re: #119 bofhell

The numbers from WMATA MUST be considered a minimum (as my note from yesterday described, the increase in Metrorail’s ridership on the 12th was on the order of 65k). The reasons are varied:

1 — The number is ONLY for Metrorail and does not include Metrobus (since the Metrobus numbers have clear and explicit patterns to them)
2 — There are any of a number of hotels within walking distance of the Mall
3 — There is no accounting for people taking buses and taxis downtown.
4 — Still photography of the event sites (such as the now famous 14th live cam image) clearly support a number higher than 65k.

Uh - it isn’t the absolute ridership numbers that matter. It’s the relative increase compared with other events of known size.

The figures posted here yesterday are entirely consistent with a crowd of around 50k - 100k. The wide range is due to the many other factors that can affect ridership, but it is completely consistent with the Fire Department estimate.

“Damn, you effing idiot - just look at the effing photos and any effing idiot can tell that there’s effing a million effing people there!!!” seems to be the alternative being offered. It doesn’t carry as much weight as professionals like the DC FD.