Daily Trip Patterns in NYC

Requirements Clarification & Assessment

To effectively answer the question on the distribution of daily trips in NYC, it's crucial to clarify the requirements and assess the available data:

1. Clarifying Questions:

   • Type of Trips: Are we considering all types of trips (e.g., public transit, taxis, ride-sharing, personal vehicles) or focusing on specific ones?
   • Data Availability: What datasets are available? Are there historical records, real-time data, or both?
   • Geographical Scope: Are we looking at trips within NYC only, or including commutes from neighboring areas?
   • Time Frame: Are we analyzing daily patterns, or is there interest in seasonal or yearly trends?
   • Purpose of Analysis: Is the goal to understand current patterns, forecast future demand, or something else?

2. Assumptions:

   • Assume the focus is on cab/ride-share trips within NYC.
   • Consider typical weekdays and weekends separately due to differing patterns.
   • Assume data includes timestamps, trip origins, and destinations.

3. Hypothesis:

   • Weekdays: Higher trip volumes during morning (7-10 AM) and evening (5-8 PM) rush hours.
   • Weekends: Increased trips in the evenings and throughout the night due to leisure activities.

4. Metrics to Analyze:

   • Number of trips per hour.
   • Average trip duration.
   • Trip start and end locations.
   • Ride request types (e.g., Uber, Lyft, taxi).