DC Metro and Bus 4+

This app is fantastic, until suddenly there’s no data. This has happened multiple times when tracking the T2 bus from my home in Bethesda southbound to Friendship Heights, and northbound from Friendship Heights towards my home in Bethesda. “WMATA reporting no data” appears on the screen. So frustrating. Makes an otherwise fantastic app completely useless.

Several times in Friendship Heights, my bus is tracked by the app, and I time my arrival at the stop for 10 minutes before the bus is predicted to arrive. A few minutes after my arrival, that bus disappears from the app and the next bus (which is to arrive 30 or so minutes later) is the only one showing up on the app! What happened? Did my bus show up early? No, about 8 minutes later, my bus shows up at the stop (not on the app), and the driver is oblivious to the problem. (There is also the additional problem that buses show up at the stop with Not In Service on their displays, and you have to ask the driver to identify their bus— super annoying). I want to do right by the environment by using public transportation, but WMATA and this app have not ironed out the kinks.

I take Metrobus 38B round trip Arlington /DC. Its route through Georgetown & GWU has many visitors from out of town including those seeking medical evaluation. The bus drivers are uniformly knowledgeable, helpful & efficient. Their patience with people who are overwhelmed by the traffic, schedules of different transportation options is above what I have observed in many cities in US & abroad.
My 1st difficulty in more than a decade using Metro bus & train was last evening (Wed 11/12) at 8 pm. I went into Clarendon Metro station to check on time it opened since I had an appointment at 7:15 am & Metro website says individual stations may have different opening & closing times.
The kiosk had a msg card stating the Metro station attendant was away & would retuned shortly. I waited for 45 min. & finally returned home & took my chances with the am train. It worked out OK in spite of a separate incident leading to Metro police arriving & train stopped for almost 10 min. Staff were so calm during entire incident.
Metro & ARL do a great job. Thank you!

I have only had a problem with the “ghost busses” a couple times thankfully but the main problem is the ads.
I get it, you have to have ads if you want the app to remain “free”. It’s annoying especially when you’re in a hurry, but whatever.
But oh my god, the little X at the top right corner to exit the ads is so close we can barely click on it. I get irate every time. If they could at least make it to where the ad goes away after a few seconds or at least just move it down and away from the edge of the screen. Because now is not the time I’m wanting or willing to succumb to an ad, let me find my bus.