Where Are DC-Area Residents Going (And Not Going)

• April 6th 2020

by Nena Perry-Brown

While a recent analysis shows the DC area making the grade at following physical distancing recommendations, a new tool aims to show what kinds of trips people are still making, or have cut back on.

Google's COVID-19 Mobility Report uses data from Google account holders with active location history to see what type of trips people are making. The most recent data for the DC region, from just before DC, Maryland, and Virginia enacted stay-at-home orders, is compared to a baseline that largely consists of trips taken in January. 

The report shows that people areawide are making 44% fewer trips to the workplace; Arlington leads the pack with 50% fewer trips to work, while DC comes in second with 47% fewer trips.

Alexandria residents saw trips to the grocery store or pharmacy drop off by 22% while larger declines were seen in Arlington County (32%), and DC and Montgomery County (30%). Arlington County residents avoided transit hubs at the widest margin in the area, with 82% fewer of these trips, followed by a 68% drop in DC. Montgomery and Prince George's Counties tied with a 50% reduction in trips to transit hubs.

Prince George's County residents had the smallest drop areawide for trips to retail and recreation destinations, with a 40% decrease; Montgomery County follows with a 51% drop, and Arlington and DC each have at least 62% fewer trips.

When it comes to visiting parks, however, the area is starkly divided, with DC standing alone in making fewer trips to the park (-41%). People are taking more trips to the park everywhere else, led by Alexandria residents making 49% more trips, followed by Montgomery County (44%) and Prince George's County (37%) with Arlington trailing behind by a wide margin (8%).

UrbanTurf will continue to keep an eye on this data to see how trips trended after the stay-at-home orders went into effect.

Thumbnail photo by Ted Eytan. 

UrbanTurf's Coverage of COVID-19 

• Three People Max, Six Feet Apart: Maryland Issues COVID-19 Guidelines to Realtors
• Proposed Bill Would Provide Mortgage and Rent Relief to DC Residents
• The Drive-Thru COVID Testing Rundown for the DC Area
• DCBIA to Lobby For Local Mortgage Relief To Help Renters
• From Virtual Open Houses to Focus Forums, How DC Brokerages are Maintaining Physical Distance
• Pandemic Puts DC Historic Review Applications On Hold
• One Title Company Implements Drive-Thru Closings
• How Coronavirus is Affecting Property Showings in the DC Area
• How Well is DC Doing at Social Distancing?
• Lyft To Donate Free Essential Rides
• Bank of America Allowing Borrowers to Defer Mortgage Payments
• A Look at 5 Housing Non-Profits in DC
• Van Ness Co-op Building Implements Strict COVID-19 Measures 
• HUD, FHFA Suspend All Evictions, Foreclosures Through April
• Two Grocers and Mega Retailer Change Hours for Seniors
• DC Council Passes Sweeping COVID-19 Emergency Bill

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/where-are-dc-residents-going-and-not-going/16682.