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Ride On (bus)

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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 2601:14e:c000:faa0:88f1:72a1:60de:9fb4 (talk) at 23:50, 14 August 2020 (Retired fleet). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Ride On
A Gillig compressed natural gas bus at Bethesda station in the most recent paint scheme.
ParentMontgomery County
FoundedMarch 31, 1975; 49 years ago (1975-03-31)
Headquarters101 Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Rockville, Maryland, U.S.
Service typeLocal, Express, and Limited Stop bus service, paratransit, demand responsive transport
Routes81
Fleet350
Daily ridership73,300 (Q1 2017)[1]
Annual ridership23,438,000 (2017)[2]
Fuel typeCNG, diesel, diesel-electric hybrid
Websitewww.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-transit/

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

The former Ride On logo, used as the primary logo from the late 1990s until mid-2009. It is still used on some older buses.

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 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.

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

Logo of Ride On extRa

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

Logo of Ride On Flex

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.[10] 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.[11]

Logo of Flash BRT

Flash is a bus rapid transit network currently under construction that will begin service in 2020.[12] The first route will run between Silver Spring and Burtonsville along MD Route 29.[13] Additional routes are in development and will likely run along MD 355 between Clarksburg and Bethesda and MD 586 between Rockville and Wheaton.[13][14] Flash will have dedicated stops with prepayment machines and will operate in dedicated lanes using articulated buses equipped with Wi-Fi and USB ports.[15] When complete, it will be 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.[16] 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, and Diesel-electric hybrid buses produced by Gillig Corporation, New Flyer Industries, and Starcraft.

Picture Year Manufacturer Model Length (feet) Engine/Transmission Fleet series (Qty.) Notes Divisions
<<< Diesel >>>
2008 Gillig Low Floor Advantage 29
  • Cummins ISL (2008-2009 models)
  • Cummins ISL9 (2010-2016 models)
  • Cummins L9 (2017 models)
  • Allison B400R
5001–5006
(6)
  • Nicholson (5001-5068)
  • Silver Spring (5069-5091, 2000D)
2009–2017 5007–5091, 2000D
(92)
  • 5007-5031 are 2009 models
  • 5032-5059 are 2013 models
  • 5060-5091 are 2014 models
  • 2000D is a 2016 model
2008–2017 40 5726–5770, 4000D-4039D, 4073D-4080D
(93)
  • 5726–5746 are 2008 models, using its 2nd generation livery
  • 5747-5757 are 2009 models
  • 5758 is a 2011 model
  • 5759-5770 are 2013 models
  • 4000D-4039D are 2016 models
  • 4073D-4080D are 2017 models
  • 5729[17] and 5731 are retired due to accidents
  • Gaithersburg (5726-5748, 4073D-4080D)
  • Silver Spring (5749-5770, 4000D-4039D)
2019
  • Cummins L9
  • Allison B400R
4142D-4144D
(3)
  • Introduced a new paint scheme
  • Gaithersburg (all units)
2017 Low Floor BRT Plus 4056D-4072D
(17)
  • Specially branded with Ride On extRa design
  • Gaithersburg (all units)
2016 Starcraft Allstar XL 30 TBD TBD
  • Only operate on Route 301
TBD
2019 Starlite Transit 21
  • Ford 3.2L Diesel
1001D-1006D
(6)
  • Specially branded with Ride On Flex design
  • Nicholson (all units)
<<< Diesel-electric Hybrid >>>
2006–2007 Gillig Low Floor Advantage Hybrid 40
  • Cummins ISB
  • Allison EP-40 HybriDrive
5300–5313
(14)
  • 5300-5304 are 2006 models originally numbered 5750-5754
  • 5305-5313 are 2007 models
  • 5312 was retired due to fire damage
  • Silver Spring (all units)
2009–2012
  • Cummins ISB (2009 models)
  • Cummins ISB6.7
  • Allison EP-40 HybriDrive
5314–5367
(54)
  • 5314-5348 are 2009 models
    • 5314 was originally numbered 5349
  • 5349-5360 are 2011 models
  • 5361-5367 are 2012 models
  • 5348 was retired due to damage from an accident[18]
<<< Compressed Natural Gas >>>
2005 New Flyer C40LF 40
  • Cummins Westport C Gas Plus
  • Allison B400R
5822–5836
(15)
  • All units currently out of service due to rear door issues
  • Gaithersburg (all units)
2014–2017 Gillig Low Floor Advantage CNG 40
  • Cummins ISL G
  • Cummins L9N (2017 models)
  • Allison B400R
5837–5855, 4040C-4055C, 4081C-4118C
(73)
  • 5837-5855 are 2014 models
  • 4040C-4055C are 2016 models
  • 4081C-4118C are 2017 models
  • 5840 is out of service due to damage from an accident[19]
  • Gaithersburg (all units)
2019
  • Cummins L9N
  • Allison B400R
4119C-4141C
(23)
  • Introduced a new paint scheme
  • Gaithersburg (all units)

