A study released Monday by the American Public TransportationAssociation reveals that 98 percent of Americans support the use ofmass transit by others.

"With traffic congestion, pollution, and oil shortages all gettingworse, now is the time to shift to affordable, efficient publictransportation," APTA director Howard Collier said. "Fortunately, asthis report shows, Americans have finally recognized the need foreveryone else to do exactly that."

Of the study`s 5,200 participants, 44 percent cited faster commutesas the primary reason to expand public transportation, followed closelyby shorter lines at the gas station. Environmental and energy concernsranked a distant third and fourth, respectively.

Anaheim, CA, resident Lance Holland, who drives 80 miles a day tohis job in downtown Los Angeles, was among the proponents of publictransit.

"Expanding mass transit isn`t just a good idea, it`s a necessity,"Holland said. "My drive to work is unbelievable. I spend more than twohours stuck in 12 lanes of traffic. It`s about time somebody didsomething to get some of these other cars off the road."

Public support for mass transit will naturally lead to its expansionand improvement, Los Angeles County Metropolitan TransportationAuthority officials said.

"With everyone behind it, we`ll be able to expand bus routes, createpark-and-ride programs, and build entire new Metrolink commuter-raillines," LACMTA president Howard Sager said. "It`s almost a shame Idon`t know anyone who will be using these new services."

Sager said he expects wide-scale expansion of safe, efficient, andeconomical mass-transit systems to reduce traffic congestion in allmajor metropolitan areas in the coming decades.

"Improving public transportation will do a great deal of good,creating jobs, revitalizing downtown areas, and reducing pollution,"Sager said. "It also means a lot to me personally, as it should cut 20to 25 minutes off my morning drive."

The APTA study also noted that of the 98 percent of Americans whodrive to work, 94 percent are the sole occupant of their automobile.

"When public transportation is not practical, commuters should atleast be carpooling," Collier said. "Most people, unlike me, probablywork near someone they know and don`t need to be driving alone."

Collier said he hopes the study serves as a wake-up call toAmericans. In conjunction with its release, the APTA is kicking off acampaign to promote mass transit with the slogan, "Take The Bus... I`llBe Glad You Did."

The campaign is intended to de-emphasize the inconvenience andsocial stigma associated with using public transportation, focusinginstead on the positives. Among these positives: the health benefits ofgetting fresh air while waiting at the bus stop, the chance to meetinteresting people from a diverse array of low-paying service-sectorjobs, and the opportunity to learn new languages by reading subway adswritten in Spanish.

"People need to realize that public transportation isn`t just forsome poor sucker to take to work," Collier said. "He should also betaking it to the shopping mall, the supermarket, and the laundromat.

www.theonion.com/content/news/report_98_percent_of_u_s_commuters