Last month, we asked you to fill out a survey on vehicle, transit and parking use in this part of Ward 3. And 180 of you responded. Thank you!
First, the caveats, which we cannot emphasize enough: This is a non-scientific survey, filled out by people who care about zoning, transportation and related issues. The survey could be sent to anyone, and it was. The survey vehicle we chose allowed a limited number of questions, so we could really only scratch the surface. And many of your responses for “other” revealed answers and questions that we had not thought of, but should have!
In short, drawing any conclusions from the results would be foolish, so we are not going to try. Instead, we present the results as a snapshot of the lifestyles and views of some in the community.
Overview
-Most of the 180 survey takers live in Forest Hills. The rest are in Cleveland Park, Tenleytown, Chevy Chase and under other, mostly Woodley Park and Friendship Heights.
-Three quarters live in single-family housing, a semi-detached home, or a townhouse. The rest are in apartments, condos and coops.
-About 60% say a car or car share is their primary mode of transportation, and 27% walk and/or use transit most often.
-52% drive daily.
-61% park on the street. 60% use off-street parking (This doesn’t add up to 100% because some households have more than one vehicle).
-About 75% (including “other” responses) oppose transit zones (Here is one interpretation of what the transit zones would do). 20% are supportive.
Transportation and Kids
-More than half (58%) of those with children at home say that the automobile is their primary form of transportation. One-quarter (26%) get around primarily on foot, on bike or on transit. The 15% who chose “Other” describe mostly families who split their time between car, transit and foot or pedal power.
-64% of those with children in the household either drive daily or have a spouse, partner or child who drives every day.
-About 60% of those with kids at home are against the proposed transit zones. 35% think the parking zones make sense.
Transportation and Aging
-The 56+ age group is the most likely describe the car as their primary mode of transportation, with 67% getting around in this way. About 25% walk and/or use transit most often. The rest say they or others in their households split their time fairly evenly between these transportation modes.
-About half of the 56+ group drive every day.
-This group is most opposed to the transit zones, with 85% percent choosing one of the “no” answers or coming up with their own. 10% think the parking zones are a good idea.
Apartment/Condo Residents
-Only about 20% say cars (or a mix of cars and transit) are their primary mode of transportation. 68% use transit and/or walk most often.
-This group was most likely to say they never drive (14%). 29% drive daily.
-61% use off-street parking. 47% park a car on the street. This doesn’t add up to 100% because some households have more than one car.
-About 60% oppose the transit zones, and 27% are supportive.
Residents of Single-Family Homes
-This group of survey takers is older, with 65% in the 56+ age group.
-75% say the car is their primary form of transportation, 60% drive daily.
-This group is most likely to use the street parking – 65% have a car on the street. 59% have an off-street space, in a garage, alley or driveway.
-80% oppose transit zones; 18% are supportive.
Forest Hills Only
-Nearly half of the respondents say they live in Forest Hills, 60% in a single-family home/townhouse, the rest in a coop, condo or apartment.
-About 40% have at least one child living with them, 14% live alone.
-60% say the car is their primary mode of transportation. 33% walk, bike, and/or use transit most often. 55% are daily drivers.
-74% oppose transit zones; 20% are supportive.
Full Results:
1. Which neighborhood do you call home?
[table]
Forest Hills/Van Ness | 42.2% |
Cleveland Park | 15.0% |
Chevy Chase | 18.9% |
Tenleytown | 10.0% |
Other (most of you wrote in Woodley Park, Friendship Heights) | 13.9% |
[/table]
2. Type of residence
[table]
Single family home (detached and semi-detached) | 74.4% |
Condo, coop or apartment | 23.3% |
[/table]
3. Who else lives in your household? Check all that apply.
[table]
I live alone. | 13.8% |
Spouse/Partner | 77.0% |
Housemate | 4.0% |
One or more children | 38.5% |
Other family | 2.9% |
Other | 2.9% |
[/table]
4. What is your age?
[table]
18-35 | 7.3% |
36-55 | 34.1% |
56+ | 58.7% |
[/table]
5. What is your household’s primary mode of transportation?
[table]
Walking | 3.3% |
Walking and transit | 23.9% |
Biking | 1.7% |
Car (own) | 58.9% |
Car (share) | 1.7% |
Other (Respondents wrote in a mix of the above transportation options) | 10.6% |
[/table]
6. How often do you drive?
[table]
Never | 3.3% |
Daily | 52.2% |
A few days per week | 22.8% |
Infrequently – I use a car sharing service or rent | 3.9% |
Other | 3.9% |
[/table]
7. If you own a car, where do you park it? (Owners of two or more cars, check all that apply)
[table]
On the street | 61.8% |
In a paid parking garage | 3.0% |
In a garage on my property | 38.8% |
Other (Respondents wrote in off-street parking such as driveways and alleys) | 18.8% |
[/table]
8. The DC Office of Planning’ proposed zoning rewrite would create “transit zones” covering commercial and apartment buildings and condos within a 10-minute walk of Metro or high-frequency bus lines (single-family homes are not included). Within these zones, the OP would eliminate a requirement that developers include parking. Do you think these changes make sense?
[table]
Yes. There is enough on- and off-street parking available now for those who need to drive. | 5.0% |
Yes. New developers will likely build enough parking for residents and customers. | 14.4% |
No. The changes would add more cars to residential streets. | 61.7% |
No. We do not know what future development will bring. | 9.4% |
Other | 9.4% |
[/table]
Responses for “Other”:
1) more dc residents should be encouraged to use public transportation, especially the bus lines. residential neighborhoods close to transit hubs may experience people parking in their neighborhoods, but those in residential neighborhoods could also take public transit and would not need to worry that their parking space would be taken
2) No. Residents and workers in such buildings should be as free to use cars as
anyone else.
3) No. elderly persons who cannot use metro or bikes need vehicle parking/access
4) I would choose both no’s
5) No – the changes would add cars to residential streets AND we don’t know what future development will bring
6) Don’t really know or care
7) Not enough info to make a decision
8) Needs to be considered on a case by case basis, including whether the walk is level or on a hill; it shouldn’t be all or nothing. Requiring some parking for multiunit residences makes sense; requiring parking for developments like Cathedral Commons is absolutely necessary.
9) Undecided. Would like more discussion of pros & cons.
10 Need parking spaces for buildings-not enough room on the street and Metro not used by everyone
11) No. It is important to be able to park your car near your home, and crowded residential streets are usually too far away.
12) Because public transportation is used does not mean the apartment and condo owners will not own cars that are parked on the street.
13) Yes. The market will make this right.
14) I don’t know
15) No. There is not enough local parking currently on Chesapeake, 36, or Cumberland Streets
16) Yes, to extent they promote the use of car alternatives
17) I don’t know what implications would be, but generally support measures that discourage car ownership – especially if you live near to Metro