
| Service type | Local, express, and limited stop bus service, paratransit, demand responsive transport, bus rapid transit |
| Routes | 81 |
| Fleet | 350 |
| Daily ridership | 73,300 (Q1 2017)[1] |
| Annual ridership | 23,438,000 (2017)[2] |
| Fuel type | CNG, diesel, diesel-electric hybrid, battery electric |
| Website | www |
Ride On is the primary public transportation system in Montgomery County, Maryland. Ride On serves Montgomery County as well as the community of Langley Park in Prince George's County and Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C. In fiscal 2018, it operated on a US$112.3 million budget.[2]
Ride On operates 81 routes, including operating two Metrobus routes on weekends.[3]
History
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1970s–1990s
Ride On began service on March 31, 1975. Starting in 1983, single front door TMC City Cruisers entered service. These buses were part of a joint order with Frederick City Transit, and shared the same paint livery. In 1988, OBI Orion I 30' foot buses were introduced. In 1989, 57 30-foot Gillig Phantom buses, the first buses in the second-generation blue-and-white scheme, went into service. These buses retired in 2014 due to the arrival of the Gillig Advantage CNG
In the spring of 1996, Ride On's first CNG buses, the 1996 35-foot Orion V buses, went into service. These buses have since retired.
2000s
In September 2001, Ride On buses were used to transport Montgomery County firemen to the Pentagon in Virginia to assist in search and rescue operations after the September 11 attacks.[4]
In early 2004, Ride On's first low-floor buses, the 2003–04 35-foot Orion VII CNG buses (5900–5932), went into service. They replaced all of the remaining 1989 30-foot Gillig Phantom buses (which were also Ride On's last buses without wheelchair lifts), therefore resulting in an all-accessible fleet.
In 2006, Ride On started accepting SmarTrip cards. All of the buses would be equipped with SmarTrip-compatible fare boxes by August of that year.
Also in 2006, Ride On's first five hybrid-electric buses, the 2006 40-foot Gillig Low Floor aka Gillig Advantage buses (5300-5304), went into service. The following year (2007), eight additional 40-foot Gillig Low Floor hybrid-electric buses (5305-5313) went into service.
Between summer and fall 2008, Ride On's first low-floor diesel buses, the 2008 29-foot Gillig Advantage (5001-5006) and 2008 40-foot Gillig Advantage buses (5726–5746), went into service. They are the last buses in the second-generation blue-and-white paint scheme.
In 2009, Ride On introduced a new logo and blue-yellow-green paint scheme with the delivery of new Gillig Advantage clean diesel and hybrid buses.
2010s
In autumn 2011, Ride On's 12 40-foot Gillig Low Floor hybrid buses (5349–5360) and one clean diesel bus (5758) went into service. All 13 of these buses were purchased with funds from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act. Seven additional 40' Gillig Low Floor hybrid buses (5361–5367), which were also purchased with stimulus funds from the ARRA, went into service in mid-2012.
In July 2012, Ride On retired all 62 of its 2007 Champion cutaway buses due to fires and replaced them with 30 1998 30-foot Orion V buses. All 30 of these units were formerly operated by Washington's WMATA.
On September 19, 2013, 12 new 40-foot Gillig Low Floor clean diesel buses (5759–5770) went into service. A week later (September 26, 2013), 28 new 29-foot Gillig Low Floor clean diesel buses (5032–5059) also went into service. Also, the 2013 29-foot Gillig Low Floor clean diesel buses replaced all of the 2003 model shuttle transit vehicles (STV) that were formerly operated by Pittsburgh's Port Authority of Allegheny County.
In April 2014, 19 brand-new 2014 40-foot Gillig Low Floor CNG buses (5837–5855) entered service. They are Ride On's first new CNG buses in almost a decade (2005 35' Orion VII CNG buses, which went into service in 2006).
Between September and October 2014, 32 new 29-foot Gillig Low Floor clean diesel buses (5060–5091) went into service and replaced all of the 1998 30-foot Orion V buses that were formerly operated by WMATA.
Ride On celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015, with 3 buses (1 from each of the 3 bus divisions) wrapped in the transit agency's 40th anniversary ad.
Between April and May 2016, 40 new 40' Gillig LF clean diesel buses (4000-4039), 1 29' Gillig LF clean diesel bus (2000) and 16 40' Gillig LF CNG buses (4040-4055) entered service. And with the new buses came the new five-digit numbering system for Ride On, along with the addition of suffixes denoting engines with a ("C" for compressed natural gas, "D" for diesel, "E" for electric and "H" for hybrid).
Ride On extRa, a new limited-stop bus service along Maryland Route 355, began on October 2, 2017 between Lakeforest Transit Center and Medical Center Metro Station. As of September 17, 2018, the route serves 13 stops. Ride On added 59 Gillig 40-foot buses in summer and the fall 2017; 42 buses replaced some of the oldest vehicles in the fleet. Seventeen buses (4056D-4072D) are specially branded and used exclusively for Ride On's new extRa service that began October 2, 2017. This limited-stop service runs along Route 355 from Lakeforest Transit Center to Medical Center Metro Station. All of the 59 buses are manufactured by Gillig; 25 run on clean diesel (4056D-4080D) and 34 use compressed natural gas (4081C-4114C).[5] Four additional 40-foot CNG buses (4115C-4118C) entered service in the winter of 2018.
