Press Releases - Department of Transportation

For Immediate Release: Thursday, April 13, 2017

MCDOT’s Ride On always likes to hear from its passengers -- especially when we are doing something right. Below are some of the compliments Ride On received between January 1 and March 31 of this year.

I want to give a shout out to my favorite Ride On driver. Jerry, who I see on Route 38 from White Flint to Wheaton, is always courteous with the riders and has handled difficult riders in the past with civility. His friendliness is matched by his concern for safety. While I appreciate the work all Ride On drivers do, Jerry deserves special recognition. Of my 3 and a half years riding, Jerry has consistently stood out from his peers. (Route 38 - SS)
Hey @RideOnMCT shout out to the bus 37 driver right now on #5046. He's awesome-sauce and so happy I got him twice in one day! (Route 37 - NC)
Bus operator is cheerful, helpful, has awesome manners and is very pleasant to all passengers. This is on Route 61 to Shady Grove, leaving Germantown at 4 pm on Jan. 10. Bus # was 5850 and driver's name is Sherry. (Route 61 – GBD)
I wish to pass on a compliment for Ride On Bus Operator "Dory" Route 97 Germantown, MD. Yesterday, January 12, 2017 late afternoon about 5:00 p.m., I witnessed several acts of kindness she demonstrated during the ride. The first was her care to stop at a stop on upper Wisteria Dr. as she could see three teenage boys running desperately to make it to the stop. She took those 2 seconds to wait for them at the stop, so they could catch the bus, without delaying her schedule, as she was running on time. They were so encouraged to see how kind she had been. Similarly, farther down Wisteria, there was a woman and her little girl were running to make the bus stop on time. Once again, aware she was still running on time, she stopped, so they could catch bus. Again, smiles and thank you’s were exchanged passing on kind human spirit which can be contagious as customers of various ages observe. She's a patient, efficient, driver who values people and her job, an asset to Ride On Services. Dory makes the difference! You go girl! (Route 97 – NC)
Caller (to 311) would like to submit a compliment for Ride On for making the bus stop ADA accessible because before she couldn't get off the bus at the stop before, but now she can. (Bus Stop – 27722)
I was lost at Rockville station and there weren't any other buses at the bays but this one. I knocked on the door and the bus driver was SO nice! He helped me figure out what bus I was supposed to be taking and at what time! He even walked me over to the bus stop. I didn't realize the bus was running on a holiday schedule. He was so nice and I really appreciate that he took the time to help me out while he was on break! Love you guys! (Bus #5826 – GB)
Customer wants to offer her compliment to the highest level of Ride On management (Call to 311). Customer offered a special appreciation to Ride On for the lighting at the bus stop. She states the Ride On bus route 15 is the most reliable route in the system. She wants to thank Ride On bus for being there for county residents. (Route 15 – SS)
Customer (call to 311) wants to compliment Ride On bus route 58 for providing excellent service to the riders. (Route 58 – GB)
This is a compliment for the patience, courtesy and just being nice that this driver displayed. Please thank this driver for me and provide him the highest commendation! (Route 21 - NC)
Customer (call to 311) wants to offer a compliment to Ride On bus Route 32 driver, Raul, for returning her leather gloves. She lost them on the bus last week. This driver recognized the passenger and returned them to her while training a new driver. (Route 32 - NC)
"Joe" who drives the 46 in the mornings is a great guy! I board at about 6:25am or so at White Flint going toward the College (Route 46 - GB)
Caller (to 311) was on the Route 46 bus this morning and wanted to compliment the driver. She was very nice and helpful in directing caller to transfer to the Route 55 to get to Montgomery College in Germantown. (Route 46 - GB)
