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July 9, 2008 8:42:56 AM CDT

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High Gas Prices Fuel Transit Boom

Posted May 10, 08 6:10 AM CDT in Business,  US    Most Covered

(Newser) – The soaring price of gas is driving people across America out of their cars and onto mass transit, the New York Times reports. Buses and trains are up 5% or more in cities like Boston and New York, where mass transit is already a popular alternative, but the biggest leap in rider numbers—10-15%— has been in cities in the South and West where car culture is strongest.

With buses suddenly standing-room-only and train parking lots overflowing, transit bosses worry about the ability of the systems to cope in the short term, but see a bright future long term. "Nobody believed that people would actually give up their cars to ride public transportation,” said one Florida transport chief. “But in the last year, and last several months in particular, we have seen exactly that.”

Source New York Times

Editor Recommended
"The future of mass transit in this country has never been brighter," said one mass transit boss.   (AP Photo)
Public transport ridership is up across the country as the soaring price of gas starts to get people out of their cars.   (KRT Photos)
Long-established public transport systems like Chicago's have seen a jump in ridership since gas prices rose but the biggest increase has been in the traditional heart of car culture.   ((c) David Paul Ohmer)
A car is fueled up as gas prices are seen in the background in San Jose, Calif., May 6, 2008. The record-breaking price of gas is behind a big jump in the number of people using mass transit.   (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
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