Riders rank convenience as highest priority when using transit

According to the survey results, more than 40% of riders are now combining ridesharing with public transit for full first-last mile journeys. BostonBRT

Masabi published findings from its latest survey report, “Public Transit Research Report 2020: Key Factors Influencing Ridership in North America,” which sheds light on some of the behaviors affecting public transit ridership across the nation and explores the impact that new technologies and urban mobility services, such as ridesharing, are having on the mobility ecosystem.

The report uncovered that only 500 of the 2,500 people surveyed have access to public transit and could provide responses. Of the people who do have access to public transit, 60% make use of transit services, denoting that when public transportation is available, adoption follows. But, because public transit availability is limited, the remaining population is forced to use private cars to get from point A to point B. Most riders with access to public transit (31%) rate convenience as their primary motivator for choosing to ride, over other factors such as price and speed.

According to the survey results, more than 40% of riders are now combining ridesharing with public transit for full first-last mile journeys. As such, there is an opportunity for transit agencies to work with ridesharing and other shared mobility services to help create more seamless journeys for riders. Additionally, 16% of respondents say they now combine public transit and ridesharing to travel on at least a monthly basis.

Additional key findings from the report include:

• When convenient mobile ticketing solutions were offered, 13% of people either took public transit for the first time or started riding more often
• 12% of riders reported they would start riding public transit, or ride more often, if mobile ticketing became available to them
• 33% of people with access to public transit believe their public transit service is improving in quality, while 88% believe their public transit systems are either staying the same or getting better

According to APTA, the average household in the U.S. spends 16 cents of every dollar on private car usage and could save nearly $10,000 a year by taking public transportation instead.

To see a full breakdown of Masabi’s survey results, click here.

Originally posted on Metro Magazine