Figure 6-4: Previous mode of max riders (October 2005)

The majority of MAX riders (approximately 70%) were previously using CAT Route 113. Another 3% were previously using other CAT routes (3%). The remaining 30% are new transit riders. Of those riders new to transit, the largest group previously drove a car (10% of all riders). The next largest group, 6% of the total, did not make the trip previously. The remaining categories were walked (5%), bicycled (3%) and got a ride (3%), and paratransit (1%).

Demographics of Riders

It is also useful to compare the characteristics of riders new to transit to the characteristics of those who previously used Route 113 or another CAT route. These new riders were not attracted to Route 113, but with the new MAX service in place, they are now willing to take transit. This comparison allows us to understand the type of people that are attracted to BRT service.

Those who previously used another mode as a whole group are similar to previous CAT Route 113 riders in terms of trip purpose, trip frequency, race, and gender. They are however more likely to be employed full-time and more likely to be younger riders than previous CAT Route 113 riders. MAX riders who previously drove a car to make the trip differ from MAX riders as a whole in many ways however. These previous auto users are:

• More likely traveling to and from work (80% versus 64% for all MAX riders);

• More likely employed full-time (84% versus 70% for all MAX riders);

• More likely male (68% versus 55% for all MAX riders);

• More likely African American (40% versus 30% for all MAX riders);

• Less likely white (20% versus 27% for all MAX riders); and

• Less likely to use MAX every day for their trip (40% versus 61% for all MAX riders).

It is also useful to compare new MAX riders to those previously using Route 113 in terms of socioeconomic status, use of the CAT system, and other factors. This comparison can be made using the passenger survey data. This analysis will assist in understanding which people are attracted to ride BRT and if BRT can influence perceptions of transit.

In order to provide a demographic profile of MAX riders several surveys were consulted. First, in April 2002, RTC conducted an Origin-Destination Survey of the entire CAT system. This document provided a demographic profile of CAT riders in comparison with the Las Vegas Valley from the 2002 Las Vegas Perspectives document. These riders and resident profiles were compared to the 2005 MAX and CAT Route 113 surveys to determine how the demographics of typical BRT and non-BRT riders compare to the system in general. The four categories that were compared were ethnicity, age, employment status and gender. Table 6-2 and Figure 6-5 show the ethnicity of riders on MAX, CAT Route 113, the CAT system and Las Vegas.

Table 6-2: Rider ethnicity

Response	MAX	Rte 113	All CAT	Las Vegas
White	26.7	33.3	47.5	62.8
Hispanic (Non-English speaking)	32.9	33.3	18.3	21.9
Hispanic (English-speaking)	6.2	6.7
Asian / Pacific Islander	1.8	2.7	5.0	7.2
African American	30.2	21.8	22.5	7.4
Native American	2.2	2.2	3.4	0.7
Other / No answer	0.0	0.0	3.3	0.0