On order

Picture Year Manufacturer Model Length (feet) Engine/Transmission Fleet series (Qty.) Notes
2019[6] Proterra Catalyst 35 TBA 3000E–3003E(4)
  • Buses are scheduled to serve Route 18 in Takoma Park starting in 2020.
  • First bus arrived on Property on December 13, 2019
2019 Nova Bus LFS–A 60 TBA 6000D-6013D (14)[20]
  • To be used for the Ride On Flash BRT service[13]
  • Second non WMATA operator operating Articulated buses in the Washington area transit after DASH.[21]
2020 Gillig Low Floor Advantage[22] 29 TBA 2001D-2019D (19)[23]
  • To replace 2008-09 29' Gillig Advantage buses based out of Nicholson division
2020 Gillig Low Floor Advantage[22] 40 TBA 4145D-4153D

(9)

  • To replace the 2006-07 Gillig Advantage HEV buses based out of Silver Spring division

Retired fleet

Picture Year Manufacturer Model Engine/Transmission Fleet series (Qty.) Year retired Notes
1979-1981 TMC T-30 CityCruiser
  • Caterpillar 3126
  • Allison MT-740
5102-5256
1984 Orion Bus Industries Orion I (01.502)
  • Detroit Diesel 6V71N
  • Allison MT-643
5257-5297
1990-1992
  • Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
  • Allison HTB-748
5500-5545
1988-1989 Gillig Phantom 30' (3096TB3208)
  • Cummins C8.3
  • Allison MT-64
5300-5356 2004
  • Originally powered by Caterpillar 3208T engines
1993 Flxible Flxible Metro D Cummins C8.3G 5700-5703
1994-1997 Gillig Phantom 35'
  • Detroit Diesel Series 50
  • Voith D863.3
5360-5409 2013
1999
  • Cummins ISM
  • Allison B400R
5410-5423 2015
1992 Orion Bus Industries Orion V (05.504)
  • Detroit Diesel 6V92TA
  • Allison HTB-748
5546-5547
1995 Orion VI CNG (06.501)
  • Cummins L10G
  • Allison B400R
5801-5802 Mid 2000s
1996 Orion V CNG (05.503)
  • Cummins L10G
  • ZF HP590
5997-5999
  • 35 ft buses
  • Originally numbered 5567-5569
1996 Orion V (05.503)
  • Cummins M11
  • Voith D863.3
5550-5566
  • 35 ft buses
1998
  • Cummins M11E
  • Voith D863.3
5572-5579 2014
  • 35 ft buses
1999 Orion V (05.501)
  • Detroit Diesel Series 50
  • Voith D864.3
5705-5725 2017
  • 40 ft buses
1999-2000 Orion V CNG (05.501)
  • Detroit Diesel Series 50G
  • Voith D864.3
5803-5821 2015
1999 Orion V (05.505)
  • Detroit Diesel Series 50
  • Allison B400R
5100-5129 2014
  • Ex WMATA buses acquired in 2012
  • Replaced the 2007 Champion Cutaways
2001-2002 Orion V (05.504)
  • Detroit Diesel Series 50
  • Voith D864.3
5580-5623 2016-2017
2003 Orion VII CNG (07.502)
  • Detroit Diesel Series 50G
  • Voith D864.3E
5900-5917 2017
2004
  • Cummins Westport C Gas Plus
  • Voith D864.3E
5918-5932 2018
2005
  • Cummins Westport C Gas Plus
  • ZF 5HP592C
5933-5957 2019
  • All units are retired on May 1, 2019
  • Replaced by the 2019 Gillig Low Floor CNGs
2001-2002 ElDorado National Aero Elites 5101-5181
  • Originally contracted to outside firms until the late 2000s
2004 IC Corp
  • International DT 466
  • Allison 2000
5232-5234, 5238-5241, 5243-5246 Mid 2010s
  • Replaced all Champions Cutaway buses
2001 Ford/StarTrans Bus Cutaways 5201-5212 2012
2007 Champion Cutaways
  • International VT 365 (5182-5231)
  • GMC 8.1L (5285-5296)
  • Allison 2000
5182–5231, 5285-5296 2012
  • Seven different fires occurred on these buses between 2009 and 2012, but caused no injuries.[24][25]
  • All buses were pulled out of service following the seventh engine fire on July 18, 2012.[26][27]
  • Replaced by the Gillig 30-foot Low Floor, 1999 30-foot Orion Vs (Ex-WMATA), and a few buses from Pittsburgh.

