# Suggest Urban Transportation **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 27, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898 "2008-07-27T02:14:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![kdeus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b487fb/32.png) [@kdeus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kdeus)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898/1 "2008-07-27T02:14:28Z")
So I’m moving to Washington, D.C… My 12 year-old car is ready to move to the Farm for Old Saturns, where it can run free with other old Saturns. I am taking public transportation but I want something for the 1.5 mile walk from my stop to my office, and the occasional place I want to go that isn’t Metro friendly (call it 4 miles, max). Here are my requirements: Street friendly. But I don’t mean “perfect street”, this is D.C. (New motto: “Finally repairing our infrastructure after the 1968 riots”). Its either cobblestones, cracked & crazy pavement, or under construction. Metro-friendly, either small or collapsable. Suit friendly. I can commute in tennis shoes, but anything that sprays oil (bicycle) or guarantees arriving disheveled (parachute) is right out. I’m considering… a [xootr](http://www.xootr.com/xootr/roma.shtml) or a [skateboard with big, narrow wheels](http://www.skatesonhaight.com/Quadline_Boards_s/299.htm). I tried a skateboard for the first time ever today, and it seemed doable (I didn’t break my neck). But I was on a nice, flat piece of pavement, too. Any suggestions, advice, or “been there, done that” stories would be much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898/2 "2008-07-27T02:26:34Z")
[QUOTE=kdeus] Street friendly. But I don’t mean “perfect street”, this is D.C. (New motto: “Finally repairing our infrastructure after the 1968 riots”). Its either cobblestones, cracked & crazy pavement, or under construction. [/QUOTE] I have never seen a skateboard that would be user friendly on the streets you have listed. Consider a bicycle. You can lube the chain with a wax based lube, and it will not throw oil. ---
**Author:** ![Atrael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Atrael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atrael)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898/3 "2008-07-28T17:19:24Z")
Does it have to be self-powered? I’ve tried one of those scooter things and for an adult male, they are too narrow to really use comfortably. Have you thought of an [electric scooter](http://urbanscooters.com/cgi-bin/urbanscooters/X-500.html?id=BbCMXm67) or [this one](http://www.electric-bikes.com/scooters/viza.html)? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898/4 "2008-07-28T17:56:03Z")
For the constraints you’ve outlined, I think your best option would be a sturdy folding bike. You can take those onto the Metrobuses and Metrorail cars - a regular bike would be restricted to the bike racks in front of the bus, and to Metrorail during non-rush hours. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898/5 "2008-07-28T18:20:44Z")
If you ride the subway (not clear on that), bus fare on the transfer is $0.35. There are bus routes emanating from every Metro station. You could likely find one that would get you within a closer walk to your office. But that’s only for your commute…for the other, I’m not keen on folding transportation…what about some rollerblades? [DC Bus Timetables](http://www.wmata.com/timetables/timetables-state.cfm?State=DC) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898/6 "2008-07-28T21:57:26Z")
49cc motorscooter? Used, maybe? Moped? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2008, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898/7 "2008-07-28T22:02:16Z")
Is anyone familiar with the xootr brand of products? Could you strap one comfortably to your back _while_ riding a bike? ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898/8 "2008-07-29T16:47:13Z")
I’m trying to imagine a skateboard being more suit-friendly than a bike, while being more efficient than just walking… Nope, still can’t do it. As mentioned, there’s probably a bus that takes you closer than 1.5 miles. Or else a folding bike can take you the distance, and many people find that such a short distance allows them to ride without getting sweaty enough to need a shower (or perhaps I should say, any more sweaty than you already are in DC in August). Depending on the neighborhood where the Metro stop is, you could also consider getting a cheap non-folding bike and just leaving it locked at the stop overnight. To only get you through 3 miles a day, you can get a cheap enough bike that you can afford to have it stolen once a year. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/suggest-urban-transportation/457898/9 "2008-07-29T20:17:48Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky] I’m not keen on folding transportation… [/QUOTE] Why not?