One solution to high gas prices: Ride the bus

RRSTAR.COM STAFF REPORTS

Deena Peska of Rockford is one of many new faces on Rockford buses lately. When gas prices surged this spring, she started taking the bus to visit family and run errands.

“When you’re on a fixed income, you’ve got to do things like that,” she said.

Ridership on Rockford Mass Transit District buses was up 10.4 percent in the fiscal year that ended June 30, spokeswoman Lisa Brown said. This spring, ridership was up more than 20 percent while gas prices rose more than 33 percent.

The district had 1.65 million riders for this past fiscal year, the most since 1996.

There are many reasons why ridership has increased, but gas prices seem to be the biggest reason.

"I've been riding the bus now for probably about six months," Rockford resident Joe Peppers said. "When I can afford the gas, then I drive my truck."

Hear from him and bus rider Jonathan Strader, who says the bus offers him the ideal situation, by clicking on the video on the left.

Loading commenting interface...