# ridership

/ˈɹaɪdɝˌʃɪp/ (US) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ridership
Updated: 2026-10-13

## Definition

the number of people who use buses, trains, or other public transport. You use it to talk about how busy a transport system is.

For teachers: the total number of passengers using a public transport system over a given period; also the passengers themselves considered as a group.

## Examples

- Bus ridership rises when fuel prices go up.
- After the new subway line opened, daily ridership doubled within six months.
- Although overall ridership recovered after the pandemic, off-peak travel grew faster than the traditional morning rush, forcing planners to rethink schedules.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.