Gas Prices Push Transit Ridership Up

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Why are so many people jumping on buses and trains here in L.A.?

This is a switch for a city where the car is king.

More and more people are jumping on mass transit to get around. The number of riders has spiked dramatically.

Gas prices are one of the big reasons for the people leaving their beloved cars at home. More people have decided to leave the driving to some one else, especially since we have been seeing higher gas prices.

And that trend appears to be continuing. The MTA reported a nine percent increase in rider ship from July through September. During that period gas prices hit the $3 mark. That was during the week of Hurricane Katrina. The figures were just released from the American Transportation Association.

Many people have continued to take mass transit even though the gas prices have dropped since then.

But gas prices appear to be going back up again and that steering more rider towards mass transit once again.

Some of the residents in the San Fernando Valley are taking the new Orange Line to work instead of the 101 Freeway. Rider ship on the line is ranging from 16,300 passengers a day during the week and more people may consider buying a bus pass instead of paying an average of $2.45 a gallon for regular unleaded in L.A. County.

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