ridership

noun

1. (US, collective, countable, uncountable)The people who ride a form of transportation.

   “The bus company was going bankrupt because their ridership was too small.”

   “Virgin Trains East Coast failed because ridership and revenue did not increase as predicted in its bid. It still rose, but not enough to satisfy the deal it had made with DfT. The result was that Stagecoach and Virgin lost a lot of money.”

   “But the picture is grim in many more cities. On the Paris Métro, ridership was just over half of normal in the first two months of this year.”

2. (countable, rare, uncountable)The position or office of a rider.

   “After four years, (in 1780,) he ventured to propose the abolition of all riderships (croupe), and of other sinecures connected with the King’s household: […]”

   “If you voluntarily put your head into that Apothecaries’ noose, so adroitly weaved for you in 1815 by the worse part of the Physicians, you will infallibly fall under the ridership it is your best desire to escape.”

   “There were many alive who enjoyed the provision of “a pension on the Irish Establishment,” given on the most frivolous grounds, and the corrupt system of “ridership” on a place, that is, of quartering a favourite on an office, so as to enjoy a portion of the emoluments without the work, had not yet been forgotten.”

   “You and your bird-fancying correspondents do not seem to be aware that the competition to be Britain’s Bird was decided over a century ago. […] Have you never studied your 1860 penny-pieces, sir? Britain’s Bird must have—and has—truly Britannic wave-ruling capabilities. Indeed, the only bird you are ever likely to see demonstrating supreme and serene ridership of the ocean waves is that noble, majestic, nautical and essentially British bird—the Albatross.”