Cincinnati's Metro ridership up

The Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority's Metro provided about 1.2 million bus rides in February, a 5 percent increase over February 2010, announced the Cincinnati-based agency. Metro's January ridership numbers were also higher than January 2010 and above projected ridership for 2011.

"We believe Metro's ridership increase is a response to the high gas prices," said Metro's CEO Terry Garcia Crews. "Metro serves the community by providing a money-saving alternative. As commuters realize how much they can save by choosing public transportation, Metro expects ridership to increase even more."

Metro is a non-profit, tax-funded public service of SORTA, providing about 17 million rides per year. Metro provides fixed-route and paratransit services in Greater Cincinnati.