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 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, 129
Monday-Saturday Only: 5
Weekdays Only: 47
Weekends Only: L8, T2
  • Diesel-Electric Hybrid Division
  • Diesel
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
  • CNG Division
  • Diesel
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
  • Diesel

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.[28]

Ride On routes
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 checkY checkY checkY checkY
2 Silver Spring – Lyttonsville Silver Spring Station Brookville (Ride On Operations Center) checkY checkY checkY checkY
4 Silver Spring – Kensington Armory Avenue & Knowles Avenue Silver Spring Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N
5 Silver Spring – Twinbrook Twinbrook Station Silver Spring Station checkY checkY checkY checkY
6 Parkside – Grosvenor – Montgomery Mall Montgomery Mall Transit Center Grosvenor-Strathmore Station checkY checkY ☒N ☒N
7 Wheaton – Forest Glen Forest Glen Station Wheaton Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N AM from Wheaton Station, PM from Forest Glen Station
8 Silver Spring – Wheaton Silver Spring Station Wheaton Station checkY checkY checkY ☒N via Forest Glen Road & Holy Cross Hospital
9 Silver Spring – Wheaton Silver Spring Station Wheaton Station checkY checkY checkY checkY
10 Twinbrook – Hillandale Twinbrook Station New Hampshire Avenue & Power Mill Road checkY checkY checkY checkY replaced WMATA Metrobus Route C6 in 1998.
11 Silver Spring – Friendship Heights Friendship Heights Station Silver Spring Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N 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 checkY checkY checkY checkY via Carroll Avenue
13 Silver Spring – Takoma Silver Spring Station Takoma Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N via Sligo Creek Parkway
14 Silver Spring – Takoma Silver Spring Station Takoma Station checkY checkY checkY ☒N via Colesville Road
15 Silver Spring – Langley Park Silver Spring Station Takoma Langley Transit Center checkY checkY checkY checkY Second highest ridership in system, avg. 4,500 per day
16 Silver Spring – Takoma Silver Spring Station Takoma Station checkY checkY checkY checkY via New Hampshire Avenue
17 Silver Spring – Langley Park Silver Spring Station Takoma Langley Transit Center checkY checkY checkY checkY via Montgomery College in Takoma Park
18 Silver Spring – Langley Park Silver Spring Station Takoma Langley Transit Center checkY checkY checkY checkY 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 checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N AM from Forest Glen Road, PM from Silver Spring
20 Silver Spring – Hillandale Silver Spring Station New Hampshire Avenue & Power Mill Road checkY checkY checkY checkY Operates via Piney Branch Road & New Hampshire Avenue
21 Silver Spring – Briggs Chaney Park & Ride Silver Spring Station Briggs Chaney Park & Ride checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N AM from Briggs Chaney, PM from Silver Spring Station.

