AM Slug Line Split at Horner Rd for PTG/CC/Rosslyn
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Category: General Slugging Questions and Comments
Forum Name: Morning Slug Lines
Forum Description: Enter comments for all slug lines going into the city.
URL: http://www.slug-lines.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=771
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Topic: AM Slug Line Split at Horner Rd for PTG/CC/Rosslyn
Posted By: slugger94
Subject: AM Slug Line Split at Horner Rd for PTG/CC/Rosslyn
Date Posted: 08 Jan 2004 at 8:33am
Spoke to a number of you and found that many are in favor for split lines at Horner Rd in the morning for the Pentagon/Crystal City/Rosslyn line.
Effective Monday morning, Jan 12, this line will be split. Please follow the signs.
The Pentagon line will remain at the current location except the line will now face I-95. That way, the drivers can come up along the entire row of riders for them to get right in.
Rosslyn and Crytal City lines will be moved to the southside, adjacent to the current location (just right across) in the same parking lot. Drivers will drive north in those lanes to pick up riders.
Please pick up fliers located in the bus stops at East Horner lot or at the Pentagon PM slug line shelter. If anyone can tell me how to attach a flier to this forum, that will be great.
Everyone's cooperation is needed to make this work. Please share this information with fellow riders and drivers.
Thanks.
Slugger94
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Replies:
Posted By: dbell
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2004 at 12:07pm
I had this question before, but waited to see how things worked this morning. Now I'll ask - what problem are we trying to solve here? From what I've seen and heard from other slug lines, the wait at Horner Rd for both drivers and slugs is usually not too bad, most often less than 5-10 minutes. Occasionally cars will back up if there is an abundance of Rosslyn drivers waiting on Rosslyn riders, but most times the line moves pretty well. While the new set-up segregates the Rosslyn folks, it will potentially create multiple lines/groups of cars waiting and it removes some flexibility from those who can drive/ride to either Pentagon/CC/Rossyln (with separate lines, you're forced to decide before you can see how things are going). The new set-up also forces those who opt out of the CC/Rosslyn lines if the bus shows up to have to run across the main flow of traffic to try to catch the bus.
So, not knowing what problem we're trying to solve, it's kind of hard to assess how we're doing. Would appreciate if someone could explain the problem to me.
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Posted By: cdatkins
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2004 at 3:20pm
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I also have no idea why this was done...it certainly didn't save me any time this morning (I am a Rosslyn slugger). In fact, I think it took me longer to get a ride, because most of the drivers don't know the new rules.
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Posted By: slugger94
Date Posted: 12 Jan 2004 at 3:41pm
Depending on the time that one rides from the Horner Rd. lot, it can take anywhere from 5 min to 30 minutes to get into a car especially for riders who are trying to get to the Pentagon. While drivers can choose to go to different drop off locations without too much inconvenience, this is generally not the case for riders. Having the rider line consolidate certainly is an advantage for the drivers as many (understandably) do not want to go to the Pentagon. As a result when the driver comes up and sees a long line, they opt for Crystal City or Rosslyn, leaving riders who have to go to the Pentagon in a 30-40 deep line.
With the split lines, drivers and riders know exactly where the other is going without the yelling and anticipation. The wait time will be shortened for everyone involved as soon as the change settles in.
As for the bus ride, this is no different from the Potomac Mills lot. The bus runs on a schedule and if riders change their minds about slugging for the day, they should give themselves sufficient time to safely walk over to the bus stop and not dash out. This is never a good idea.
Everyone's patience is needed for this change. Change is always difficult but it will be good for all involved in the long run. Thank you for writing and voicing your concern.
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Posted By: bpgraham
Date Posted: 13 Jan 2004 at 6:20am
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Seems like everyone is trying to make Horner a copy of Potomic Mills, whats going on now is unsafe at any speed. If you needed to split the line which I doubt it probably would have been better to put it at the other bus stop across from the current one - one line on one side - one line on the other.
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Posted By: kehock
Date Posted: 13 Jan 2004 at 8:25am
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i guess i'm one of the many horner road riders/drivers who were not contacted about the split lines now in effect. i don't understand how one person can talk to a few and then change everything (unless we're dealing with the same person that's in charge of the pickup lines at the pentagon). if this effort is coordinated enough to put out fliers, construct/buy and put out wooden directional signs in the parking lot then it would certainly be possible to conduct a poll and let the riders and the drivers vote (instead of putting out fliers, first put out questionnaires). one of the best advantages of slugging is the flexibility that it provides--particularly so at the horner road lot. whether you're a driver or a rider you use to have choices and these choices made the line more efficient -- most of the time. my morning adventure takes me well beyond any of the available drop off points, consequently any metro stop will do. maybe my profile isn't the norm; nonetheless, this new approach doesn't seem well thought out.
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Posted By: JiggaJynx
Date Posted: 13 Jan 2004 at 9:07am
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Kehock, I have to agree. No one asked my opinion, either, but then I'm in the 5:55-6:15 group. Like you, any Metro stop will do for me, though I prefer Rosslyn. Since each commute has its own personality, I liked the option of studying the riders ahead of me in line before deciding whether to wait for my preferred destination or ride to another. The new setup eliminates that flexibility. A "stick" to slugger94 for making this uninformed change.
