City: 60,411 Wichitans rode buses during Free Fares Week

More than 60,000 people chose to use the Wichita transit system last week as part of its Free Fare Week promotion, according to a news release from the city.

The 60,411 rides given were a 3 percent increase over the city’s Free Fares Week promotion in 2014. They are also a 64 percent increase over a standard week in June, according to the release.

The week was designed not only to promote Wichita’s transit options but also to cut down on pollutants from vehicles, the release said. An estimated 650 pounds of nitrogen oxides and 348 pounds of volatile organic compounds – which contribute to ozone production – were avoided as a result of the bus rides, the release said.

Whenever the city has an Ozone Alert Day this summer, bus fares will be free. The public can sign up for Ozone Alert Day e-mail notifications by visiting www.wichita.gov/ozone.

This story was originally published June 25, 2015 at 8:33 PM with the headline "City: 60,411 Wichitans rode buses during Free Fares Week."