The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority issued a press release advertising “Car Free Day” this Wednesday as part of an international movement to promote alternative transportation. Promoting awareness of public transit is a reasonable goal, but by encouraging first-time riders to take public transit all at the same time, Car Free Day creates a negative impression of Metro with longer lines at fare gates, people standing on the left side of the escalator, and crowded cars with malfunctioning doors.
Using Metro’s data on ridership and service disruptions, we can see that last year’s Car Free Day on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 saw Metrorail ridership 10% above the weekday average for that month. For daily commuters, this can be the difference between squeezing in to the first train that comes along and being forced to wait for the next one. On the bright side, the economic downturn has caused a decrease in ridership over the past year which could lessen the effect of Car Free Day.
Perversely, by simultaneously relieving traffic on the roads and squeezing inexperienced riders into the Metro system, Car Free Day creates an incentive for regular Metro riders to drive to work instead of enduring the additional crowding. Longtime veterans know to avoid the Red Line after a hockey game or Smithsonian station during tourist season. Sports fans, tourists, and first-time riders don’t know the unspoken laws of Metro etiquette that make the daily commute almost bearable. Car Free Day will only exacerbate the problem.
With all the reasons to avoid Metro on Wednesday, there are also some downsides to driving to work. With the expansion of bike lanes throughout downtown DC, commuters can expect a snarl of gridlock as motorists discover that it is now impossible to make left turns in much of the urban core while simultaneously competing with Car Free Day bicyclists. And of course, those who eschew the Metro in favor of the car will miss out on their free copy of the Washington Examiner. In the end, the best plan for Car Free Day may be to stick with your ordinary routine.
