RACINE – Contrary to the common belief that “no one rides the bus,” RYDE Racine‘s data tells a different story. In 2024, the transit system provided 1,053,361 rides, marking a 49% increase since 2021, helping residents from across the area get to work, school, and healthcare appointments. “The idea that ‘no one rides the bus’ just isn’t true,” said Trevor Jung, transit and mobility director for the City of Racine. “We’re providing over a million rides a year—people depend on this service to get to work, school, the doctor, and more.”
Racine bus expands access to employment
Public transit connects workers to job opportunities, especially at or outside the city limits such as the Stephen Olsen Industrial Park on the city’s far south side or the Renaissance Business Park in Sturtevant.
At the request of area employers such as Summit Packaging and Aurora Medical Center near I-94 in Mount Pleasant, RYDE Racine added or adjusted transit stops to ensure employees could more easily access their workplaces. Kyle Kienia, a plant manager from Summit Packaging, said the collaboration began nearly two years ago during the company’s 80,000-square-foot expansion project.
“There was a bus stop around the corner near Chicory Road, but it was a long walk for our employees,” Kienia said. “While Mayor Mason was on-site for our groundbreaking, we made a handshake agreement to work with RYDE Racine to get the stop closer. Once it was added directly at our facility, it changed people’s lives—just being able to get to work.”
According to Kienia, approximately 20 to 25 Summit employees use the bus regularly across various shifts, out of a workforce of around 300 people. The bus now runs nearly until 11 p.m., which aligns with Summit’s round-the-clock operations. “We’re very grateful for the City of Racine and RYDE Racine,” he added. “This has been an awesome, value-added partnership.”
The partnership reflects broader trends in the local workforce. A 2023 joint survey from RYDE Racine and the Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC) revealed that 64% of Racine employers believe more robust public transit helps attract and retain employees, and 60% said their workforce relies on public transit to get to work. “Public transportation is more than a service; it’s a gateway to the middle class and provides freedom to move throughout one’s community,” said Jung.
Credit: Heather Asiyanbi I RYDE Racine: 49% surge in ridership signals comeback public transit I April 4, 2025