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12/01/2007: "Up to 48 Percent of Travelers Will Use Public Transit When Visiting Top Cities"

While most think of the local public transportation system as a way to get back and forth to work, many savvy travelers are using it as an environmentally-friendly and costeffective way to tour some of the hot destinations and summer events a city has to offer. In its Green Travel Forecast, the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) estimates that 90 million American adults will travel to large American cities this summer.

On average, one out of three people surveyed said they will tour green by using public transportation (34 percent). Travelers‟ use of public transportation will reach as high as 48 percent in New York City, the nation‟s top destination for transit use for visitors. A ranking of the top ten city destinations and their transit use among visitors follows:

New York City (48%)
Washington, DC (46%)
Boston, MA (43%)
San Francisco (40%)
Philadelphia (34%)
Chicago (31%)
Seattle (30%)
Las Vegas (26%)
Los Angeles (26%)
Atlanta (22%)

Cities are one of the top destinations for the Fourth of July holiday and during the summer months. This survey of 33,000 adults shows for the first time how travelers will get around once they arrive at their city destination. Synovate, a leading market research firm, conducted the survey for APTA. The survey also showed that travelers‟ use of public transportation will increase this summer. Twenty-eight percent of those who will use public transit while visiting a city said that they are more likely to use it this summer as opposed to last year.

While high gas prices are a factor for daily commuters, it did not rank as the top concern when travelers listed the most important reasons they would use public transportation during their trip to a city this summer. Sixty-two percent said it would be less expensive than taxicabs or rental cars, followed closely by 61 percent who say they won‟t have to worry about finding a parking space for their vehicle.

Another 48 percent say they will use public transportation when traveling because it is easier to use, while 42 percent like not having to drive around an unfamiliar city. Thirty-nine percent say public transportation is better for the environment and 38 percent said it will be less expensive than buying gas to drive their personal vehicle.

“This summer, many city tourists will be saying „no cab fare, no rental car, no problem!‟” said William W. Millar, president of APTA. “With almost 40 percent of travelers surveyed saying they will use transit this summer because of environmental concerns, tourists are discovering that getting around a city by public transportation can provide for a greener environment and can help them keep more green in their wallet.”

The environmental benefits of transit are many. Public transportation produces 95 percent less carbon monoxide (CO) and 90 percent less in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and nearly 50 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx), per passenger mile than private vehicles, according to APTA.

The cost savings for travelers using public transportation are high. A traveler can purchase a visitors pass for a local public transportation system and ride all day for as little as three to ten dollars. That is a fraction of what it would cost to rent a car and park it, or take numerous cab rides around the city, or buy gas and park a vehicle.

The most popular activity for those using public transportation while visiting a city is sightseeing (61 percent), followed by: restaurant dining and nightlife (46 percent), shopping (44 percent), travel to and from their place of lodging (41 percent), visiting a historical site (37 percent) and travel to and from the airport (37 percent).

Travelers who originate from large metropolitan areas are more likely to take advantage of a city‟s local public transportation system. Slightly over half (53 percent) of those traveling to a city and use transit on their trip are from large urban areas, while 23 percent are from medium-sized metro areas and 24 percent are from smaller cities and towns.

To assist travelers, APTA is providing its free “Green Travel Forecast, a Consumer’s Guide to Touring American Cities in a More Environmentally Friendly Way.” The guide includes specific information on day and visitor passes, trip planners, transit maps and directions. For the top 10 destinations with established transit systems it includes examples of upcoming city events accessible

Eric Miller, on 12.01.07 @ 02:39PST