How to Get Around Washington DC Without a Car

Washington, D.C., commuters have many options, including a stellar public transportation system. In fact, D.C. is one of the few places in the United States where it's better to not have a car. Here's a list of the various ways to get around this historic city without getting in your car.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Metro card
• ZipCard

1. Put on your walking shoes. Washington, D.C., is a great place to walk. There are historic monuments and buildings around every turn. Art galleries, shops, restaurants and cafes often make for a pleasant daily commute. It's not uncommon to see men and women in expensive suits sporting a worn pair of tennis shoes.

2. Peddle around town. D.C. is a great place to ride your bike. Although there are many of cars on the road, there are many bike paths as well, and cars are used to sharing the road.

3. Get a Metro card. You can put hundreds of dollars on your Metro card and travel all over the city, Maryland and Virginia. The Metro rail system is one of the best and easiest to use in the United States. You can also travel from the rail to the bus. Many D.C. Metro rail stops have bus stops that can get you to your destination (see Resources below).

4. Get in a cab. There are taxis all over the downtown area. Go to the closest hotel or tourist spot and there will surly be taxis lined up. You can also call a taxi to pick you up.

5. Take a train. The Marc train can take you from downtown D.C. to Baltimore and other locations in Maryland. Amtrak can take you even farther. If you are looking to escape from the city, taking a train is the best way to go (see Resources below).

6. Jump on a Tourmobile. If you just want to go to the largest tourist attractions, buy a ticket for a Tourmobile. You can get tickets at Arlington National Cemetery and at Union Station. Although this is supposed to be for tourists, it makes getting around downtown easy on residents. You can hop on and hop off at any stop. The Tourmobiles come around about every 15 minutes (see Resources below).

7. Become a Zipster. A Zipster is a person who has a driver's license and uses community cars from ZipCar. You will have to have a superb driving record and pay a monthly fee. You can reserve these cars online and drive them for an hour or an entire weekend. You don't have to own a car or have car insurance. The best part? Gas is included (see Resources below).

8. Get to the airport early. If you plan to fly out of Reagan airport, come prepared. On busy days, you could stand in line for over an hour before reaching the first security checkpoint. Have everything ready to go: liquids in a small plastic baggy, shoes and other metal items in the bin and laptop ready for inspection.

Tips & Warnings

• If you plan to ride your bike around D.C., don't forget a bike lock. You may also bring your bike on the Metro. Check for certain restrictions.
• Check with your employer to find out if there are any carpools in your office. Even if you don't drive, you could be part of the carpool by helping pay for gas.

Resources

• ZipCar
• D.C. Metro
• Tourmobile
• Reagan National Airport