Ride On was award a $1.75 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to purchase the county's first four electric buses and charging stations. Ride On is partnering with Proterra, the bus manufacturer, and the Center for Transportation and the Environment, a nonprofit that develops technologies and implements solutions to achieve energy and environmental sustainability. The Montgomery County Department of General Services, which purchases and maintains the Ride On buses, greatly assisted with the grant application. The four Proterra Catalyst 35 ft electric buses are scheduled to serve Route 18 in Takoma Park starting in 2019. The county has applied for a separate grant to help buy 10 more electric buses through FTA's Bus and Bus Facilities Infrastructure Investment Program. The county expects to hear back around the end of the year if its application was approved.[6][7]
MCDOT Ride On received a $4.365 million grant from the FTA to replace diesel buses with 10 new, electric buses on October 1, 2018.[8]
Ride On added 26 Gillig 40-foot buses in spring 2019; replacing all the remaining Orion VII's. These buses introduced a brand new paint scheme with a wave pattern and are painted blue, dark blue, light green, and a touch of white.[9] 23 use compressed natural gas (4119C-4141C) and 3 run on clean diesel (4142D-4144D).
On April 28, 2019, Ride On announced Ride On Flex, an on-demand bus service that runs in three major metropolitan areas in the county using new, 11-passenger cutaway buses.
2020s
On September 4, 2020, Ride On's first four fully-electric buses (3000E-3003E) entered service on routes 18 and 25 in Silver Spring/Takoma Park. They are manufactured by Proterra and can run on a single charge all day long. [10]
On October 14, 2020, Ride On launched its brand new BRT Flash service on US 29. The orange route operates between Silver Spring and Briggs Chaney every 15 minutes daily while the blue route operates between Silver Spring and Burtonsville every 15 minutes only during peak hours (5:30-8:30am and 3:30-7:00pm) Monday-Friday. Ride On's very first articulated (60 ft) buses (6000D-6015D) operate on the Flash service.
Additional Service Types
Along with standard bus service, Ride On operates two additional services, Ride On extRa and Ride On Flex. Ride On is also adding Ride On Flash in 2020.
Ride On extRa
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Ride On extRa, a new bus service that started on October 2, 2017, is a limited stop service via Maryland Route 355 between Medical Center station on the Washington Metro's Red Line and the Lakeforest Mall Transit Center. This bus route has free WiFi, USB charging ports, and more padding in the seats compared to traditional Ride On services. The fare charged is the same as on other Ride On buses, although fare loading on the bus is not permitted. As of September 17, 2018, Ride On extRa serves a new stop at Templeton Place in Rockville, increasing the number of bus stops to 13.
Ride On Flex
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Ride On Flex is an on-demand bus service that began serving Montgomery County on June 26, 2019 and runs in and around Rockville, Glenmont, and Wheaton using new, 11-passenger cutaway buses.[11] Passengers are able to request a bus using an app. The new service does not charge a higher fare, and accepts the same payment methods as standard Ride On buses with no onboard fare loading allowed.[12]
Flash BRT
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Flash is a bus rapid transit network that began service on October 14, 2020.[13][14] The first route runs between Silver Spring and Burtonsville along MD Route 29.[15] Additional routes are in development and will likely run along MD 355 between Clarksburg and Bethesda and MD 586 between Rockville and Wheaton.[15][16] Flash has dedicated stops with prepayment machines and operates in a mix of mixed-traffic and dedicated lanes using articulated buses equipped with Wi-Fi and USB ports.[17]It is the second operational BRT system in the Washington metropolitan area and the first to be located in Montgomery County.
Fares
Ride On's current one-way fare is $2.00 regardless of payment method. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities ride free on weekdays between 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM, and on Saturdays between 8:30 AM and 4:00 PM; at all other times, a reduced fare of $1.00 is charged. As of July 1, 2019, children ages 5 and up can ride Ride On, as well as Metrobus routes originating in Montgomery County, for free until they graduate from high school by using a Youth Cruiser SmarTrip card.[18] Ride On offers a $0.50 discount for bus fares that transfer from the Washington Metro.
As with all other transit providers in the Washington Metropolitan Area, as of January 4, 2009, Ride On stopped the issue or acceptance of paper transfers. Riders wanting transfer credit must use a SmarTrip card to get the rail-to-bus or bus-to-rail discount or to transfer free from bus to bus.
Fleet
Ride On operates a fleet consisting of Diesel, CNG, Diesel-electric hybrid, and Battery electric buses produced by Gillig Corporation, Nova Bus, Proterra, and Starcraft.
