As the Trump administration sparred angrily with the media over reporting on the size of Friday’s Inauguration Day crowds, D.C.’s transit authority, the WMATA, was releasing some revealing hard data on parking and transit volumes to Twitter. One update showed less demand before Friday’s inauguration than for swearing-ins going back to George W. Bush’s second term.
Metro Ridership: As of 11am, 193k trips taken so far today. (11am 1/20/13 = 317k, 11am 1/20/09 = 513k, 11am 1/20/05 = 197k) #wmata
— Metro Forward (@wmata) January 20, 2017
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The Trump inauguration also generated 80,000 fewer Metro rides by 11 a.m. Than the Women’s March on Washington the following day.
Metro Ridership as of 11am: 275k. For comparison, that's more than 8x a normal Sat & even busier than most weekdays. #wmata#womensmarch
— Metro Forward (@wmata) January 21, 2017
CNN has reported that WMATA’s full-day ride total for the inauguration was 570,557, compared to 782,000 rides during the second Obama ceremony. The total for the Women’s March, announced this morning, was 1,001,616.
Metrorail ridership for Sat, Jan 21 = 1,001,616 #wmata
— Metro Forward (@wmata) January 22, 2017
Another data point came from parking demand at lots near train stations. During the inauguration, the WMATA reported no challenges for anyone looking for a spot.
Final Metro parking update: Only stations >60% are E Falls Church (95%) & Van Dorn St (75%). All others <60%. #wmata#inaug2017pic.twitter.com/tssY85yMQO
— Metro Forward (@wmata) January 20, 2017
Parking was at more of a premium during the Women’s March.
Metro Parking Update: Many end-of-line garages and lots now at/near capacity. Detail ⬇️ #wmata#WomensMarchpic.twitter.com/HbRHkDJAsG
— Metro Forward (@wmata) January 21, 2017
For more on the Inauguration, watch our video.
In many American cities, public transit ridership would be a middling measure of how many people were visiting and moving around on any given day. But visitors to D.C., especially during major events, are commonly advised to travel via Metro because of central-city gridlock and limited parking options.
The WMATA data is particularly notable in light of disciplinary action taken against the U.S. Department of Interior after a National Park Service Twitter account shared images showing smaller crowds for Friday’s inauguration. President Trump’s Press Secretary, Sean Spicer, subsequently claimed that “this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period.”