My own opinion as well as speculation: IN THE US: Public transit suffers from under funding and a general lack of civic planning (at least at macro-scales).

My own opinion as well as speculation: IN THE US: Public transit suffers from under funding and a general lack of civic planning (at least at macro-scales). Public transit and all other public _spaces_ also suffer from lack of social safety nets at a national level. Defacto, they are where the displaced and under-served end up, because they are unable to go anywhere else. Everyone else with options either doesn't need to travel, or uses personal transport when they do. This exacerbates the issue of lack of funding through lack of use. In the United States there is, an accurate, perception that on public transport someone is more likely to be exposed to crime, unwanted scents from the unwashed or the uncouth in personal hygiene (too much Axe (which is any), etc), or particularly during the pandemic, unavoidable social mingling. In urban cores this might be different given the lack of cars and denser service. However around them the only well serviced customer are business persons who commute down town early, and then back in the evening. In the suburbs and outlying areas there's either service far too infrequent to be a reliable choice or none at all; and often that service cuts off too early in the evening.