Decline in Metro Ridership (rent, unemployment, to buy)

[JMBX]

After years of exceptional growth, Metro ridership is down significantly across the board, by more than 5% in the past two years. Any thoughts on why this is and what should be done to remedy the situation?

Metro's ridership statistics:
Ridership Statistics

[jessemh431]

Lower gas prices? Lower unemployment so people have the money to buy cars and pay for gas again?

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Jobs may be moving more to the IE / other places that don't make as much sense to ride.

How to remedy?

More jobs in DTLA, around The Studios, classic older job centers near The 91 line, etc, etc.

[SUPbud]

ridership will increase if you:

a) lower the price; make it safe, comfortable environment
b) scrub the cars interior from floor to ceiling with soap and chlorine bleach
c) replace the seat pads in every chair on the first of every month. Too many strange butts.

[saybanana]

There are several reasons:

High rents/gentrification/high costs of living everywhere has pushed out transit dependent people elsewhere in other counties or states. People who can afford to pay $1500-$2500 in rent are less likely use transit often and opt to drive or use Uber more.

Low gas prices: Gas price is high compared to other states but compared to other years here, it is cheaper. A main reason people choose to ride over drive is to save money. Remember when gas we down in the $2.50 late last year? The ridership stats were really lower.

Metro fares raised this past Sept: Price of single ticket is 25 cents, but day pass up $5 to $7, weekly $20-$25, monthly to $100. Usually these small increases decrease ridership in short term so it will be interesting to see stats within later this year.

I also think better policing on Metro rail by transit police/sheriffs. It used to be you can go on the train and not be asked for your tap card on train or at exits, maybe once a month top. Now it is several times a week. Maybe that stops people using the trains without paying. But I dont think that makes a 5% decrease in ridership.

The bus has always been losing passenger numbers. Could be road traffic worse driving people to use cars and/or more rail lines like the Expo line that opened

[jm1982]

Originally Posted by SUPbud

ridership will increase if you:

a) lower the price; make it safe, comfortable environment
b) scrub the cars interior from floor to ceiling with soap and chlorine bleach
c) replace the seat pads in every chair on the first of every month. Too many strange butts.

I wonder why they even have pads or fabric on the seats. Wouldn't it be easier to clean if they were just plastic?