While the price of gas soars higher every week, Americans are taking to mass transit to ease the burden that fuel is inflicting on their bank accounts. A new report says ridership on trains and buses is at one of the highest levels in decades.

The increasing gas prices, a stronger economy and new technology that makes the whole mass transit process easier is the reason for the uptick in ridership, according to the American Public Transportation Association, says CNN.

Last year, Americans took 10.4 billion trips on buses, trains, street cars and ferries, which is a 2.3% increase over 2010.

“As people get jobs and go back to work, they get on mass transit more,” said Michael Melaniphy, president of APTA. “And then when people look at gas prices, they really get on transit more.”

We’re inching closer to $4 for a gallon of gas, which is the price when many find themselves fleeing to mass transit. Nationwide, the average gas price for 2011 was around $3.80, the highest annual average ever. Experts are predicting record prices for 2012 as well, which will likely mean it’ll be another big year for mass transit.

Mass transit use rises as gas prices soar [CNNMoney]

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