FARING NOT SO WELL: Looking for signs...

FARING NOT SO WELL: Looking for signs of the recession? Try bus ridership. It had been skyrocketing in Orange County--until now. New projections show a drop for the first time. Chapman University’s James Doti, a county transportation consultant, blames it on fewer people going to work. “For every 1% gain in employment, bus ridership goes up 1.27%,” he says. Doti predicts it will take at least two years to get back to last year’s level.

O.C. Bus Riders

The number of passenger trips on county buses the past six fiscal years (in millions of passengers).

‘87: 35.0

‘88: 40.1

‘89: 46.3

‘90: 48.5

‘91: 45.9*

* Projected

Source: O.C. Transportation District