Metro celebrates 20 millionth rider — sorta

This is one day Houstonist is sad we don't rely on public transportation — because today, Metro is bribing people to ride the MetroRail by offering them plane tickets, gift certificates, sports tickets and museum passes. It's almost enough to make you want to get drooled on by the person next to you on the train, isn't it?

The giveaways are part of Metro's 20 Millionth Rider Day, which will also feature live music and appearances from the Texans cheerleaders and Comets players at stations along the light rail line. Metro staff will be on hand at the rail platforms handing out scratch-off tickets good for Continental Airlines tickets, $500 Foley's gift cards, tickets to the Texans, Comets and Astros and passes to local museums and the zoo. There's just one problem: As the Chronicle notes, the 20 millionth rider won't actually be the 20 millionth rider, but rather the 20 millionth boarding. So if you ride the train twice, that'll count as two boardings, though you're just one rider. It's standard practice for transportation systems, and it's a hell of a lot easier to get 20 million boardings than 20 million riders.

The promotion runs until 6 p.m. today.