Ridership soars as community embraces new transit service

In a recent government meeting, officials reported significant progress in the usage of the Ride Lake County transportation service, highlighting its impact over the first two years of operation. The service has reached over 75,000 individuals through various outreach efforts, including presentations at community events and distribution of printed materials.

The data revealed that nearly 1,700 riders have registered for the service, averaging 42 trips each. Notably, 89% of riders took at least two trips, and 72% made three or more trips, indicating a strong repeat usage. The top rider logged an impressive 23,100 trips, averaging three trips daily.

Usage patterns showed that the service is utilized for a variety of purposes, with work-related trips slightly increasing, while medical trips saw a slight decline. The average trip length increased to 5.8 miles, with most trips occurring between 8 AM and 3 PM.

The meeting also addressed the service's capacity and efficiency, noting a significant reduction in denial rates for service requests. The number of trips provided per denial has improved dramatically, from less than one trip for every denial to approximately 14 trips per denial. This improvement is attributed to an increase in available drivers, with current staffing at 30 out of the needed 36 drivers.

Officials acknowledged ongoing challenges, including the need for more drivers and the importance of timely trip bookings, recommending that riders schedule their trips at least seven days in advance to ensure availability. The meeting concluded with discussions on potential recruitment strategies to fill driver positions, including outreach to local community colleges and job fairs.

Overall, the Ride Lake County service has demonstrated substantial growth and effectiveness, providing essential transportation options for the community.