Public transit use is expected to have more users in 2014 than in 2013 and to have the most users since 1956.
http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/17/travel/public-transportation-ridership-increasing/index.html?hpt=tr_c1
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
US population is doubled what it was in 1956, so the use per capita is still one half as less. Nevertheless, the study said that transit is currently growing faster than population, so that is a good sign.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the rising cost of cars and the declining purchasing power of the working poor.
I am also observing a rise in the use of bicycles, Mopeds, and payday lenders.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
It's because driving just isn't fun anymore. The cost of the damned things, plus the gas which isn't going to stay cheap forever and the insurance, plus the cops everywhere. Plus cars now all look like melted bars of soap so what's the difference between a Hyundai and a Mercedes and a Cadillac? You sure can't fix them yourself like we used to do on Saturdays. When you drive anywhere, all you see are Wal-Marts, Mcdonalds, Shopper's Drug Mart, Pet Value and so forth and because of that, since every place you go looks like every other place, why bother going anywhere?
What's hard to quantify is my opinion that public transit does improve the quality of life in a crowded urban area. To put @54light15's post another way, driving is drudgery for many destinations - 'hours' of misery and then expensive or even no parking once you get there.
Links to my Google Maps ---> Sunset Route overview, SoCal metro, Yuma sub, Gila sub, SR east of Tucson, BNSF Northern Transcon and Southern Transcon *** Why you should support Ukraine! ***
Mass transit is absolutely essential in a dense urban environment.
If you suddenly eliminated NYC Subway, or BART, or several others their respective cities would be paralized.
Another sad thing is that there are still politicians that think the only way to get around is by car like our recently deposed idiot mayor. Him and his brother spoke of widening the highways to allow more cars downtown. Just what is needed!
Another nitwit politician, Tim Hudak by name, (Robert Moses' soul brother) had he been elected Premier of Ontario would have cancelled all of the light rail lines planned for Hamilton, Toronto, Kitchener and Mississauga and was in favour of a new highway along the top of Lake Erie between Windsor and Niagara. Suddenly it's 1955! Like what they called "progress" in those days when they junked the PE and built freeways.
Ahhh Politics.
You may not be aware that the origin of that term is Greek. It comes from "Polly", meaning many, and "ticks" meaning blood sucking vermin.
Best defintion of politics I've ever read!
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