EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) - According to the city of Eau Claire, more people are using cars over buses for transportation than in 2010. So the city is trying to get more people and students to use public transportation.

Although recent ridership has gone up, it still falls short from the numbers seen decades ago.

According to Eau Claire Transit manager Ty Fadness, taking the bus alleviates traffic and it's better for the environment. It's also potentially safer than traveling by car.

"Of the nearly million miles that we drive we (our buses) hardly have any accidents. We're one of the top transit agencies in the state in terms of accidents per miles driven so this really is a great way to get around town," said Fadness.

News 18 spoke with one bus rider, Max Childs, who doesn't own a car and instead uses the bus when he needs to travel far. He said the bus saves him money.

"You definitely save a lot on your gas. Fare is only a $1.75, that's pretty reasonable," said Childs.

Eau Claire Transit is seeing new improvements to their rides.

"When you ride the bus, you'll hear a lot of automated voice announcements so that's new and then we also have GPS technology so we can integrate that technology into an app," said Fadness.

The app will launch this fall.

Also new, more routes for Delong Middle and North High School student riders.

"We swing by Delong right after the bell rings and we drop them off west of Clairemont and its been a huge success so far," Fadness said.

Fadness said the new express routes go through areas that are too close to the schools for Student Transit. This helps students get around without parents having to plan ahead.

"Some parents have different work schedules. Some can't take their kids to school in the morning," said Childs.

This year, Eau Claire Transit is on pace to have 700,000 rides. The goal is to increase that to 1 million.

Eau Claire Transit will also be offering free rides this weekend for Eau Claire's Fall Festival happening this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on South Barstow Street.

For more information about Eau Claire Transit, click here.

https://www.wqow.com/eye-on-eau-claire/city-of-eau-claire-working-to-increase-public-bus-ridership/article_0ae84278-6eed-11ef-b891-43de0c29e7ed.html