Understanding Transit Ridership

The need for greater understanding about the factors influencing the rise and fall of transit ridership has never been greater, as population grows, housing costs soar and housing construction continues its push, transit agencies tighten their belts, and new technology disrupts assumptions about mobility as a service.

"Transit and elected officials experiencing ridership losses in recent years need to better understand what’s causing those declines before they can reverse them," according to an article by Mary Buchanan. "But recognizing the factors that drive ridership down is not always simple."

To help in building a greater understanding of the trends and forces that influence transit ridership, Buchanan offers a survey of literature on the subject, searching through several categories of inquiry: gas prices, other costs of driving, transportation network companies, other external factors, transit affordability, the usefulness of transit, and safety.