| Image | Builder and model name | Model year | Length | Numbers (Total) | Amount in service | Energy source | Engine/Transmission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
) | Gillig Low Floor Advantage | 2008 | 40 ft (12 m) | 5726-5746 (21 buses) | 19 | Diesel |
|
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) | 29 ft (8.8 m) | 5001-5006 (6 buses) | 6 retiring | |||||
) | 2009, 2013-2014 | 29 ft (8.8 m) | 5007–5091 (84 buses) | 84 |
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) | 2009, 2011, 2013 | 40 ft (12 m) | 5747–5770 (23 buses) | 23 |
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) | 2009–2012 | 5314–5367 (54 buses) | 53 | Diesel-electric hybrid |
|
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) | 2014 | 40 ft (12 m) | 5837–5855 (19 buses) | 18 | CNG |
|
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) | 2016 | 29 ft (8.8 m) | 2000D (1 bus) | 1 | Diesel |
| ||
) | 40 ft (12 m) | 4000D-4039D (39 buses) | 39 | |||||
) | 4040C-4055C (15 buses) | 15 | CNG |
| ||||
) | Starcraft Allstar XL | 30 ft (9.1 m) | 60 (1 bus) | 1 | TBA | TBA |
| |
) | Gillig BRT Plus | 2017 | 40 ft (12 m) | 4056D-4072D (16 buses) | 16 | Diesel |
|
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) | Gillig Low Floor Advantage | 4073D-4080D (7 buses) | 7 |
| ||||
) | 4081C-4118C (37 buses) | 37 | CNG |
| ||||
) | Starcraft Starlite Transit | 2019 | 30 ft (9.1 m) | 1001D-1006D (6 buses) | 6 | Diesel |
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) | Gillig Low Floor Advantage | 40 ft (12 m) | 4119C-4141C (22 buses) | 22 | CNG |
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) | 4142D-4144D (3 buses) | 3 | Diesel |
|
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) | Nova Bus LFS Artic 2nd Generation articulated | 62 ft (19 m) | 6000D-6015D (16 buses)[22] | 16 |
| |||
) | Proterra Catalyst BE35 | 35 ft (11 m) | 3000E–3003E (4 buses) | 4 | Battery electric[24] |
|
| |
| Gillig Low Floor Advantage | 2020 | 40 ft (12 m) | 4145D-4153D (9 buses) | 9 | Diesel |
|
| |
) | 29 ft (8.8 m) | 2001D-2019D (19 buses)[25] | 19 |
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On order
| Builder and model name | Length | Year | Fleet number | Fuel type | Engine/Transmission | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gillig Low Floor Advantage | 29 ft (8.8 m) | 2020 | TBA | 19 | Diesel |
|
Retired fleet
| Year | Builder and model name | Numbers (preserved numbers) | Year Retired | Picture | Powertrain (engine and transmission) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-1981 | Transportation Manufacturing Corporation T-30 CityCruiser | 5102-5256 |
| |||
| 1984 | Bus Industries of America Orion I (01.502) | 5257-5297 |
| |||
| 1990-1992 | 5500-5545 | 2013 |
| |||
| 1988-1989 | Gillig Phantom 30' (3096TB3208) | 5300-5356 | 2004 |
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| 1993 | Flxible Metro D | 5700-5703 | 2000–2001 |
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| 1994-1997 | Gillig Phantom 35' | 5360-5409 | 2013 | ) |
| |
| 1999 | 5410-5423 | 2015 | ) |
| ||
| 1992 | Bus Industries of America Orion V (05.504) | 5546-5547 |
| |||
| 1995 | Orion Bus Industries Orion VI CNG (06.501) | 5801-5802 | Mid 2000s |
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| 1996 | Orion Bus Industries Orion V CNG (05.503) | 5997-5999 |
|
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| Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.503) | 5550-5566 |
|
| |||
| 1998 | 5572-5579 | 2014 |
|
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| 1999 | Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.501) | 5705-5725 | 2016 | ) |
| |
| 1999-2000 | Orion Bus Industries Orion V CNG (05.501) | 5803-5821 | 2014 | ) |
| |
| 1999 | Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.505) | 5100-5129 | 2014 | ) |
|
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| 2001-2002 | Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.504) | 5580-5623 | 2016-2017 | ) |
| |
| 2003 | DaimlerChrysler Commercial Buses Orion VII CNG (07.502) (semi-low floor) | 5900-5917 | 2017 |
| ||
| 2004 | 5918-5932 | 2017 | ) |
| ||
| 2005 | 5933-5957 | 2019 | ) |
|
| |
| New Flyer Industries C40LF | 5822–5836 | 2020 | ) |
|
| |
| 2006-2007 | Gillig Low Floor Advantage | 5300–5313 | ) |
|
| |
| 2001-2002 | ElDorado National Aero Elites | 5101-5181 |
| |||
| 2004 | IC Corp | 5232–5234, 5238–5241, 5243-5246 | Mid 2010s |
|
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| 2001 | Ford/StarTrans Bus Cutaways | 5201-5212 | 2012 | |||
| 2007 | Champion Cutaways | 5182–5231, 5285-5296 | 2012 | ) |
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Divisions
The bus fleet, owned and operated by Ride On, is distributed among three garages in Kensington, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg.