Service started on June 25, 2007.[29]

22 Silver Spring – Hillandale Silver Spring Station Hillandale Center (Power Mill Road) checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Operates via Columbia Pike & Colesville Road
23 Friendship Heights – Sibley Hospital Sibley Hospital Friendship Heights Station checkY checkY checkY checkY
24 Hillandale – Takoma Takoma Station Power Mill Road & New Hampshire Avenue checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N AM from Hillandale, PM from Takoma Station
25 Takoma – Langley Park Takoma Station Takoma Langley Transit Center checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N via Maple Ave
26 Montgomery Mall – Glenmont Montgomery Mall Transit Center Glenmont Station checkY checkY checkY checkY Replaced original WMATA Metrobus Route C8 in 1996.
28 VANGO Free Circulator – Silver Spring Silver Spring Station checkY checkY checkY ☒N 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)

checkY checkY checkY checkY replaces WMATA Route C1, and N8 and original Ride On Route 31
30 Bethesda – Medical Center Bethesda Station Medical Center Station checkY checkY ☒N ☒N
31 Wheaton – Glenmont Wheaton Station Glenmont Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N 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 checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N via Cabin John
33 Glenmont – Medical Center Medical Center Station Glenmont Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N
34 Aspen Hill – Friendship Heights Friendship Heights Station Aspen Hill (Weekday Rush Hours only)

Wheaton Station

checkY checkY checkY checkY
  • Serves Aspen Hill to Friendship Heights Station AM Rush, From Friendship Heights Station to Aspen Hill PM Rush
  • Originally went from Aspen Hill to Medical Center Station only
  • Extended to Friendship Heights Station on May 4, 2008 replacing original Ride On Route 42.
36 Bethesda – Potomac – via Hillandale Rd Connelly School (Bradley Blvd) Bethesda Station checkY checkY ☒N ☒N
  • via Bradley Blvd
  • via Hillandale Road (Rush Hour Only)
  • AM to Bethesda Station PM to Connelly School
37 Potomac – Wheaton Potomac Community Center Wheaton Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Serves Grosvenor-Strathmore Station

AM Rush service from Wheaton, PM Rush service to Wheaton

38 Wheaton – White Flint White Flint Station Wheaton Station checkY checkY checkY checkY
39 Glenmont – Briggs Chaney Park & Ride Glenmont Station Briggs Chaney Park and Ride checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N
41 Aspen Hill – Glenmont Glenmont Station Grand Pre Road & Bel Pre Road (Aspen Hill) checkY checkY checkY checkY Replaced WMATA Metrobus Route Q3 in 1996.[30]
42 White Flint – Montgomery Mall Montgomery Mall Transit Center White Flint Station checkY checkY checkY ☒N
  • Select trips operates to White Flint via Boiling Brook Parkway
  • Created on January 13, 2013; formerly part of Route 38.[31]
43 Shady Grove – Traville Transit Center – Fallsgrove Center Traville Transit Center Shady Grove Station checkY checkY checkY checkY
44 Twinbrook – Rockville Twinbrook Station Rockville Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N
45 Rockville Regional Transit – Twinbrook/Rockville Senior Center Twinbrook Station Rockville Regional Transit Center checkY checkY checkY ☒N Select trips operates via Rockville Senior Center
46 Shady Grove/Montgomery College – MD355 – Medical Center Medical Center Station Montgomery College Rockville Campus checkY checkY checkY checkY
47 Rockville – Montgomery Mall – Bethesda Bethesda Station Rockville Station checkY checkY checkY checkY 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 checkY checkY checkY checkY Replaced original WMATA Metrobus Route Q4 in the mid 1990s.
49 Rockville – Glenmont Rockville Station Glenmont Station checkY checkY checkY checkY Replaced WMATA Metrobus Route Y4 in 1998.
51 Glenmont – Norbeck Park & Ride Glenmont Station Norbeck Park & Ride checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Service started in late 1998.
52 Rockville – Montgomery General Hospital – Our Lady of Good Counsel High School Rockville Station Montgomery General Hospital checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N This route serves Our Lady of Good Counsel High School during peak hour.
53 Shady Grove – Glenmont Shady Grove Station Glenmont Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N
54 Rockville – Lakeforest Rockville Station Lakeforest Transit Center checkY checkY checkY checkY via Muddy Branch Road, Research Blvd, and West Montgomery Avenue

Serves Washingtonian Rio

55 Rockville – Germantown Transit Center Rockville Station Germantown Transit Center checkY checkY checkY checkY
56 Rockville – Lakeforest Rockville Station Lakeforest Transit Center checkY checkY checkY checkY 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 checkY checkY checkY checkY 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)

checkY checkY checkY checkY via Snouffer School Road and East Village
59 Rockville – Montgomery Village Rockville Station Montgomery Village Center (Clubhouse Road) checkY checkY checkY checkY 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) checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N 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 checkY checkY checkY checkY 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 checkY checkY ☒N ☒N via Gaither Road and Piccard Drive
64 Shady Grove – Montgomery Village Shady Grove Station Montgomery Village Center (Clubhouse Road) checkY checkY checkY checkY via Centerway Road and Emory Grove Road
65 Shady Grove – Montgomery Village Shady Grove Station Montgomery Village Center (Stedwick Road) checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N 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 checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N via Shady Grove Adventist Hospital

