March 24, 2008
Commemorative Nationals SmarTrip Cards For Sale
We've got to hand it to WMATA for coming up with plenty of fun, low-budget ways (in some cases, extremely low-budget) to encourage Nationals fans to take Metro to the new ballpark. Among their various efforts, listed on WMATA's special Nationals page, Metro is currently selling a limited supply of Nationals-themed SmarTrip cards. The two designs, one with the team logo and the other with an image of the new ballpark, are available for $5 each (the same as a regular SmarTrip card) from Metro's online store.
We say: very cool. But while they're in the business of the using the Nats as a good excuse to push more people into adopting SmarTrip, why don't they come up with a few more designs for folks who don't necessarily love baseball? Since we can't have "Taxation Without Representation" on our quarter, that logo seems like a natural. We're also pretty sure the National Zoo wouldn't mind taking the time to create a Tai Shan SmarTrip card to encourage folks to take Metro to the zoo. What else would be good to see on your SmarTrip card?
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How 'bout a Caps-themed card, commemorating the most exciting team in town ... notwithstanding the new Nats ballpark thingy.
I am all for WMATA pushing the smartrip cards and if this gets one person to switch from counting coins on my bus route - I'm all for it. But I will be honest, my card has not come out of my wallet since I got a new wallet. So it could be a single color for all I know or care.
The Wizards have a better shot of making the playoffs at this point.
How about SmarTrips themed for every Metro stop.
Even better would be if said SmarTrips gave you a slight discount for the stop you've chosen. Then businesses could help support Metro with this in order to entice people to use their stop.
Downside, everyone (myself included) would just pick their home stop.
A pic of the red line delays would be awesome.
Good point! Why a Nats card, but no card for DC United, Wiz, Caps, or Skins? I could have one of each design and match my farecard to my team jersey or hat.
And then I could have one more card with a picture of a Chef Geoff's SuperMug on it for, well, you know...
If you can have any photo you want printed on stamps via Zazzle(?), why not the same for SmarTrip cards, plus a little custom text. You could select the image from Flickr and type in 25 or so characters at checkout from WMATA's site. I'd get the DC Flag, maybe the same photo as my DCist userpic.
Methinks WMATA hired someone new in their PR/promotions department...maybe the new person can also fix the delays?
How about a card for the team that has won more championships than all of the other DC teams combined? DC United. No respect.
What about a Smartrip with Peeps on it?
How about a screaming drunk woman like the one on my bus last month?
I ordered my ballpark one last week. I am such a frickin' trendsetter. I am fierce!
The red one with the big W....that strikes me as too George W. Bush-like. And I'd rather face a "natural look" panda than have that in my pocket.
I like Bob's idea with all the Professional Sports Teams. That would be nice. And Metro can get them to the game.
I also nominate Ben's Chilli Bowl (also Metro accessible).
This may sound crazy, but how about a METRO Map? Sure the font for the station names would have to be small, but you'd always have it with you when you were going on the Metro.
As for the panda idea, I have an old paer Metro ticket with a panda on it. So it's been done before.