Maryland’s Newest Bus (for one week)

[@sebastianjoseph2828]

I learned about this route opening up from a Montgomery County biking advocate who biked the route before it opened. It really ought to be more publicized. I'm hoping Montgomery County really goes all out putting bus lanes on more busy corridors with existing bus routes. Rt 29, New Hampshire Ave, University Blvd, GA Ave, Connecticut Ave, Veirs Mill, Randolph Rd- there's a lot to be gained.

[@Thom-TRA]

They have a lot of plans, a lot of them are just way out in the future

[@mikewolf5367]

Thats an awesome color scheme. Whoever designed that livery deserves a raise.

[@Thom-TRA]

It is pretty nice. Simple but eye-catching.

[@WeathermanJohnBiggs]

I actually saw probably a 15 second thing on FOX 5 about the new ride on extra. Just goes to show you how much priority bus service gets. 15 seconds of news lol

[@Northern_Idaho]

On the topic of filming on empty buses, I think it makes for better content than on packed buses, since you get more options for film angles, and don’t have to worry as much if people don’t want to be filmed.

[@Thom-TRA]

True. That’s why I always look for empty cars.

[@anthonywarrener1881]

Nice ride ! I also like the liveries on those refurbished buses, and hope the services do well.

[@Thom-TRA]

I hope so too!

[@brycebundens6866]

The intro was FIRE🔥. What a cool system!!! Thank you for making a video on this incredibly transformative project!!!

[@Thom-TRA]

I’m excited to see it grow! Any plans to check it out yourself?

[@brycebundens6866]

@@Thom-TRA Yes, I must!!! I’ll find a reason to get out there

[@rikkichunn8856]

Pink and lime certainly sound refreshing for a hot summer day! Great video as always. Hi, Lindsey!

[@Thom-TRA]

Sounds like a great slushie flavor

[@rikkichunn8856]

@@Thom-TRA Yummmy! 😋

[@justaregularpersonn]

The Lime route will now serve until 10pm starting November 17th

[@thunderstorms508]

I live near one of these routes and I was so excited to see them coming together and finally open! My only gripe is they don’t run very late in the evening, so they aren’t the best for evening Metro trips into DC which is what I’d most like to use them for. But I’m sure it’s a great service for others.

[@Thom-TRA]

I admit I hadn’t really looked into that. When do they stop running?

[@thunderstorms508]

@@Thom-TRA 8:00 on weekdays, 7:30 on weekends.

[@thunderstorms508]

Update: they extended one of the routes to 10PM!

[@DMVRailfan]

You know it’s gonna be a good day when TRA uploads.

[@Thom-TRA]

Today is a good day

[@SlammySchmidt-s4z]

W VID

[@Thom-TRA]

@@SlammySchmidt-s4z thank you. W comment.

[@DMVRailfan]

@@Thom-TRA Yes it is!

[@IndustrialParrot2816]

It reminds me of the Rapid Ride lines here in Seattle, the Rapid Rides are high frequency Bus routes with some Bus lanes and Signal priority and have alll door boarding but aren't necessarily BRT although some of them are (mainly just the G line that opens this weekend) most of them also operate 24/7

[@ICEHAWKSBOII_5]

Tra has the best transit videos

[@Thom-TRA]

Aww thanks

[@Trainsaregreat365]

I agree

[@teecefamilykent]

Brilliant video sir, good to see Lyndsey keeping an eye on you!

[@JJRol.]

Are you going to be covering the 798 (Tysons-Bethesda) Fairfax Connector route when it eventually opens? If I remember correctly, it's the first FFX connector route to enter Maryland! Great video by the way!

[@Thom-TRA]

Yes, I will

[@Mars-ev7qg]

I'm guessing that the weird color names of the new bus routes are so that they don't get confused with lines of the DC metro.

[@Shortline819]

Line names are an interesting choice! Very creative that they went with such specific colors rather than straight primary and secondary colors.

