Campus Life 101: Getting Around

Campus Life 101 is a new series from GW Today that offers tips on the basics of navigating life at college from staying safe to adjusting to college academics and managing stress.

By Ruth Steinhardt

The George Washington University prides itself on its location at the heart of Washington, D.C., and there are a wealth of options for getting between campuses and exploring the District’s neighborhoods. D.C. is one of the country’s most walkable cities, and bikeshares, rideshares and a robust public transit system are great resources for reaching farther-flung destinations. Below, GW Today’s guide to getting around. (As always, be sure to keep personal safety in mind.)

On-Campus Transportation

GW provides free shuttle service between its multiple campuses. (Riders may be asked to prove their affiliation with the university by showing their GW ID.)

• The Vern Express runs between Foggy Bottom and the Mount Vernon campuses. In Foggy Bottom, it stops at the main entrance to Funger Hall (2201 G St., NW) and, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., the Red Cross Building (2025 E St.). 
• The VSTC Express runs between the Foggy Bottom and Virginia Science and Technology campuses.
• The Wiehle Express stops at several points in Loudoun County, the Wiehle-Reston East Metrorail station and the Virginia Science and Technology Campus.

A TransLoc Rider App for Android and Apple phones is available for riders of the Vern Express and VSTC shuttles. The app provides the next two departure times for each shuttle stop, a “Notify Me” function with which riders can set push notifications when a shuttle is arriving at a GW shuttle stop and a map to see where shuttles are en route. A web portal is also available.

Public Transit

The Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) operates Metro, Metrobus and the DC Circulator, all accessible via SmarTrip card. SmarTrip cards are available to members of the university community at the GW Campus Store (Marvin Center, lower level), where they cost $7 and are pre-loaded with $5 in value. SmarTrip cards also can be purchased at Metro stations and online from WMATA.  

Metrorail

The D.C. Metro system is fairly easy to navigate, with six intersecting route lines—Blue, Green, Orange, Red, Silver and Yellow—branching through D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Trains run from 5 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays, from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. Saturdays and from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays.

The Foggy Bottom-GWU Metrorail Station, the closest stop to the Foggy Bottom campus, is on the Blue, Silver and Orange Lines. Also within walkable distance is Farragut North on the Red Line. Use WMATA’s Trip Planner tool to figure out your best route.

Metro tips:

• Eating and drinking are not allowed in Metro vehicles or stations.
• When waiting for a train, stand at least two feet behind the edge of the platform. Flashing lights along the platform edge announce that a train is arriving.
• A recorded voice followed by chimes warns that train doors are closing. These aren’t like elevator doors—they have no sensor and won’t automatically open if you put an arm in them. Don’t get caught!
•  On Metro escalators, stand on the right side and walk on the left.

Circulator
The  DC Circulator’s Georgetown to Union Station route offers convenient downtown service, with stops along K Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. Other routes go from Dupont Circle to Rosslyn, from Eastern Market to L’Enfant Plaza, from Woodley Park to Adams Morgan and around the National Mall. All Circulator rides cost just $1 in cash or on SmarTrip.

Metrobus

Metrobus names and routes can be confusing at first. As with the Metrorail, use WMATA’s Trip Planner tool to determine the easiest way to take a bus to your destination.

Major bus lines near the Foggy Bottom campus include but are not limited to:

• The 30 series (30, 31, 33, 32, 34, 35, 36, 38B), which run through Friendship Heights, the National Cathedral area and Georgetown on their way south
• The 80, which runs to the Kennedy Center
• The L series (L1, L2) which run from Foggy Bottom Metro up Connecticut Avenue to Dupont Circle and Woodley Park
• and many more.

Biking

D.C.’s growing network of bike lanes has made biking an increasingly popular and environmentally friendly option. (When biking, be sure to use a helmet and keep bike laws, traffic and safety in mind!) Bike facilities at GW’s Foggy Bottom campus currently include nearly 700 bike parking spaces, consisting of street-level parking spaces and spaces within academic and residential buildings.

Amenities for bike commuters include the provision of bike racks in university garages, a reduced rate for shower-only Health and Wellness memberships for faculty and staff and bicycle registration services with the GW Police Department. Bike racks also are available in certain residence halls. 

Bike Rental

Capital Bikeshare is a bike sharing program that allows customers to rent bikes throughout the district and surrounding areas. Rental locations on GW's Foggy Bottom campus include:

• 20th and E streets
• 21st and I streets

• 22nd and G streets
• 22nd and I streets (next to Whole Foods)
• New Hampshire Avenue and 24th Street (next to Milken School of Public Health)

Capital Bikeshare's Mount Vernon Campus rental station is at 48th Place and MacArthur Boulevard. Bike rentals also are available on the Mount Vernon Campus from the Department of Athletics and Recreation at the West Hall fitness center on the lower level.