#SmarTrip app

[robpegoraro]

Migrating to a new Android phone without the old one around--or alive

Moving from a dead Android phone to a live one via only an online backup proved to be surprisingly easy--but it also reminded me that a few apps don't react well to that scenario.

I spent less of Sunday morning than I’d feared on a chore that I’d last had to tackle in the summer of 2017: setting up a new Android phone without the old one operational, leaving me to restore only from an online backup. Having this process go smoothly took some of the sting out of having my previously trusty Pixel 5a die on me. So did having this phone’s demise happen while I was at home and…

[kacydeneen]

Everything You Need to Know for DC’s ‘March for Our Lives’

The 'March for Our Lives' is scheduled in D.C. for March 24, and will likely bring thousands of activists demanding increased gun control and school safety measures.

Students from Stoneman Douglas High School led efforts to organize the protest after 17 students and teachers were killed on Valentine’s Day when a former student rampaged through their school.

Whether you’re coming to D.C. for the protest or you’re a resident, here’s everything you need to know before, during and after the march.

Jump to:

Before the March: Getting to and from DC, Navigating D.C. and Metro, Getting a Smartrip Card, Where to Stay, Registering for the March

During the March: Day, Time and Location, What to Bring, Signs and Banners, Getting to the March, Road Closures, Bathrooms, Cell Phone Service, Safety, Up-to-the-Minute Information

After the March: Nearby Food and Restaurants, More Things to Do in D.C.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before the March 

Getting to and from DC

Driving

If you drive into the area, you’ll want to consider parking your car outside the city. If you’re staying overnight, your hotel may have a parking lot. If you’re coming for the day — or plan on staying in the city — there are parking lots outside the city. Metro offers 44 suburban parking lots; see a full list here. You can see which Metro station parking lot is best for you on this map. Prices start at $4.70 a day on weekdays and $2 a day on weekends; parking is free on Sundays.

Bus

Megabus, Greyhound, Peter Pan and more buses serve D.C. Most drop you off at Union Station, where you can easily hop on Metro’s Red Line, which connects to other lines. Union Station is less than a mile away from the march’s start point.

Wanderu allows you to search many bus services at once. You can also join a group chartering a ride through rallybus.net.

Air

Baltimore-Washington International Airport is accessible by the MARC train from Maryland; a shuttle bus connects Dulles International Airport to the Metro; Ronald Reagan National Airport directly connects to the Metro.

Navigating D.C. and Metro

Washington, D.C. is divided into four quadrants: Northwest, Northeast, Southeast and Southwest. The center point is near the National Mall — right where the marchers will demonstrate. Check addresses so you don’t end up on the opposite side of the city!

D.C.’s mostly-underground Metro system will be running extra trains for the march. You need a Smartrip card to get on the Metro.

You must scan into one station at your starting point and scan your Smartrip card again when you leave. Only one person can travel on one Smartrip card, with the exception of young kids. Two children under the age of 5 can travel with an adult on their Smartrip card. Fares vary based on distance traveled.

Getting a Smartrip Card

Smartrip cards cost $2. You can buy them at the stations or at stores for $10 (with $8 in fare pre-loaded onto the card) including CVS and Giant. Search for a convenient location here. 

Expect crowds and lines. Metro's trip planner will calculate how much money you’ll need and, if possible, add it to your Smartrip card ahead of time or at your starting station.

Where to Stay

Metro reaches out into many suburban areas, opening up more affordable options for anyone wishing to stay in an Airbnb or hotel. Check with your hotel or host that you’re within walking distance or that the hotel has a shuttle to the Metro.

A group of moms from the region has banded together to help connect marchers with families who have an extra couch or bed for free. More information is here.

D.C. is a safe city. If you are worried about staying in a neighborhood with a low crime rate, you can check you neighborhoods on D.C.’s Crime Card map. 

Registering for the March

March for Our Lives asks participants to RSVP here. 

During the March

Day, Time and Location

The march is scheduled to kick off on March 24 at 12 p.m. Organizers say it will happen on Pennsylvania Avenue between 3rd and 12th Streets Northwest.

