Ride On (bus)
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A Gillig diesel-electric hybrid bus at Glenmont station, in the most recent paint scheme
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Parent | Montgomery County |
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Founded | March 31, 1975 |
Headquarters | 101 Monroe Street, 5th Floor, Rockville, Maryland, U.S. |
Service type | Bus service, paratransit |
Routes | 80 |
Fleet | 540 |
Fuel type | CNG, Diesel, Diesel-electric hybrid |
Website | http://www.MontgomeryCountyMD.gov/ |
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. Ride On also serves the Takoma Metro station, and Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Ride On operates 80 routes, including operating three Metrobus routes on weekends.[1]
History
Ride On began service on March 31, 1975.
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 2004.
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.
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 5 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 the summer and fall of 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.
In the autumn of 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. 7 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.
Fares
Ride On's current fares are $1.75 for riders using cash and for riders using SmarTrip. Senior citizens and persons with disabilities ride free weekdays between 9:30AM and 3PM; on other times a discounted fare of $0.85 is offered. 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 Metro 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 discount or to transfer free from bus to bus.
Routes
Ride On offers 80 routes throughout Montgomery County. All routes run through Peak Rush Hour Period between 6AM and 9AM and 3PM to 7PM on weekdays. Many routes offer services for off-peak hours and weekends as well.[2]
Route | Termini (Western/Southern) | Termini (Eastern/Northern) | Weekday Peak | Weekday Off-Peak | Saturday | Sunday | Notes |
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1 | Friendship Heights | Silver Spring | |||||
2 | Lyttonsville | Silver Spring | Services Ride On's Bus Garage in Silver Spring | ||||
3 | Silver Spring | Takoma | AM from Takoma, PM from Silver Spring | ||||
4 | Kensington | Silver Spring | rerouted to 2nd Avenue in the 1990s | ||||
5 | Twinbrook | Silver Spring | rerouted to 16th Street and Spring Street in the late 1990s | ||||
6 | Montgomery Mall | Parkside - Grosvenor | Wheaton service replaced by Route 37 in 2007 | ||||
7 | Forest Glen | Wheaton | Kensington service discontinued in 2010 | ||||
8 | Silver Spring | Wheaton | via Forest Glen Rd | ||||
9 | Silver Spring | Wheaton | via Amherst Ave, replaced the old Route 40 in 1998 | ||||
10 | Twinbrook | Hillandale | replaced WMATA Metrobus Route C6 in 1998 | ||||
11 | Friendship Heights | Silver Spring | AM from Silver Spring, PM from Friendship Heights | ||||
12 | Silver Spring | Takoma | via Carroll Ave | ||||
13 | Silver Spring | Takoma | via Sligo Creek Pkwy | ||||
14 | Silver Spring | Takoma | via University Blvd, often services Eastern Middle School | ||||
15 | Silver Spring | Langley Park | Second highest ridership in system, avg. 4,500 per day | ||||
16 | Silver Spring | Takoma | via New Hampshire Ave, service extended to Takoma Park after 1997 annexation by Montgomery County | ||||
17 | Silver Spring | Langley Park | via Montgomery College in Takoma Park | ||||
18 | Silver Spring | Langley Park | via Takoma, Sunday service between Langley Park and Takoma station only (no Sunday service between Takoma and Silver Spring stations) | ||||
19 | Silver Spring | Northwood/Dallas Ave | AM from Dallas Ave, PM from Silver Spring | ||||
20 | Silver Spring | Hillandale | via Piney Branch Ave | ||||
21 | Silver Spring | Briggs Chaney Park and Ride | AM from Briggs Chaney, PM from Silver Spring | ||||
22 | Silver Spring | Hillandale | via White Oak Research Center/FDA, AM from Hillandale, PM from Silver Spring | ||||
