A report released by the American Public Transportation Association indicates that the ridership on public transport was 7 per cent up in July, August and September. As much as 2.85 billion riders chose to go by bus or train during that period compared with the same period last year.

This increase happened despite the fact that gas prices began to fall in July, but transit operators are worried that the poor state of the U.S. economy will erase that increase, which is the largest quarterly rise in a quarter of a century.

"As gas prices rose, more and more Americans made the choice to ride public transit," says William Millar, the association's president. "Now, even though gas prices are falling, Americans tried public transit and many find it convenient."

The number of public transportation riders grew significantly in July when gas prices soared over $4 a gallon and reached $4.16. It seems that that gas price increase traumatized numerous motorists who now are settled on using the public transportation means to go to office and back home.

Since July, the gas price was reduced to more than half.

The 2.8 billion made using public transit means were up 8.5 percent on street cars, 7.2 percent on buses, 6.3 percent on commuter train and 5.2 percent on subways.

However, as the state of the U.S. economy is worsening, that number could decrease on surging unemployment and tax revenue falls. About one third of the transit agency’s revenue comes from fares, while the rest comes from taxes and local government subsidies.

Amtrak also recorded a significant growth in ridership. The numbers were up 11 percent from July to September across the United States, Amtrak spokeswoman Karina Romero told the Chicago-Sun Times.

Meanwhile, the Federal Highway Administration said it recorded 11 consecutive months of a decline in driving. With the auto industry going down (sales dropped in September below 1 million for the first time in 15 years) the public transit authorities might have to prepare for even more riders.