MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) — High gas prices may be prompting more people to ride the bus.

Metro Transit is seeing an increase in riders on its trains and buses and believes higher gas prices may be a big reason.

So far this year, it’s reporting 300,000 more rides than during the same period last year.

“In particular, express service from suburban park and rides to the core employment areas in downtown and U of M area,” said Metro Transit spokesman John Siqveland.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO’s Steve Murphy Reports

Siqveland says surveys show that commuters who try trains and buses when gas prices go up tend to stick with public transit down the road.