The Metro system, once a reliable point of pride for D.C.’s boosters, has had a rough few years: Safety problems, escalator outages, and rising prices have made the subway a regular subject of local griping. At times, it can be hard to keep up with the torrent of unflattering Metro-related scoops. As a public service, Washington City Paper is offering beleaguered riders this irregular round-up of recent media lowlights:

• After it surfaced that Metro employees at Huntington station were abusing parking, Metro CEO Richard Sarles reminded all WMATA employees he’ll dispatch Metro Transit Police to enforce parking regulations.
• Are Metrorail riders meaner than Metrobus ones?
• Some parking advocates would prefer a $1 surcharge on station parking, instead of service cuts.
• Navigating Metro in a wheelchair proves very unpleasant for one rider. Unfortunately, her experience isn’t uncommon.
• A man in Virginia has pleaded guilty to planning a Metro bomb attack with government agents pretending to be members of Al-Qaeda.
• Local leaders in Virginia are considering pulling funding for the Silver Line project.
• Now that cherry blossom fever has subsided, Metro’s going back to intensive track work.
• Upgrading Ward 5’s transit isn’t going to happen right away.

In Metro Good News, a plan to put a 5-cent surcharge on Metro riders at Union Station has been scrapped (for the moment), and Arlington riders may soon be able to load bus passes onto their SmarTrips.

And if Metro Bad News is too depressing, perhaps you’d prefer it reenacted by marshmallow peeps.