- Next »
- « Previous
Mass transit surge: Most riders since 1957
 |
Mass transit surge: Most riders since 1957
As gasoline prices rise above $4 a gallon, more Americans are turning to mass transportation systems.
By Kenneth Musante, CNNMoney.com staff writer
June 11, 2008: 12:22 PM EDT
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation last year, marking the highest ridership level since 1957, according to a new study.
The rate of ridership continued to climb at a quarterly rate of 3.3% through the first three months of 2008 to 2.6 billion, according to research from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA). That's nearly 85 million more trips than the same period last year, the APTA said.
"There's no doubt that the high gas prices are motivating people to change their travel behavior," said APTA president William Millar, in a statement.
The number of riders on trolleys and streetcars rose 10.3% in the first quarter of 2008, while the number of commuter rail riders grew 5.7%, according to APTA data. Ridership on subways, elevated trains and buses also increased.
"People are looking at the gas prices and they're making a choice," said Joe Calderone, spokesman for the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), a commuter rail system in Long Island, New York.
The LIRR, which recently hiked fares, has seen ridership increase 5.4% during the first 4 months of 2008, compared with the same period a year ago.
Last year the LIRR served 86.1 million riders, the most since 1949, according to Calderone.
The average price of gasoline nationwide crossed the $4 a gallon mark last Sunday, and the price of regular gasoline is now over $4 a gallon in more than half of the states in the country, according to a daily survey from automobile group AAA.
In a survey released last month by IBM's Institute for Electronic Government, a total of 31% of commuters who normally drive to work said they would change their transportation habits if gas were to cross $4 a gallon.
IBM also found that a total of 66% of drivers would seek other means of transportation if gas hits $5 a gallon. 
(source: CNN http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/11/news/mass_transit/index.htm?cnn=yes)
My Groups
-
Creative People Updated: Yesterday
-
Social Justice Updated: Yesterday
-
Chicago Updated: Yesterday
Comments
Which kind of woman do you want to be?
Do u have these ten secret weapons?
IT bag: yves saint laurent,christian louboutin for spring,louis vuitton handbags for Summer,loewe handbags for autumn,Coach handbags or other replica handbags for Winter.
You have to wear the christian louboutin when you go to parties.When you are on a journey,you should wear a pair of jimmy choo shoes.Nike is very nessisary when you donging sports.You should buy the ugg boots(UGG Classic Short or UGG Classic Tall) for your watery foots.
gucci bags on sale gucci handbags on sale fendi zucca bag fendi wallets fendi spy replica spring coach bags dolce & gabbana handbags dg handbags dolce handbag hermes handbag discount designer handbags hermes kelly handbag replica chloe handbags loewe handbag miu miu leather bag jimmy choo handbags lancel handbag discount burberry handbags burberry handbag marc jacobs handbags sale marc jacobs stam bag marc jacobs quilted bag handbags by marc jacobs marc jacobs hobo marc jacobs satchel thomas wylde bag thomas bag mulberry handbags valentino purse valentino bag versace purses versace handbag cartier bag cartier wallets givenchy bag handbag luxury bottega veneta handbags bottega handbags dior gaucho handbags christian dior handbag christian handbags balenciaga handbags balenciaga motorcycle bag christian dior handbags louis vuitton wallets louis vuitton purses louis vuitton monogram louis vuitton multicolor louis vuitton monogram canvas louis vuitton alma louis vuitton vernis ysl handbags cheap Ugg BootsReplica Watches replica ugg bootschristian louboutin shoes Women Jeans