AM from Shady Grove, PM from Traville

67 Shady Grove – Traville Transit Center Traville Transit Center Shady Grove Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N via Frederick Avenue and Dufief Mill Road

AM from Traville, PM from Shady Grove

70 Germantown – Bethesda Express Bethesda Station Milestone Park & Ride checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N
71 Shady Grove – Kingsview Park and Ride Shady Grove Station Kingsview Park & Ride checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N 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) checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N via I-370, I-270, Frederick Road, Clarksburg Road, and West Old Baltimore Road

Service started on May 14, 2017.[32]

74 Shady Grove – Germantown Transit Center Shady Grove Station Germantown Transit Center checkY checkY checkY ☒N 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 checkY checkY checkY checkY
76 Shady Grove – Poolesville Poolesville Shady Grove Station checkY checkY checkY ☒N
78 Shady Grove – Kingsview Park and Ride Shady Grove Station Kingsview Park & Ride checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N 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 checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N
  • via I-370, I-270, Middlebrook Road, and Ridge Road.
  • AM from Clarksburg, PM from Shady Grove
  • Rerouted on April 9, 2009 replacing Route 82.
81 Rockville – White Flint White Flint Station Rockville Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N via Tower Oaks Blvd
83 Holy Cross Germantown – Milestone Park & Ride – Germantown Transit Center – Germantown MARC Germantown Transit Center Holy Cross Hospital Germantown checkY checkY checkY ☒N via Century Blvd, Waters Landing Drive, Father Hurley Road, 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)

checkY checkY ☒N ☒N
96 Grosvenor – Rock Spring – Montgomery Mall Montgomery Mall Transit Center Grosvenor-Strathmore Station checkY checkY ☒N ☒N 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 checkY checkY checkY checkY
  • A circular loop route
  • via Middlebrook Road, Father Hurley Blvd, Wisteria Drive, and Waring Station Road
  • Serves Germantown Town Center and the Germantown MARC station during weekday peak hours
  • AM: Clockwise loop, PM: Counterclockwise loop
98 Germantown Transit Center – Kingsview Park & Ride Kingsview Park & Ride Germantown Transit Center checkY checkY checkY ☒N 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 checkY checkY checkY checkY Express via I-370 and I-270
101 Lake Forest – Medical Center (Ride On extRa) Medical Center Station Lakeforest Transit Center checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N
  • Started service on October 2, 2017.
  • Route overlays Route 46 and 55 on MD 355 that serves only 13 stops every 10 minutes.
  • Replaced WMATA Metrobus Routes J7 & J9.
  • AM times: 5:30am–9:30am, PM times: 3:30 pm – 7:30 pm
129 Burtonsville – Silver Spring (Limited Stop) Silver Spring Station Burtonsville Park & Ride checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N
  • Service started on May 14, 2018.
  • Limited Stop service between Silver Spring & Burtonsville P&R
  • Only serves 15 stops every 15 minutes.
  • AM times: 5:30am–9:00am, PM times: 3:00 pm–7:00 pm
  • via Colesville Road, Lockwood Drive, Stewart Lane, Tech Road Park & Ride, Briggs Chaney Park & Ride, Castle Blvd
301 Rockville – Tobytown Tobytown Drive Rockville Station checkY checkY checkY checkY Started service on October 2, 2016. Serves North Potomac and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital

Additionally, Ride On operates two weekend routes that are served by WMATA Metrobus on weekdays.[33][34]

Ride On Routes
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) checkY checkY
T2 Rockville – Friendship Heights Friendship Heights Station Rockville Station (WMATA Metrobus) (WMATA Metrobus) checkY checkY 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.

