It's a free ride, dont be greedy!!!

From what I understand of the "Slug Rules", when a driver (me) pulls up to a line and says the destination...and the Slugger agrees and gets in your car.

For past week I have been picking up in Riders for 18/I and a block or two before the destination, Mind you, for the 22 mile commute from Horner prior nothing, was said. Then a block away they ask to be let out early.

This morning I had an Asian woman in my car who had the nerve to argue with me as to why she did not feel that she should have told me her destination. She even went as far to tell me that "its on the way, why does it matter."

I told her it was a free ride and with the long lines, Im sure someone else would have needed to go to I street!

DOES THIS SEEM EXTREMELY GREEDY!!! to rob antoher rider who is going to the drivers destination

Sym

It is common for passengers to accept rides that involve getting out before the final destination. If you only want riders going to 18th and I, it might be safer for you to say, 2 to 18 and I only. However, don't be surprised if you find a longer wait for passengers going only to your specific destination. Most drivers do not mind stopping earlier and usually when drivers are crossing the bridge into DC, they ask, where do you want to be let off so they can plan the drive with respect to when they want to get into a right lane. Since the university is near G street it is not uncommon for many 18th street riders to want to get out at G.

The "rules" are not something everyone sat down and voted on or agrred to abide by. They should be looked upon as things we should consider. However, many of the slug drivers or riders have never visited this site, rather they just heard about the system and jumped in a line or drove their car up one day. So there very well may be some people who do not know the rules. And some of it relates to common practice. For example, almost all 14th street drivers will drop a slug off anywhere along 14th street UP to their destination. At L'Enfant, there are really at least three or four drop off points, the "mailbox" (there is no mailbox there anymore like there is no "Bob's" anymore) the metro station or 7th and D. Coming over the bridge, the driver will usually ask which of those three locations is the preferred drop. I do know of one driver who announces "L'Enfant Plaza" which means to him stopping before either of those three locations and dropping people off at the parking lot before the plaza.

As I said before, drivers, and slugs should both clarify the intent of the call. If the driver says 18 and I, and does not say Up to 18 and I, it probably behooves the slug to verify it is up to 18th and I before getting in the vehicle, even if it normal practice for most drivers to let the slug out where he or she prefers. And drivers should be clear it is 18 and I only, if they don't want to drop off earlier. And if you call out that, and wait a while, and no 18 and I come within a reasonable time, you can always change it to up to 18 and I if you just want to get on the way. This way these type of issues do not occur.

quote:

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Originally posted by DC2RV
[br]"Common sense" would dictate that the rider, particularly if they'd never ridden with someone before, would ask when they got in the car or well in advance of the requested drop off point.

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Thats exactly my point! Had I known PRIOR it would have not been a big deal. But a block or two away is not Courtesy

quote:

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Originally posted by Sym
[br]I see...Even putting the rules aside, Wouldn't it b COMMON COURTESY? This morning, I said 18 & I...the slugger repeated "18 & I" then got in the car only saying hello. It was not till the last minute that she TOLD me to drop her off...not ask....but told.

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from her account elsewhere on this board about your behavior, i would have told you to let me out too. yes, she got a free ride, but you got to use the HOV lanes thus saving you time and energy. don't you get it? it's a mutually beneficial comuting community?

unfortunately, you will continue to benefit, as reletively few slug system participants read this board. so you won't likely have any problems getting riders. more's the pity.