Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years.

by felixdakat | May 27, 2008 at 01:30 pm

2365 views | 2 Recommendations | 43 comments

Some Americans have turned to public transportation. Ridership increased by 2.1 percent in 2007, in part because of rising gas prices, according to the American Public Transportation Association.

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julianw

at 13:45 on May 27th, 2008

Good to hear. Economist Paul Krugman has two interesting blog posts (1 ; 2) about public transportation in the states. Check them out.

felixdakat

at 13:54 on May 27th, 2008

One thing he fails to mention. 4.7% of Americans represents over 14 million people or more than half of Canada' entire population.

julianw

at 14:27 on May 27th, 2008

Excellent point: you should post that on Krugman's blog.

felixdakat

at 14:30 on May 27th, 2008

It's one of the reasons I don't like statistics or anything using percentages.

Lidia Camacho

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:47 on May 27th, 2008

felixdakat, I like this story. It's good stuff.

apricoco

at 21:25 on May 27th, 2008

Heading back to Penn Station from Times Square I looked across the platform and saw a huge mass of people waiting for an 11:30 train uptown. I couldn't resist the urge to take a photo of the crowd.

apricoco has contributed a photo to this story.

thatkidrich

at 22:20 on May 27th, 2008

THIS IS A PHOTO I CAPTURED AS MY TRAIN WAS ROLLIN INTO THE MYRTLE AVE. STOP IN BROOKLYN.. I DECIDED TO TAKE THE SUBWAY BECAUSE GAS PRICES ARE TO HIGH AND THE SUBWAY IS JUST MORE INTERESTING SINCE I NERVER RIDE IT...AND THE PHOTO OPPS ARE GREAT AS YOU CAN SEE!!!!

thatkidrich has contributed a photo to this story.

Gerry Visco

at 22:45 on May 27th, 2008

Gerry Visco has contributed a photo to this story.

Gerry Visco

at 22:49 on May 27th, 2008

This is the view of the very steep staircase at the number 6 line train station at Park Avenue and 96th Street in Manhattan. It's a pretty good station, although this is the very staircase I tripped and fell going down two months ago and tore the ligament in my third metatarsal which kept me immobilized for a full week. The stairs here are steep and anyone who has trouble walking would never be able to make it. Lately in fact the landing has been filled with dangerous pools of water which I have complained about but they claim there's nothing they can do. The trains are almost a necessity for those who can't afford taxis and they could do more to make them accessible.

Gerry Visco

at 22:51 on May 27th, 2008

Martin Carela

at 02:28 on May 28th, 2008

Passengers waiting for the J Train to arrive. NYC has one of the world's most extensive subway systems.

Martin Carela has contributed a photo to this story.

Rhonda J Mangus

at 02:49 on May 28th, 2008

felixdacat, no doubt ridership is increasing due to increased gasoline prices; currently $4.07/gl for regular unleaded in Buffalo and suburbs! Thanks for posting this story!

trektheusa

at 02:59 on May 28th, 2008

A view from the Roosevelt Avenue/Jackson Heights platform with train passing on center tracks

trektheusa has contributed a photo to this story.

outtajo

at 03:57 on May 28th, 2008

F train stop at W. 4th St., Greenwich Village, NYC

outtajo has contributed a photo to this story.

Indiefire

at 04:37 on May 28th, 2008

This photo was taken right after hundreds of people exited the subway...

Indiefire has contributed a photo to this story.

JonGenius

at 04:44 on May 28th, 2008

This photo was taken on the N Train Over the Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn.

JonGenius has contributed a photo to this story.

herman melville

at 05:16 on May 28th, 2008

It can be hard to resist snapping shots in the subway. These are 2 of my favorite subway shots:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kosloff/72204728/in/set-762355/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kosloff/928786223/in/set-72157594170216076/

klongloff has contributed a photo to this story.

Beaulieu

at 05:38 on May 28th, 2008

Ironically the transport fares in the UK have risen and a seat is often not guaranteed.

