On August 8, 2023, GWRideConnect conducted a study on the practice of slugging within the George Washington Region, also known as Planning District 16, finding significant slugging activity at Stafford County’s Staffordboro Park and Ride Lot located off Route 610.
Originating in the 1970s, slugging has evolved into an efficient form of instant carpooling that substantially reduces vehicle miles travelled (VMT). Slugging, recognized as casual or instant carpooling, is when a driver picks up non-paying passenger(s) at a specific pickup location and drops the passenger(s) off at a drop-off location that is agreed upon before the rider enters the vehicle.
On Tuesday, August 8, 2023, the surveyors counted 436 riders (slugs) that obtained rides with 220 vehicles. GWRideConnect executed a similar study last year on also the second Tuesday of August. Compared to the same time last year, there was an impressive increase of 51% in the number of riders and a 44% increase in vehicles engaged in providing rides for slugs at the Staffordboro Park and Ride Lot. This was the only location where slugging activity was observed both last year and this year.
As described in the full report, available below, during the early morning time interval of 4:30 and 5:00 a.m., the average wait time between arriving vehicles was 4 minutes and 49 seconds. In contrast, the period between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. witnessed a remarkably swift average of just 33 seconds between arriving vehicles.
The full report for the August 8, 2023 count, is located here: https://www.gwrideconnect.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Slug-Survey-2023-Final.pdf
The full report for the 2022 count is located here: https://www.gwrideconnect.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Slug-Survey-2022-Final-Report.pdf
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