Reminded the Hard Way...

The drivers and I have occasionally re-negotiated where I get dropped off, if it benefits both of us. Otherwise I'll stick to the initial location that they call out.

Before I get flamed for trying to re-negotiate the drop-off point, let me give you an example of the conversation:
Driver (with one regular passenger) calls 14th & NY and I get in
Somewhere along the way, usually on the way out of the parking lot the driver will ask how far up 14th I go.
I'll say 'I work in Georgetown, so as far north and west as you go'
On a bad day (or actually a normal day) the driver will say something like OK, 14th & NY it is...
On a good day, the driver will say something like - great, we go to 20th & penn, is that OK...

Anyway, I don't think that there is any problem discussing the drop-off point and changing if it benefits both of you.

I do think that any deviation from the HOV corridor should be avoided completely.

"To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society"
Theodore Roosevelt

I can understand that. I rode with a couple that said 14th and NY but went through the L'Enfant area without telling me. Not only was traffic worse and it took longer but then they wanted to drop me at 13th and G. That particular morning it was raining and very cold. I work up on 15th and K so it was a walk and they had already made me quite late. I was not happy to say the least. So I agree. In situations where the driver says 14th - you do expect them to go up 14th and if they want to divert, they should say so. On the flip side, I've been with a driver who goes up 14th but when traffic is really bad she goes 12th and then comes back over to 14th. That's not a problem because she gets us back to where we need to go and she is just as mindful about the time as the riders, we are all trying to get to work fast. That I don't mind but when they go all over and it makes it worse, then its no good.

I agree that it is a two-way street, slugs and drivers both need to communicate better. If I tell a slug 14th and NY, some of them will ask if it is okay to be dropped at Penn (or where ever). I find this very helpful. This way we are clear on both of our destinations and the route is irrelevant.

Thats a load of crap,I travel between DC and 610. Any time a driver got off 95 to route 1 they asked or notified us as slugs that they were doing that, common courtesy, I dont need the scenic route through back roads with a total stranger.

And if you get in a car expecting a ride to so and so and so and so, that is where the driver is obligated to take you, ever heard of a verbal agreement???

:'}

To me as long as they don't route you thru Alaska, how they get you there is their business. Case in point. I sometimes have to pick up Rolling Valley slugs at the Pentagon in the afternoon (Sydenstricker slugs can be hard to come by sometimes). I do not go down Old Keene Mill Rd to Rolling Valley. I take the Parkway, then go up Sydenstricker to Old Keene Mill (faster in my opinion). I still get them to Rolling Valley, but not the "usual" way.