Photo: busworld.org
Americans took a record 10.7 billion trips on public transportation last year, making 2013 the highest transit rideship in 57 years, the American Public Transportation Association announced earlier this week.
In 2013, which was the eighth consecutive year when more than 10 billion trips were taken on nationwide public transportation systems, public transit use increased by 1.1 percent, while vehicle miles traveled on roads went up only 0.3 percent.
The APTA explains that the increase in public transportation use is mainly due to economic revitalization and the recent drops in unemployment. The organization adds that nearly 60 percent of the trips taken on public transportation are for work commutes.
The also revealed that heavy rail transportation grew 2.8 percent, commuter rail rideship improved by 2.1 percent, while right rail transportation, which includes “modern streetcars, trolleys and heritage trolleys”, increased 1.6 percent.
Moving over to bus rideship, APTA reports that rideship went up 3.8 percent in cities populated by less than 100,000 inhabitants.
"Last year people took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation. As the highest annual ridership number since 1956, Americans in growing numbers want to have more public transit services in their communities," said Peter Varga, CEO of The Rapid in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "Public transportation systems nationwide – in small, medium, and large communities – saw ridership increases. Some reported all-time high ridership numbers."
After comparing 2013 data with 1995 figures, the APTA discovered that public transit rideship increased by 37.2 percent, outpacing both vehicle miles traveled (22.7 percent) and US population growth (20.3 percent).
Scroll below to have a look at the APTA’s official results.
The APTA explains that the increase in public transportation use is mainly due to economic revitalization and the recent drops in unemployment. The organization adds that nearly 60 percent of the trips taken on public transportation are for work commutes.
The also revealed that heavy rail transportation grew 2.8 percent, commuter rail rideship improved by 2.1 percent, while right rail transportation, which includes “modern streetcars, trolleys and heritage trolleys”, increased 1.6 percent.
Moving over to bus rideship, APTA reports that rideship went up 3.8 percent in cities populated by less than 100,000 inhabitants.
"Last year people took 10.7 billion trips on public transportation. As the highest annual ridership number since 1956, Americans in growing numbers want to have more public transit services in their communities," said Peter Varga, CEO of The Rapid in Grand Rapids, Michigan. "Public transportation systems nationwide – in small, medium, and large communities – saw ridership increases. Some reported all-time high ridership numbers."
After comparing 2013 data with 1995 figures, the APTA discovered that public transit rideship increased by 37.2 percent, outpacing both vehicle miles traveled (22.7 percent) and US population growth (20.3 percent).
Scroll below to have a look at the APTA’s official results.
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