What isn't understood about I'll take two?

If you say two, then it's two, no need to ask. However, if it's been a long wait for the rider, and if you obviously have room for a third, I can understand you being asked the question. If the wait has been really long, there's a certain amount of peer pressure to ask drivers if they'll take extra people.

I know that I'll find myself in the minority once again, but I think that taking more than two screws up the system. When you take more than you are required, you are taking rider(s) that another driver may need.
I made the same argument a long while ago in the hybrid thread as a reason that hybrids should not pickup slugs.

Another problem with taking three riders is that the third rider may have to exit on the traffic side of the car rather than the curb side. This can be dangerous.

Lastly, a third rider (setting aside the additional fuel factor and wear and tear) is often an extra stop by the driver. This is just inconvenient.

Our ultimate goal is to find the most convenient and economical way to commute.

Kindest Regards,

mroyal

quote:

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Originally posted by MDC
[br]I don't have a problem taking another rider. Especially if there are a lot of people waiting in line and not many cars....

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Like MDC, on the days I drive, I don't mind an extra rider if the line is long. As a rider, I especially appreciate drivers who are willing to take one more person under those circumstances. I don't consider the driver as "stealing" me, because if the wait becomes too long, I jump on the bus. In the morning, I can also change my destination to fit where the cars are going, since I have to take the Metro from any dropoff point anyway. Either way, drivers to my normal destination are one rider short.

quote:

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Originally posted by DC2RV
[br]If you say two, then it's two, no need to ask. However, if it's been a long wait for the rider, and if you obviously have room for a third, I can understand you being asked the question. If the wait has been really long, there's a certain amount of peer pressure to ask drivers if they'll take extra people.

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First, how is the driver supposed to know whether or not the rider's wait has been long?? Sure, there could be a long line, but it could be a fast moving line. There could also be only four people there, but maybe they've been there for 20 minutes. Anything goes in the slug system and I, having been both rider and driver, have learned not to assume anything. That is why, if I drive, I will hold up fingers to specify how many people I will take. Sometimes it's two, sometimes it's three. But if I don't hold up fingers and I say "no" to taking a third passenger, makinalivin is perfectly correct in that the slug line will assault you with all sorts of choice names and comments. Talk about peer pressure!!! That's just plain rude. Nothin' like making a driver feel like he/she is not performing their civic duties because they didn't take a third passenger. When I slug, I am very appreciative when someone takes me as a third passenger and understanding when they do not. As a Crystal City person, I know that more often than not, multiple stops are made in the morning to drop off passengers. I can completely understand, from experience, that someone may be running late and not want to make multiple stops. No biggie, just wait for the next guy. The exception to all this is the afternoon when you're going to the same place anyway. Then there shouldn't be an objection to a third. It doesn't take anymore gas to carry a third person than not and heck, you're headed there anyway, right?

If there's no cars in line and 40 people waiting for a ride at 5:30PM, why not take 3 people?

I understand that someone might not want a third person, but do not understand the reasoning. If I didn't ever want a third person in my car, I would put my daughter's car seat in there.

It doesn't happen often to me, but I've always allowed a third passenger if they ask.