Another lesson

High gasoline prices boost transit use -- according to transit boosters.

But the Census Bureau has just published results of its 2005 American Comunity Survey -- and transit commuting for the U.S. was 4.7% -- the same as in 2000. Yet, the inflation-adjusted price of gasoline (average U.S.) was about 20 percent higher in 2005 than in 2000. In the period, subsidies per rider had also increased.

It's been the perfect storm for public transit. There must be lesson here.