Report: NYC Public Transit Use Declining as Ridesharing Grows
A report by the New York Economic Development Corp. found that subway and bus ridership in New York City has declined, while ridesharing numbers grow.
Ridesharing trips in New York City more than doubled from 2015 to 2016, according to the New York Economic Development Corp.
Photo via Pixabay.
New Yorkers are choosing to use ridesharing over public transportation, according to a report by the New York Economic Development Corp. (NYCEDC).
The NYCEDC found that subway ridership fell 5.6% from March 2017 to March 2018, while bus ridership fell by 7.6%. Metro North and LIRR ridership also fell by about 4%, according to the report.
Decline in public transit ridership coincides with the launch of ride-hailing services such as Uber and Lyft. According to an NYCEDC report, ridesharing services provided 93 million rides in 2016, compared to just 41 million in 2015.
“While there are many factors that can be attributed to the decline in mass-transit ridership, our research indicates that app-based ride-hailing services [like Uber and Lyft] are transforming how New Yorkers are commuting to their destinations,” a NYCEDC spokesperson told the New York Post in a statement.
The organization says that the neighborhoods of Brooklyn and Queens showed the greatest reduction in public transit users, as numerous subway lines in the boroughs have service reductions due to construction, maintenance, and other service interruptions.
Related: Report: Uber, Lyft Preferred Transportation Method for Business Travelers
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