Over the river and onto TranspoBINGO

We’re going places again – over rivers, through tree-lined neighborhoods, to school, hybrid work/office days, shopping, and volunteering – and we’re using and promoting public and active transportation to do it. TranspoBINGO is back for its fourth edition: and you’re invited to participate!

Public and active transportation are crucial to living in and moving around the District. Yet, decisions about planning, funding, and implementing infrastructure are sometimes removed from how people actually walk, bike, scoot, bus, and Metro through our city. TranspoBINGO encourages our elected leaders and agency representatives, as well as residents across DC, to stretch their use of people-powered modes of transportation, experience what works and what doesn’t, and better support public and active transportation as a result.

So what can people expect for the 2023 edition of TranspoBINGO? Lots of fun and learning by exploring new ways to get around and promote active transportation and public spaces.

Ready to sign up? RSVP to stay in the loop. Curious to learn more? Read on.

Why public and active transportation matter

Families without cars in the District are already more likely to live in areas with limited access to other forms of transportation and poor infrastructure, compounded by lack of access to basic needs like groceries and healthcare. Many who rely on non-car travel, like Metrobus, are low-income and people of color.

2022 was a year of big challenges and big wins for transit and its users. Riders faced cuts to reliability and frequency of Metrorail as WMATA struggled to restore full service after its 7000-series trains were largely sidelined due to safety concerns in late 2021. The agency continues to navigate operator shortages for its buses and trains. These challenges translated to longer wait times for Metrorail riders, the preponderance of so-called “ghost buses,” and an overall reduction in the frequency and quality of service for transit users in the region.

There were notable big wins for transit and active transportation users, however, that will help bring a more equitable and robust transit system. Metro for DC passed the DC Council with overwhelming support and will increase service and predictability of buses in the city. It will also make all bus routes that start in DC fare-free starting this July and add 24 hour service on certain routes. The Silver Line extension opened with great fanfare for service to Ashburn, providing affordable access to Dulles International Airport and connecting Loudoun County to the Metrorail network. New protected bike lanes on 9th Street, NW will provide residents in Shaw and the U Street Corridor new active transportation options to connect to downtown DC. All the while, the DC government is expanding its dedicated bus lane network to make bus service better and reduce congestion from cars.

There’s more work to do, and that’s part of why TranspoBINGO was created.

The TranspoBINGO origin story

TranspoBINGO was first held in February of 2020, with the goal of getting more people – including elected officials, advocates, and residents around the Washington region – to change up their routines and commit to traveling via public and active transportation over the course of a week. The goal was for players to experience the strengths and weaknesses of our transportation networks and better advocate for improvements. Players were encouraged to fill out bingo cards and share their journeys on social media.

The game was inspired by Action Committee for Transit, a group in Montgomery County that challenged councilmembers and other elected officials in the county to use only public and active transportation for a week, and share their experiences of the strengths and weaknesses of non-car transportation systems on social media. This challenge emphasized the value of experiencing firsthand the difficulties and rewards of traveling without a car in a car-oriented region.

TranspoBINGO gives participants the chance to shake things up a little, providing an incentive to visit new places, try new ways of moving around the region, and gain the sense of accomplishment that only a big checkmark can provide.

Same rules - slightly different bingo squares

TranspoBINGO continues to encourage participants to use and support active transportation, and take advantage of local public spaces. The game rewards players for taking different types of trips (like multimodal travel), exploring public spaces (like parks and libraries), and supporting and advocating for active transportation (like by sending a letter to an elected official advocating for improvements).

Players who are online are encouraged to share their adventures with the hashtag #TranspoBINGO, and players who are not online can find TranspoBINGO boards in various public locations or contact us for a board to complete. While the game will have a new board this year, some of the classics will be back, like a car-free week and hosting a community clean-up.

TranspoBINGO is designed to encourage DC’s elected leaders and agency representatives to experience challenges and successes firsthand, so encourage your Councilmembers, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners, and agency representatives to play.

Residents are encouraged to use the game as an opportunity to use active transportation to explore beyond their day-to-day boundaries. TranspoBINGO is a fun way to recognize the continued importance and use of our public transit systems – particularly for our region’s essential workers – and to push for improved and equitable public transit and infrastructure. As you play, we invite you to consider some of the following questions:

• Which trip was the most challenging? Why?
• Which trip was the most fun? Why?
• How easy would it be to make this trip on a regular basis?
• Would I feel safe taking this trip regularly? Why or why not?
• Would it be convenient to take this trip this way regularly? Why or why not?
• What did you learn about a new-to-you public space?

Okay, ready to play? The new card will drop on February 15 (and we’ll update this article at that time).

Sign up here to RSVP for the culminating TranspoBINGO happy hour at Metrobar and to stay in the loop about all things TranspoBINGO. Learn more about TranspoBINGO here.

Editor’s note: This challenge is created by Erin Palmer and Rachel Maisler and cohosted by Greater Greater Washington and the Coalition for Smarter Growth