By the numbers
Bloomington Transit Ridership

2004 — 2,057,509

2005 — 2,183,729

2006 — 2,401,257

2007 — 2,605,490

2008 — 2,861,510

2009 — 3,056,703

2010 — 3,265,274

2011 — 3,411,327

2012 — 3,428,829

2013 — 3,485,063

2014  — 3,539,581
It’s been a decade of growth for Bloomington Transit. 

In 2004, ridership numbers hovered just above 2 million, and the public bus service finished 2014 with 3.54 million riders — a 72 percent increase and a new record high. It’s a 2 percent increase from 2013 ridership numbers. 

“We’ve had 10 consecutive years of ridership increases now,” said Bloomington Transit General Manager Lew May. “We’ve had a lot of success here in Bloomington with public transportation. ... The important thing is, people are using the service year after year.”

May attributed the growth to several factors, including expanding bus routes to include other areas of the city and additional hours of service, improving facilities, introducing new technology such as the bus tracker smartphone app and realizing an increase in Indiana University enrollment. IU students account for 70 percent of Bloomington Transit’s ridership, and enrollment has increased 23 percent from 2004 to 2014.

“All of these factors combined, I think, have led to the growth in ridership,” May said.

May said the new $9 million Downtown Transit Center, which opened in August, has helped improve access to buses and convenience for riders, but it’s too soon to tell exactly what impact it’s had. The facility offers WiFi, public restrooms, an air-conditioned lobby, indoor and outdoor seating, bike racks and lockers and screens displaying bus locations and arrival times.
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