Will $3 Gas Increase Transit Ridership?

"Ridership across the country was on the rise even before hurricanes Katrina and Rita spiked pump prices over $3 a gallon. Cities from Austin, Texas, to Washington, D.C., are reporting double-digit increases in ridership on their buses and light-rail systems, according to the American Public Transportation Association. "

"With gas prices going up, and up dramatically, that's when people started turning to transit," he said. Much of the growth is fueled by new riders, he said. Traffic to DART's online trip planner jumped more than 50% when prices in the Dallas area jumped to $2.65 in mid-August, and jumped another 37% when Katrina hit and gas spiked again.

Thanks to Metropolitan Transportation Commission, Oakland, CA