Gas prices fuel increased US public transport use

The rapidly increasing prices of gas in the US are leading to record use of public transportation, and could pave the way for a new direction in transportation policy.

The nation boasts a network of 50,000 miles of highways and it’s easy to forget that it’s possible to get by – and around – without a car. The costs of fuel have soared by 25 percent in the last year, leading the average American to wonder if there isn’t a better way to get from point to point.

US drivers reportedly use twice as much fuel for driving as their European counterparts. It should come as no surprise then, that gas at $4 per gallon has American drivers shaken to the core, and left looking to alternatives, including public transportation.

For many Americans the thought of using public transit has never been a real alternative to driving, but now this long-neglected option is proving a viable and valuable option.

In recent days, the American Public Transit Association reported on ridership numbers for the first quarter of 2008. The results are atypical for America, with use up 3.3 percent over the same period in 2007. This translates as an increase of 85 million trips nationwide.

When added to the 10.3 million passengers that rode on public transit in 2007, the numbers become impressive, and in fact constitutes the highest percentage in 50 years. The price of petroleum is credited with this turnaround.