Tough one. It’s hard to say whether the growth was from those who couldn’t afford transit or those that would have been in cars. Either way it’s a good thing, but the question of funding is a valid one.

Fares made up, on average, 12.5% of transit agencies’ operating expenses in 2021, down from 31.4% in 2019, according to the American Public Transit Association

I’m sure the pandemic has affected these numbers greatly with many still working from home.