| Division name | Location | Capacity | Routes | Buses | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Spring | 8710 Brookville Rd, Silver Spring, MD 20910 | 147 | 1, 2, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 34, 36, 39, 41, 51, Flash BRT Monday-Saturday Only: 5 Weekdays Only: 47 Weekends Only: L8, T2 |
|
|
| Gaithersburg | 16700 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855 | 155 | 43, 46, 48, 49, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 78, 79, 90, 101 Monday-Saturday Only: 100 Weekdays Only: 75 |
|
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| Nicholson | 4700 Nicholson Ct, Kensington, MD 20895 | 68 | 6, 7, 8, 23, 29, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 42, 44, 45, 52, 53, 81, 83, 96, 97, 98 Late Night and Sunday Only: 5 Weekends Only: 47, 75 Sundays Only: 100 |
|
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Routes
Ride On offers 81 routes throughout Montgomery County. All routes run through peak rush hour periods between 6 AM and 9 AM and 3 PM to 7 PM on weekdays. Many routes offer services for off-peak hours and weekends as well.[30]
| Route | Name | Termini (Western/Southern) | Termini (Eastern/Northern) | Weekday Peak | Weekday Off-Peak | Saturday | Sunday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver Spring – Friendship Heights | Friendship Heights Station | Silver Spring Station |  | | | |
|
| 2 | Silver Spring – Lyttonsville | Silver Spring Station | Brookville (Ride On Operations Center) | | | | | Certain rush hour trips serve Fort Detrick (AM trips towards Lyttonsville, PM trips towards Silver Spring) |
| 4 | Silver Spring – Kensington | Armory Avenue & Knowles Avenue | Silver Spring Station | |  | | | |
| 5 | Silver Spring – Twinbrook | Twinbrook Station | Silver Spring Station | | | | | Certain midday trips serve Victory Forest Apartments |
| 6 | Parkside – Grosvenor – Montgomery Mall | Montgomery Mall Transit Center | Grosvenor-Strathmore Station | | | | | |
| 7 | Wheaton – Forest Glen | Forest Glen Station | Wheaton Station | | | | | AM from Wheaton Station, PM from Forest Glen Station |
| 8 | Silver Spring – Wheaton | Silver Spring Station | Wheaton Station | | | | | via Forest Glen Road & Holy Cross Hospital |
| 9 | Silver Spring – Wheaton | Silver Spring Station | Wheaton Station | | | | | |
| 10 | Twinbrook – Hillandale | Twinbrook Station | New Hampshire Avenue & Power Mill Road | | | | | replaced WMATA Metrobus Route C6 in 1998. |
| 11 | Silver Spring – Friendship Heights | Friendship Heights Station | Silver Spring Station | | | | | AM from Silver Spring Station, PM from Friendship Heights Station Service started in 1997 as a rush-hour variant of Route 1. |
| 12 | Silver Spring – Takoma | Silver Spring Station | Takoma Station | | | | | via Carroll Avenue |
| 13 | Silver Spring – Takoma | Silver Spring Station | Takoma Station | | | | | via Sligo Creek Parkway |
| 14 | Silver Spring – Takoma | Silver Spring Station | Takoma Station | | | | | via Colesville Road |
| 15 | Silver Spring – Langley Park | Silver Spring Station | Takoma Langley Transit Center | | | | | Second highest ridership in system, avg. 4,500 per day |
| 16 | Silver Spring – Takoma | Silver Spring Station | Takoma Station | | | | | via New Hampshire Avenue |
| 17 | Silver Spring – Langley Park | Silver Spring Station | Takoma Langley Transit Center | | | | | via Montgomery College in Takoma Park |
| 18 | Silver Spring – Langley Park | Silver Spring Station | Takoma Langley Transit Center | | | | | via Takoma Station, Sunday service between Langley Park and Takoma station only (no Sunday service between Takoma and Silver Spring stations) |
| 19 | Silver Spring – Northwood | Silver Spring | Forest Glen Road & Burnett Avenue | | | | | AM from Forest Glen Road, PM from Silver Spring |
| 20 | Silver Spring – Hillandale | Silver Spring Station | New Hampshire Avenue & Power Mill Road | | | | | Operates via Piney Branch Road & New Hampshire Avenue |
| 21 | Silver Spring – Briggs Chaney Park & Ride | Silver Spring Station | Briggs Chaney Park & Ride | | | | | AM from Briggs Chaney, PM from Silver Spring Station. Service started on June 25, 2007.[31] |
| 22 | Silver Spring – Hillandale | Silver Spring Station | Hillandale Center (Power Mill Road) | | | | | Operates via Columbia Pike & Colesville Road |
| 23 | Friendship Heights – Sibley Hospital | Sibley Hospital | Friendship Heights Station | | | | | |
| 24 | Hillandale – Takoma | Takoma Station | Power Mill Road & New Hampshire Avenue | | | | | AM from Hillandale, PM from Takoma Station |
| 25 | Takoma – Langley Park | Takoma Station | Takoma Langley Transit Center | | | | | via Maple Ave |
| 26 | Montgomery Mall – Glenmont | Montgomery Mall Transit Center | Glenmont Station | | | | | Replaced original WMATA Metrobus Route C8 in 1996. |
| 28 | VANGO Free Circulator – Silver Spring | Silver Spring Station | | | | | Free service at all times, VanGO Shuttle Loop around Downtown Silver Spring. | |
