Back in 1928 when Culver City’s bus lines were organized the world was quieter, the pace was slower and ridership was steady rather than volatile.
Contemporary ridership resembles consistent zagging and zigging.
For most of the past decade, bus riding has formed a squiggly line.
Still, there are guideposts about when to anticipate rises or drops in ridership.
“The last time ridership was steady,” says Art Ida, director of the Transportation Dept., “probably was the last time gas prices were high, in the $5 range, in ‘07, ‘08. Our ridership probably was at its highest then.”
Joy did not last long.
“Right after that, the recession hit,” Mr. Ida said. “We saw a huge drop. That probably was because people weren’t going to work. They had lost their jobs.
“People had to make choices about their monthly finances, and so they took fewer trips.”
Having endured eight years of constant fluctuation, the director said one point must be remembered:
“The moment gas prices rise – they are definitely volatile — we see a huge increase in ridership. Right away. It doesn’t take much time.”
