More Americans are Relying on Trains to Save Gas

May 22, 2008

Considering that the price of gas continues to soar, almost every American that drives is feeling the squeeze on the wallet. Whether the person is driving a large SUV or a compact hybrid car, the average driver undeniably will claim that paying for gas is a harsh necessity when it comes to transportation. However, not everybody is sticking to a vehicle when it comes to traveling.

More and more Americans that commute are leaving their cars at home and switching to trains in order to avoid the enormous costs of driving a vehicle. As the price of gas keeps climbing, commuter train lines around the U.S. are delivering reports stating that their businesses are experiencing enormous jumps in ridership for the first quarter. In Seattle, the number of riders has increased by 15%; near Miami, the same measured figure has jumped 13%, and in New Jersey, train lines have seen over 5% of in increase in passengers.

Another enormous change has been shown in commuter bus services, which have reported experiencing similar gains in the number of passengers. In relation, urban bus and train usage has seen moderate gains due to the fact that many customers who live in the city have always relied on their services.

William Millar, President of the APTA, or American Public Transportation Association, has commented on the changes, saying that the industry as a whole has seen extremely large increases in the number of people who use public transit. Those services that extend long distances, such as rail lines or express buses that run between suburbs, have seen the biggest increases.

In relation to the increasingly high price of gas, more than 10b rides were taken by Americans last year on public transit, a number that hasn’t been seen in nearly half a century. Now, as gas continues to rise and eventually even reach 4$ per gallon, many more U.S. citizens are hearing the whistle of a train and climbing aboard.

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