News

Metro Bus ridership down in 2012

Photo:

Jan 16, 2013 at 6:27 am

ST. CLOUD, Minn. (KNSI) Metro Bus gave fewer rides to people in the St. Cloud area last year than in 2011.

Marketing Director Tom Cruikshank says the numbers show 2,378,399 rides were given on fixed routes and dial-a-ride service last year.

That's about 60,000 fewer rides--or about two-and-a-half percent less--than 2011.

Cruikshank says there are a few reasons why. He says enrollment at St. Cloud State is down--and college students are a big customer for them.

He says the job market in the St. Cloud area is still not fully recovered from the recession. He says a lot of workers take the bus to and from their jobs. And he says a fare increase imposed last year might have had a small impact on the numbers as well.