The driver of the Route 12 bus on Monday Jan. 30 that left Takoma station heading to Silver Spring a little after 8 pm was courteous, considerate, and thoughtful in dealing with me and other passengers. He used good discretion in allowing a passenger to disembark in a location that was a short distance from an official stop but that was safer for the passenger. Sadly I can't remember the bus number...1049, 4419? But I wanted you to know that as a passenger I really appreciate a driver with common sense and sympathy for those of us who use transit every day. Please tell your drivers. (Route 12 - SS)
Caller (to 311) got off the Bus 56 bus at Lakeforest Mall. Caller says that the driver was very nice and he made sure caller, who is pregnant and running for the bus, got onto the bus safely. Caller wants the driver to be complimented. (Route 56 – GBD)
Caller stated that she took the bus Sunday, Feb. 19 about 2:30 pm from Connecticut & Knowles to Bethesda station on Ride On #34. Driver is very professional and courteous. Driver treats passenger very nicely and he deserves some credit. Passenger had dropped some items inside the bus and the driver told the passenger not to worry about it and he helped her out. (Route 34 – SS)
Caller (to 311) wants to compliment crews that clean Bus Stop areas.
Route 28 - NC- Ride On driver, Wayne Hatcher, driver of Route 28. The caller (to 311) stated that she was riding the Route 28 bus last evening and lost her phone on the bus. The driver contacted one of the contacts in the phone to let the owner know that it was found and enabled the owner to pick it up same day. This driver (Wayne) is always kind and thoughtful.
Bus 5085 – SS - The caller (to 311) states that she was coming out of Peter’s Sub Shop in Takoma Park and was not paying attention to oncoming traffic when a bus appeared in her blind spot. The bus driver managed to swerve around her vehicle to avoid a collision. The caller would like to give that driver a compliment, but was not sure of the route number or the bus origin/destination or the driver’s name.
Route 90 – GBD – The caller (to 311) wants to compliment a bus driver, but wasn’t able to get the driver’ s ID# or name. The caller was picked up at Airpark Road and Shady Grove Road about 5:45pm, and was dropped off at Airpark Road and Woodfield Road. The caller was not sure if the bus # was 5835 or 5385. The caller almost missed the bus, but the driver waited for the caller, when he didn’t have to. The caller would like to thank the driver and was very appreciative for his service.
Route 48 – GBD - Caller (to 311) would like to compliment a Ride On driver. Caller took the bus on 03/09/2017 at 4:15pm at Rockville metro, caller says the driver was very polite and helpful to her.
Route 46 –GBD - Caller (to 311) wants to compliment bus driver, who was very pleasant this morning and knowledgeable of the routes. It was a great experience.
Route 34 – SS – Compliment for bus driver, Reggie. He is punctual; especially on bad weather days, courteous, a safe driver, and very professional.
Route 4 – SS – The caller (to 311) would like to compliment Ride On bus driver, Tim on Route 4, stop id 23316 (6:40pm) from Kensington Mark Station to Silver Spring. The driver does a very good job and is a good driver.
Route 1 – SS – The caller (to 311) would like to compliment bus operator, Carlene. She is very professional, courteous, friendly, punctual and dependable. She makes the second leg of my morning commute enjoyable.
Route 49 – GBD - The driver is an awesome driver by doing the right thing, he came early and got us to the Rockville station on time.
L8 – SS – The caller (to 311) wanted to point out an incidence of COMMENDABLE BEHAVIOR on the part of the bus driver. When he pulled up to the stop at Friendship Heights (to pick up passengers waiting for the L8 bus), he pointed out to a woman standing there that the bus she wanted (route 34) was just pulling out. (That bus was stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Wisconsin Circle.) The driver then got out of the L8 bus and accompanied her over there; if he hadn't done that, the woman would have had to wait essentially a full half-hour to get the next bus on route 34.

After that he got back on the L8 bus, he explained to me that she had approached him (as he arrived at the Friendship Heights station but hadn't yet pulled up to the actual location of the stop where the L8 and 34 buses depart) and asked what bus she had to take. He had told her it was the 34, but he said that she didn't seem to know much English and probably didn't understand what he told her. I was truly impressed with that bus driver's quick action in coming to the aid of that woman.