FAQs • Do you accept SmarTrip® cards?

Do you accept SmarTrip® cards?: Each bus is equipped with an electronic farebox that accepts the SmarTrip® cards. Value can be loaded onto the SmarTrip® cards using 3 different methods:
1) Value can be added using credit / debit or cash at any Metro station.
2) Value can be added using credit or debit on-line at www.wmata.com. Adding value on-line can take up to three business days to be loaded onto the SmarTrip card.
3) Value can be added on the commuter buses using the farebox. Cash is the only option when loading value to on the bus. It is preferred that riders please use option 1 or 2 when loading value. Adding value on the bus can slow down boarding times significantly.

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Transportation Services - Commuter Bus Service

1. Do I have to make a reservation to ride the bus?: The Loudoun County Transit Commuter bus is public transportation and is available to everyone.

3. What happens if the bus is full?: The commuter coaches that are owned by Loudoun County have 12 rows of seats, 55 seats total. Each of the aisle seats are equipped with handles to accommodate standees. Since there are 12 rows of seats with handles, 12 additional riders are allowed to stand if they choose to voluntarily. If the bus is at capacity (55 seated and 12 standing), riders will need to wait for the next bus. If the last bus out of the city is full, riders can make a connection to the last Loudoun County Transit bus leaving the Ashburn or Loudoun Gateway Metro Stations.

4. What if I have to stay late and can't ride the bus home?: Commuter Connections' Guaranteed Ride Home program may be an option for you.

5. What happens if the park and ride lot is full?: Each park and ride lot has a specific number of legal parking places that are either marked with a bumper stop or are striped. All spaces in the park and ride lots are available on a first come, first served basis. If all of the legal spaces are full and you choose to park illegally, then you may be ticketed or towed at your expense.

6. Do you accept SmarTrip® cards?: Each bus is equipped with an electronic farebox that accepts the SmarTrip® cards. Value can be loaded onto the SmarTrip® cards using 3 different methods:
1) Value can be added using credit / debit or cash at any Metro station.
2) Value can be added using credit or debit on-line at www.wmata.com. Adding value on-line can take up to three business days to be loaded onto the SmarTrip card.
3) Value can be added on the commuter buses using the farebox. Cash is the only option when loading value to on the bus. It is preferred that riders please use option 1 or 2 when loading value. Adding value on the bus can slow down boarding times significantly.

7. May I eat or drink on the bus?: Spill-proof drinks are allowed on the bus as well as snacks. The county does not allow the consumption of alcohol or smoking on the bus.

8. What happens if I leave an item behind on the bus?: Personal items left on a bus normally will remain on the same bus for 24 hours, and then the item will be turned over to Loudoun County staff. Certain items may be removed from the bus immediately at our discretion. All unclaimed items will be held for 30 days. After 30 days, the unclaimed items will be donated or thrown away. Passengers may call the county to check on the status of a lost item at 703-771-5665 or send an email to transit@loudoun.gov. Any item not claimed within 24 hours may be picked up at the Loudoun County Department of General Services Transit Division. The office is located at 209 Gibson Street NW, Suite 100, in Leesburg.

9. May I bring my bicycle on the bus?: Loudoun County has a registration procedure for passengers wishing to place bicycles in the luggage bays of the commuter buses. We are all aware of heightened security in this region as well as the whole country relative to potential threats. The county has created this procedure to help alleviate some passenger uncertainty with bicycles being placed on the buses. This registration procedure provides a Bus on Board ID card for every rider who places a bicycle on the commuter buses. This ID card is issued to a rider once the Bike on Bus registration form has been completed and returned to the county. Riders display the ID card to the driver every time they put their bike on the bus. A Bike on Bus card is not needed on any local fixed route bus operating within Loudoun County. All vehicles are equipped with two bicycle racks on the front of the bus.

10. How do I know if my bus is late or if the schedule has changed?: The LC Alert system is a text messaging / email system that is used to send immediate information to your phone and/or email address. Examples of information sent through LC Alert are: "Route 809 is delayed 10 minutes due to an accident" or "14th St NW is closed between Constitution Ave and F ST NW, if you board the bus at the Reagan Building or at 14th & F St NW, please use the I St NW & 15th St NW stop this afternoon". The Bus Biz email system is used to email future schedule changes or upcoming events. An example of information sent via Bus Biz is: "Next Tuesday is Veterans’ Day and the commuter buses will follow the holiday schedule".