High Gas Prices Means More Bus Riders
By: Jamie Kuras
Updated: March 10, 2011
MIDLAND -- High gas prices are forcing a lot of people to find alternate means of transportation. The most popular among them: Riding the bus.
If gas prices continue to rise, so will the number of bus riders.
"2008 -- across the board for national prospective for transit -- was an all time high record ridership," said EZ Rider General Manager Chris Mandrell. "We're not quite to that point yet but if the gas prices continue to rise, I can see us getting to that point and maybe even going above that."
February has already seen a 6 percent rise in ridership over last year. That's including the below freezing days -- when nobody wanted to be outside waiting for a bus.
But even though more riders means more money, EZ Rider is also affected by the high gas prices.
"It affects our budget quite a bit cause we budget for certain gas prices throughout the year," said Mandrell. "But the good thing about it was at the beginning of this year we budgeted for higher gas prices then what we were seeing at the beginning of the year."
Yet, if they sustain this high price, it will cause a little bit of a problem for them going into next year.
But good news does come out of all of this. Clear Talk Wireless teamed up with EZ Rider to help people save on gas.
"It's to give all Midland and Odessa residents an opportunity to ride all the Clear Talk buses for free on Fridays," said Clear Talk Wireless Representative Misty Richter. "It's all part of their 'Good Citizen Campaign.'"
The buses involved in this campaign will look a little different then normal buses. They will have a special wrap around them. This campaign runs every Friday through April 1st.
You can find out more about the schedules and what routes will be available for free at www.ez-rider.org.
If gas prices continue to rise, so will the number of bus riders.
"2008 -- across the board for national prospective for transit -- was an all time high record ridership," said EZ Rider General Manager Chris Mandrell. "We're not quite to that point yet but if the gas prices continue to rise, I can see us getting to that point and maybe even going above that."
February has already seen a 6 percent rise in ridership over last year. That's including the below freezing days -- when nobody wanted to be outside waiting for a bus.
But even though more riders means more money, EZ Rider is also affected by the high gas prices.
"It affects our budget quite a bit cause we budget for certain gas prices throughout the year," said Mandrell. "But the good thing about it was at the beginning of this year we budgeted for higher gas prices then what we were seeing at the beginning of the year."
Yet, if they sustain this high price, it will cause a little bit of a problem for them going into next year.
But good news does come out of all of this. Clear Talk Wireless teamed up with EZ Rider to help people save on gas.
"It's to give all Midland and Odessa residents an opportunity to ride all the Clear Talk buses for free on Fridays," said Clear Talk Wireless Representative Misty Richter. "It's all part of their 'Good Citizen Campaign.'"
The buses involved in this campaign will look a little different then normal buses. They will have a special wrap around them. This campaign runs every Friday through April 1st.
You can find out more about the schedules and what routes will be available for free at www.ez-rider.org.
