Slugging: The Commuting Alternative for Washington DC - Softcover

LeBlanc, David E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0967321107 ISBN 13: 9780967321103

Publisher: Forel Publishing, 1999

Synopsis

How do people commute in Washington DC? Thousands do NOT use buses, trains, or carpools...they actually use a form of hitch-hiking or "Slugging" as they call it. This unique form of cost free commuting has taken Washington DC by storm because it is faster, easier, and more flexible than traditional forms of commuting. With straight forward, easy to follow advice, the author takes you through the complex network of slugging. Filled with maps, hints, and tips built on years of slugging experience, the "Slugging: The Commuting Alternative for Washington DC" will save you time and money.

About this title

About the Author

The author is a US Army major currently stationed at the Pentagon. Frustrated with the cost and time associated with traditional forms of public transportation, he began exploring the world of slugging. He now slugs regularly from Potomac Mills in Dale City, VA which cuts his commuting time from 1.5 hours to 40 minutes. He estimates slugging saves him over $175 a month in fuel and parking alone.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1, What is Slugging?

Without a doubt, slugging is the most efficient, cost-effective form of commuting in the nation. It has thousands of vehicles at its disposal, moves hundreds of thousands of commuters every year, and the best part, it's FREE! Not only is it free, but it also gets you there faster than the typical bus, Metro, or train.

The System The system of slugging is quite simple. A car needing additional passengers to meet the required 3- person high occupancy vehicle (HOV) minimum pulls up to one of the known slug lines. The driver usually positions the car so that the slugs are on the passenger side. Lowering the passenger window, the driver calls out the destination, such as "Pentagon," "L'Enfant Plaza," or "14th & New York." The slugs first in line for that particular destination then hop into the car, normally confirming the destination, and off they go. No money is exchanged because of the mutual benefit: the car driver needs riders just as much as the slugs need a ride. Each party needs the other in order to survive. Normally, there is no conversation unless initiated by the driver; usually the only words exchanged are "Thank you" as the driver drops off the slugs at the destination.

There doesn't need to be any discussion about the destination , such as giving directions, because the drop-off points are generally understood. "Rosslyn" means the Metro station in Rosslyn, not at some other point along the way. The "Pentagon" means the curb along Fern Street, not the North Parking Lot. However, there are a few places where the destination drop-off point is not understood; in these cases, the slug must state where he or she wishes to be dropped off. For example, at "Tackett's Mill," the driver usually asks "New or Old Lot?" because the driver will take you to either. And there is Crystal City, where drivers drop off slugs anywhere between 12th Street and 23rd streets. Later in the book these exceptions are explained in greater detail.

That's it! It really is just that simple. If you know where the slug lines are, know the destinations they service, understand a few of the rules, you've got just about all it takes to slug successfully.

Predominant Slugging Areas There are two predominate areas in the morning: Springfield and the Woodbridge-Potomac Mills area. At Stafford, a new slug line is emerging very quickly and promises to be a major hub in the future.

The evening slug lines tend to develop at the Pentagon, along 14th Street, and L'Enfant Plaza (7th & D Street) and in Rosslyn. However, determining slug lines in the District is somewhat difficult because many bus stops also serve as slug lines. Therefore, every line of people at a bus stop has the potential to have sluggers in it. There are a few locations that actually have distinct slug lines that are separate from the bus lines, namely, the Pentagon, Rosslyn, 14th & New York, 14th and Constitution, and L'Enfant Plaza.

Confusing for the individual not familiar with slugging is knowing the destination of each stop. Over time, each stop has developed its own clientele to a particular destination, and as such, caters exclusively to that destination. For example, Tackett's Mill services the Pentagon almost exclusively; but just a couple of miles east at Old Hechinger's, the Pentagon is not serviced at all. Instead, Old Hechinger's serves only the 14th Street locations. Then again, Horner Road services both Pentagon, 14th Street, and Rosslyn, but only until 7:00 a.m. After that time, the slug line no longer exists because the commuter parking lot is full. Without parking, slugs must find another location to park their vehicles or risk the possibility of getting a ticket or being towed. As a result, slugs generally go to Potomac Mills since its commuter parking lots do not fill until approximately 8:00 a.m.

Even though the slugging system is simple, it is also a bit complicated until you learn how each slug line operates. Hopefully, by the time you finish this book, you will understand the peculiarities of slug lines and be able to use them to your advantage.

Edition details

• Publisher: Forel Publishing
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0967321107
• ISBN 13: 9780967321103
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 128