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Engaging Young Riders is Key to Transit’s Continued Growth


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#1 CNJRoss

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Posted 24 November 2014 - 02:11 PM

Metro Magazine "Transit Dispatches" blog, 11/20:

 

Engaging Young Riders is Key to Transit’s Continued Growth

 

posted by Heather Redfern, Public Information Manager, SEPTA

 

 

Over the last 10 years, Americans have been driving less — and turning to public transportation more, according to the United States Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG). The organization also reports in its recently released “Millennials in Motion” study that the number of younger people getting drivers’ licenses has continually declined since 1996 and that adults between the ages of 20 to 30 are more likely to stay in cities rather than move to suburbs. This data, then, would indicate that the millennial generation (the largest generation) is a major contributor to the surge in ridership transportation organizations across the country are experiencing.    

 

With young people using public transit more often, it would be prudent for transportation organizations to seek the input from the millennial demographic. “Philadelphia is a college town, with young adults from around the world coming here to study at our region’s many academic institutions,” said Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) GM Joseph Casey. “Many of these students stay in the area after they graduate. SEPTA wants to make them lifelong riders of our system and has made an effort to reach out to this group, showing them that mass transit can be used for more than just their commute to work and home. They can also use it to navigate our region.

 

In 2009, SEPTA established its Youth Advisory Council (YAC) — the first (and possibly the only) such group created by a transit organization that invites young people to offer their input and work with a public transportation company. The YAC is composed of young riders in SEPTA’s five-county service area between the ages of 14 and 22. “The role of the YAC is to advocate the interest and needs of students, to assist us in creating promotions, to provide outreach to youth throughout the region and to educate their peers about SEPTA services and special events,” said Casey. “The group’s insight and contributions have been very helpful to the authority.”

 

 

Read more:  http://www.metro-mag...ium=Enewsletter

 

 






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