| 29 | Bethesda – Glen Echo/Friendship Heights | Friendship Heights Station | Bethesda Station (Weekdays) Glen Echo (Goldsboro Road) (Weekends) | | | | | replaces WMATA Route C1, and N8 and original Ride On Route 31 |
| 30 | Bethesda – Medical Center | Bethesda Station | Medical Center Station | | | | | |
| 31 | Wheaton – Glenmont | Wheaton Station | Glenmont Station | | | | | via Poplar Run. Service started in late 1998. |
| 32 | Bethesda – Naval Ship R&D Center and Woodrock | Naval Ship Research & Development Center (Woodrock) | Bethesda Station | | | | | via Cabin John |
| 33 | Glenmont – Medical Center | Medical Center Station | Glenmont Station | | | | | |
| 34 | Aspen Hill – Friendship Heights | Friendship Heights Station | Aspen Hill (Weekday Rush Hours only) | | | | |
|
| 36 | Bethesda – Potomac – via Hillandale Rd | Connelly School (Bradley Blvd) | Bethesda Station | | | | |
|
| 37 | Potomac – Wheaton | Potomac Community Center | Wheaton Station | | | | | Serves Grosvenor-Strathmore Station AM Rush service from Wheaton, PM Rush service to Wheaton |
| 38 | Wheaton – White Flint | White Flint Station | Wheaton Station | | | | | |
| 39 | Glenmont – Briggs Chaney Park & Ride | Glenmont Station | Briggs Chaney Park and Ride | | | | | |
| 41 | Aspen Hill – Glenmont | Glenmont Station | Grand Pre Road & Bel Pre Road (Aspen Hill) | | | | | Replaced WMATA Metrobus Route Q3 in 1996.[32] |
| 42 | White Flint – Montgomery Mall | Montgomery Mall Transit Center | White Flint Station | | | | |
|
| 43 | Shady Grove – Traville Transit Center – Fallsgrove Center | Traville Transit Center | Shady Grove Station | | | | |
|
| 44 | Twinbrook – Rockville | Twinbrook Station | Rockville Station | | | | | |
| 45 | Rockville Regional Transit – Twinbrook/Rockville Senior Center | Twinbrook Station | Rockville Regional Transit Center | | | | | Select trips operates via Rockville Senior Center |
| 46 | Shady Grove/Montgomery College – MD355 – Medical Center | Medical Center Station | Montgomery College Rockville Campus | | | | |
|
| 47 | Rockville – Montgomery Mall – Bethesda | Bethesda Station | Rockville Station | | | | | via Falls Road, Wootton Parkway, Seven Locks Road, Fernwood Road, and Old Georgetown Road. Serves Montgomery Mall and Suburban Hospital. |
| 48 | Wheaton – Rockville | Wheaton Station | Rockville Station | | | | | Replaced original WMATA Metrobus Route Q4 in the mid 1990s. |
| 49 | Rockville – Glenmont | Rockville Station | Glenmont Station | | | | | Replaced WMATA Metrobus Route Y4 in 1998. |
| 51 | Glenmont – Norbeck Park & Ride | Glenmont Station | Norbeck Park & Ride | | | | | Service started in late 1998. |
| 52 | Rockville – Montgomery General Hospital – Our Lady of Good Counsel High School | Rockville Station | Montgomery General Hospital | | | | | This route serves Our Lady of Good Counsel High School during peak hour. |
| 53 | Shady Grove – Glenmont | Shady Grove Station | Glenmont Station | | | | | |
| 54 | Rockville – Lakeforest | Rockville Station | Lakeforest Transit Center | | | | | via Muddy Branch Road, Research Blvd, and West Montgomery Avenue Serves Washingtonian Rio |
| 55 | Rockville – Germantown Transit Center | Rockville Station | Germantown Transit Center | | | | |
|
| 56 | Rockville – Lakeforest | Rockville Station | Lakeforest Transit Center | | | | | via Falls Road, Wootton Parkway, Darnestown Road, and Quince Orchard Road Serves Fallsgrove Center, Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, Kentlands and Gaithersburg Park & Ride |
| 57 | Shady Grove – Lakeforest | Shady Grove Station | Lakeforest Transit Center | | | | | via Washington Grove Road, Muncaster Mill Road, and Redland Road Serves the Gaithersburg MARC station |
| 58 | Shady Grove – Lakeforest – Watkins Mill | Shady Grove Station | Lakeforest Transit Center Kaiser Permanente (Frederick Avenue) (Weekdays only) | | | | | via Snouffer School Road and East Village |
| 59 | Rockville – Montgomery Village | Rockville Station | Montgomery Village Center (Clubhouse Road) | | | | | via Frederick Road, Deer Park Road, Gude Drive, Crabbs Branch Way, and Stonestreet Avenue Serves Lakeforest Transit Center and Shady Grove station |
| 60 | Shady Grove – Montgomery Village | Shady Grove Station | Montgomery Village Center (Stedwick Road) | | | | | via Shady Grove Road, Midcounty Highway, Washington Grove Lane, Flower Hill Way, and Centerway Road. AM from Montgomery Village, PM from Shady Grove |
| 61 | Shady Grove – Germantown Transit Center | Shady Grove Station | Germantown Transit Center | | | | | via Germantown Road, Clopper Road, Frederick Road, and Girard Street Serves Germantown MARC station, Kingsview Park & Ride, Metropolitan MARC station at certain times on weekdays, Gaithersburg Park & Ride, Lakeforest Transit Center, and Washington Grove MARC station |
| 63 | Rockville – Shady Grove | Rockville Station | Shady Grove Station | | | | | via Gaither Road and Piccard Drive |
| 64 | Shady Grove – Montgomery Village | Shady Grove Station | Montgomery Village Center (Clubhouse Road) | | | | | via Centerway Road and Emory Grove Road |
