Public transportation is an essential part of modern life, providing millions of people with a reliable and convenient way to get around.
Here are statistics that shed light on the current state of public transportation around the world.
Key Public Transportation Statistics 2023 – MY Choice
- In the United States, public transportation ridership has been steadily increasing since 1995, with over 10 billion trips taken in 2019.
- New York City has the largest public transportation system in the United States, with over 5 million riders per weekday.
- The world’s busiest metro system is in Tokyo, Japan, with an average of 8.7 million riders per day.
- According to a study by the American Public Transportation Association, households that use public transportation can save an average of $9,000 per year compared to those that own a car.
- In Europe, the city with the highest public transportation usage is Paris, France, with over 4 million daily riders.
- The longest metro system in the world is in Shanghai, China, with a total length of over 600 kilometers.
- Public transportation is a major source of employment, with over 400,000 people in the United States working in the transit industry.
- In many cities, public transportation is becoming more environmentally-friendly, with buses and trains running on electric power or other clean energy sources.
Public Transportation Stats
| Statistics | Data |
| Americans with no access to public transportation | 45% |
| Home values higher near public transportation | Up to 24% |
| Revenue increase in hotels with direct rail access to airports | 11% |
| Chance of being in an accident reduced by taking public transit | More than 90% |
| Household expenditure on transportation | 16% of every dollar |
| Trips on public transit with direct impact on local economy | 87% |
| Employed riders | 71% |
| Students riders | 7% |
| US buses in marginal or poor condition | More than 40% |
| Urban residents using public transit regularly | 21% |
| Suburban residents using public transit regularly | 6% |
| Rural residents using public transit regularly | 3% |
| Blacks taking public transit daily or weekly | 34% |
| Hispanics taking public transit daily or weekly | 27% |
| Whites taking public transit daily or weekly | 14% |
| Foreign born urban residents regularly using public transportation | 38% |
| Passengers per day with public transport in Hong Kong for 2019 | 12.44 million |
| Public transport accounting for passenger journeys in Hong Kong | Over 88% |
| RTA service boards’ required recovery of operating costs from farebox and other system revenues | 50% |
| Increase of people employed in the Public Transportation industry in the US | 0.5% |
| US transit commuters living in New York City metropolitan area in 1970 | 38% |
| Employees in the US commuting by transit in 1970 | Almost 9% |
| New York City metropolitan area’s share of the nation’s transit commuters today | 38% |
| New York City metropolitan area’s share of employees countrywide today | 6% |
| Transit commuters in Birmingham and Memphis today in comparison to 1970 | 20% |
| Car crash fatalities in the US in 2015 | 35,092 |
| Increase of car crash fatalities from 2014 to 2015 | 7.2% |
| Reduction in chance of being in an accident by taking public transit | More than 90% |
| Public transit riders spending over 2 hours on transportation every day | 36% |
| Percentage of riders waiting over 20 minutes | Over 26% |
| Riders travelling over 12 km in a single direction | 24% |
| Percentage of public transit riders who transfer lines at least once in Florence | 39% |
| Percentage of riders who transfer lines at least twice during a single trip | 36% |
Public Transportation Around the World
- According to the International Association of Public Transport, there are over 150,000 kilometers of urban rail lines in operation around the world.
- In 2019, the world’s busiest airport was Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, with over 110 million passengers.
- In London, England, the iconic red double-decker buses carry over 6 million passengers every day.
- The world’s largest bus system is in São Paulo, Brazil, with over 14,000 buses serving 1.3 billion passengers per year.
- The city with the most extensive tram network is Melbourne, Australia, with over 250 kilometers of track.
- In 2019, the world’s busiest ferry route was between Hong Kong and Macau, with over 21 million passengers.
Public Transportation in the United States
- The busiest rapid transit system in the United States is the New York City Subway, with over 5 million riders per weekday.
- In Boston, Massachusetts, the “T” subway system was the first in the United States, opening in 1897.
- The longest light rail system in the United States is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with over 23 miles of track.
- According to the American Public Transportation Association, public transportation in the United States saves 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline and reduces carbon emissions by 37 million metric tons each year.
- In 2019, the busiest bus system in the United States was in Los Angeles, California, with over 1.2 million passengers per day.
- The world’s first underground railway system was the London Underground, which opened in 1863.
Public Transportation and the Environment
- In many cities, public transportation is becoming more environmentally-friendly, with buses and trains running on electric power or other clean energy sources.
- According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, taking public transportation instead of driving can reduce an individual’s carbon footprint by up to 30%.
- The city with the most electric buses in operation is Shenzhen, China, with over 16,000.
- In 2019, the world’s largest electric ferry began operating in Denmark, capable of carrying 30 cars and 200 passengers.
- In the United States, over 70% of public transportation buses run on alternative fuels like natural gas or biodiesel.
Public Transportation and Society
- Public transportation is a major source of employment, with over 400,000 people in the United States working in the transit industry.
- In many cities, public transportation is more affordable than owning a car. According to the American Public Transportation Association, households that use public transportation can save an average of $9,000 per year compared to those that own a car.
- Public transportation can increase access to job opportunities and improve economic mobility, particularly for low-income individuals.
- In 2019, the Chicago Transit Authority launched a program to provide free public transportation to all Chicago Public Schools students.
- Public transportation can help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in urban areas.
Conclusion
From the bustling subways of Tokyo to the iconic red buses of London, public transportation is an integral part of modern society. With more and more cities investing in environmentally-friendly and affordable transit options, it’s clear that public transportation will continue to play a vital role in shaping the way we travel and live.
