My brilliant co-author Julie Coates points out that the 2008 public transportation ridership record, the highest in 52 years, is actually the FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR of ridership records!
While this is news for grown-ups, it's starting to be old news for the kids, who are setting all the records.
It also means that the records started well before a) gas hit $4 a gallon; and b) the recession.
The 2008 record comes despite the fall in gas prices. People in 2008 not only rode public transit more, they also drove less. Car fanatics, the ones with the blinders on, will predict that autos will make a huge comeback after the recession. They also predicted cars would make a huge comeback as gas prices fell.
While grown ups might drive more, and buy electric cars when they come out, it is also clear that Gen Y will continue to drive less, and will not be buying cars in any big way. Thus, the auto continues to decline, the train continues to become more popular.
I'm not Gen Y, but I hate driving. One of the things I miss about college is that you could walk anywhere and get whatever you needed.
Posted by: GenerationXpert | March 20, 2009 at 02:02 PM