Public transit users have the entire city at their feet today — for free.

In honor of Dump the Pump day, a national event designed to promote awareness of public transit systems, The Ride, St. Joseph’s public transit system, is offering transit service without the fares.

“We’re trying to promote the new ridership by getting people on the bus free for that one day and just getting them to try transit,” said Kurt Janicek, resident transit manager. “I think it’s a viable alternative to the $4-a-gallon gas.”

Americans drove 1.4 billion fewer highway miles in April 2008 than April 2007, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. April was the sixth month in a row of declining vehicle miles traveled, while the number of people riding transit systems has increased.

In addition to fare-free rides, St. Joseph Transit also is offering discounts today on monthly passes and ticket books. A full fare for The Ride normally is $1, and route deviations cost an additional 50 cents.

St. Joseph public transit consists of a fleet of 16 buses that run six days a week on fixed routes. Buses run from 5:15 a.m. to 9:15 p.m. Because the system also includes curbside pickup, Mr. Janicek said it qualifies as a para-transit service for people with disabilities.

“Those fixed routes are designed in such a way that if anyone calls that is not on the bus route ... they can call us up and we will come to the curb near their home and pick them up for an additional 50 cents,” he said.

Routes and scheduled stops are laid out on maps distributed by St. Joseph Transit. Maps and other information are available at www.stjoemo.info/publicworks/transit_faqs.cfm.

“Ninety-six percent of transit passengers are transit dependent,” Mr. Janicek said.

Across the country, mass transit systems are seeing increased ridership because of high gas prices. Herzog transit systems, based in St. Joseph, operates public transportation systems in larger cities such as San Diego and Dallas.

“All of these have significantly higher ridership in the last year and some of them actually are nearing capacity for the system because of the higher gas prices and congested streets and freeways,” said Joe Kneib, vice president of market development for Herzog transit services.

Among other advantages of public transit Mr. Kneib listed are the low cost, efficiency and predictable schedule.

Public transit generally is available at a low price because of alternate forms of funding. The total budget for St. Joseph Transit is $4.3 million, a large chunk of which comes from a local sales tax and a utility fee.

Mike Right, vice president of public affairs for AAA Missouri, said subsidizing public transit systems is unavoidable.

“It’s very common among transit agencies,” he said. “They can’t generate enough revenue out of the fare-box to offset their expenses.”

Mr. Right also reported an increase in the use of public transit nationwide.

“This is one of the ways that folks have told us that they are dealing with the extraordinarily high price of energy,” he said. “Using other forms of transportation is another way of reducing energy consumption.”