Bend Area Transit reports that it provided 20,209 rides on its fixed route buses last month, which is a 30 percent increase from September 2007. BAT Transit Manager Heather Ornelas says youth ridership is showing the largest increase. Route 11, which serves Summit HIgh School, is up 36 percent from a year ago and bike rack use is up 37 percent. Ornelas says the economy is a factor as are the high price of gasoline with more people choosing to ride the bus rather than drive their cars.

She says that morning and afternoon buses are often standing room only and asks that people who are able give up their seats to elderly and disabled riders.