Time to celebrate. Trains are replacing cars.
In the U.S., according to a press release from the American Public Transportation Association, transit ridership is:
* Up 30% in the last ten years.
* The highest since 1957.
Some 10 billion trips by Americans.
Biggest gains were for light rail, up 5.6% over 2005. Second biggest gains were for trains, up 4.1% over 2005. Third biggest gains were for commuter trains, up 3.2% over last year. Go trains. Go kids.
Other impressive facts. Transit ridership increased more than the growth in population. It increased more than vehicle miles traveled. Transit trips were 15 times more than domestic airline trips. Wow.
APTA doesn't really know why (we do). The closest reason they gave was "transit oriented youth." The wrongest reason given was high gas prices. But bottom line: cause for celebration. America on the move in the right direction. Thanks to NineShifter Jeff Kart for alerting us to this story.
May I be the first to say, it's about time?!
Posted by: wolfy | April 11, 2007 at 06:35 PM