CyRide

{{Short description|Transit authority of Ames, Iowa, operated by Iowa State University}} {{Infobox bus company | name = | logo = CyRideLogo.png | logo_size = | image = CyRide 7158.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = CyRide #7158, a 2022 Nova Bus LFSe+ electric bus | parent = | founded = 1976 | headquarters = 601 N. University Boulevard<br>Ames, IA 50014 | service_area = {{unbulleted list|Ames, Iowa|Iowa State University}} | service_type = Bus service | alliance = | routes = 14 | destinations = | stops = 362<ref>{{cite web |title=National Transit Map Stops |url=https://geodata.bts.gov/datasets/usdot::national-transit-map-stops/explore?location=42.038485%2C-93.615429%2C12.00 |publisher=Bureau of Transportation Statistics |access-date=25 June 2023}}</ref> | hubs = | stations = | fleet = 88 (80 buses and 8 cutaways) | ridership = 12,919 (FY2024)<ref>{{cite web |title=FY 24 YearEnd Operations |url=https://www.cyride.com/home/showpublisheddocument/10411/638597420650830000 |website=CyRide |access-date=2 April 2025}}</ref> | annual_ridership= 4.72 million (FY2024) | fuel_type = Diesel, Hybrid, Electric, Gasoline | operator = | ceo = | website = {{official url}} }}

'''CyRide''' is the public transit operator in Ames, Iowa, serving Iowa State University. CyRide services are operated by the city of Ames in partnership with the university, serving the university community and the general public. CyRide's namesake is Cy the Cardinal, the mascot of the Iowa State Cyclones athletic teams.

In 2024, CyRide provided over 4.7 million rides, making it the most-used public transit system in the state of Iowa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 Annual Agency Profile - Ames Transit Agency (NTD ID 70041) |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/sites/fta.dot.gov/files/transit_agency_profile_doc/2023/70041.pdf |access-date=2025-01-03 |work=Federal Transit Administration}}</ref> Additionally, CyRide consistently ranks as one of the most productive transit agencies in the United States, as measured by annual passenger trips per resident in its service area.<ref name="Sequeira2020" />

CyRide was founded in 1976 as a department of the city of Ames. Service to the Iowa State University campus began in 1979, and the '''Ames Transit Agency''' was established in 1981 as a permanent governing body for the service. Fares were made free for Iowa State University students in 2002. CyRide services are funded by Iowa State University student fees and local, state, and federal tax funds.

==History== From the 1860s until the early 1890 college students were taxied to and from campus by a horse-drawn carriage that was operated by brothers, Nichols and Maxwell Livery. The town committee published a report on November 1, 1890 stating that there would be a benefit to create a railroad to replace the current system.<ref name="Ames & College Railway Dinkey">{{Cite web |title=Ames & College Railway Dinkey |url=http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/dinkey/dinkey_photos.htm |access-date=February 20, 2026 |website=www.ameshistoricalsociety.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051220021156/http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/dinkey/dinkey_photos.htm|archive-date=December 20, 2005}}</ref>

On July 4, 1892, the rail line, named the ''Dinkey'' (in reference to the size of the engine) departed from its barn on the East end of 5th Street, for its first {{convert|2|mi|km|adj=on}} trip to the Iowa State University campus.<ref name="Ames & College Railway Dinkey" /> The Dinkey ran on 30 lb/yd (15 kg/m) rail; that is small compared to the 136 lb/yd (67 kg/m) rail that is used today. The Dinkey had three passenger cars that were often at maximum capacity because of the growing population of the city.

In 1929, the Dinkey was replaced by a bus system that transported passengers to and from the Iowa State University.<ref>[http://www.ameshistoricalsociety.org/exhibits/dinkey/dinkey_timeline.htm Dinkey Timeline]</ref> In 1976 all operating buses were combined and CyRide was started as a city department.

In 1981 Bob Bourne was hired as the director of CyRide. He brought CyRide from a 12-bus, 3-route system to a 65-bus, 11-route system in his 25 years of employment at CyRide.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bournetransit.com/about.html |title=Bob Bourne, Director of CyRide for 25 years |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208052914/http://www.bournetransit.com/about.html |archive-date=December 8, 2008 }}</ref>

CyRide has considered a "fare-free" system for all Ames residents. In 2008, CyRide received 270,000 dollars from paid fares, a small part of the annual revenue.<ref name="isd_20080213">{{citation |last=Fergusen |first=Kyle |title=CyRide considers opening doors to all |newspaper=Iowa State Daily |date=February 18, 2008 |url=http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2008/02/13/news/20080213-archive2.txt |access-date=March 8, 2010 }}</ref> This option was not pursued; fares are collected in 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cyride.com/fares/fares |title=CyRide Fares |access-date=December 5, 2023}}</ref> Operating revenues are from many sources, the most significant being the Government of the Student Body of Iowa State University and the university itself. Other sources include the city of Ames and Iowa DOT, and the Federal Transit Administration (FTA).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cyride.com/home/showpublisheddocument/10155/637704977893370000 |title=CyRide Statistics, Revenue Sources FY2021 and FY2022 |access-date=December 5, 2023 }}</ref> Fares are a small share of total annual revenues, about 2%, and continue to be collected.

