Free-Ride Hoax Targets Late Buses

The fliers look official enough. They are 8 1/2 by 11 inches, have an official-looking Metro "M" logo and the number for a customer call center.

And they come with a sweet promise: Customers who call the transit agency to report a late bus will be rewarded with a free pass "good for ONE WHOLE WEEK of unlimited rides."

Sound too good to be true?

It is.

Metro says it's an early Halloween trick, probably pulled by a frustrated bus rider.

"Obviously, this is a hoax," Metro spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said. "There are no free rides. It still costs $1.25 to ride Metrobus, 35 cents with a transfer from Metrorail."

Metro officials don't know how many fliers are out there. They were alerted to the prank when a customer called the listed number Wednesday afternoon to ask about a free ride. The rider had seen a flier at a stop for L1 and L2 buses at Connecticut Avenue and Military Road NW. The customer took a picture of the flier and sent it to Metro, Farbstein said.

"She fell for it. She thought it was real," Farbstein said.

Bus supervisors were told about the fliers and removed a few along Connecticut Avenue, north of the Van Ness-UDC Metrorail station, she said. Transit police were also put on alert. Bus operators were told of the hoax yesterday and asked to report the locations of any sightings.

By midday yesterday, the customer call center had received only two calls, which were forwarded to the bus division.

"Standing out in all sorts of weather waiting for a late bus is no fun," the flier states. "You rely on Metro to get you to work, to school, shopping, appointments -- safely and ON TIME.

"We know that this route is chronically slow, and we need your help."