Oregon Public Broadcasting

Salem relaunched its 'Cherriots' bus system Tuesday with new routes and schedules.

But the state capitol wasn't the only city celebrating its mass transit. Bend's three-year old bus system welcomed its one-millionth rider.

Central Oregon correspondent Ethan Lindsey reports.

Sintha Towsend got on a Number 3 bus in northwest Bend, headed out to run some errands.  The 26-year-old didn’t get to her intended destination, instead corralled into a press conference where she was celebrated as the city’s one-millionth rider.

Sintha Towsend: “It’s really great, especially for people who don’t have cars or don’t want to spend the gas money.”

Critics point out that one million riders in three years nets out to fewer than 1000 rides per day.

The system got off to a bad start when its initial buses, purchased used, broke down.

Mayor Kathie Eckman says she initially questioned Bend Area Transit.

Kathie Eckman: “Those buses are gone, and we have new good ones here now and I’m very encouraged by the number of people using it.”

Bend voters rejected a property tax last year to fund the system. Eckman says she hopes another vote, maybe next year, will turn out differently.