Former Ride On routes
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 checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N AM from Takoma Station, PM from Silver Spring Station. Discontinued on September 17, 2017 due to low ridership.[35]
10 (first use)
11 (first use)
21 (first use) Burtonsville Shuttle Briggs Chaney Park & Ride Briggs Chaney Park & Ride checkY (see note) checkY ☒N ☒N Looped around the Briggs Chaney Park & Ride. Only ran midday on weekdays. Discontinued on January 4, 2002.[36]
26 (first use)
27 Friendship Heights – Medical Center Friendship Heights Station Medical Center Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Discontinued on September 7, 2003 due to low ridership. Alternative service available on extended Route 33 and realigned Route 36.[37]
31 (first use) checkY checkY checkY checkY Replaced by Route 29 in early 1998.
35 Wheaton – Montgomery Mall Montgomery Mall Transit Center Wheaton Station checkY checkY checkY checkY Discontinued on September 1, 2002; replaced by extended route 47 and realigned Route 34.[38][39]
40 White Flint – Glenmont White Flint Station Glenmont Station checkY checkY checkY ☒N Discontinued in early 2001; replaced by extended WMATA Metrobus route C8.[40][41]
41 (first use)
42 (first use) Friendship Heights – Medical Center Friendship Heights Station Medical Center Station checkY checkY checkY checkY Combined with Route 34 on May 4, 2008.[42]
48 (first use)
49 (first use)
50
51 (first use)
62 Shady Grove – Germantown Shady Grove Station Montgomery College Rockville Campus checkY checkY checkY checkY Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[43][44]
63X Shady Grove - Gaither Road Shady Grove Station Gaither Road & Gaither Drive checkY checkY ☒N ☒N 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 checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Discontinued by 1998.
67 (first use) Shady Grove – Shady Grove Hospital Shady Grove Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Discontinued by 1998.
68 Germantown MARC Shuttle Germantown MARC Germantown MARC checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Looped around the Germantown MARC Station. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[43][44]
69 Germantown MARC Shuttle Germantown MARC Germantown MARC checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Looped around the Germantown MARC Station. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[43][44]
72 Shady Grove – Germantown Shady Grove Station Germantown Commons checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N AM from Germantown Commons; PM from Shady Grove. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[43][44]
73 (first use) Shady Grove – Germantown – Goldenrod Lane Shady Grove Station Goldenrod Lane & Century Blvd checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N AM from Goldenrod Lane & Century Blvd; PM from Shady Grove. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[43][44]
77 Shady Grove – Germantown Shady Grove Station Germantown Commons checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N AM from Germantown Commons; PM from Shady Grove. Discontinued on May 28, 2005.[43][44]
80 Shady Grove – King Farm Loop Shady Grove Station Gaither Road & Redland Road checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Discontinued; last run was on May 3, 2002.[36]
82 Clarksburg Town Center – Germantown Transit Center Clarksburg Gateway Center Department of Energy in Germantown checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N AM from Clarksburg; PM from Department of Energy. Combined with Route 79 on April 5, 2009.[42]
91 Rockville Pike Shuttle Rockville Town Center Rock Pike & Edson Lane ☒N checkY ☒N ☒N Operated from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Discontinued on September 3, 2001.[45]
92 Bethesda Shuttle Bethesda Station Bethesda Station checkY checkY checkY ☒N Became operated by the Bethesda Urban Partnership on September 3, 2006.[46]
93 US – HHS – Twinbrook Station Twinbrook Station DHHS Parklawn Shuttle (Fishers Lane) checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Discontinued on September 17, 2017 due to low ridership.[35]
94 Clarksburg – Germantown MARC Germantown MARC Clarksburg Gateway Center checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Discontinued on September 17, 2017 due to low ridership.[35]
124 Shady Grove Express MD 117 Park & Ride

MD 124 Park & Ride

Shady Grove Station checkY ☒N ☒N ☒N Operates through I-270. Discontinued on March 14, 2008.[42]
127 Campus Connector (Takoma – Silver Spring – Shady Grove UMS) Takoma Station University of Maryland checkY checkY ☒N ☒N Discontinued on May 16, 2008.[42]

Additionally, Ride On ran one weekend route that are served by WMATA Metrobus on weekdays. These routes have since been discontinued due to the same reason as other discontinued Ride On routes.

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) checkY ☒N Saturday Service Discontinued on January 12, 2013 due to low ridership.[47] Weekday service is still operated by Metrobus, See Colesville–Ashton Line for history.

