DesotoExplorer.com

In the past three months, ridership on the De Soto FlexRide has skyrocketed as gas prices have risen to flirt with the $4 a gallon mark.

Johnson County Transit planning manager Cody Christensen said the two-day-a-week local system had 161 riders had in June, nearly double the 88 recorded in the same month a year earlier.

Not surprisingly, the spike in riders coincides with the sharp rise in gas prices with the number of monthly riders topping in April and duplicating that feat in May. The two months were the most in the program since September and October 2006, its second and third full months of operation.

"We're seeing higher ridership on all routes, but it's a little bit more significant on the De Soto system," Christensen said.

De Soto's FlexRide was designed as both a fixed route with scheduled stops in Clearview City and various places in De Soto, including the Senior Center, but with the flexibility to provide door-to-door service for those giving advanced notice.

From the start, FlexRide has also provided De Soto Residents with one-day-a-week rides to west Shawnee stores in Monticello and Shawnee.

The increased popularity of the De Soto route also came after a weekly Wedneday route to Olathe near Kansas Highway 7 and Santa Fe Avenue was added to augment the Tuesday trip to west Shawnee.

"Certainly, some of the changes might have contributed to the increased numbers," Christensen said.

For years, Johnson County struggled to attract riders to is bus system, but there has been a change of mindset with the surge in gas prices, Christensen said.

said.

"Definitely as individual pocketbooks are getting slimmer because of higher gas prices, there has be a renewed interest in transit," he said. "Half or our morning trips are now standing room only. They are mostly commuter trips that go into downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Ridership is definitely there now.

The county has one leg up on the demand, having adopted a five-year transit strategic plan adopted in 2007. Realization of the plan would bring scheduled fixed-route service to De Soto.

But as for now, FlexRide continues to provide a vital service in De Soto to seniors, and those without vehicles or mobility concerns.

Reservations for FlexRide at-home pickup can be made by calling (913) 397-7300. A schedule of fixed stops can be viewed at thejo.com.

For more on De Soto FlexRide, see the July 24 issue of The De Soto Explorer.