Community Wide Transit Ridership
Definition
Community-wide transit ridership measures the number of public transit trips taken on Bridgewater Public Transit each year.
Why This Matters
Transit ridership numbers are a good indicator of how many individuals in the community rely on public transit to complete their daily trips. Comparing transit ridership year over year can also show whether or not there is a growing number of individuals using a public transit. Bridgewater’s transit ridership have grown every year that the system has been operational.
Transportation is an important and unavoidable part of our daily lives whether we are going to work, school, or social gatherings. Convenient and well-designed public transit systems can decrease reliance on automobiles and result in a variety of benefits for the environment, community and citizens.
This indicator is closely connected to the built environment. The attractiveness of different modes of transportation depends heavily on the design of transportation networks and urban planning (Ewing, Meakins, Bjarnson, & Hilton, 2011; Ewing & Cervero, 2001). Transit use can be encouraged through improvements in the design, efficiency and user-friendliness of public transit, and designing new suburban expansions with public transit in mind.
Public transit affects the natural environment, reducing automobile use, greenhouse gas emissions and the release of other atmospheric pollutants.
Public transit is also linked to health. In particular, public transit users often get more exercise than people who drive because walking is required to get to and from bus stops. This exercise increases the likelihood that users will meet the minimum daily recommendation for exercise which, in turn, can help prevent various illnesses (Besser & Dannenberg, 2005; Lachapelle & Frank, 2009).
Measurement and Limitations
Bridgewater’s public transit bus drivers count every single passenger that uses Bridgewater transit. Daily counts by bus drivers are aggregated on an annual basis to determine transit ridership numbers.
Data Source
Town of Bridgewater – Community Development Department
More Information
For more information on public and active transportation in Bridgewater visit bridgewater.ca
Community Wide Transit Ridership in the Sustainable Development Goals
Click on the SDG to reveal more information
11. Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Cities are hubs for ideas, commerce, culture, science, productivity, social development and much more. At their best, cities have enabled people to advance socially and economically.
However, many challenges exist to maintaining cities in a way that continues to create jobs and prosperity while not straining land and resources. Common urban challenges include congestion, lack of funds to provide basic services, a shortage of adequate housing and declining infrastructure.
The challenges cities face can be overcome in ways that allow them to continue to thrive and grow, while improving resource use and reducing pollution and poverty. The future we want includes cities of opportunities for all, with access to basic services, energy, housing, transportation and more.