CityBus reported 2008 ridership at 5,028,088. The figure sets a new record for the bus company and represents the first time more than 5 million trips were taken on CityBus in one year.
Free rides were offered during the last week of December to help boost CityBus over the 5 million mark. About two thousand additional trips were taken each day.
(See ridership and more about how CityBus counts riders here.)
Ridership has grown significantly in the past decade. CityBus crossed the 3 million mark for the first time in 2001, and the 4 million mark in 2004. 1998 was the first year CityBus contracted with Purdue University to pay fares for students and staff. This arrangement is a significant factor in CityBus's growth.
Only Indianapolis carries more riders in Indiana. The Indianapolis bus company announced this week that 2008 ridership was at 8.9 million trips for the year.
