Spring has sprung in DC and that means crowds of tourists eagerly awaiting to see the cherry blossoms. However, the massive amounts of people this season brings can annoy and even anger many DC residents. The tourists can be disrespectful and disrupt the natural flow of the city.
While getting into DC usually involves navigating traffic, the amount of traffic has significantly increased during this time and has become a nightmare for locals. For commuters, the two hours spent trying to get back into DC is frustrating, especially after a long day of work. The metros are also packed like sardines, tightly cramming tourists and locals into uncomfortably close proximities. On March 29, the metro reported a peak ridership of 710,000 people, making it one of the busiest days in six years.
Not only do the crowds affect transport, the sidewalks are also crowded with people ambling along blissfully unaware of the busy rush of the city. With people crossing too slowly or whenever they want, the flow of traffic is also thrown into disarray.
“I went to the cherry blossoms this past Monday. It was so crowded we couldn’t get a parking spot, we were stuck in traffic for an hour and a half,” sophomore Veronica Woods said.
Woods also noted that in her drive to Baltimore this past weekend, a drive that usually takes an hour and a half, took a grand total of three hours. Baltimore is only 40 miles from DC and under no circumstances should take that long.
Around the cherry blossoms and monuments, the place is a madhouse. Even during the early morning, there are still massive amounts of people. The beauty of the scene attracts many photoshoots for grad and family photos. However, these photoshoots are typically set up in the middle of the sidewalk, backing up the people walking around. Not only do professionals do this, everyone stops to take pictures, unaware of the people around them.
“There was a lot of trash around and the trash cans were very full, people were not being very mindful of their impact on others,” sophomore Harper Gilmour said.
As Gilmour stated, an upsetting effect of the tourists is the sheer amount of trash left around. The trash cans are overflowing and trash is scattered in the fields around them. No one picks up the trash or attempts to do a better job of maintaining a clean environment.
This season should be a lovely time to go outside in DC and enjoy the cherry blossoms. Tourists will always be attracted to DC during this time, but they should be aware of their effects on the city. Locals should look forward to this season, instead of being filled with a sense of dread about the traffic. This being said, residents can strive to be patient and welcoming in the midst of the madness.
