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More people took the bus in 2015 than the year before, but ridership remained more than 833,000 trips below the high of two years ago.

Saskatoon Transit fare revenue was about $1.3 million short of budget in 2015 as the bus system struggled to recover from the month-long lockout of transit employees in the fall of 2014.

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The shortfall in fare revenue failed to break the overall budget, however, because the department spent $1.55 million less on fuel and oil than anticipated.

Bus rides totalled 8,573,054 in 2015, up 4.4 per cent from 8,215,330 in 2014, but still the second lowest total of the last five years and well below the high of 9,406,908 in 2013.

Monthly ridership was actually lower in 2015 than in 2014 if you take into account the missing month in 2014 due to the lockout.

“It’s tough to expect an increase in ridership with the way the current system is set up,” said Sarina Gersher, a spokeswoman for Bus Riders of Saskatoon. Gersher, whose group lobbies for better transit, said more people will take the bus when they are convinced the system is “efficient, reliable and accessible.”