DC’s tourism authority says you can enter on foot at Pennsylvania Avenue and 12th Street NW, Constitution Avenue and 7th Street NW and Indiana Avenue and 7th Street NW.

Follow NBC Washington and the March for Our Lives website for changes and details.

What to Bring

March is a fickle month in D.C. Check Storm Team4’s forecast and consider downloading the NBC Washington app for important weather alerts. Dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes — you will likely be walking a lot. Bring a warm jacket, water, a snack and a Smartrip card to the protest.

Signs and Banners

They are allowed, but banners and signs must not exceed 20-by-3 feet in area or ¼ inch thickness.

Getting to the March

Metro will run on a frequent, rush-hour schedule on Saturday, making it your most reliable bet.

The Metro runs six lines coded by colors. Each line serves a station convienent to the march, so you can avoid making a transfer:

Green, Yellow lines: Archives-Navy Memorial

Red Line: Judiciary Square

Blue, Orange and Silver lines: Federal Triangle

You can use Google Maps or Metro’s trip planner to find the most efficient route.

Expect crowds and lines. Metro's trip planner will calculate how much money you’ll need and, if possible, add it to your Smartrip card ahead of time or at your starting station.

Road Closures

Many roads will be affected near the National Mall. Here’s a map:

A full list of the closures can be found here.

Emergency parking measures will be in place, so don’t park in the area beginning at 3 a.m. Saturday.

Police may decide to block any road or sidewalk at any time. Follow directions of authorities and please don’t try to move or circumvent any barriers.

Bathrooms

Yes. Portable toilets will be set up near the march, D.C.’s tourism organization Destination DC says. There are also public bathrooms in the Smithsonian Museums and near several monuments, including the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the World War II Memorial. Keep in mind, the Washington Monument is closed, so bathrooms there may be impacted. This National Park Service map is labelled with restrooms.

Cell Phone Service

Typically, cell phone service becomes very slow during large-scale events downtown. Calls and texts may be spotty, and definitely don’t expect a good connection for streaming video or sending pictures.

Depending on the size of the march, it can be very difficult to find your companions if you get seperated. Make plans to check in at a certain time after the march is over, and agree on a post-march check-in plan.

Safety

D.C. authorities are accustomed to large-scale demonstrations and are there to help. Follow directions of officers. Leave the area if you feel uncomfortable. If you see something suspicious, report it to authorities.

Up-to-the-Minute Information

NBC Washington will have all the important updates before, during and after March for Our Lives. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for breaking news updates and Snapchat (NBCWashington!) and Instagram for coverage at the march.

The WMATA website will also detail any delays or special circumstances on public transit.

After

Nearby Food and Restaurants

Many downtown restaurants close on the weekends, so you may want to walk to a nearby neighborhood for food.

Farragut North and Dupont Circle have chain restaurants like Potbelly, McDonalds and local favorite Shake Shack, alongside diners, beer gardens and more, north of K Street Northwest along Connecticut Avenue.

Union Station has food courts on the main level and downstairs with local and chain restaurants.

Eastern Market, south of 8th Street Southeast and Pennsylvania Avenue, has a number of restaurants including Chipotle, Popeye’s and D.C. favorites Cava and Ted’s Bulletin.

There are also a number of food trucks that set up in the area.

More Things to Do in D.C.

Here's a few other things you can do in D.C. over the weekend:

It’s Cherry Blossom season! Here’s our guide to seeing the blooms.

Stop by the Smithsonian Museums (they’re all free!)

Our favorite things to do in D.C., off the Mall and away from Smithsonians 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I host students?

A group of area parents launched a website to help connect young activists with families who have a spare bed or couch. Find more information here.

How can I connect with other marchers?

A number of Facebook groups have cropped up around the march, including March For Our Lives - DC Official.

Have any other questions? Ask us on Twitter or Facebook and check back for further updates.

Photo Credit: The Washington Post/Getty Images This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. Everything You Need to Know for DC’s ‘March for Our Lives’ published first on Miami News