Even though gas prices fell significantly during the past year, public use of mass transit hit a 58-year high in 2014, according to a March 9 report from the American Public Transit Association.

San Diego Trolley ridership was up 15.3 percent last year, accounting for the second-largest demand spike in the U.S. Oceanside saw a 36 percent jump in rail use, but statistics there aren't counted due to a temporary shutdown in 2013 (which inflates year-to-year growth numbers).

A total 10.8 billion trips were logged on all forms of transit (trolley, subway, bus) nationwide in 2014. San Diego's Metropolitan Transit System logged just over 95 million rides in its most recent fiscal year ended June 30; that number was already an all-time high but is expected to be surpassed again with the release of 2014–2015 numbers.

"Despite the steep decline in gas prices at the end of last year, public transit ridership increased," said American Public Transit Association president Michael Melaniphy in a release accompanying the data. "This shows that once people start riding public transit, they discover that there are additional benefits besides saving money. People are changing their travel behavior and want more travel options."

San Diegans are also taking the bus more often: despite a national decline in bus use as light rail gains popularity, San Diego recorded a 2.4 percent increase in ridership, ranking the region seventh nationally in demand growth.