This　paper　focuses　on　land　use　as　the　primary　variable　for　transit　ridership　estimation,　with　100　000　points　of　interest　(POIs)　in　Beijing　being　extracted　from　a　digital　map　and　classified　into　five　categories　according　to　main　transit　trip　purposes.　To　better　quantify　the　characteristics　of　the　land　surrounding　a　transit　station　and　further　assist　sustainable　zoning,　a　multi-level　catchment　area　delineation　method　that　includes　pedestrian,　traffic,　and　potential　areas　is　applied.　The　built　areas　of　different　categories　of　POIs　within　various　catchment　areas　are　used　to　describe　precise　land　use　characteristics　of　24　randomly　selected　transit　stations　in　Beijing.　A　direct　ridership　model　that　involved　land　use　characteristics　is　developed　and　combined　with　the　ridership　calculated　using　Beijing　transit　auto　fare　collection　(AFC)　data.　Model　validation　with　10　other　randomly　selected　stations　meets　initial　expectations,　indicating　that　the　proposed　model　has　the　potential　for　use　to　provide　a　quantitative　link　between　land　use　and　travel　demand.