[@trainglen22]

In another great episode of Buses are awesome. The new transit bus lines.

[@jglackey2]

According to Gillig’s own website, their buses don’t look old, they look “timeless”. Whatever you have to tell yourself I guess lol

[@Thom-TRA]

lol timeless is one way to put it

[@michaelb9629]

I like how they named those routes after those colors. In Normal, IL, I’ve rode on the lime route bus at least a couple times. The bus system there is called connect transit.

[@ck4426]

This bus is awesome and it’s also awesome when you do your adventures with Lindsey!!! She is such a good sport and I enjoy hearing her take on everything too. Awesome!!!

[@Thom-TRA]

She’s the best!

[@EmmaKAlexandra]

These buses have better headways & infrastructure than my local bus route to 2 metro stations in DC, thanks WMATA

[@dddaddy]

Loving all the bus content (too)! 👍🏼😎

[@Thom-TRA]

More to come!

[@PiplupJames]

Interesting that those routes started on my bday. I have commuted up to the Rio mall before so if i come up and Ride On again, I’ll definitely utilize the new routes.

[@paulcastillo1310]

This cool on the bus

[@joserivera-yc5rr]

Buses are also awesome, great video

[@justaregularpersonn]

The reason why they didnt name the 2 upcoming routes Green or Blue is because RideOn is adding a Green route to its FLASH service that also has 2 routes named after colors.

[@pained8explained8]

Great video

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!

[@gregorylparks7304]

Great Video!!😊

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks! 😊

[@gregorylparks7304]

@Thom-TRA You're Welcome!!

[@drewgirard4887]

You guys are such great assets to the DMV, thank you for covering transit in the area! You along with Oh the Urbanity! are my favorite urbanists on KZbin. As an alum of USG, I really wish the Pink and Lime were around back when I was a student, it would have made getting to class a breeze. Also if you're ever at Traville again, stop by the USG Library, its open to non-students and I also have to shout out Black Lion, an Ethiopian coffee shop down the street, which is far better than Dunkin imo. Glad to see transit improving in the area, keep up the good work!

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks! We’re glad to live here

[@Coltrain78]

Loved it.

[@DanHominem]

The way I knew about these new lines is only because Google Maps thinks it's a tram for some reason, and I noticed the "tram stops" on the map XD

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah isn’t that so weird?

[@frankrambo9430]

My county in Georgia has a sales tax for transit on the ballot this November. The informatíonal material explaining the projects they will be using the money for call the service you featured in this video Arterial Rapid Transit which is a step up from the regular service but below BRT. It was nice to see ART in action. If the tax passes (doubtful at present sadly), I will get a brand new ART line near my house.

[@johnfriel-uj2zs]

We Don't Have Bus Lanes In Philadelphia . Modern Outstanding Video As Usual

[@Thom-TRA]

Streets too narrow? They should ban cars from some of them!

[@denyzaro]

At 4:38 there’s a pedestrian crossing sign flipped upside down😂

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah it’s silly

[@paulcastillo1310]

Great video

[@Thom-TRA]

Thanks!

[@paulcastillo1310]

@@Thom-TRA your welcome

[@paulcastillo1310]

@@Thom-TRA welcome

[@Bjd79]

👀 first bus hits curve at bus stop!

[@Thommygun-qv7um]

Nice to see that some US cities try to improve their public transport. And thanks for another great fusion of entertainment and education Thom. You just know how to do it m8! But why do they need to spend so much on branding and dedicated buses for those routes? Just use a regular bus. I am sure ppl will understand which bus to take since the line and destination are displayed on the front of the vehicle. That is how city buses work. That money could be spend elsewhere, IMO. Or is this advertising really essential to get ppl from their cars into the buses? I honestly don't know but would love to learn.

