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

The D line was closed for more than two months last year for construction under Wilshire Boulevard, contributing to a 13.5% drop in ridership that was exacerbated by immigration raids in the area.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 26, 2026

“More people choosing to use transit instead of personal vehicles creates a commuting culture — a culture of ridership — and brings along all of the social and economic benefits that come with it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 22, 2026

In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, Amtrak set a record ridership with 34.5 million customers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

Get on the stop, and get off the stop, and get a feel for what the ridership is like.

From MarketWatch • Oct. 25, 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