Texas Transit Association

Wartime gas prices might hurt some at the pumps, but they’re also helping add to the popularity of another form of transportation: public transit.

Cap Metro Has Seen Increased Ridership
News 36 Video (Austin), March 21, 2003

Wartime gas prices might hurt some of you at the pumps, but they’re also helping add to the popularity of another form of transportation — the public kind.

“It’s definitely about 28, 30 cents higher than it has been,” Austinite Justin said.

“They’re real high with this war that’s going on man,” Austinite Randy Chamber said.

There’s no doubt wartime price spikes have a lot of us are feeling a pinch at the pump, but not everyone.

“Oh, I laugh hysterically,” Texas National Guard Sgt. Michael Walker said.

All the way to the bank by bike and bus that is.

“Usually what I do is take the bus to Camp Mabry, then take my bike back home,” Walker said, “Originally we figured out I was saving from $600 to $612 a month cause I didn’t have to worry about maintenance. Didn’t have to worry about putting gas in it.”

While recent spikes add to his savings, they could also be increasing crowds on board his bus.

“Higher gas prices do provide another incentive for people to try public transportation,” Capital Metro spokesperson Emlea Chanslor said.

Add that to the effect of a slack Austin economy and you’ve got increased ridership.

“When people are laid off or watching their money, they aren’t out and moving around so much and if they don’t have a job to go to, they’re not riding as much but despite that Capital Metro has seen a four percent increase in ridership since October,” Chanslor said.

“On occasion I’ll see a few more people car pool but not really,” Walker said, “I still see a lot of single drivers single people driving in a vehicle. Sometimes they’re annoying cause you really kind of wonder do you need that much of a vehicle for where you’re going?”

Chanslor says Capital Metro carries about 130,000 trips a day.