[@Thom-TRA]

I think the branding is just an extra visual tool to make it clear that this is an enhanced bus

[@nelsonramos5826]

Wow🎉 nice bus

[@mysteryman7877]

I know it’s still new, but RideOn needs to fix their GTFS data. Pink is a streetcar on Google maps and doesn’t appear on Apple Maps at all

[@GirtonOramsay]

The buses in my suburb that feed into a light rail station only run hourly on weekends, so I just end biking there. Wish my local buses got dedicate bus lanes lke this too

[@Thom-TRA]

Well that’s not a very useful schedule!

[@justinfauntroy8979]

Still wish the CCT got built, but this looks like it will be quite useful!

[@Cupertinorail]

The old 2019 gilligs are still in service at VTA.

[@Trainsaregreat365]

It's trains are awesome so it's gonna be good

[@underdamud.]

hey thom what exactly was the new route for ride on 8 days after the fliming of this video?

[@Thom-TRA]

798

[@jonathankleinow2073]

The route does look nice, but I'd be worried about returning. Michael Stipe was very unequivocal when he sang, "Don't Go Back to Rockville."

[@Thom-TRA]

Good thing shady grove is not in Rockville

[@jonathankleinow2073]

@@Thom-TRA Still too close for comfort

[@kumaragurusaravanan2248]

Nice video. Though I think that the Gillig low floor BRT PLUS could have worked out as well plus the fare boxes could have had a fare loading button that only works on regular routes than the extra routes. In my opinion. Though I like the video and hopefully you enjoyed the trip through MOCO.

[@Thom-TRA]

They don’t really have enough BRT Plus to run all 3 routes

[@kumaragurusaravanan2248]

@@Thom-TRA I guess you're right and amazing video on the start of the Great Seneca Transit Network

[@ZackScriven]

I thought you meant park and Lime 🍋‍🟩 (like the scooter) 🤣

[@justaregularpersonn]

@Gillig07 uploaded a photo showing a new 2024 Gillig Plus Electric bus in the rideon extra scheme. This is probably due to RideOn planning to add 2 more bus lines.

[@Thom-TRA]

Wow I just saw that. Crazy.

[@justaregularpersonn]

@@Thom-TRA www.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-dte/projects/GST/index.html they're planning to add more electric buses and possibly hydrogen buses to cut emissions by 2035

[@LoopysLeftovers]

If I had to guess why these lines are named this way. It is to be similar to the metro line names.

[@rynovoski]

I’m surprised Gillig still sells buses that look like that. I guess if you want the commonality. I was riding the restyled ones at least 10 years ago.

[@londonwhaley8690]

I enjoy that video👍👍

[@Thom-TRA]

I'm glad!

[@Taiimoni]

I wonder how long that bus is…definitely over 40ft

[@Thom-TRA]

I think it’s 40ft

[@Taiimoni]

@ Thanks

[@robertlunderwood]

Will you be covering the new Tysons to Bethesda route?

[@Thom-TRA]

Of course!

[@DanHominem]

Im pretty sure that Dunkin used to be a bank...

[@DanHominem]

Smartrip card readers also did not work for me.

[@Thom-TRA]

Today they store a different valuable

[@Unmannedperson]

I wonder if the odd color names (pink not red, lime not green, cobalt not blue) is to avoid confusion with DC Metro line names? Also gray not silver, though that is a less outlandish line color.

[@Thom-TRA]

Could be, though their FLASH BRT system does use the more elementary colors

[@mikecarrington4297]

Thanks for another great upload but for some reason I have the urge to go to Dunkin Donuts

[@Thom-TRA]

Hmm better find one that’s still open

[@Drknnja]

Blue is already used on Ride On Flash.

[@alexisdespland4939]

it would be kinfa harf maybe to tell green from lime if suffient length of lines are shared by both colors.

[@SlammySchmidt-s4z]

Is this Baltimore M.D?