| 65 | Shady Grove – Montgomery Village | Shady Grove Station | Montgomery Village Center (Stedwick Road) | | | | | Limited Stops via Midcounty Highway AM from Montgomery Village, PM from Shady Grove |
| 66 | Shady Grove – Traville Transit Center | Traville Transit Center | Shady Grove Station | | | | | via Shady Grove Adventist Hospital AM from Shady Grove, PM from Traville |
| 67 | Shady Grove – Traville Transit Center | Traville Transit Center | Shady Grove Station | | | | | via Frederick Avenue and Dufief Mill Road AM from Traville, PM from Shady Grove |
| 70 | Germantown – Bethesda Express | Bethesda Station | Milestone Park & Ride | | | | |
|
| 71 | Shady Grove – Kingsview Park and Ride | Shady Grove Station | Kingsview Park & Ride | | | | | via I-370, I-270, Clopper Road, Mateny Road, Dawson Farm Road, and Steeple Road AM from Kingsview Park & Ride, PM from Shady Grove Station |
| 73 | Shady Grove Metro – Cabin Branch | Shady Grove Station | Cabin Branch (Clarksburg) | | | | | via I-370, I-270, Frederick Road, Clarksburg Road, and West Old Baltimore Road Service started on May 14, 2017.[34] |
| 74 | Shady Grove – Germantown Transit Center | Shady Grove Station | Germantown Transit Center | | | | | via I-370 and Great Seneca Highway Serves Kingsview Park & Ride, Kentlands, Montgomery County's Johns Hopkins University campus, and Washingtonian Rio. |
| 75 | Clarksburg Correctional Facility – Clarksburg-Milestone- Germantown Transit Center | Germantown Transit Center | Montgomery County Correctional Facility | | | | |
|
| 76 | Shady Grove – Poolesville | Poolesville | Shady Grove Station | | | | |
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| 78 | Shady Grove – Kingsview Park and Ride | Shady Grove Station | Kingsview Park & Ride | | | | | via I-370, I-270, Clopper Road, Mateny Road, and Richter Farm Road AM from Kingsview Park & Ride, PM from Shady Grove |
| 79 | Shady Grove – Germantown – Clarksburg | Shady Grove Station | Clarksburg Gateway Center | | | | | |
| 81 | Rockville – White Flint | White Flint Station | Rockville Station | | | | | via Tower Oaks Blvd |
| 83 | Holy Cross Germantown – Milestone Park & Ride – Germantown Transit Center – Germantown MARC | Germantown Transit Center | Holy Cross Hospital Germantown | | | | | via Century Blvd, Waters Landing Drive, Father Hurley Blvd, Ridge Road, and Seneca Meadows Parkway Serves Milestone Center and extends to Germantown MARC station during weekday peak hours |
| 90 | Shady Grove – Damascus | Shady Grove Station | Woodfield (Woodfield Road) (Peak hours) Milestone Park & Ride (Damascus) (Off-Peak hours) | | | | |
|
| 96 | Grosvenor – Rock Spring – Montgomery Mall | Montgomery Mall Transit Center | Grosvenor-Strathmore Station | | | | | via Tuckerman Lane, Old Georgetown Road, Rockledge Drive, and Fernwood Road Serves Rock Spring Park |
| 97 | Germantown Transit Center – Gunners Lake | Germantown Transit Center | Germantown Transit Center | | | | |
|
| 98 | Germantown Transit Center – Kingsview Park & Ride | Kingsview Park & Ride | Germantown Transit Center | | | | | via Clopper Road, Schaeffer Road, Richter Farm Road, Steeple Road, Father Hurley Blvd, Wisteria Drive, Wanegarden Drive, Wynnfield Drive, and Water Landing Drive Serves Germantown Community Center during weekday non-peak hours, Cinnamon Woods during weekday peak hours, and Maryland SoccerPlex on Saturdays |
| 100 | Shady Grove – Germantown Transit Center Express | Shady Grove Station | Germantown Transit Center | | | | | Express via I-370 and I-270 |
| 101 | Lake Forest – Medical Center (Ride On extRa) | Medical Center Station | Lakeforest Transit Center | | | | |
|
| 301 | Rockville – Tobytown | Tobytown Drive | Rockville Station | | | | | Started service on October 2, 2016. Serves North Potomac and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital |
Flash BRT routes
| Name | Termini (Western/Southern) | Termini (Eastern/Northern) | Weekday Peak | Weekday Off-Peak | Saturday | Sunday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Blue | Silver Spring Station | Burtonsville Park & Ride | | | | |
|
| Flash Orange | Silver Spring Station | Briggs Chaney Park & Ride Lot, | | | | |
|
Metrobus routes
Additionally, Ride On operates two weekend routes that are served by WMATA Metrobus on weekdays.[35][36]
| Route | Name | Termini (Western/Southern) | Termini (Eastern/Northern) | Weekday peak | Weekday off-peak | Saturday | Sunday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L8 | Aspen Hill – Friendship Heights | Friendship Heights Station | Grand Pre Road & Bel Pre Road (Aspen Hill) | (WMATA Metrobus) | (WMATA Metrobus) | | | |
| T2 | Rockville – Friendship Heights | Friendship Heights Station | Rockville Station | (WMATA Metrobus) | (WMATA Metrobus) | | | via Potomac |
Former routes
These routes have been served by Ride On at one point but have since been discontinued due to either low ridership, duplication of another route, simplification to other routes, or combined into another route. However some routes would be reincarnated into new routes for Ride On.
