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.

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Etymology

Origin of ridership

First recorded in 1965–70; rider + -ship

Example Sentences

A spokesperson for Metro said their team understands that frequent service “is key to making transit competitive,” but said the slower frequency at night is a starting point, given what “funding, staffing, and ridership allow.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

For the first two months of the year, Metro’s rail ridership increases were largely driven by weekend riders rather than daily commuters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

This was borne out by citizens' demonstrations after Bengaluru metro hiked fares last year and ridership dropped some 13% after the hike, as per data collated by Greenpeace.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

An Indian Institute of Technology Delhi report from 2023 showed ridership of merely 25-35% of the projected figures across corridors.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

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