D.C. is a mecca of internships, nightclubs, bars, restaurants, museums, theaters, memorials, and roadtrip opportunities. Fast, affordable transportation adds to the enjoyment of each spot you attend. Public transportation in DC must be paid for at the time of service. The most convenient way to do so is to use a SmarTrip card, which is accepted on both Metro and bus services. A complementary SmarTripcard will be provided to you by the Newhouse DC Program. To add funds to your card, you may either use the charging stations located at every Metro station or register your card on WMATA’s website and use their online system, where you can also set your card to be automatically recharged whenever the balance gets low. It is advised to download the “Transit” app because it has the most up to date transit options based on your location.
These two systems work together. If you take the circulator ($1.00) and then transfer to a bus, your bus fare will only be $0.75. If you take a bus ($1.75) and transfer to a circulator, you will not be charged an additional fare. If you transfer from Metrorail to a bus, your bus fare will be $1.25. If you transfer from bus to Metrorail, there is no discount on your Metrorail ride.
Cabs are readily available and metered. The base fare starts at $3.25 and there are additional charges per person ($1.50 per person). To save money, try to share a cab with someone. Also, be sure that the cab is a registered cab and not a“fake;” you can tell by making sure that they've posted their identification cards on their sun visors. You can call for a pick-up, but there is a $2 increase in prices. The top three companies are Yellow Cab Company of D.C. 202-546-7900, Taxi Transportation Service 202-398-0500, and V.I.P. Cab Company 202-269-9000.
Uber and Lyft, and particularly the UberPOOL service, provides a cheaper and in many ways more pleasant car service experience. Uber is notable in that you can generally arrange (and schedule) a pickup and drop-off anywhere in DC (DC cab drivers sometimes refuse to drive to certain neighborhoods, even though it is illegal for them to refuse.) and that all payment is handled through the app, so you don’t have to worry about having enough cash. Riders should be aware that Uber practices “surge pricing,” meaning that the ride cost increases when rider demand is high in an area. More information can be found on Uber’s website at https://www.uber.com.
A car is convenient for weekend road trips and occasionally for evening activities. But during the day, traffic is horrible, and inexpensive parking spaces are scarce. Especially during the summer and holiday seasons, the streets of DC become jammed with tourists and impatient locals. If you want to rent a car, shop around. Terms of most rentals vary: you have to be 21 to 25 years old (25 is usually the standard). Prices will vary but are usually quite expensive during vacation season. Most rent-a-car agencies are at the airport, but there are a few downtown. Make reservations in advance (usually you need a credit card -- check to see if your credit card company guarantees damage expenses when you use their card to reserve a car). They will rent to you with a government I.D. even if you are not 25.
If you plan to take frequent trips or can split the cost between several people, consider investing in a Zipcar membership or car2go. Syracuse University has a partnership with Zipcar and reduced or discounted membership fees may be available. https://www.zipcar.com/universities
Provides DC with an extensive bike-sharing network that includes over 2,500 bicycles and 300 stations. When the weather is good, bicycling to work can be much faster than taking a train or bus.! While Capital Bikeshare offers monthly memberships, you may also rent a bike from one of the many stations throughout the city using only a credit card. https://www.capitalbikeshare.com