On an otherwise nice Saturday, I went to Union Station to catch the Metro to my digital marketing class. Since I have my baby in a stroller, I have to get on the elevator. But as I approach, I see the gate is closed.
There is a flier, but it is in the gate room where I cannot read it clearly. And I have a visual impairment on top of that. So, to eliminate stress headaches that I get when things get rough on me, I ask a nearby WMATA employee what to do.
The employee says I can go around to the other side of the station to get in at the opposite end of the platform. So I struggle my way around — only to find another closed gate and another WMATA employee who is telling another potential rider that the station is not running. More confusion.
I go up the escalators and talk to a third employee, who actually explains what’s going on clearly so I can understand. I let her know that I am going to Metro Center Station and that, at this point, I feel like it would be more reliable to walk the whole way. I see a shuttle, but I already know big strollers and Metro buses don’t mix. I decide to walk to Judiciary Square.
When we get there, a malfunctioning gate slows me down enough to miss the first train. I tell a WMATA employee about the gate and she lets me in through the side. I am finally on the platform with the girls, waiting for the next train, but there are no minutes on the screen.
Another WMATA employee loudly tells people to move to the other side of the platform because they are single-tracking. I just shake my head and try not to get upset. They at least let me go back through the side to use the elevator.
But when we get in and I say to Eboni, “Press the button.” (her favorite thing to do), nothing happens. She presses it and presses it, but there’s no light and the elevator doesn’t move. A gentleman in a wheelchair tries to use the elevator, too, but quickly presses the “call/help” button when it doesn’t work.
Another employee answers and helps us out. I’m just worried about getting out of the elevator now. Just as we’re able to exit, a train we can actually board is pulling up to the platform.
What a trip.
