Riders on the Milwaukee County Transit System have been making use of the bike racks installed on buses in June, but not in overwhelming numbers.

Transit drivers counted 709 bikes racked on their buses in August and 1,181 in September, covering the first two months of an informal tally.

The usage so far falls far short of projections offered by advocates who lobbied for the racks in a years-long battle. Estimates provided during the debate put the use at more than 200,000 riders annually, a figure developed from the experience in other cities.

At the current pace, the total for the year would be 14,000.

The bikes loaded on buses so far, while small in number, have satisfied bus system officials who see a positive start to a new service.

“We’re quite pleased with the people using them right away,” said Jacqueline Janz, MCT marketing director.

She also said the numbers undercount the use to some extent, since drivers may neglect to keep count during busy times.

To read full article follow the link below: