Record high gas prices are forcing more people to ditch their cars and hitch a ride. The number of people riding the bus in Sioux Falls is up considerably over just one month ago. 

As many as 200 new riders are taking the bus.  Jamie Green is one of them. She recently got rid of her car and had been catching rides with friends, but that got to be spendy as gas prices went up. 

"Friends ask for $5 just for a ride, not even five minutes long," Green said. 

“I think as long as prices stay high, you'll see the numbers up on the bus and maybe even increase," said Sioux Falls Transit general manager John Nardini. 

Transit officials saw the numbers rise last year, too, as gas prices went up to just over $3 a gallon. But this year, the increase is sharper. The average in South Dakota now sits at about $3.31 a gallon. 

"We had people actually call us and say, 'I've had enough. How do I ride the bus? I'm parking my car at least part of the time,'" said Nardini. 

Green says it's better that she doesn't have a car. 

"I know it costs $40 to $50 dollars to fill a gas tank. I'm kind of glad I don't have the responsibility to pay that." 

Nardini said, "For $25 a month, you can have unlimited rides on the bus. You can't buy one tank of gas for that. It's a good bargain."

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