Even before the latest run-up in gas prices, transit ridership was at levels not seen in 50 years. Nationally, Americans took 10.3 billion transit trips last year, up 2 percent over the previous year, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Transit use has grown in Maryland as well, with the MARC commuter trains experiencing a 3.5 percent increase in ridership in 2007. Ridership on MTA buses serving Baltimore and its suburbs rose by about 15 percent from July of last year through March. The only form of transit struggling was light rail, which has lost riders since last summer.
Transit advocates say that while they sympathize with commuters forced to pay more at the pump, there might be a silver lining to soaring gas prices: Demand is growing for more and better public transportation.
"People are starting to pay a little bit more attention to mass transit," said Otis Rolley III, president of the Central Maryland Transportation Alliance.
Passengers getting off the commuter bus from Washington at the Snowden River Parkway park-and-ride yesterday afternoon said they've had more company lately on those trips.
Lashawn Travett, who has been commuting to Washington by bus for two years now, said that for the past month or so, she has noticed a "drastic increase" in the number of riders.
"The morning is really crowded," said Travett, 34, of Columbia. She added that the afternoon bus, which she boards just after 3 p.m., has also become crowded by the last pickup.
She said, however, that she still prefers the bus because it drops her off right in front of her place of work and saves her money. "It saves gas and wear and tear on my car," she said.
Fawad Siddiqui, also of Columbia, said he got a new job in Washington about five months ago and has been taking the commuter bus since then.
"The drive is unthinkable," said Siddiqui, 35. "With the current oil prices, it's unimaginable. I have not taken my car, not even once."
Eastern Shore resident Lori Hinton says she would love to ride transit, but the commuter bus she could catch on Kent Island would drop her too far from her workplace in Capitol Heights outside Washington.
She is desperately looking for an alternative to driving her H3 Hummer every day, which she said uses $600 a month in fuel. "Driving a Hummer, it takes about $78 to fill up one time," she said. "And I fill up 2 1/2 times a week."
