(NAPSI)-It seems Americans are on board when it comes to using public transportation.
The number of people who ride trains and buses is now the largest it's been in 40 years. In fact, nearly 10 billion trips were taken on public transportation last year alone, with ridership increasing by 28 percent since 1996.
Bus ridership in particular has seen an upswing, with 3 percent more Americans riding the bus last year than any year before that.
A Driving Force
What's steering these commuters toward buses and trains? One thing could be cost. It's estimated that public transportation could save each American household $6,200 a year-more than the amount generally spent on food.
A second factor could be concern for the environment. According to William W. Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association, public transportation saves 1.4 billion gallons of gas every year (equivalent to 300,000 cars filling up every day). Millar says that savings helps decrease America's effect on global warming and limits the country's dependence on foreign oil.
But analysts also point out that public transportation has become more comfortable over the years, prompting more Americans to get on board.
Buses, for instance, have come a long way since the first bus service began running in 1829 in New York City. Modern buses now provide more comfortable rides using a new type of transmission from Voith Turbo called the DIWA automatic. Developed especially for city buses, it delivers a smoother ride and makes driving a bus an easier task.
The transmissions have become popular with municipalities across the country. Since the first U.S. sale of the company's automatic transmission in 1984, the firm has increased its market share by 30 percent and the company now works in partnership with all leading American bus manufacturers.
For more information, visit www.voithturbo.com.
