Before last month, the Port Authority had not made this request in a long time:

"All customers are asked to move to the back of the vehicle, if practical, when seating is not available. This will allow the maximum number of standees on all trips."

		Graphic: Ridership on the rise

With high gasoline prices making mass transit more attractive, weekday ridership on buses, trolleys, the Monongahela Incline and the ACCESS paratransit system rose by 5.6 percent last month over September 2004, the authority said yesterday.

It was the largest gain in 41 months and one of the largest here since the national fuel crises of the 1970s.

"More people are realizing the cost-efficiency of public transportation," Dennis Veraldi, Port Authority acting chief executive officer, said in a statement.

The numbers spoke for themselves:

Average weekday ridership on the South Hills light rail system, an alternative for multiple-car suburban families, went up the most -- 11.4 percent, to 26,616 a day.

Average weekday ridership on buses increased by 5.1 percent, to 225,088 a day, although the transit agency has pared or consolidated routes in recent years to cut operating costs.

Weekly transit pass sales that rose by 3 percent in August rose 12 percent last month.

Monthly pass sales and "cash drops" from riders paying cash fares edged up by 2 percent and 6 percent, respectively.

"The sales numbers are signs that people are testing the waters" of public transit, Port Authority spokeswoman Judi McNeil said. "Clearly, when they ride the first couple of times, they're paying cash and using weekly passes."

Over the Oct. 1-2 weekend, when the authority unveiled Trip Planner, a 24-hour online service to make it easier for people to find information about buses and trolleys, the Web page received more than 800 hits. (Reach it via www.ridegold.com.)

Most of the 64 park-n-ride lots with a total of 15,000 spaces have been getting more vehicles and, depending on location, have exceeded capacity.

"The park-n-ride lots are just packed," Ms. McNeil said. "Operators are seeing lots of new faces. We're getting lots of calls and requests for information."

The authority attributes the trend to sustained high gasoline prices, which are almost double what they were a year ago. It also said Pittsburgh's decision to raise the parking tax to 50 percent has caused people to switch.

"Gas prices usually spiked for a couple of weeks and then went back down, so it didn't help us," Ms. McNeil said. "People are just beginning to realize this is no spike. Prices are high and are likely to stay that way."

The authority has been trying to capitalize with a marketing promotion, "For gas relief, take the bus or T." Its literature claims that with current gas prices, a commuter using 20 gallons a week and parking Downtown for $10 a day spends about $435 a month -- $360 more than the cost of a monthly Zone 2 pass for unlimited rides from areas beyond an 8-mile radius of Downtown.

Mr. Veraldi said he issued the call for people to move to the rear of buses and trolleys when seating is not available to accommodate the maximum number of riders already jamming vehicles at rush hour on the busiest routes.

He said the Port Authority can't do more given its finances, temporarily buoyed by $45 million in federal highway money provided by Gov. Ed Rendell as an emergency subsidy.

One rider, Arnold Becker of Green Tree, said yesterday that he has noticed his 36A bus fuller than usual in recent months. But he also noted that rush-hour traffic doesn't seem to be easing as a result.

"The buses may be filled with new riders, but they could be crowded because Port Authority is cutting service runs," said Mr. Becker.

Margot Lynn and Erin Ellrod, standing outside the Kossman Building on Stanwix Street, grumbled about how their bus is never on time. But both said they prefer the door-to-door service they get riding the bus to stop-and-jerk traffic their colleagues always seem to be complaining of at work.

"It's way too much for gas and parking," added Ms. Lynn.