The bar charts illustrate changes in the annual frequency of trips per person and the average cost of those journeys across four transport modes – bus, train, taxi, and Uber – from 2004 to 2016.
Overall, the most significant trend was the surge in train popularity, which solidified its position as the most utilized transport method. Conversely, the taxi industry saw a sharp decline in both usage and pricing. The period also highlighted the rapid market entry and growth of Uber, which disrupted traditional private transport.
Regarding usage, train travel climbed steadily from approximately 37 trips in 2004 to nearly 70 by 2016. In stark contrast, taxi trips plummeted from 15 to under 5 over the same period. Uber, which was first recorded in 2012 with roughly 10 trips, saw its patronage triple to over 30 trips per person by 2016. Bus travel remained the most stable mode, fluctuating minimally between 15 and 18 annual trips.
In terms of expenditure, taxis remained the costliest mode despite a dramatic price drop from over $23 in 2004 to approximately $13 in 2016. Uber’s average cost followed a similar downward trajectory, falling from $16 to $14 between 2012 and 2016. Meanwhile, bus and train fares were consistently the most affordable options; both saw marginal increases, rising from under $5 to between $5 and $7 by the end of the 12-year period.