Public transit ridership increases across the U.S.
By Jon Hurdle, New York Times
PHILADELPHIA — More Americans used buses, trains and subways in 2013 than in any year since 1956 as service improved, local economies grew and travelers increasingly sought alternatives to the automobile for trips within metropolitan areas, the American Public Transportation Association said in a report released Monday.
The trade group said in its annual report that 10.65 billion passenger trips were taken on transit systems during the year, surpassing the post-1950s peak of 10.59 billion in 2008, when gas prices rose to $4 to $5 a gallon.
The ridership in 2013, when gas prices were lower than in 2008, undermines the conventional wisdom that transit use rises when those prices exceed a certain threshold, and suggests that other forces are bolstering enthusiasm for public transportation, said Michael Melaniphy, the president of the association.
I wish I could ride public transportation at SLT… but I would have to walk from Fountain Ave to Hwy 50 to catch a bus, and I am almost 70 years old. The 24-hour notice requirement for seniors to get Blue Go’s door-to-door is often not possible. Since the in-neighborhood service in Sierra Tract was not used enough to support keeping it, the door-to-door service should be made available without 24-hour restriction – instead, it should be like any of the door-to-door service – only free or $1 for seniors.
Wish I could use ANY form of public trans! Funny how everywhere people are using it more… And those that want to use it can’t ! Maybe I’ll take a bus from the y to Carson to do some shopping ….?