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Public Transportation Usage in NYC Drops by 57% Since Rise of Coronavirus

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By: Emilia Chodary

New York’s public transportation usage has gone down tremendously since the rise of the coronavirus outbreak. A 57% decline was reported last week, for the demand for buses, trains, and city bikes. This week the percentage increased to 53% Moovit App Global Ltd. data reports, according to Crain’s New York Business.

State officials strive to slow the number of coronavirus cases by encouraging residents to stay home, resulting in the rapidly diminishing ridership in New York’s transportation system including ferries, subways, buses, and commuter rail. Curbed New York reports that with transit workers getting infected with the virus, officials are scrambling to keep services running. Health officials are continuing to press that those who feel ill to refrain from leaving their homes unless it is absolutely necessary.

There are a few important changes regarding the navigation of the city’s public transportation during the COVID crises. Subways have terminated overnight services between the times of 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. in order to disinfect all cars. .

For those who regularly travel in the early mornings and are troubled, the MTA has increased the overnight bus service and is offering to essential workers for-hire vehicles and free taxi services. Buses are working at 75% of its normal capacity Curbed New York has reported. Ridership is down below 80% identical to the same period time last year, so riders won’t notice any significant differences in services. Commuter rails and ferries are also experiencing plummeting percentages of riders, partially due to the reduced schedules.

All ferry routes are functioning on altered schedules until further notice, due to the 90% decrease in ferry ridership and Governor Cuomo’s order for nonessential workers to remain home. The surging usage of biking has become the common and only practical way of getting around since the rise of COVID-19.

Mayor Blasio has made several pronouncements in which he encouraged New Yorkers to be active. Citi Bike launched a Critical Workforce Membership Program supplying healthcare workers, first responders, and transit works with the utilization of a free month of their biking rentals.

Just as public transit struggles to stay afloat, the number of seated restaurants in New York this year surpassed 94% of serving customers outdoors, according to OpenTable Inc. as compared to last week where the number of seated eateries was 97% as compared to the previous year. The delay in the return of indoor restaurants was decided by the city this week, as cases begin to spike due to the early lifting of coronavirus restrictions.

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