WISH Indy’s public transportation ranked 4th worst city in the country INDIANAPOLIS — A newly released study ranks Indianapolis as the fourth-worst city in the country for public transportation, prompting commuters to voice concerns over reliability and safety. IndyGo is the sole public tr ansit in Indianapolis. The bus service functions as a municipal corporation of Indianapolis and Marion County, created under Indiana state statute and chartered by city ordinance. ConsumerAffairs analyzed 50 cities across three categories: usefulness and accessibility, affordability, and operational safety. While San Francisco, New York and New Jersey earned top marks, Indianapolis struggled in several key areas. The city performed well in affordability, where a $2.75 pass provides two hours of unlimited travel. However, it saw significantly lower scores for usefulness and operational safety. The latter category includes vehicle collisions. Tawana Proctor, who commutes to work daily, said the system is a mixed bag. “I’ve seen it worse in other cities and other places. It’s not the worst, but it’s not the best.” According to the report, the average Indianapolis-area resident boarded public transportation approximately four times in 2024. This represents the third-lowest ridership rate among the 50 largest urban areas in the U.S. Proctor attributes the low numbers to unreliable service on IndyGo, noting that frequent route detours have caused her to be late for work. Jason Hayden, a student and frequent rider, agreed that delays are common. He specifically cited issues with IndyGo’s Route 8-Washington, and its Route 19 to Broad Ripple. While many express frustration, some commuters report a more positive experience. Seth Johnson, who is visually impaired and cannot drive, has used the buses for years. “I rely on it pretty heavily. But, I really have no issues since I started using it.” Johnson said he would like to see the city expand its lines but remains satisfied with the current accessibility. The 2026 ConsumerAffairs report, which utilized data from 2024, ranked Indianapolis second-worst for operational safety. The study found approximately 6.62 collisions, fires or derailments happened for every million vehicle miles traveled. Additionally, about five people died or suffered injuries in major safety and security incidents for every million miles traveled. The most recent fatal accident involving the transit system happened in February in Indianapolis when an IndyGo bus struck a teenager. In a statement, an IndyGo spokesperson said the agency has implemented several changes since the study’s data was collected to address safety, usefulness and accessibility. The agency is adding more service miles and providing additional training for bus operators to prevent accidents. Safety at transit hubs also remains a concern for some. Seth Hill, a former daily commuter who now rides occasionally, said the environment at bus stations can be a deterrent. “I know there are a lot of things that go on in the bus stations, some things that you don’t want to see like fights and drug addicts. You wouldn’t want to see that when you get off the bus to where you want to go.” Commuters generally agree that while the service is affordable, IndyGo must prioritize improvements in safety, punctuality and overall access. ...read more read less