Does Anyone Actually Ride The Bus In New Bedford and Fall River?

We are so used to seeing the SRTA buses on our streets and highways, we hardly even notice them.    Occasionally we may be stopped next to one, and if we look closely at the bus we always notice the same thing.  No passengers.  These buses run daily from Fairhaven to Downtown New Bedford, Dartmouth, Acushnet, Westport and Fall River.  Adults fares are as low as $1.25.  With high gas prices and parking issues in some places, it would seem that riding a SRTA bus would be more popular.  But the other afternoon I saw two of the buses within a block of each other, and neither had any passengers.

They continue to run year after year.    How do do it?  How do they fix it?   Maybe it doesn't need fixing.  Perhaps SRTA is providing a service for those who do occasionally need public transportation.  When all is said and done, I hope to see those buses for years to come, and hopefully see some smiling faces looking out of those now empty windows.