[@Thom-TRA]

No

[@Potomacguy007]

Pink route avoids, 2 very busy car centric shopping centers and a lake shopping center (RIO) all pack with cars. Yes it will developed with time but that terminus is one of the slower shopping centers. Giant food owned the place. The adjacent shopping center with Trader’s Joes has twice as many cars parked. The goal of that route is it gets students to the university, scientist’s to labs, and health care workers to the hospital without driving cars. None of them are in the habit of riding a poorly maintained bus…. as you the smart card reader wasn’t working.

[@ElyseHorvath]

It was nice meeting you on Sunday I was with Elliott and his mother I’m gonna be honest I don’t like these new routes they took service from my home route and my ONLY way I can get places I don’t drive so I’m a tad salty here I went from every 30 to every 40-45 minutes and service ends about 15 minutes earlier I rode a few times this week and myself and a friend were the only riders

[@colinwinogradoff6794]

What a sad come down from 35 years ago. This was supposed to a light rail line, maybe even a monorail. USA will never have nice public transportation, ever.

[@Thom-TRA]

The monorail is going to Frederick. This was a different project.

[@dontaviansmallwood7889]

Any news on the new flash service thom ? Maybe in the next few years

[@Thom-TRA]

News on expansion? I don’t think any new route is opening soon, they’re all being “planned”

[@dontaviansmallwood7889]

@@Thom-TRA ahh ok

[@kirillboyko9208]

Very nice! I wish that washington post maybe took a break from writing about everything else in the world and covered a pretty meaningful transit extension so that more local people would be in the know. Good job RideOn! Hope the other lines will be put in service soon! Also would be interesting to know how much more ridership these buses get during workdays, maybe someone who attends USG can share.

[@dshares]

Why are the lights purple on the inside? Are they black lights? That has to be terrible for your eyes.

[@Thom-TRA]

They’re blue

[@kevanhubbard9673]

There was already that blue car in the bus lane which is the problem with them.... enforcement.The police will say that they don't have the staff which is probably true but even if they did they can't be everywhere .

[@eunheS]

Can you pay in cash? Do you give it to the driver or where?

[@Thom-TRA]

There’s a slot to insert bills

[@Trainsaregreat365]

7:46 did you forget that you also have tiktok

[@Thom-TRA]

I haven’t logged into that in like 3 years

[@Trainsaregreat365]

@@Thom-TRA I see

[@paulcastillo1310]

It's almost like l a metro rapid

[@Thom-TRA]

Yeah pretty similar. Somewhere between rapid and the J line.

[@mitchbart4225]

@@Thom-TRA Most of the LA Metro Rapid routes are gone. Only 720 Wilshire, 754 Vermont and 761 Van Nuys/Sepulveda (through the Sepulveda Pass) remain.

[@Trainsaregreat365]

Cool video thom very much appreciated by me your fan enoch from Brisbane Australia

[@nelsonramos5826]

I need donuts

[@Thom-TRA]

Me too

[@nelsonramos5826]

😎

[@BenriBea]

lot of bus videos lately

[@peterdowden7694]

I agree with Lindsey... "cobalt" is also a fairly obscure and unfamiliar name, it will be difficult for non-English speakers and people with cognitive impairment

[@Thom-TRA]

Navy could have been better

[@dodge1515]

2019 isn't really old.

[@Thom-TRA]

My guy, the very next sentence I say “they’re not really old, they just look old.” It depresses me how insanely bad people are at listening.

[@dodge1515]

@@Thom-TRA I'm aware of what you said, I just like to double down on the obvious...

[@United1748-]

google classifies the pink line as a light rail line. not sure how that could happen

[@Thom-TRA]

So does the transit app. Isn’t that weird?

[@colinwinogradoff6794]

It was originally supposed to a light rail line. ​@@Thom-TRA

[@Thom-TRA]

@@colinwinogradoff6794 it was originally going to be BRT. I don’t think it was ever meant to be LRT.

[@AllAmericanRailfan4]

FIRST LIKE, COMMENT, AND VIEW

[@Thom-TRA]

You were one second behind the first!

[@AllAmericanRailfan4]

@@Thom-TRA Dang it!!!