In 2009 CyRide was one of 42 applicants to receive a TIGER grant through the Federal Transit Administration. This allowed them to purchase 12 new hybrid buses at a cost of $6 million. The buses—dubbed 'Cybrids'—have an estimated 6 mpg. The fleet previously averaged about 4.5 mpg fuel efficiency.<ref name="isd_20100110">{{citation |last=Schleuter |first=Sara |title=CyRide goes green with hybrid buses |newspaper=Iowa State Daily |date=2010-01-10 |url=http://www.iowastatedaily.com/articles/2010/01/26/news/local_news/doc4b5e89e8e43ea720016897.txt |access-date=2010-03-08 }}</ref>

In 2019, Ames ranked third in the US for transit rides per capita, a measure of the importance of the service to the city, and of the high quality of service delivered. “Entering the new decade, CyRide ranked third in the nation in ridership per capita, standing at 110.2 rides per capita, trailing only New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority and San Francisco’s Municipal Transportation Agency.”<ref name=Sequeira2020>{{cite news |url=https://www.amestrib.com/story/news/2020/02/14/adaptability-key-for-cyride-in/1703831007/ |title=Adaptability, the key for CyRide in wake of projected ridership decline |first=Robbie |last=Sequeira |newspaper=Ames Tribune |date=February 14, 2020 |access-date=December 5, 2023 }}</ref> The anticipated decline in ridership in early 2020 reflects ISU’s expectation of a decline in student enrollment over the next five or ten years. Students are a major part of the ridership. CyRide gains extra financial support from FTA based on its high quality of operation and service as shown in specific service quality measures.<ref name=Sequeira2020 />

==Routes== {| class=wikitable !Route number !Route !Starting Terminal !Ending Terminal !Major Streets traveled |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#FF0000" align="center" |1 |<div id=Red West>Red West<ref name="routes">[http://www.cyride.com/index.aspx?page=1212 Cyride.com: Today's Routes]</ref></div> |North Grand Mall |Ames Middle School | rowspan="2" |Mortensen Rd, Lincoln Way, Duff Ave |- |<div id=Red East>Red East<ref name="routes"/></div> |Ames Middle School |North Grand Mall |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#229954" align="center" |2 |<div id=Green West>Green West<ref name="routes"/></div> |North Grand Mall |Ontario St & California Ave | rowspan="2" |Ontario St, Hyland Ave, 6th St, Grand Ave |- |<div id=Green East>Green East<ref name="routes"/></div> |Ontario St & California Ave |North Grand Mall |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#0000FF" align="center" |3 |<div id=Blue Campus>Blue Campus<ref name="routes"/></div> |S. 5th St |Bessey Hall | rowspan="2" |S. 4th St, Beach Ave, Lincoln Way, Osborn Dr |- |<div id=Blue S. 5th St>Blue S. 5th St<ref name="routes"/></div> |Bessey Hall |S. 5th St |- |valign=middle bgcolor=#FFFF00 align=center|5 |<div id=Yellow>Yellow<ref name="routes"/></div> |City Hall |City Hall |South Duff Ave, Lincoln Way |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#996633" align="center" |6 |<div id=Brown South>Brown South<ref name="routes"/></div> |North Grand Mall |ISU Research Park | rowspan="2" |Bloomington Rd, Stange Rd, University Blvd<br>Mortensen Pkwy, Osborn Dr |- |<div id=Brown North>Brown North<ref name="routes"/></div> |ISU Research Park |North Grand Mall |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#8e44ad" align="center" |7 |<div id=Purple Student Services>Purple Student Services<ref name="routes"/></div> |Alcott Ave |Student Services | rowspan="2" |Todd Dr, Lincoln Way, Union Dr |- |<div id=Purple Alcott>Purple Alcott<ref name="routes"/></div> |Student Services |Alcott Ave |- |valign=middle bgcolor=#01B9CD align=center|8 |<div id=Aqua>Aqua (''Summer only'')<ref name="routes"/></div> |City Hall |City Hall |Grand Ave, 13th St, Furman Aquatic Center |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#8E4585" align="center" |9 |<div id=Plum Campus>Plum Campus<ref name="routes"/></div> |Buckeye and S. 16th |Kildee Hall | rowspan="2" |S. 16th St, S. Duff Ave, Lincoln Way, Osborn Dr |- |<div id=Plum Buckeye>Plum Buckeye<ref name="routes"/></div> |Kildee Hall |Buckeye and S. 16th |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#E74C3C" align="center" |11 |<div id=Cherry>Cherry West<ref name="routes"/></div> |Student Services |West Mortensen Rd | rowspan="2" |Union Dr, Lincoln Way, South Dakota Ave, Mortensen Rd |- |<div id=Cherry>Cherry East<ref name="routes"/></div> |West Mortensen Rd |Student Services |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#d7bde2" align="center" |12 |<div id=Lilac>Lilac West<ref name="routes"/></div> |Student Services |Dickenson Ave | rowspan="2" |Union Dr, State Ave, Mortensen Rd |- |<div id=Lilac>Lilac East<ref name="routes"/></div> |Dickenson Ave |Student Services |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#f5cba7" align="center" |14 |<div id=Peach>Peach South<ref name="routes"/></div> |North Grand Mall |Kildee Hall | rowspan="2" |24th St, Stange Rd, Osborn Dr |- |<div id=Peach>Peach North<ref name="routes"/></div> |Kildee Hall |North Grand Mall |- |valign=middle bgcolor=#D50000 align=center|21 |<div id=Cardinal>Cardinal<ref name="routes"/></div> |Frederiksen Court |Frederiksen Court |Stange Rd, Osborn Dr, Union Dr |- |valign=middle bgcolor=#FF9900 align=center|23 |<div id=Orange>Orange<ref name="routes"/></div> |Iowa State Center |Iowa State Center |Beach Ave, Osborn Dr, Union Dr |- | rowspan="2" valign="middle" bgcolor="#f1c40f" align="center" |25 |<div id=Gold>Gold North<ref name="routes"/></div> |Towers |40 Schilletter | rowspan="2" |Welch Ave, Osborn Dr, Stange Rd |- |<div id=Gold>Gold South<ref name="routes"/></div> |40 Schilletter |Towers |- |valign=middle bgcolor=#eaecee align=center|EASE |<div id=EASE>East Ames Service Extension<ref name="routes"/></div> |City Hall |City Hall |East Lincoln Way, Dayton Ave, E. 13th St |- |}