| Route | Name | Termini (Western/Southern) | Termini (Eastern/Northern) | Weekday peak | Weekday off-peak | Saturday | Sunday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Silver Spring – Takoma | Silver Spring Station | Takoma Station | | | | | AM from Takoma Station, PM from Silver Spring Station. Discontinued on September 17, 2017 due to low ridership.[37] |
| 10 (first use) | ||||||||
| 11 (first use) | ||||||||
| 21 (first use) | Burtonsville Shuttle | Briggs Chaney Park & Ride | Briggs Chaney Park & Ride | | | | | Looped around the Briggs Chaney Park & Ride. Only ran midday on weekdays. Discontinued on January 4, 2002.[38] |
| 26 (first use) | ||||||||
| 27 | Friendship Heights – Medical Center | Friendship Heights Station | Medical Center Station | | | | | Discontinued on September 7, 2003 due to low ridership. Alternative service available on extended Route 33 and realigned Route 36.[39] |
| 31 (first use) | | | | | Replaced by Route 29 in early 1998. | |||
| 35 | Wheaton – Montgomery Mall | Montgomery Mall Transit Center | Wheaton Station | | | | | Discontinued on September 1, 2002; replaced by extended route 47 and realigned Route 34.[40][41] |
| 40 | White Flint – Glenmont | White Flint Station | Glenmont Station | | | | | Discontinued in early 2001; replaced by extended WMATA Metrobus route C8.[42][43] |
| 41 (first use) | ||||||||
| 42 (first use) | Friendship Heights – Medical Center | Friendship Heights Station | Medical Center Station | | | | | Combined with Route 34 on May 4, 2008.[44] |
| 48 (first use) | ||||||||
| 49 (first use) | ||||||||
| 50 | ||||||||
| 51 (first use) | ||||||||
| 62 | Shady Grove – Germantown | Shady Grove Station | Montgomery College Rockville Campus | | | | | Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[45][46] |
| 63X | Shady Grove - Gaither Road | Shady Grove Station | Gaither Road & Gaither Drive | | | | | Served as a supplement to Route 63, connecting passengers from the Gaither Road industrial area to Shady Grove Metro during the midday and late night. Started service on January 6, 2019. Combined with route 63 on May 12, 2019. |
| 66 (first use) | Shady Grove – Shady Grove Hospital | Shady Grove Station | | | | | Discontinued by 1998. | |
| 67 (first use) | Shady Grove – Shady Grove Hospital | Shady Grove Station | | | | | Discontinued by 1998. | |
| 68 | Germantown MARC Shuttle | Germantown MARC | Germantown MARC | | | | | Looped around the Germantown MARC Station. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[45][46] |
| 69 | Germantown MARC Shuttle | Germantown MARC | Germantown MARC | | | | | Looped around the Germantown MARC Station. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[45][46] |
| 72 | Shady Grove – Germantown | Shady Grove Station | Germantown Commons | | | | | AM from Germantown Commons; PM from Shady Grove. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[45][46] |
| 73 (first use) | Shady Grove – Germantown – Goldenrod Lane | Shady Grove Station | Goldenrod Lane & Century Blvd | | | | | AM from Goldenrod Lane & Century Blvd; PM from Shady Grove. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[45][46] |
| 77 | Shady Grove – Germantown | Shady Grove Station | Germantown Commons | | | | | AM from Germantown Commons; PM from Shady Grove. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[45][46] |
| 80 | Shady Grove – King Farm Loop | Shady Grove Station | Gaither Road & Redland Road | | | | | Discontinued; last run was on May 3, 2002.[38] |
| 82 | Clarksburg Town Center – Germantown Transit Center | Clarksburg Gateway Center | Department of Energy in Germantown | | | | | AM from Clarksburg; PM from Department of Energy. Combined with Route 79 on April 5, 2009.[44] |
| 91 | Rockville Pike Shuttle | Rockville Town Center | Rock Pike & Edson Lane | | | | | Operated from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Discontinued on September 3, 2001.[47] |
| 92 | Bethesda Shuttle | Bethesda Station | Bethesda Station | | | | | Became operated by the Bethesda Urban Partnership on September 3, 2006.[48] |
| 93 | US – HHS – Twinbrook Station | Twinbrook Station | DHHS Parklawn Shuttle (Fishers Lane) | | | | | Discontinued on September 17, 2017 due to low ridership.[37] |
| 94 | Clarksburg – Germantown MARC | Germantown MARC | Clarksburg Gateway Center | | | | | Discontinued on September 17, 2017 due to low ridership.[37] |
| 124 | Shady Grove Express | MD 117 Park & Ride MD 124 Park & Ride | Shady Grove Station | | | | | Operates through I-270. Discontinued on March 14, 2008.[44] |
| 127 | Campus Connector (Takoma – Silver Spring – Shady Grove UMS) | Takoma Station | University of Maryland | | | | | Discontinued on May 16, 2008.[44] |
| 129 | Burtonsville – Silver Spring (Limited Stop) | Silver Spring Station | Burtonsville Park & Ride | | | | |
|
Additionally, Ride On ran one weekend route that is served by WMATA Metrobus on weekdays. This route has since been discontinued due to the same reason as other discontinued Ride On routes.
| Route | Name | Termini (Western/Southern) | Termini (Eastern/Northern) | Weekday peak | Weekday off-peak | Saturday | Sunday | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z2 | Colesville – Silver Spring | Olney (Spartan Rd & Georgia Ave) | Silver Spring station | (WMATA Metrobus) | (WMATA Metrobus) | | | Saturday Service Discontinued on January 12, 2013 due to low ridership.[49] Weekday service is still operated by Metrobus, See Colesville–Ashton Line for history. |
References
- ^ "Transit Ridership Report First Quarter 2017" (pdf). American Public Transportation Association. June 6, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017 – via http://www.apta.com/resources/statistics/Pages/ridershipreport.aspx.
