Moving to D.C. area for work

[Slide Panda]

Probably more than you're looking for - but I'm wrapping up renos on a 2br + loft place in Fairlington - which is very south Arlington.

Details in another thread.

Working down town, you'll probably want metro access. The pentagon is a major transit hub with tons of bus lines running there and the blue and yellow line trains running through there. Getting a place right on a metro stop is usually premium price. But if you snag one near a bus line that goes quickly from your place to a metro stop or hub you may avoid the premium and still have a fast transit.

wmata.com is the site for much of local mass transit - you can look at metro station placements and bus routes there.

[The Mad King Pepe']

I have much to learn.

Right now only a 2011 796. That's going to stay at my parent's place until I find somewhere to store it. I'm not completely comfortable keeping it in parking, covered or not, right now. I was going to look for some kind of heated garage I could rent a monthly space. I guess I've lived in an area with way too many thefts.

Parking on the streets around here is generally NOT a good idea. Bike might get knocked over or worse...

I'm pretty happy parking in my condo: limited access, cameras, and the space is between my car and the wall. 

[timeforpoptarts]

Probably more than you're looking for - but I'm wrapping up renos on a 2br + loft place in Fairlington - which is very south Arlington.

Details in another thread.

Working down town, you'll probably want metro access. The pentagon is a major transit hub with tons of bus lines running there and the blue and yellow line trains running through there. Getting a place right on a metro stop is usually premium price. But if you snag one near a bus line that goes quickly from your place to a metro stop or hub you may avoid the premium and still have a fast transit.

wmata.com is the site for much of local mass transit - you can look at metro station placements and bus routes there.

Yeah, 2BR is a little more than I am looking for right now.

It looks like my office is right on the orange line. Most of the apartments I have been seeing in the Rosslyn/Arlington area are within a few blocks walk of the metro stops (Claredon/Rosslyn) which should make it really easy to get into work in the morning. One apartment you have to take a 10-15 minute bus ride to Rosslyn metro right from in front of the building. Its a few hundred dollars less so I am considering this.

Parking on the streets around here is generally NOT a good idea. Bike might get knocked over or worse...

I'm pretty happy parking in my condo: limited access, cameras, and the space is between my car and the wall. 

Luckily it is the winter right now for at least another month or so. I'll have a bit of time to scope out the area before I bring down the Monster. From what I can tell most of the apartments that I am seeing around Rosslyn include outdoor parking in some kind of lot behind the place.

[ducatiz]

If you're living in the city, you'll find parking garages are much more amenable to bikes than the ones in NYC.  It was a rare feat to find an NYC garage that took bikes, but it seems most of the ones in DC do.  I think it's that they are actually using parking spots rather than just cramming the cars into any available space.  You will see bikes 2-3 into a car spot in DC garages.  Don't know how they are priced, but you see them.

[timeforpoptarts]

If you're living in the city, you'll find parking garages are much more amenable to bikes than the ones in NYC.  It was a rare feat to find an NYC garage that took bikes, but it seems most of the ones in DC do.  I think it's that they are actually using parking spots rather than just cramming the cars into any available space.  You will see bikes 2-3 into a car spot in DC garages.  Don't know how they are priced, but you see them.

Isn't there a law in NJ about multiple motorcycles into a single parking space? I vaguely remember this on my computerized test. Obviously that doesn't matter in the good ole' state of VA.

This is good to know. I'm definitely going to consider it when I bring it down from the shore.

[Slide Panda]

If there is a va law regarding # of bikes in a spot, I don't recall it... Though you are supposed to park parallel to the curb vs back in perpendicular which is daft and I ignore.

[ducatiz]

Isn't there a law in NJ about multiple motorcycles into a single parking space? I vaguely remember this on my computerized test. Obviously that doesn't matter in the good ole' state of VA.

This is good to know. I'm definitely going to consider it when I bring it down from the shore.

I'm talking about private parking garages.

DC actually has a good amount of metered street parking for bikes as well -- single bike width parking.  If it's a car sized spot, you're supposed to park 1 to a slot...

http://www.examiner.com/dc-in-washington-dc/motorcycle-parking-washington-dc

[twolanefun]

I would defintely look for a place with a garage. As to your other question, about riding we got some of that trust me, you just have to escape the Metro area, usually west although there are pockets of good roads elsewhere. The other thing is we have many possibilities within a days ride, there are tons of roads in VA, WV, SE Ohio.

[Slide Panda]

^^^ Gene knows *some roads.

*Some being a tongue in cheek statement meant to connote that Gene knows every road from Georgia to Ohio and then some

[timeforpoptarts]

What's the process for changing over my driver's license?

Is it 60-90 day period before I can do this? Looking to take advantage of your superb car insurance rates as soon as possible. Not sure if this requires a VA driver's license, though.

[Curmudgeon]

What's the process for changing over my driver's license?

Is it 60-90 day period before I can do this? Looking to take advantage of your superb car insurance rates as soon as possible. Not sure if this requires a VA driver's license, though.

You can just go into DMV and take the eye test at the counter and get your photo snapped and wait for it. You can get a license for 8 years in VA if you want to pay.

VERY IMPORTANT!!! Make sure they see your "M" endorsement and get an "M" endorsement on your VA license before you leave the DMV!!! On mine they failed to and I needed another photo taken but my son had warned me. If you fail to do this, you will need to then go through all the VA BS to get a motorcycle endorsement. You don't want to go through that!!!

Not sure whether you need the license first before you switch insurance. Yes, it is a fraction of the cost in NJ. Shop around though for a good agent and get some referrals.

To get the license, you will need proof of residence. Look on the DMV website for the requirements. You need some bills to your new address IIRC and I also took my passport.

When you want to switch your plates over, you can go to a DMV Select office which may be quicker. I did all this from NJ myself in 2008.

[ducatiz]

You can just go into DMV and take the eye test at the counter and get your photo snapped and wait for it. You can get a license for 8 years in VA if you want to pay.

VERY IMPORTANT!!! Make sure they see your "M" endorsement and get an "M" endorsement on your VA license before you leave the DMV!!! On mine they failed to and I needed another photo taken but my son had warned me. If you fail to do this, you will need to then go through all the VA BS to get a motorcycle endorsement

exact thing happened to me.  i never noticed until i got a ticket.  i showed the judge my old DL and he dismissed the ticket and told me to pay attention.   

[Curmudgeon]

exact thing happened to me.  i never noticed until i got a ticket.  i showed the judge my old DL and he dismissed the ticket and told me to pay attention.

Well..., you are an officer of the court..., and I have an FOP badge..., but... 

Did you go back to DMV and get another license? My son failed to notice and had to go through all the BS to get the "M".

[ducatiz]

Well..., you are an officer of the court..., and I have an FOP badge..., but... 

Did you go back to DMV and get another license? My son failed to notice and had to go through all the BS to get the "M".

I had to get a damn learner's permit.

Riding after nearly 25 years with a learner's permit.   

[Curmudgeon]

I had to get a damn learner's permit.

Riding after nearly 25 years with a learner's permit.   

Having nearly suffered the same fate, maybe the OP will at least be alert at DMV now. A gold star from me to you anyway!

BTW, you just missed your 4-valve.  http://search.ebay.com/220936939313 Thankfully, mine was an early one without white frame and wheels...

Have Fun!

PS See my Lobby Day thread update shortly.