In case you haven’t noticed, metrorail looks a bit flush. The color orange has invaded the system and seems to be plastered everywhere from faregates to posters. And men dressed up in orange costumes greet passengers going in and out of stations saying that “Metro’s free on Thursday!”

Yes, WMATA’s first-ever free rides promotion is underway with the online bank ING Direct prepping to pay for everyone’s metrorail and metrobus rides during the morning rush hour on Thursday in exchange for in-your-face promotion of their bank services.

But we have to say that some of ING’s ad plastering on faregates is actually sort of counter productive. As the entry and egress for faregates can be reversed throughout the day, WMATA plastered ING promotions going in both directions. In this arrangement, the orange square ads actually are cluttered, and it can be difficult to read the text in the ad. You may see ING, but you may not have any idea what they do as you pass through the faregate. A new orange flavored soda? A massive political statement by local Ukranian supporters of the Orange Revolution? It can be confusing and may not have been the best strategy.

But we’ll take the free ride. Thanks ING. But remember, despite ING representatives on the street saying that Metro is free on Thursday, it is only free before 9:30 a.m.