After a couple years of subpar ridership, the clock may be ticking on the R-Line, Raleigh’s downtown bus circulator.
Why it matters: The bus stops at Raleigh’s train station and apartment towers, connecting the city’s residents to state government offices, the convention center and hotspots for dining, drinking and shopping.
- But most Raleigh residents just don’t seem to be interested.
By the numbers: About 3,700 riders took a trip on the R-Line in February, according to the most recent snapshot provided by GoRaleigh
- That’s an increase from last year, but nowhere near its pre-pandemic peak.
- Back in 2019, the same month’s ridership was around 10,500. That’s a nearly 65% drop.
Zoom in: City transportation spokesperson Andrea Epstein says electric scooters and bikes, plus the ubiquity of Uber and Lyft, has changed things…