The Bethesda Circulator was formerly Ride-On Route 92 and nicknamed the Bethesda 8 for its route (a funny looking figure eight) and its frequency of service (every 8 minutes), began service in September of 1999. Its mission was to take people from the Bethesda Metro to points in the Bethesda Central Business District. It ran between 7:30 AM and 7:30 PM on weekdays at no cost to the riders. The route was originally operated by WMATA with Flxible Metro-Bs painted in the Ride-On paint scheme with signs and flags for the Bethesda 8.

The operation of the route was later shifted to Ride-On's Laytonsville Garage in Silver Spring and the county operated the route. Again, certain buses had Bethesda 8 signs and flags applied to the bus. Two Orion Vs ran the route until March, 2001. The service was also adjusted to begin and end 30 minutes earlier.

Then, Montgomery County unveiled "trolleys," buses on wheels that gave the appearance of being a trolley. The trolleys had wood finishes and seats, round light bulb globes to illuminate the interior, and an open air back. This was done to attract more ridership to the route.

The county said once more trolleys arrive, weekend service would commence. Once weekend service began, the Behesda 8 ran at 8 minute intervals from 7:00 AM until midnight on weekdays, until 2 AM Friday nights (Saturday mornings), and from 6 PM until 2 AM on Saturdays (Sunday mornings). Service has also been provided for special events, such as the Taste of Bethesda.

During parts of 2002, the route was operated with the Orion Is and starting September 1, 2002, with ATE/Ryder cutaways. In early 2007, the operation of the route was transfered to the Bethesda Urban Partnership, which purchased new trolleys to operate on the route.

The route of the Bethesda 8 has remained virtually unchanged since its inception. The route starts in the Bethesda Metro station bus terminal. Buses exit the terminal and go north on Old Georgetown Road. They turn right onto Auburn Avenue and proceed to Rugby Avenue. At the end of Rugby, the bus turns right onto Woodmont Avenue, passing some office building and shops. The bus stops at Woodmont and North Lane, allowing those destined for the Metro from the northern part of the CBD to not have to ride around the southern part of the CBD. We are now about 6 or 7 minutes into our journey. The bus continues for a few more blocks on Woodmont to Bethesda Avenue, a central point for shopping in Bethesda. We turn right to head west on Bethesda, right down Bethesda Row, a line of shops. At the end of the block, we go right again onto Arlington Road, pass the Bethesda Library, and then right again onto Edgemoor Lane. After going east one block, the bus crosses Woodmont Avenue and enters the Bethesda Metro bus terminal. The trip should have taken 13 minutes.

Photos

Trolley replica 015298 @ Bethesda, March 26, 2001	Trolley replica 015298 on Woodmont Avenue at Norfolk Avenue, December 26, 2002	Trolley replica 015298 on Woodmont Avenue at Norfolk Avenue, December 26, 2002
Orion V 5540 @ Friendship Heights on the 23. Note the Bethesda "8" signs. This photo was taken just after the trolleys entered service so the signs had yet to be removed from this bus. March 23, 2001.	Trolley replica 4902 on Edgemoor Lane at Bethesda Station, July 4, 2007 Back to Ride-On This line has been in operation since