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Washington Metro measures and releases its ridership numbers and these numbers have been used in the past to judge the size of major events in Washington, DC.

And that's only part of the story. I was one of many riders who jammed the Metro system on 9/12. When our train arrived at the Federal Plaza station (the nearest to the step off for ther march) the platform was still half full of riders from the previous train. Before we could make it up the escaltor yet another packed train was arriving. The big hold up was everyone having to scan their fare cards to get thru the exit turnstyles.

Finally, Metro employees opened the gates and let us stream through without scanning cards and without clicking the turnstyles. Thousands got through uncounted by Metro at just that one station alone.