Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS)
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Table 10
Vehicle-Miles

(Millions)

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Mode 1970 1980 1990 2000 2001
Air carriers 2,068 2,523 3,963 R5,664 5,550
General aviation 3,207 5,204 R4,548 aN aN
Passenger cars 916,700 1,111,596 R1,408,266 R1,600,287 1,619,422
Motorcycles 2,979 10,214 9,557 R10,469 9,529
Other 2-axle, 4-tire vehiclesb 123,286 290,935 574,571 R923,059 937,839
Trucks:          
Single-unit 27,081 39,813 51,901 R70,500 72,286
Combination 35,134 68,678 94,341 R135,020 135,400
Busesc 4,544 6,059 5,726 R7,590 6,986
Raild:          
Transite 441 403 561 p648 U
Commuter N 179 213 p271 U
Class 1 freight 29,890 29,277 26,159 34,590 U
Intercity/Amtrakf 690 235 301 368 U
Other transitg N 15 324 p833 U

a The Federal Aviation Administration has estimated vehicle-miles for general aviation aircraft through 1997, relying in part on hours-flown survey data. Vehicle-miles estimates for subsequent years are not yet available.

b In July 1997, the USDOT, Federal Highway Administration, reassigned some vehicle-miles from "passenger car" to "other 2-axle, 4-tire."

c Includes municipally-owned transit, commercial, federal, and school buses.

d Car-miles.

e Includes light and heavy rail only.

f Fiscal year data. Amtrak began operations in 1971.

g Includes demand-responsive, ferry boat, and other transit not specified; 1980 data include "other transit" only.

Key: N = data do not exist; P = preliminary; R = revised.

Sources: Various sources, as cited in USDOT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, National Transportation Statistics 2002 (Washington, DC: 2002), table 1-32. 2001 air carriers-USDOT, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Air Carrier Traffic Statistics (Washington, DC: Annual December issues).