What percentage of the US uses public transportation?

According to Statista Consumer Insights, 73 percent of American commuters use their own car to move between home and work, making it by far the most popular mode of transportation. Meanwhile, only 13 percent of the 7,649 respondents use public transportation while 11 percent ride their bike.



In 2026, the percentage of Americans who use public transportation on a daily basis remains relatively low, hovering around 5% to 6% of the total population. However, this figure is highly deceptive because it is geographically concentrated. In "transit-rich" cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, the usage rate can exceed 50%, whereas in many suburban or rural areas, it is nearly 0%. According to 2026 reports from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA), while daily commuting usage has struggled to return to pre-2020 levels in some sectors, leisure usage has surged; nearly 60% of Americans visiting major U.S. cities now report using public transit for vacation activities to avoid high parking costs. Despite this, federal funding continues to favor highways over rail, with an 80/20 split that has persisted for decades. While 65% of Americans live in urban areas with transit access, the "frequency gap"—where buses only run every 30-60 minutes—prevents many from adopting it as their primary mode of transport, keeping the national average significantly below that of European or Asian peers.

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Nationally, a 2016 Pew Research Center survey found that 11 percent of Americans take public transportation at least weekly, and 21 percent of urban residents use it regularly.

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But the state of public transit in the U.S. is declining rapidly as transit across the nation faces a fiscal crisis. Philadelphia's SEPTA predicts a deficit of almost $269 million by 2027.

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54% of households in New York City do not own a car, and rely on public transportation.

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Not only is the New York City public transportation system the most extensive in the country, but it's also one of the few that operates all night long. Both subway trains and bus services run 24/7.

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Public transit in the U.S. is in a sorry state – aging, underfunded and losing riders, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Many proposed solutions focus on new technologies, like self-driving cars and flying taxis.

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Arlington, Texas, is the largest city in the United States without a mass transportation system.

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The country's largest metro system is the New York City Subway which has a system length of 337 kilometers / 209 miles. The country's oldest metro system is the city of Chicago's L Train which began operation in 1892.

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The United States is serviced by a wide array of public transportation, including various forms of bus, rail, ferry, and sometimes, airline services. Most established public transit systems are located in central, urban areas where there is enough density and public demand to require public transportation.

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-The downside of public transport is that it can be slow and inflexible. You may have to wait for a bus or train and stick to their timetables. It can also be crowded, especially during rush hour. It can make it uncomfortable or even unsafe.

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Worldwide, the most widely used modes for passenger transport are the Automobile (16,000 bn passenger km), followed by Buses (7,000), Air (2,800), Railways (1,900), and Urban Rail (250).

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In a recent study at the University of California at Berkley, researchers discovered that commuters are more inclined to stop using public transit if they experience delays which can be blamed on the transit agency. (Most people will forgive other inconveniences such as traffic, emergencies or mechanical failures.)

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Overall, the United States ranked second behind Singapore, but it falls somewhat behind when it comes to transportation and utility infrastructure. On transportation, the forum's score takes into account eight measures, rating the United States No. 12 globally.

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The Special Administrative Region of China – Hong Kong currently holds the top spot in the Urban Mobility Readiness Index for 2022 for having the world's best public transportation system.

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