Bus Ridership

Front of city bus driving down tree-lined street, surrounded by cars.

Free Bus Fare Pilot Boosts Ridership in Twin Cities

The free fare pilot program is only partially complete, but even if it is deemed “successful,” it is unclear how — or if — Metro Transit plans to adopt free fare policies for the long term.

February 11, 2024 - Axios Twin Cities

Bus riders standing on crowded city bus, holding top rail

Report: Improved Service Key to Growing Bus Ridership

A NACTO report highlights the importance of bus-friendly policies and infrastructure for boosting ridership numbers and reducing urban congestion and pollution.

August 24, 2022 - Smart Cities Dive

ADA Access to Mobility

Gas Too Expensive? Cincinnati Metro Has You Covered With Free Rides

Cincinnati residents and visitors will have access to free transit for a week as the agency aims to boost ridership.

March 22, 2022 - WCPO

Bus Lane

Pandemic Bus Lanes Show Promise as Permanent Solutions

As cities streamline approval processes for bus-only lanes during the pandemic, transit experts hope the projects will lead to lasting change.

December 21, 2020 - Streetsblog Chicago

Seattle light rail

Sound Transit Centers Transit-Dependent Communities in 2021 Service Changes

With the Northgate link light rail expansion project nearing completion and the effects of the pandemic lingering, Sound Transit will change its bus routes in 2021. The transit authority focuses on equity in plotting the route changes.

September 14, 2020 - The Urbanist

Coronavirus and Transportation

Ridership Up, Speeds Down for Buses in New York City

The new normal might be fleeting on buses in New York City, but it's already different than the normal routine during the early months of the pandemic.

July 23, 2020 - StreetsBlog NYC

King County Metro Transit

Transit Service Restored in Seattle Area, With New Social Distancing Practices in Place

Seatback signage and reduced capacity will allow King County Metro to begin resuming bus service. In the wake of staff illness and depleted funding, the road to Metro's recovery could be quite long.

May 8, 2020 - The Urbanist

Metro Rapid Bus

Causes of the Pre-COVID Decline in Bus Ridership

Even before the effects fo the coronavirus pandemic drastically reduced ridership, transit riders were declining in cities across the country. The reasons for the downward trend were varied.

April 8, 2020 - The New York Times

Metro Bus

Bus Ridership Declines Challenge Los Angeles

The Wall Street Journal reports that bus riders on the Los Angeles County Transportation Authority system has declined significantly in recent years.

August 29, 2019 - The Wall Street Journal

TriMet Portland

Portland's TriMet Might Close Stations to Increase Train Speed

Beyond station closures, the Regional Transportation Agency of Oregon is looking to create new bus-only lanes, and possibly a new stretch of subway under Portland’s downtown to increase transit speed.

July 15, 2019 - Portland Tribune

Los Angeles Metro Bus

No Quick Fixes for L.A.’s Transit Ridership Woes

One of the largest transit systems in the country continues to lose large numbers of riders. But the causes behind the drop and the solutions to stop it are hard to pinpoint.

July 14, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

720 Bus at Vermont and Wilshire

The Environmental Costs of Slow, Empty Buses

Flagging ridership on Metro buses in Los Angeles redoubles the need to speed buses up with dedicated lanes, hopefully recovering lost riders and finding some news ones along the way, too.

June 19, 2019 - Los Angeles Times

D.C. Metro Bus

Report Lays Out a New Path for Bus Service in the D.C. Region

Ridership on the WMATA bus system, down an estimated 13 percent between 2012 and 2017, will need drastic innovations to reverse, according to a new report by the Bus Transformation project.

May 7, 2019 - The Washington Post

Orange Line Bus

Thinking Outside of the Transit Box in L.A.

Metro is analyzing new geolocational data to look beyond conventional understandings of travel behavior.

May 2, 2019 - Wired

Hybrid Bus

Bus Transit Used to Be Profitable on the Las Vegas Strip

The Regional Transportation Commission is looking for ways to reverse ridership figures that have plummeted since the advent of transportation network companies.

March 18, 2019 - Las Vegas Review-Journal

D.C. Metro Bus

Analysis Highlights Causes of Bus Ridership Declines in D.C. Region

Regional governance and more bus lanes are needed to improve ridership, according to a new study.

February 2, 2019 - The Washington Post

Metro Bus

The State of the D.C. Region's Bus Network

The Bus Transformation Project recently released its findings on the state of bus transit in the Washington, D.C. region.

December 10, 2018 - Greater Greater Washington

MTA Bus

Report: NYC Not Doing Enough to Prioritize Buses

According to a bus advocacy coalition's progress report, New York City hasn't yet delivered on promises to get buses moving faster with comprehensive and well-enforced bus lanes.

October 8, 2018 - NY Daily News

Indianapolis Bus Ridership Gaining After Investment

Bus ridership in Indianapolis in August is up 3.4% over last year, contrasting ridership in cities around the country.

September 17, 2018 - Streetsblog USA

Denver's Regional Transportation District Cuts Bus Service

Low ridership and driver shortages mean the Denver area's Regional Transportation District cut bus service.

August 27, 2018 - The Denver Post

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