EAU CLAIRE (WEAU) With gas costing more than $4 a gallon. The Eau Claire Transit Department says more people are jumping on the bus.

“A lot has to do with fuel prices. We saw a 15% increase in January, a 10% increase in February and around an 8% increase in March,” said Mike Branco, the director of the Eau Claire Transit System.

Branco told WEAU 13 News on Tuesday that the ECT is offering new deals to attract drivers feeling the pain at the pump and college students.

“I for one am not driving right now because of gas prices. I know a lot of people who do take the bus and it’s actually helped them a lot with money and stuff,” said Nicole Dean, a local college student.

Janet Vellieux said she takes an ECT bus to save her family gas money and so her husband can drive to work.

“Much more often we take the bus and live on the food pantry instead of buying groceries. It takes my husband a whole paycheck to go to work, back and forth,” Vellieux said.

As gas prices increase, the ECT predicts 2011 will be a record year with more than one million riders.

If you’re interested in catching the bus in your neighborhood, click on the link below.