October was a record-breaking month for SLO Transit. The transportation agency gave 108,000 rides in October; 7,000 more then the previous record-setting month, January ’05.
Overall, SLO Transit saw a 29 percent increase in ridership this fiscal year. In 2004 there were 680,000 rides given and in 2005 there were 875,000.
“I would attribute it to a number of factors,� said Austin O’Dell, SLO Transit manager. “I think we’re providing what the community wants.�
O’Dell said his agency recently hired a consultant to help streamline service. This meant creating a schedule that was easy to understand and arranging top-of-the-hour trips to Cal Poly. The result is a 41 percent increase in Cal Poly ridership, and 16 percent increase in non-Cal Poly ridership.
“This is a system that reflects what the community wants,� said O’Dell. “I think gas prices have something to do with it too.�
This article appears in Nov 24 – Dec 1, 2005.