ridership

American  

[rahy-der-ship] / ˈraɪ dərˌʃɪp /

noun

1. the passengers who use a given public transportation system, as buses or trains, or the number of such passengers.

---

Etymology

Origin of ridership

First recorded in 1965–70; rider + -ship

Example Sentences

“Today we can say all aboard on what will be the highest ridership light rail in the country, easier commutes, less smog, more access to housing.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

Chi added that real-time ridership data could also guide policy, allowing cities to optimize the placement of new public transit hubs based on actual demand.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 24, 2025

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the city’s bus service, said the pilot’s service performance had mixed results, with ridership increasing but travel speeds slowing.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

The homeless tent encampments that block sidewalks and bedevil retail businesses have shrunk, while foot traffic and transit ridership have risen.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 20, 2025

By then, however, it had lost both its novelty and the volume of ridership that the Midway had guaranteed.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson