Skift Take

No one doubts price of public transit is lower than driving your own car, it is the convenience (or lack of it) that matters. Make it easy, people will jump on the next public train/bus.

According to the American Public Transportation Association’s (APTA) July Transit Savings Report, individuals who ride public transportation instead of driving can save, on average, $809 this month, and $9,702 annually.  These savings are based on the cost of commuting by public transportation compared to the cost of owning and driving a vehicle which includes the July 24, 2012 average national gas price ($3.48 per gallon- reported by AAA) and the national unreserved monthly parking rate.

New York City, understandably, tops the list.

The top 20 cities with the highest transit ridership are ranked in order of their transit savings based on the purchase of a monthly public transit pass and factoring in local gas prices for July 24, 2012 and the local monthly unreserved parking rate.*

 

 City

 Monthly

 Annual

 1

New York

 $1,197

$14,363

 2

Boston

 $1,093

$13,110

 3

San Francisco

 $1,062

$12,747

 4

Philadelphia

 $966

$11,594

 5

Chicago

 $963

$11,559

 6

Seattle

 $961

$11,535

 7

Honolulu

 $928

$11,139

 8

Los Angeles

 $893

$10,722

 9

Portland

 $852

$10,226

10

San Diego

 $852

$10,229

 11

Minneapolis

 $877

$10,523

 12

Denver

$835

$10,015

 13

Baltimore

$833

$9,993

 14

Washington, DC

$805

$9,661

 15

Pittsburgh

$791

 $9,497

 16

Cleveland

$789

 $9,473

 17

Miami

$766

 $9,194

 18

Atlanta

$762

 $9,142

 19

Dallas

$753

 $9,037

 20

Las Vegas

$732

 $8,787

*Based on gasoline prices as reported by AAA on 7/24/12

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