TRANSIT FARE AND RIDERSHIP: A REVIEW

One of the most frequently mentioned approaches to increase transit ridership is lowered or free transit fares. However, the proportional increase in ridership resulting from a given reduction in fare is estimated to be small. Several statistical studies support the finding that the fare elasticity of transit demand is low, while simultaneously demonstrating that the sensitivity of transit demand to service improvements is relatively high. There exist few studies which bridge these two findings with cost data to reach a definite conclusion, but the evidence currently available strongly supports the policy of spending transit funds to improve transit service rather than to reduce transit fares. 26 references. /Author/

• Corporate Authors:

  Highway Users Federation for Safety and Mobility

  1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20036
• Authors:
  • Difiglio, C
• Publication Date: 1974-12

Media Info

• Pagination: 26 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Demand; Fares; Free fares; Public transit; Ridership; Statistical analysis
• Uncontrolled Terms: Cost data
• Old TRIS Terms: Free transportation
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Economics; Finance; Highways; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00082824
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Mar 26 1982 12:00AM