Google Tool Helps NYers Avoid Crowds As Coronavirus Strikes Back

NEW YORK CITY — Avoid grocery shopping on Saturday at 4 p.m. if you want to steer clear of packed aisles amid the coronavirus resurgence.

Ditto for grabbing a cup of coffee Saturday at 11 a.m. Or going to the pharmacy Fridays at 3 p.m.

A batch of New York City-based data from Google Maps provides a near-real time look at when and where city dwellers go amid the pandemic.

Google calculates popular times and what it calls "live busyness" information from anonymous data from Maps users who opt to share this data with the tech giant, according to a blog post.

"This information has become a powerful tool during the pandemic, making it easier to social distance because you know in advance how crowded a place will be," the blog post states.

Here's what Google Maps found were the busiest and least busy times for New York City locations.

Coffee shops

• Busiest: Saturday at 11 a.m.
• Least busy: Tuesday at 5 p.m.

Grocery stores

• Busiest: Saturday at 4 p.m.
• Least busy: Monday at 8 a.m.

Parks

• Busiest: Saturday between 4 and 5 p.m.
• Least busy: Sunday at 7 a.m.

Pharmacies

• Busiest: Friday at 3 p.m.
• Least busy: Tuesday at 9 a.m.

Restaurants

• Busiest: Friday at 7 p.m.
• Least busy: Wednesday at 11 a.m.

The data also showed New Yorkers significantly changed their habits during the coronavirus crisis.

For instance, cycling is up 72 percent during the pandemic, while transit ridership is down about 45 percent, according to the data. That tracks with MTA's steady proclamations of cratering straphangers and ensuing dire forecasts of fiscal doom.

New Yorkers also showed changing tastes for food during lockdown. Thai food searches went up 108 percent, according to Google's data, along with increased appetites for Chinese, Mexican and Halal.

Takeout orders overall increased 245 percent since the pandemic quarantine began, according to Google. The times they placed food orders also changed — at the beginning of lockdown, most orders were placed between 7 and 8 p.m. New Yorkers now nosh, or at least place their orders, at 6 p.m. or so, according to the data.

New Yorkers can use Google Maps for themselves to check how busy a specific location is, as well as relevant COVID-19 information in that area.