Cyride Tops Small Urban Transit Systems In Rides Per Capita

From City of Ames

Ames’ population may be considered modest by urban standards, but our city’s public transit system provides rides to more passengers per capita than some of the nation’s biggest cities.

This year, the Ames Transit Agency (CyRide) was recognized as the nation’s small urban transit system with the highest number of rides per capita or city population. Ames finished the year with a total of 106 rides per capita. The average for a small urban system (a system operated in a community with less than 200,000 in population) is 16.4 rides per capita. In comparison, Boston’s transit system carries 88 rides per capita and Washington DC, 106 rides per capita. Both are considered large transit systems as opposed to CyRide’s small system status. These statistics are based on a federal report recently published by the Federal Transit Administration.

With an estimated 5.8 million rides anticipated this year, CyRide has increased its ridership by more than 39 percent over the last five years to achieve this new ridership level.

“The Ames and Iowa State University communities have embraced public transportation, and through their combined financial support, have created a system that allows residents to easily move throughout the community, leading to an impressive number of people choosing CyRide,” said Sheri Kyras, Transit Director.

Increased enrollment at Iowa State University as well as higher gas prices have also contributed to the year-after-year increases, resulting in this national recognition.