==Fares== ;Iowa State students thumb|right|200px|An ISU Card allows students to board any bus for free.Undergraduate students of Iowa State University are able to ride CyRide without paying the normal fare by presenting the bus driver with their Iowa State identification card.<ref name="Fares">{{cite web |title=Fares |url= https://www.cyride.com/fares/fares-cyride-2-0 |website=CyRide |access-date=5 Nov 2018}}</ref> This is necessary on all bus routes except the 21 Cardinal, 23 Orange and 25 Gold Routes which always allow passengers to travel without charge. Iowa State University charges a fee each semester to all undergraduate students for CyRide service. This student fee is paid to CyRide to subsidize the cost of operations. ;Reduced fare riders To qualify for reduced fare, riders must be a student in grades K-12, a senior citizen, or a person with a disability. The reduced Fare is US$0.50<ref name="Fares"/> for a one way trip. Multiple tickets can be purchased at a time, if a ticket book is purchased in advance. Reduced fare ticket books come in a packet of 10 which cost US$5.<ref name="Fares"/> Ticket books can be bought at local grocery stores, Ames City Hall, and CyRide headquarters.

;Full fare riders Full fare riders covers everyone else who is riding. The regular fare is US$1.00.<ref name="Fares"/> Full fare riders can also purchase multiple tickets in advance. Ticket books come in a packet of 10 which cost US$10.<ref name="Fares"/> Ticket books can also be bought at local grocery stores, Ames City Hall, and CyRide headquarters.

;Children under five Children under the age of five are free with an accompanying adult. There may be no more than three children per adult.<ref name="Fares"/>

==Additional services== ===Moonlight Express=== alt=Buses preparing to depart for Moonlight Express|thumb|Buses preparing to depart for Moonlight Express In 1984, Cyride started to operate a Friday and Saturday nights service called NightRide. The service was inadequately funded, leading to its cancellation in 1992. It returned as Moonlight Express in 1993, and has been dubbed "the drunk bus" by students.<ref name="nyt_19940828">{{citation | last=Culberson | first=Becky | title= Iowa State University : Off the Record (College Prowler)| year=2005 | url=http://www.collegeprowler.com| access-date=2008-02-23 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Slagg |first1=Tiffany |title=CyRide popular under moonlight |url=https://iowastatedaily.com/214419/gsb/cyride-popular-under-moonlight/ |access-date=14 November 2022 |work=Iowa State Daily |date=March 8, 1999}}</ref> Operating between 10:30 pm and 2:30 am, Moonlight Express replaces regular night service, instead offering door-to-door rides upon request and optimized fixed-route service.