23 | Sibley Hospital | Friendship Heights | via University Blvd, often services Eastern Middle School | ||||
24 | Takoma | Hillandale | |||||
25 | Takoma | Langley Park | via Maple Ave | ||||
26 | Montgomery Mall | Glenmont | Replaced original WMATA Metrobus Route C8 in 1996 | ||||
28 | Silver Spring | Silver Spring | Free service at all times, VanGO Shuttle Loop around Downtown Silver Spring | ||||
29 | Friendship Heights | Bethesda / Glen Echo | Bethesda weekday terminus, Glen Echo weekend terminus, replaces WMATA Metrobus Route N8 and old Ride On Route 31 | ||||
30 | Bethesda | Medical Center | |||||
31 | Wheaton | Glenmont | |||||
32 | Naval Ship R&D Center, Woodrock | Bethesda | via Cabin John | ||||
33 | Medical Center | Glenmont | Previous service to Bethesda and Wheaton discontinued | ||||
34 | Friendship Heights | Aspen Hill | Replaced 31 and 32 bus service in 1990s, peak hours service to Aspen Hill | ||||
36 | Potomac | Bethesda | via Hillandale Rd and Bradley Blvd, serves Connely School | ||||
37 | Potomac Community Center | Wheaton | Serves Grosvenor, AM from Wheaton, PM to Wheaton | ||||
38 | White Flint | Wheaton | Truncated from Montgomery Mall to White Flint in 2013, Remaining route now Route 42 | ||||
39 | Glenmont | Briggs Chaney Park and Ride | |||||
41 | Glenmont | Aspen Hill | Replaced WMATA Metrobus Route Y6 in 1996 | ||||
42 | Montgomery Mall | White Flint | see Route 38 | ||||
43 | Traville Transit Center | Shady Grove | via Shady Grove Adventist Hospital | ||||
44 | Twinbrook | Rockville | |||||
45 | Twinbrook | Rockville Regional Transit Center/Fallsgrove | |||||
46 | Medical Center | Montgomery College Rockville Campus | Midnight and Sunday service to Shady Grove | ||||
47 | Bethesda | Rockville | Serves Montgomery Mall | ||||
48 | Wheaton | Rockville | Replaced original WMATA Metrobus Route Q4 in the mid 1990s | ||||
49 | Rockville | Glenmont | Replaced WMATA Metrobus Route Y4 in 1998 | ||||
51 | Glenmont | Norbeck Park and Ride | |||||
52 | Rockville | MedStar Montgomery Medical Center | |||||
53 | Shady Grove | Glenmont | |||||
54 | Rockville | Lakeforest | via Muddy Branch Rd, serves Rio | ||||
55 | Rockville | Germantown Transit Center | Highest ridership Avg. 8,000 per day, serves Montgomery College in Germantown and Rockville, Sunday service between Germantown Transit Center and Shady Grove station only (no Sunday service between Shady Grove and Rockville stations) | ||||
56 | Rockville | Lakeforest | via Quince Orchard Rd and Darnestown Rd, serves Kentlands | ||||
57 | Shady Grove | Lakeforest | via Redland Rd | ||||
58 | Shady Grove | Lakeforest | via Snouffer School Rd and East Village, serves Kaiser Permanente on Weekdays | ||||
59 | Rockville | Montgomery Village | via Gude Dr, Crabbs Branch Way and Deer Park Road | ||||
60 | Shady Grove | Montgomery Village | AM from Montgomery Village, PM from Shady Grove | ||||
61 | Shady Grove | Germantown, Maryland Transit Center | via Clopper Road and Girard Street | ||||
63 | Rockville | Shady Grove | via Gaither Road and Piccard Drive | ||||
64 | Shady Grove | Montgomery Village | via Centerway Road and Emory Grove Road | ||||
65 | Shady Grove | Montgomery Village | Limited Stops via Mid-County Highway, AM from Montgomery Village, PM from Shady Grove | ||||
66 | Traville Transit Center | Shady Grove | via Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, AM from Shady Grove, PM from Traville | ||||
67 | Traville Transit Center | Shady Grove | via Frederick Avenue and Dufief Mill Road, AM from Traville, PM from Shady Grove | ||||
70 | Bethesda | Germantown, Maryland Milestone Transit Center | Express Route (Special Fare), via I-270 | ||||
71 | Shady Grove | Kingsview Park and Ride | via I-270 and Mateny Rd, AM from Kingsview, PM from Shady Grove | ||||
74 | Shady Grove | Germantown, Maryland Transit Center | via Great Seneca Highway, serves Kentlands and Rio | ||||
75 | Germantown Transit Center | Clarksburg Correctional Center | |||||
76 | Poolesville | Shady Grove | via Kentlands | ||||
