Re “Increasing transit subsidies as ridership declines is crazy” (March 22): The recent commentary suggesting that declining transit ridership justifies reduced investment misreads both the data and the benefits of public transportation.
San Diego has a rapidly aging population that depends on reliable, accessible transit to reach health care, employment and essential daily services. For those with limited mobility, transit is not optional; it is a lifeline that supports independence and dignity.
According to the American Public Transportation Association, ridership reflects policy choices as much as consumer behavior. Where service is frequent and accessible, demand is strong; where it is limited, ridership declines.
All transportation systems, including roads, are subsidized. Transit investment delivers broad economic and social returns. Sound public policy should be based on full and accurate data — not selective interpretations.
— Susan Hafner, La Jolla