TALLINN — A recent poll shows that although public transportation use in Tallinn has declined since 1999, from 2008 to 2009 it usage upticked as the crisis forced people to cut their costs.

The survey, conducted by polling [private_supervisor]company Turu-uuringute AS shows that the number of bus, trolley, tram, and train commuters declined by 17 percent since 1999, but from 2008 numbers increased by 5 percent. The survey was carried out in Nov. 2009, participants were 500 Tallinn residents above age 15 picked randomly.

Hella Kaldaru, research manager in Turundus-uuringute AS says the number of car owners has expanded from the small percentage during the Soviet era and impoverished 1990s, but now people that typically travel by car have been using public transportation more often due to the recession.

“The use of public transportation increased when the Hurricane Katrina drove the gas prices high, but now the difference is not that striking,” Kaldaru told Baltic Reports.

It’s not certain if increased ticket prices have played any role in the results, as the subject was not on the questionnaire.

Sirje Roht, a Tallinn Bus Company press spokeswoman said that although the number of commuters declined, the decline has not been continuous. The number of users increased in 2005 when gas prices rose worldwide in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“The amount of commuters has unfortunately declined since 2006, but a small rise occurred in 2009,” Roht told Baltic Reports.

Roht said the change in the number of commuters is linked to the changes in our society and economy. The number of cars increased during the “Baltic Tiger” economic boom earlier in the decade when gas prices were lower, incomes higher and jobs more secure.

“The amount of cars increased largely during the first decade after the independence, but then again, in the last one and a half years, our economic situation along with the lack of jobs affected the use of public transportation,” Roht said.[/private_supervisor] [private_subscription 1 month]company Turu-uuringute AS shows that the number of bus, trolley, tram, and train commuters declined by 17 percent since 1999, but from 2008 numbers increased by 5 percent. The survey was carried out in Nov. 2009, participants were 500 Tallinn residents above age 15 picked randomly.

Hella Kaldaru, research manager in Turundus-uuringute AS says the number of car owners has expanded from the small percentage during the Soviet era and impoverished 1990s, but now people that typically travel by car have been using public transportation more often due to the recession.

“The use of public transportation increased when the Hurricane Katrina drove the gas prices high, but now the difference is not that striking,” Kaldaru told Baltic Reports.

It’s not certain if increased ticket prices have played any role in the results, as the subject was not on the questionnaire.

Sirje Roht, a Tallinn Bus Company press spokeswoman said that although the number of commuters declined, the decline has not been continuous. The number of users increased in 2005 when gas prices rose worldwide in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“The amount of commuters has unfortunately declined since 2006, but a small rise occurred in 2009,” Roht told Baltic Reports.

Roht said the change in the number of commuters is linked to the changes in our society and economy. The number of cars increased during the “Baltic Tiger” economic boom earlier in the decade when gas prices were lower, incomes higher and jobs more secure.

“The amount of cars increased largely during the first decade after the independence, but then again, in the last one and a half years, our economic situation along with the lack of jobs affected the use of public transportation,” Roht said.[/private_subscription 1 month] [private_subscription 4 months]company Turu-uuringute AS shows that the number of bus, trolley, tram, and train commuters declined by 17 percent since 1999, but from 2008 numbers increased by 5 percent. The survey was carried out in Nov. 2009, participants were 500 Tallinn residents above age 15 picked randomly.

Hella Kaldaru, research manager in Turundus-uuringute AS says the number of car owners has expanded from the small percentage during the Soviet era and impoverished 1990s, but now people that typically travel by car have been using public transportation more often due to the recession.

“The use of public transportation increased when the Hurricane Katrina drove the gas prices high, but now the difference is not that striking,” Kaldaru told Baltic Reports.

It’s not certain if increased ticket prices have played any role in the results, as the subject was not on the questionnaire.

Sirje Roht, a Tallinn Bus Company press spokeswoman said that although the number of commuters declined, the decline has not been continuous. The number of users increased in 2005 when gas prices rose worldwide in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“The amount of commuters has unfortunately declined since 2006, but a small rise occurred in 2009,” Roht told Baltic Reports.

Roht said the change in the number of commuters is linked to the changes in our society and economy. The number of cars increased during the “Baltic Tiger” economic boom earlier in the decade when gas prices were lower, incomes higher and jobs more secure.

“The amount of cars increased largely during the first decade after the independence, but then again, in the last one and a half years, our economic situation along with the lack of jobs affected the use of public transportation,” Roht said. [/private_subscription 4 months] [private_subscription 1 year]company Turu-uuringute AS shows that the number of bus, trolley, tram, and train commuters declined by 17 percent since 1999, but from 2008 numbers increased by 5 percent. The survey was carried out in Nov. 2009, participants were 500 Tallinn residents above age 15 picked randomly.

Hella Kaldaru, research manager in Turundus-uuringute AS says the number of car owners has expanded from the small percentage during the Soviet era and impoverished 1990s, but now people that typically travel by car have been using public transportation more often due to the recession.

“The use of public transportation increased when the Hurricane Katrina drove the gas prices high, but now the difference is not that striking,” Kaldaru told Baltic Reports.

It’s not certain if increased ticket prices have played any role in the results, as the subject was not on the questionnaire.

Sirje Roht, a Tallinn Bus Company press spokeswoman said that although the number of commuters declined, the decline has not been continuous. The number of users increased in 2005 when gas prices rose worldwide in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

“The amount of commuters has unfortunately declined since 2006, but a small rise occurred in 2009,” Roht told Baltic Reports.

Roht said the change in the number of commuters is linked to the changes in our society and economy. The number of cars increased during the “Baltic Tiger” economic boom earlier in the decade when gas prices were lower, incomes higher and jobs more secure.

“The amount of cars increased largely during the first decade after the independence, but then again, in the last one and a half years, our economic situation along with the lack of jobs affected the use of public transportation,” Roht said.[/private_subscription 1 year]

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