bus-rail-ridership-soars-to-new-high (Singapore, NOT Pune)
Vijay Patil
National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der- Horng attributed the growth to the "multiplier effect" of new MRT lines.
This meant that a new line would attract riders beyond those who lived or worked in its immediate vicinity.
Dr Walter Theseira, an economist and senior lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, concurred, saying: "Transport demand is not fixed - people will increase their travel when the costs of travelling fall, because it becomes more attractive to visit friends, go out socially, or to use public transport for commuting instead of driving."
He added that "cost" is not merely monetary.
"The main costs of public transport come from the time and ease of completing a journey.
"The improved supply of services has made it easier and more comfortable for people to travel in Singapore."
Unlike previously, the growth in public transport ridership numbers has in recent years been driven more by the local population.