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Posted By: bpgraham
Date Posted: 13 Jan 2004 at 11:52am
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I guess the question is, why not go back to the original lines. I also liked the flexibility of taking the first ride - like many "any metro stop will do" or could bail and take the bus if needed. Lets just go back to the norm. I think what we have here is poorly thought out and not as safe as it could be.
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Posted By: Marci
Date Posted: 13 Jan 2004 at 8:17pm
I agree. I was not aware of any change taking palce and was fine how it was. I have not spoke to anyone who is better off. I wish we could just go back to how it was.
quote:
Originally posted by kehock
[br]i guess i'm one of the many horner road riders/drivers who were not contacted about the split lines now in effect. i don't understand how one person can talk to a few and then change everything (unless we're dealing with the same person that's in charge of the pickup lines at the pentagon). if this effort is coordinated enough to put out fliers, construct/buy and put out wooden directional signs in the parking lot then it would certainly be possible to conduct a poll and let the riders and the drivers vote (instead of putting out fliers, first put out questionnaires). one of the best advantages of slugging is the flexibility that it provides--particularly so at the horner road lot. whether you're a driver or a rider you use to have choices and these choices made the line more efficient -- most of the time. my morning adventure takes me well beyond any of the available drop off points, consequently any metro stop will do. maybe my profile isn't the norm; nonetheless, this new approach doesn't seem well thought out.
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Posted By: bpgraham
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2004 at 7:27am
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Why not go back the way it was, if one person can try and split the line into three why can't one person put it back to one? I say go back the way it was, put up some flyers at the bus stop and tell everyone to go back to the way it was.
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Posted By: glacier
Date Posted: 14 Jan 2004 at 4:14pm
Guess I'm swimming up stream on this one. I like the change. I ride 3 days a week and drive, due to night school, 2 days to the Pentagon and enjoy the shorter lines for both. My observation was having the 3 lines together was pretty inefficient. Drivers that found no available riders for their destination would not pull up and effectively block the line. The ride line would become so long that people couldn't hear or see what the next cars destination was, again, slowing the process.
Since the change I've enjoyed having shorter lines, quicker commute times, and less periods of confusion (I induce enough of my own). As for less options for some, it's slows the process too much. That's why lines split in the first place. If we wanted to maximize options we could just combine all 6 again (or 7, not sure). Less time commuting and more with family works for me, but I understand it's not all about me.
Cheers
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Posted By: glacier
Date Posted: 16 Jan 2004 at 7:47am
Slugging in 17 degrees F, 0 degrees F windchill: [V]
However, having a much shorter line, thus less time exposed to the elements: [:D]
I like the change, I think others may also.
Cheers
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Posted By: glacier
Date Posted: 20 Jan 2004 at 4:42pm
This shorter lines stuff rocks![8D]
Cheers
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Posted By: tulipgirl67
Date Posted: 21 Jan 2004 at 11:29am
Just curious here (I've used the Horner Rd lot on occasion). When the line of cars backs up because the drivers at the front of the line are heading to one destination (Rosslyn) and the riders are heading to another (Pentagon), why don't the riders just walk down the line to find the next car going to their location?
It makes no sense to stand there and wait for the car to pull up to the front of the line. It's so inefficient for all concerned. Also, if riders would just walk the line as they arrived, then the integrity of the line (first-come, first-served) would be still be preserved. Can someone please explain the rationale for waiting for the car to pull up to you?
Thanks.
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Posted By: Connie
Date Posted: 23 Jan 2004 at 11:05am
There is no rationale from my perspective. If I am at the front of the line and the cars at the front aren't going to my destination, then I walk the line to the first car that is. Saves me and the driver some time. I slug in the DC Horner Road line to L'Enfant Plaza and the other day was second in line behind a woman also going to the Plaze. The first several cars were going to other places and the car line was about 20 deep so I asked her if she wanted to walk back to find a ride since we were first in line anyway. She said no, she was going to stand there because she was too cold to walk back.
As for the lines being split, I know I would hate it if the DC lines were split because often if I can't get a quick ride to L'Enfant, I will take a 14th street one and take the Metro. If the lines were split, I might stand in the L'Enfant line for a long time, have no luck and then have to go to the end of the 14th street line, doubling my waiting time. Now, I move up to the front of the line and can choose either destination based on where cars are going. So I sympathize with the people who are unhappy about the change in the Pentagon/Rosslyn/Crystal City line. Changes should be made only after drivers and slugs are truly surveyed - we don't like it when the Pentagon for example makes wholesale changes to slugging without even asking us for input, so why do it to each other?
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Posted By: shanbz
Date Posted: 03 Feb 2004 at 3:44pm
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I like the new lines....once I figured out the process on the first day that I drove (I usually ride). I've spent many mornings, walking all the way down to the turn looking for CC rides. Doesn't seem to me that this would affect those that can take any ride. Just decide which one you want to go to and head to that car. If there are no cars for Rosslyn, you can see that by just looking over there and that makes the decision for you as to whether you want to take a pentagon ride. Doesn't seem too difficult to me! Just my 2 cents![:p]
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Posted By: akire25
Date Posted: 11 Feb 2004 at 1:15pm
The new lines work great!
akire25
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