Rising gas prices mean record numbers of bus riders in Nashville. On Wednesday, Metro Transit Authorities say 28-thousand people rode the bus. Average ridership on MTA busses is 21-thousand.
MTA’s deputy director of Planning, Tim Sanderson says it’s record breaking.
“We used to say a good day was 24-thousand, so this just blows the doors off. The public transit system is there everyday for people who choose to use it or have to use it, but it’s times like this that we’re there and this is a role that we love to play.”
Sanderson says the increase in riders began even before Hurricane Katrina pushed gas prices above the three dollar mark.
It’s more expensive for Metro to fuel its buses too, but Sanderson says the increase in ridership compensates for the increase they’re dealing with.
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