🪪 Metro adopts tap-to-ride

What's CITY Talking About?

Metro Adopts Tap-To-Ride

WMATA wants to adopt a tap-to-ride fare system, which would let riders tap their credit card instead of using their SmarTrip card. Metro says the goal is to have the open payment system ready by WorldPride in 2025. [ABC7]

NSO On Strike

The National Symphony Orchestra is on strike for the first time in 46 years. The musicians are advocating for better wages, which they say are less than similar orchestras. Saturday's opening gala was canceled and some shows are postponed. [WTOP]

Ride Share App Under Question

D.C. Council is investigating the local ride-hailing app Empower. They say the service has millions in unpaid fines and lacks proof of compliance with numerous consumer safety laws. Empower maintains there is no evidence of public harm, but complaints to the contrary have mounted up. [DC News Now, City Cast DC 🎧]

Where Is It?

First, Where Was Last Week’s Photo?

This is a photo of Great Falls, specifically the Great Falls Overlook on the Maryland side.

The 800-acre national park is only a 20-minute drive from D.C. and has tons of hiking trails, overlooks, and picnic spots. The Potomac River runs through the center and what remains of the Patowmack Canal runs beside it. This was the first canal in the United States that used locks to raise and lower boats.

In the 1900s, local railway companies operated an amusement park (trolley park) at the falls. It was located at the end of an electric trolley line that began in Georgetown and contained picnic grounds, a dance pavilion, and a carousel.

Thanks to those of you who wrote in about your Great Falls experiences. Some of your favorite things to do there include hiking the Billy Goat Trail, rock climbing, foraging for pawpaws, and having a BBQ at the picnic area on the Virginia side.

🎉 Nice work Sonya M., Lisa M., and Lisa B. for being the first to guess the location correctly!

Now, Onto This Week’s Challenge:

Can you tell me where this picture was taken? Bonus points if you can tell me anything about the mural or its artist.

What To Do