Rail tickets can be more expensive if you live closer to your destination, say just half an hour away because your train station, which is only five minutes away, doesn't have a 'special fare' like the next station. Sometimes your station only has say 3 fares to choose from and whilst others have about 7. It is a form of 'station discrimination'.

If you head towards London 'because everyone else does' you have to pay the highest 'rip off' price even if you work part-time because you are travelling at 'peak times'.

Even people like myself just want to use the train for a couple of days you ended up forking out for a Saver Return ticket which is valid for a month. It may be 'better value' but you only want to come back the next day.

If want a single journey, you practically pay for a return as well, sometimes there is only 10p difference.

People in the rail business generally have pretty low wages and the big bosses get fat bonuses even if they don't do well as they should.

Getting a refund is awkward and they have lots of 'get out clauses' particularly if you are an annual season ticket holder. Sometimes a season ticket holder is not entitled to any discount due to poor rail services 'if they change their ticket station' which apparently 'has their original paperwork'.

Oh yes, you can be 'hijacked by the train driver' . ie your train will pass your stop deliberately because 'otherwise it will arrive late'. Then you have to explain what happened to the Revenue Inspectors, say, at London Bridge station and if they don't believe you, you get a Penalty Charge of £20 whacked on top of your ticket.

Then if you have a bike on board, if there is engineering works, there is a bus for the people but no provision for people on bicycles. We have to perhaps pedal 20 miles more in the pouring rain and then rejoin it at the next station.

Train travel has a rosy image sometimes but when you're a commuter, the reality hits you with a bang. It's nothing like the sedate Orient Express.

Then of course you get the 'dirty old men' on board

It's no wonder I commute by bicycle now and I have a better quality of life!

felixdakat

at 07:43 on May 28th, 2008

Thanks for sharing what I find to be a fascinating view of the UK train system. From what you have said it sounds as though "public transportation" is actually privately owned.

JonathanJ

at 05:41 on May 28th, 2008

NYC - Subway - 2005
Public transportation is the BEST way to get around here!

JonathanJ has contributed a photo to this story.

Sammy J.

at 05:45 on May 28th, 2008

I'm from the UK and took some shots while waiting at the 14th/Union Square (and another couple at the PATH station at 9th). I'm always amused how my American friends think the tube sytem in London is better while I prefer the subway in New York!

Sammy J. has contributed a photo to this story.

jakeyfluff

at 06:26 on May 28th, 2008

Just a snap while visiting NYC.
It's fun people watching on the subway with great photo ops.......

jakeyfluff has contributed a photo to this story.

jakeyfluff

at 06:27 on May 28th, 2008

pervertedundertone

at 06:45 on May 28th, 2008

Lady on Manhattan-bound Q train, April 2008.

more on flickr here

pervertedundertone has contributed a photo to this story

KA TVT

at 07:04 on May 28th, 2008

KA TVT has contributed a photo to this story.

ZackWilson

at 07:10 on May 28th, 2008

Construction workers wait behind the third rail as a train is about to pass.

ZackWilson has contributed a photo to this story.

Joeysallamander

at 08:07 on May 28th, 2008

This is the N Train in Queens, NY.
I love public transportation ever since I moved to New York City from Detroit.
In Detroit you must have a car and gas prices are so high that I cannot afford it.

Joeysallamander has contributed a photo to this story.

12th St David

at 08:49 on May 28th, 2008

A passenger brings home a microwave oven on the subway. February 2, 2008, on the D Train between West 4th St. and Grand St. New York, NY.

12th St David has contributed a photo to this story.

Mitki

at 09:43 on May 28th, 2008

Very simple! I spent some time around Christmas in New York and used subway a lot, naturally. This photo was taken on my way back from the Metropolitan Opera in between changing trains. Didn't have enough time for a quality shot, just thought it would be cool to document this girls on the platform opposite to mine...

Mitki has contributed a photo to this story.