78 | Shady Grove | Kingsview Park and Ride | via I-270 and Richter Farm Road, AM from Kingsview, PM from Shady Grove | ||||
79 | Shady Grove | Clarksburg Gateway Center | via I-270, AM from Clarksburg, PM from Shady Grove | ||||
81 | White Flint | Rockville | via Tower Oaks Blvd | ||||
83 | Germantown MARC | Holy Cross Hospital Germantown | via Germantown Transit Center, MARC station served weekdays only | ||||
90 | Shady Grove | Damascus | |||||
93 | Twinbrook | DHHS Parklawn Shuttle | |||||
94 | Germantown MARC | Clarksburg Gateway Center | |||||
96 | Montgomery Mall/Rock Spring Center | Grosvenor | Montgomery Mall served peak hours only | ||||
97 | Germantown, Maryland Transit Center, Germantown Loop | via Germantown MARC, Gunners Lake | Clockwise AM, Counterclockwise PM | ||||
98 | Kingsview Park and Ride | Germantown, Maryland Transit Center | via Father Hurley Blvd | ||||
100 | Shady Grove | Germantown, Maryland Transit Center | Express via I-270 |
Additionally, Ride On operates two weekend routes that are served by WMATA Metrobus on weekdays.[3][4]
Route | Termini (Western/Southern) | Termini (Eastern/Northern) | Weekday Peak | Weekday Off-Peak | Saturday | Sunday | Notes |
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L8 | Friendship Heights | Aspen Hill | (WMATA Metrobus) | (WMATA Metrobus) | |||
T2 | Friendship Heights | Rockville | (WMATA Metrobus) | (WMATA Metrobus) | via Potomac |
Fleet
Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Ride On operates a fleet consisting mainly of Diesel, CNG, and Diesel-electric hybrid buses produced by Orion Bus Industries, Gillig Corporation and New Flyer Industries.
Year | Manufacturer | Model | Length (ft.) | Picture | Engine/Transmission | Fleet Series (Qty.) |
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<<< Diesel >>> | ||||||
1999 | Gillig | Phantom | 35 | DDS 50/Voith D863.3 or Cummins M-11/Allison B400R |
5410-5423 (14) *all units retired as of March 2015 |
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1996 | Orion | 05.503 (V) | Cummins M-11/Voith D863.3 | 5550-5566 (17) *all units retired as of September 30, 2013 |
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1998 | 5572-5579 (8) *all units retired as of September 30, 2013 |
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1999 | 40 | DDS 50/Voith D863.3 | 5705-5725 (21) *some units retired as of March 2015 |
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2001-02 | 05.504 (V) | 35 | 150px | 5580-5623 (44) |
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2008-14 | Gillig | Low Floor | 29 | Cummins ISL/Allison B400R | 5001-5091 (91) |
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40 | 5726-5770 (45) |
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<<< Diesel-electric Hybrid >>> | ||||||
2006-12 | Gillig | Low Floor | 40 | 150px | Cummins ISB/Allison EP-40 HybriDrive | 5300-5313, 5314-5367 (68) |
<<< Compressed Natural Gas >>> | ||||||
2000 | Orion | 05.501 (V) | 40 | DDS 50/Voith D863.3 | 5803-5821 (19) *all units retired as of May 2014 |
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2003-05 | Orion | 07.502 (VII) | 35 | 150px | DDS 50or Cummins Westport C Gas Plus/Voith D864.3 or Cummins Westport C Gas Plus/ZF 5HP592C |
5900-5957 (58) |
2005 | New Flyer | C40LF | 40 | Cummins Westport C Gas Plus/Allison B400R | 5822-5836 (15) |
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2014 | Gillig | Low Floor(CNG) | 40 | Cummins ISL-G/Allison B400R | 5837-5855 (19) |
The bus fleet, owned and operated by Ride On, is distributed among three garages in Kensington, Silver Spring and Gaithersburg. Gaithersburg garage is located adjacent to the Shady Grove Metro rail yard.
References
- ↑ Ride On Routes and Schedules
- ↑ http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-transit/routesandschedules/rideonroutes.html
- ↑ http://www.wmata.com/bus/timetables/md/l78.pdf
- ↑ http://www.wmata.com/bus/timetables/md/t2.pdf
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ride On. |
- 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)