References

  1. ^ "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. {{cite web}}: External link in |via= (help)
  2. ^ a b "Transit Services - Ride On Program". Montgomery County MD Government. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  3. ^ "Ride On Routes and Schedules".
  4. ^ 911NewsCoverage (4 July 2014). "ABC (WJLA) 9-11-2001 News Coverage 11:00 PM - 12:00 AM" – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Ride On to Add Dozens of New Buses to Fleet". Montgomery County Department Of Transportation. MCDOT. May 16, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Grant Allows Montgomery County To Buy Electric Buses for Its Fleet". Bethesda Magazine. Bethesda Magazine. September 15, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ "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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "MCDOT Unveils Ride On Flex at Microtransit Public Forum". dccommutetimes.com. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  11. ^ "Ride On Flex". www.montgomerycountymd.gov. Retrieved 2019-06-06.
  12. ^ Clabaugh, Jeff. "Montgomery Co.'s new Bus Rapid Transit system to be called 'Flash'". Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ Lyons, Jane. "MoCo advances two bus rapid transit projects on Route 355 and Veirs Mill Road". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "Kids Ride Free".
  17. ^ Hedgpeth, Dana. "Crash involving Ride On bus and SUV in Bethesda". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  18. ^ Zimmermann, Joe. "Ride On Bus Crash Injures Five on Western Avenue". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  19. ^ Arnold, Tiffany. "Ride On bus driver pinned in crash involving truck". Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  20. ^ "Montgomery County Maryland Capital Budget". apps.montgomerycountymd.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  21. ^ Malouff, Dan. "DASH is running the first non-WMATA articulated buses in Washington area transit". Greater Greater Washington. Retrieved 29 September 2019.
  22. ^ a b "Montgomery County Maryland Capital Budget". apps.montgomerycountymd.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/trafficandcommuting/ride-on-bus-fires-in-montgomery-prompts-federal-safety-probe/2012/04/11/gIQAF2WgBT_story.html
  25. ^ "Crews Battle Fire on Ride On Bus". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  26. ^ "Some Ride On Buses Taken Out of Service Following Fire". NBC4 Washington. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  27. ^ "The Schumin Web » I didn't want to have this I-told-you-so moment, but…". www.schuminweb.com. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  28. ^ "MCDOT RIDE ON ROUTES AND SCHEDULES". www.montgomerycountymd.gov.
  29. ^ www.montgomerycountymd.gov (June 21, 2007). "Dump the Pump June 21, 2007 Ride Transit". web.archive.org. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  30. ^ "Ride-On Route 41 Information". web.archive.org. March 22, 1996. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  31. ^ "MCDOT Current Events". web.archive.org. January 29, 2013. Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  32. ^ "Schedule Change 4/17: Layout 1" (PDF). www.montgomerycountymd.gov. May 4, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  33. ^ https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/L8_180916.pdf
  34. ^ https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/T2_180916.pdf
  35. ^ a b c "Schecule Change:Layout 1" (PDF). Retrieved April 11, 2019.
  36. ^ a b "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (April 4, 2002)". web.archive.org. April 4, 2002. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  37. ^ "Ride On Service Changes Effective Sunday, September 7, 2003". web.archive.org. September 7, 2003. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  38. ^ "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (June 2, 2002)". web.archive.org. June 2, 2002. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  39. ^ "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (October 3, 2002)". web.archive.org. October 3, 2002. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  40. ^ "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (April 13, 2001)". web.archive.org. April 13, 2001. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  41. ^ "Metrobus service changes effective January 13, 2001 Maryland". February 10, 2001. Archived from the original on February 10, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
  42. ^ a b c d "Ride On Routes and Schedule (April 5, 2009)". web.archive.org. April 5, 2009. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  43. ^ a b c d e f "Ride On Routes and Schedule (June 5, 2005)". web.archive.org. June 5, 2005. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  44. ^ a b c d e f "Ride On Routes and Schedule (August 26, 2005)". web.archive.org. August 26, 2005. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  45. ^ "RIDE ON Route Map-Information (October 5, 2001)". web.archive.org. October 5, 2001. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
  46. ^ "Ride On Routes and Schedule (November 4, 2006)". web.archive.org. November 4, 2006. Retrieved April 18, 2019.
  47. ^ https://www.wmata.com/about/news/pressreleasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=5392