In the Bay Area as well as the nation, commuters' eyes are wandering in the direction of transit and other alternatives to the automobile, and for the first time in a generation people are driving a bit less than they used to.
The Bay Area Rapid Transit system had record ridership for the quarter that ended Sept. 30, according to figures released this week. Other area transit agencies, such as Caltrain and the Valley Transportation Authority's light rail system, also recorded record ridership, mirroring a nationwide public transit boost that began with this summer's high fuel prices and continued even as gas prices plunged.
"Ridership has always lagged behind gas prices," said BART spokesman Linton Johnson. With Bay Area bridge tolls going up to $4 next month, he said, this latest shift in commuting habits could be permanent.
And last week an energy analysis company announced that for the first time in a quarter-century, the number of miles Americans had driven was no longer growing, and had, in fact, dropped slightly.
Let's not kid ourselves, the car is still on top, and probably will be for a while despite rising gas prices. Yet transit alternatives are also on the rise. Transit systems usually don't dramatically improve until the demand by commuters is high enough. Clearly trends show we're moving in a positive direction toward transit alternatives. Can you smell the electricity in the air? Demand more of your transit system and you just might.
Oakland Tribune for all the stats
