ridership

[ rahy-der-ship ]

noun

1. the passengers who use a given public transportation system, as buses or trains, or the number of such passengers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ridership¹

First recorded in 1965–70; rider + -ship

Example Sentences

The question is: Do voters in these sprawling cities still think mass transit is worth funding in a postpandemic landscape of remote work and lower ridership?

From Slate

Declining bus ridership led to a milestone in 2022: For the first time ever, the majority of U.S. kids got to school in a private vehicle.

From Slate

More substantively, school buses have entered a phase known in mass transit circles as a “death spiral,” in which declining service quality leads to declining ridership, which justifies further service cuts.

From Slate

The Arrow Line is Metrolink’s fastest-growing line, enjoying a 4% weekday increase and a 21% bump in weekend ridership from the previous quarter, according to Metrolink’s third-quarter figures from 2024.

From Los Angeles Times

“These young people are helping Metro grow its student ridership and realizing all the benefits that a safe, clean and efficient transit system can deliver for them and their communities,” Metro Chief Executive Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement.

From Los Angeles Times