Gas Prices and NYC Bus Ridership

Do gas prices really effect bus ridership?

I recently compared NYC Bus ridership between 2008 through 2010.

In 2008, when gasoline hit all time record highs, ridership was up 45,000,000 unlinked annual trips compared to 2010 stats.   Total unnlinked annual trips for 2008 were approximately 746,731,000.

Comparing 2008 to 2009, ridership dropped about 21,000,000 million unlinked annual trips in 2009 as gasoline sharply dropped and leveled off.

Below is a gasoline chart for the same period courtesy of gasbuddy.com

The Transit Bus Revolution

Transit bus ridership is quickly and quietly undergoing a ridership revolution. Leading the charge is BRT or Bus Rapid Transit.

BRT removes many of the displeasures and inconveniences associated with traditional transit bus service. Similar to traveling by subway, BRT is compatible in speed, comfort, and ease of use.

NEGATIVES OF TRADITIONAL BUS SERVICE
* frequent stops close in proximity
* stop and go, waiting for red signals and traffic en-route
* long dwell times in stops waiting for customers to pay fare, then board
* standing in the street/elements wondering if your bus is on time or running at all
* overcrowded buses

BENEFITS OF BUS RAPID TRANSIT
* stops spaced further apart like subway stations eliminating dwell time.
* smart traffic control devices and/or dedicated right of ways
* prepayment of bus fares in stations or off board to significantly reduce dwell times
* smart bus tracking enabling riders to know and track exactly where their bus is and exactly when it will arrive.
* high capacity articulated buses

Different cities have their own unique "brands" of BRT, due to limitations of current infrastructure, land usage, and public/government support. But even BRT systems with modified versions of true BRT have experienced improved travel times by as much as 19 to 24% in cities like New York.