CyRide Fares to Increase Jan. 1 for Ames Riders

Hopefully Santa left some extra change in the stockings of CyRiders who pay their fare with cash.

Ames municipal bus service's cash fare will increase to $1.25 per ride beginning Jan. 1.

The 25-percent increase is the service's first since 2004.

The increase was necessary because the transit board that manages the service the price of fuel when finalizing this year's budget. A property insurance premium also increased unexpectedly because of flooding in 2010. Both increases left the trustees with a $250,000 shortfall.

CyRide is paid for through the City of Ames, Iowa State University and the university's Government of the Student Body.

About 90 percent of CyRiders are students who pay to ride through student fees. Their share of the increase will come from a student fund.

Monthly passes will increase from $35 to $40. Full fare ticket books will increase from $10 to $12. Find more fare increases here. People who receive Medicare and Medicaid would be eligible for reduced fare passes.

During a September people seemed more opposed to cuts in services than a price increase.

But in August, rider Amber Murray, 22, who rides the bus frequently,  any type of increase would add up.

“In the long run it'll get expensive,” Murray said.