- ^ a b "Transit Services - Ride On Program". Montgomery County MD Government. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ "Ride On Routes and Schedules".
- ^ 911NewsCoverage (4 July 2014). "ABC (WJLA) 9-11-2001 News Coverage 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM" – via YouTube.
- ^ "Ride On to Add Dozens of New Buses to Fleet". Montgomery County Department Of Transportation. MCDOT. May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
- ^ "Grant Allows Montgomery County To Buy Electric Buses for Its Fleet". Bethesda Magazine. Bethesda Magazine. September 15, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ "MCDOT's Ride On Bus System Awarded $1.75 Million FTA Grant to Purchase Electric Buses and Charging Stations". Montgomery County MD Gov. Montgomery County MD Gov. September 15, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
- ^ "MCDOT Receives $4.365 Million from U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration to Purchase 10 Electric Buses". Montgomery County MD Gov. Montgomery County MD Gov. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
- ^ Profitt, Ashley (2019-04-25). "'Ride On' To Unveil New Bus Design and Kick Off 'Give and Ride Week'". Montgomery Community Media. Retrieved 2019-06-12.
- ^ "Montgomery County rolls out first four electric Ride On buses". www.bethesdamagazine.com. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
- ^ "MCDOT Unveils Ride On Flex at Microtransit Public Forum". dccommutetimes.com. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
- ^ "Ride On Flex". www.montgomerycountymd.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
- ^ Lazo, Luz. "The D.C. region's most ambitious try at bus rapid transit is coming to Montgomery County". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 October 2020.
- ^ Clabaugh, Jeff. "Montgomery Co.'s new Bus Rapid Transit system to be called 'Flash'". Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ a b c "FLASH is an easier, more reliable, and less stressful way to get you where you need to go quickly". ridetheflash.com. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Lyons, Jane. "MoCo advances two bus rapid transit projects on Route 355 and Veirs Mill Road". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ "FLASH features a different kind of vehicle. It's like a train on rubber tires with features that keep you plugged in and moving". Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ "Kids Ride Free".
- ^ Hedgpeth, Dana. "Crash involving Ride On bus and SUV in Bethesda". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Zimmermann, Joe. "Ride On Bus Crash Injures Five on Western Avenue". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Arnold, Tiffany. "Ride On bus driver pinned in crash involving truck". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ "Montgomery County Maryland Capital Budget". apps.montgomerycountymd.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- ^ Malouff, Dan. "DASH is running the first non-WMATA articulated buses in Washington area transit". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
- ^ Schere, Dan (3 September 2020). "Montgomery County rolls out first four electric Ride On Buses". Bethesda Magazine. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
- ^ Kass, Adam (2020-01-20). "Anyone know what a @RideOnMCT is doing in Tempe, AZ? I assume it's a delivery but that's just a guess. @fox5dc @SweeneyABC @WTOPpic.twitter.com/3xYdbLGcdi". @adamkass8. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
- ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/ride-on-bus-fires-in-montgomery-prompts-federal-safety-probe/2012/04/11/gIQAF2WgBT_story.html
- ^ "Crews Battle Fire on Ride On Bus". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "Some Ride On Buses Taken Out of Service Following Fire". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "The Schumin Web » I didn't want to have this I-told-you-so moment, but…". www.schuminweb.com. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "MCDOT RIDE ON ROUTES AND SCHEDULES". www.montgomerycountymd.gov.
- ^ www.montgomerycountymd.gov (June 21, 2007). "Dump the Pump June 21, 2007 Ride Transit". web.archive.org. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ "Ride-On Route 41 Information". web.archive.org. March 22, 1996. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ "MCDOT Current Events". web.archive.org. January 29, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ "Schedule Change 4/17: Layout 1" (PDF). www.montgomerycountymd.gov. May 4, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
- ^ https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/L8_180916.pdf
- ^ https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/T2_180916.pdf
- ^ a b c "Schecule Change:Layout 1" (PDF). Retrieved April 11, 2019.
- ^ a b "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (April 4, 2002)". web.archive.org. April 4, 2002. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ "Ride On Service Changes Effective Sunday, September 7, 2003". web.archive.org. September 7, 2003. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (June 2, 2002)". web.archive.org. June 2, 2002. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (October 3, 2002)". web.archive.org. October 3, 2002. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (April 13, 2001)". web.archive.org. April 13, 2001. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ "Metrobus service changes effective January 13, 2001 Maryland". February 10, 2001. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Ride On Routes and Schedule (April 5, 2009)". web.archive.org. April 5, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ride On Routes and Schedule (June 5, 2005)". web.archive.org. June 5, 2005. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f "Ride On Routes and Schedule (August 26, 2005)". web.archive.org. August 26, 2005. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (October 5, 2001)". web.archive.org. October 5, 2001. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
- ^ "Ride On Routes and Schedule (November 4, 2006)". web.archive.org. November 4, 2006. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
- ^ https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5392
External links
- Official website
- The Schumin Web Transit Center: Ride On
- Oren's Transit Page: Ride On
- GP Bus Gallery
- Ride On at the Wayback Machine (archived February 5, 1998)