Public Transit Ridership Surges as Gas Prices Decline

This year has seen the highest gas prices in U.S. history. Americans responded to this by reducing their driving; nationally, vehicle miles traveled was down 4.6 percent in the third quarter of 2008. Despite the current, incredibly low price of gas, Americans are still choosing to leave their cars at home. Public transit has made this transition possible.

According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), transit ridership is up 6.5 percent over 2007 levels, the largest quarterly increase in transit ridership in 25 years. Overwhelmingly, commuters are choosing to stay with transit. While it saves money, at $2 a gallon for gas, people are continuing to ride transit for a host of reasons that go beyond economics. For example, transit reduces greenhouse gas emissions and congestion on roadways, is frequently faster and safer, doesn’t invoke road rage, increases human interaction, and perhaps most importantly, allows for napping!

Fortunately, Southeastern Pennsylvania is home to the sixth largest transit agency in the United States, SEPTA. For more information about where SEPTA can take you, visit http://www.septa.com/. GVF Transportation encourages you to keep using transit and leave the car at home!