More residents choosing public transport
By Carissa Marsh cmarsh@theacorn.com

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers NEW WAY AROUND- Deborah DeBono boards a bus on Cochran Street Tuesday morning. Nearly $5-a-gallon gas prices have caused DeBono and other residents to open up to the idea of public transport.

With gas prices well over $4 a gallon, Ventura County drivers, like those across the rest of the country, are feeling the pinch at the pump.

In the wake of skyrocketing fuel costs- Simi Valley hit a high of $4.79 for regular unleaded this week- locals are looking for ways to save, from driving less to carpooling to buying the latest hybrid vehicle.

And some have turned to another solution: public transportation.

Simi couple Miguel Fuentes and Ivon Pantoja started riding the bus two months ago because of high gas prices. Though they share a car, they've found public transit is a more cost-effective way of getting to their jobs in Thousand Oaks.

"It's comfortable and the bus stop is close to where I work," Fuentes said. "And it's cheap."

For them, the savings in cost is the most important benefit. Fellow Simi resident and new bus rider Ji Lewis agreed, calling the cost per gallon "ridiculous." Lewis rides the bus with her son, Mike, to Moorpark College.

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers RIDE AND RELAX- Resident Rita Reyes pays her bus fare on Cochran Street in Simi Valley on Wednesday. Reyes has been taking public transit for a few years to avoid the high price of gas and heavy traffic, but she's still in the minority.

"Gas prices these days, $5 a gallon, is too much," Mike Lewis said. "People can't afford that."

Mother and son used to drive to Moorpark, but when prices went up, they switched their mode of transportation. The duo has been riding the VISTA bus line for just two weeks, but Ji Lewis said they might stick with public transit even if prices decline.

"I don't think taking the bus is a bad thing," she said. "They are pretty nice."

Jump at the pump

Though ridership has increased in the county since the gas spike, folks like the Lewises can always find a seat- a sign that there's room for many more who continue to commute via car.

Vic Kamhi, the director of transit programs for the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC), said figures do show a clear-cut jump in ridership.

"In the first three months of this year we've seen a 17 percent increase in our intercity bus service," Kamhi said.

"We've had a significant increase in people calling and asking for schedules and information on how to ride the bus," he said.

The VISTA system operates seven intercity routes, including VISTA East, which connects Thousand Oaks, Moorpark and Simi. Commuters can't beat the $1 standard fare. Seniors and disabled persons ride for half price and children are free with a paying passenger.

Debbie Solomon, Simi's director of community services, said the city's fixed-route transit has also seen gradual increases since January.

"The largest increase was in the month of April, which showed a 12 percent increase over last year," she said.

Simi's transit system has four bus routes serving approximately 40,000 passengers a month. Information on routes and fares can be found on the city website.

Riding the rails

Another option is traveling by train. Metrolink has seen a substantial increase in ridership on all lines, particularly in June, said spokesperson Denise Tyrrell. On June 16 there was a 16 percent increase in ridership compared to the same day last year.

"Dramatic increases of this nature from one day to the next are not usual for us," Tyrrell said. "We weren't seeing a huge jump, but then gas hit $4 a gallon in June and that's when we started seeing the (daily) numbers increase."

The Ventura County line's ridership was down in May, but Tyrrell expects the June report to reflect the effect of gas prices.

"Our passengers are noticing more crowded trains," she said.

Tyrrell said she is astonished by the level of interest in Metrolink.

"It's greater than we've ever seen before and we can only attribute it to gas prices because there's no other reason," she said.

Prepared for increase

Increased ridership begs the question: Is public transit prepared to handle all the new riders? Chuck Perkins, Simi Transit's deputy director, said yes, explaining that a supplementary bus would be added if buses become overcrowded.

"We would deal with it on a case-by-case basis," he said. "We would increase our fleet to meet the demand."

Buses are carrying more people during peak hours than in the past, but they are not yet at capacity. However, the number of passengers boarding buses with their bicycles has increased- creating a separate problem as each bus only has two bike racks.

"We are at a point where we are having to turn people away and they are having to wait for the next bus," Perkins said.

Metrolink also has plans to accommodate its Southern California riders, which has reached a weekly average of 50,000.

"We are looking for lease equipment that will meet Metrolink specifications so we can ease crowding on trains," Tyrrell said. "But this is a nationwide trend, so it is a little more difficult to find equipment than in the past."

Tyrrell said that if passengers moved their start times a little earlier or later, they would have a lesspacked train. Also, riders should look throughout the train for empty seats since few trains are completely full.

While ridership gains can be a double-edged sword, Tyrrell sees it as more of a blessing than a curse.

"We want our passengers to be comfortable but we are pretty excited by this new interest," she said. "If people try transit, they may find that it's a good fit for their life."

Solomon agreed that there are many benefits to riding transit, be it by bus or train.

"It's fun, it's good for the environment and it saves you money," she said. "And there's not a better time to give it a try than right now."