Ride-sharing takes toll on RTC bus ridership, especially on the Strip

With Lyft and Uber now a popular transportation option for Las Vegas visitors, especially on the Strip, revenue from the Regional Transportation Commission’ of Southern Nevada’s bus routes along Las Vegas Boulevard has dipped, according to officials.

Revenue from Strip rides fell from $23.9 million in fiscal 2015 — when Uber and Lyft began operations here — to $18.5 million fiscal 2018, according to commission data. Ridership at the same time fell from 14.6 million in fiscal 2015 to just over 12 million in fiscal 2018, which ended in June.

Ride-sharing companies do not share their ridership data with municipalities.

About 25 percent of RTC ridership is generated on the Strip and those rides account for 30 percent of its revenue.

“The nation as a whole is having a large conversation about what is the point continuing to invest in public transit systems and recognizing that (ride-sharing services) are here and are growing,” said Tina Quigley, the commission’s general manager.

Quigley was speaking last week during a presentation before the Clark County Commission on the RTC’S plan to meet future transportation needs.

In areas that have lower RTC ridership and are being serviced by ride-sharing

STEVE MARCUS (2013) Passengers ride “The Deuce,” a double-decker bus, on the Strip. Ridership on buses operated by the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada has fallen off since the introduction of ride-hailing services such as Lyft and Uber.