The DC Streetcar launched in late February, there were few claims from media around town that it was barely faster than walking. It is crucial to prove that this is not true. The first thing to point out with that first Laris article is that of course the streetcar was slow on the opening day. There were hundreds of spectators watching the celebrations, jamming the streets and the tracks. It's not something that can be considered typical. Beyond that, no one is able to walk between Union Station (where the streetcar routes western boundary is located) and its eastern end at Benning or Oklahoma in under 27 minutes. Doing so would require walking at an average of 4.5 miles per hour; the mean walking speed is about three miles per hour, and the typical running speed is around six miles per hour. I am an avid walker and am located less than one block from Oklahoma Avenue Station. I have been walking up Benning Street and H Streets and then to Union Station's terminus about 25 times. It's about 40 minutes. Google Maps says it should be 38 minutes however, which is quite generous for stop lights for instance in Starburst Plaza (the intersection of 15th Street, Maryland Avenue, and Bladensburg Road) as well as those on H Street, often make travel times longer than map apps predict. According to reports from recent times according to recent reports, the average duration to get from one end to the other is between 18 and 20 minutes. While many runners began with a modest lead, they weren't able to catch up to the Streetcar in the "Running of the Streetcar" the first race. Whether you demand additional info about streetcar, look at this website. This is a slight correction. The pieces I cited above were published in February, when the streetcar was opening. This is vital, since people will keep repeating the error if they don't rectify it. It's a fact that many people underestimate the time it takes to travel the streetcar route, and underestimate the time it takes for the streetcar to go there. Walking is twice more efficient than taking the DC Streetcar. In the inevitable political battles over the bowser administration's promise to extend the line both east and west, the general public should be aware of the facts that are both positive and negative. It is well-documented that there was some mismanagement prior to the streetcar was officially opened. However, now that the streetcar is up and running, it is important to be aware of the fact that it is providing a functional and efficient alternative mode of transportation in one of the city's most crowded transportation routes.
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