In the time Moonlight Express has been running, there have been no drunk-driving fatalities in Ames during its hours of operation.<ref>[http://www.cyride.com/index.aspx?page=1312 Cyride Moonlight Information]</ref>

===Dial-A-Ride=== Dial-A-Ride is a door-to-door service that caters mostly to elderly and disabled persons. This service take people within ¾ mile from any fixed Cyride route. A Dial-A-Ride rides need to be scheduled the day before to ensure a spot. In 2005 Dial-A-Ride was turned over to the Heart of Iowa Regional Transit Authority (HIRTA) which is operated out of the Heartland Senior Services site in the Ames area.

==Fleet== CyRide currently operates a variety of different transit buses. Much of CyRide's fleet consists of 40-buses but there are several 62-foot articulated buses used in high-capacity service and several small buses used for lower-capacity services. The majority of CyRide's 40-foot bus fleet is manufactured by Gillig while the remaining 40-foot bus fleet is manufactured by Orion Bus Industries. CyRide maintained a few GM New Look 40-foot buses for training purposes but none currently remain on the active fleet list. The 62-foot articulated buses (as well as two 40-foot electric buses) are manufactured by Nova Bus. Much of the current CyRide fleet can be referenced in the table below.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cyride.com/about-us/fleet-information/active-fleet |title=Active Fleet |work=CyRide |access-date=December 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://jdhsmith.math.iastate.edu/term/cyrideft.htm |title=CyRide fleet list, From Hybrid To New Look |access-date=December 29, 2023 |first=J. D. H. |last=Smith |date= |work=The Terminal }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" !Manufacturer !Model !Fleet number(s) !Photo !Year !Notes |- align="center" | rowspan="11" |Gillig | rowspan="9" |Low Floor 40' |105-110 | rowspan="9" |frameless|128px<br>frameless|128px |2012 | |- align="center" |126-128 |2010 | |- align="center" |180-184 |2012 | |- align="center" |186-189<br><small>(formerly 0819-0822)</small> |2008 | |- align="center" |1111-1116 |2015 | |- align="center" |1136-1139 |2018-19 | |- align="center" |1142-1144 |2020 | |- align="center" |1145-1148 |2022 | |- align="center" |1163-1170 |2023 | |- align="center" |Low Floor HEV 40' |418-425,<br>429-432<br><small>(formerly 118-125,<br>129-132)</small> |frameless|128px |2010 | * Nicknamed "Cybrids". * Delivered in July 2010. * 423 is retired. |- align="center" |Low Floor Plus EV 40' |7173-7177 |frameless|128px |2025 | |- align="center" | rowspan="2" |Orion Bus Industries |Orion VII |501-504<br><small>(formerly 1-4)</small> |frameless|128px |2006 | * 501 is retired. |- align="center" |Orion V |9070-9077<br><small>(formerly 970-977)</small> |frameless|128px |2002 | * 9071 and 9077 are retired. |- align="center" | rowspan="4" |Nova Bus | rowspan="3" |LFS Artic |660-661 | rowspan="3" |frameless|128px |2012 | * Delivered in February 2013. |- align="center" |6101-6104 |2016 | |- align="center" |6149-6150 |2021-22 | |- align="center" |LFSe+ |7157-7158 |frameless|128px |2022 | * First electric buses in CyRide fleet. |- align="center" |New Flyer Industries |XD60 |6178-6179 |frameless|128px |2026 | |- align="center" |Ford |E-450 |3151-3156 |frameless|128px |2021 | |- align="center" |Ram<hr>New England Wheels |ProMaster<hr>Frontrunner<br>LFXLT |3161-3162 |frameless|128px |2024 | |}

==Awards== *2018 State Bus Roadeo Winner in small bus division<ref name="Roadeo 3">{{cite web |title=Iowa's Top Bus Drivers Selected at Iowa Public Transit Association's Annual Roadeo |url=https://www.iapublictransit.com/BlogRetrieve.aspx?PostID=1025130&A=SearchResult&SearchID=8289312&ObjectID=1025130&ObjectType=55 |website=Iowa Public Transit Association |access-date=14 Nov 2018}}</ref> *2017 State Bus Roadeo Winners in both large and small bus divisions<ref name="Roadeo 2">{{cite web |title=Iowa's Top Bus Drivers Selected at Iowa Public Transit Association's Annual Roadeo |url=https://www.iapublictransit.com/BlogRetrieve.aspx?PostID=976296&A=SearchResult&SearchID=8289288&ObjectID=976296&ObjectType=55 |website=Iowa Public Transit Association |access-date=14 Nov 2018}}</ref> *26 State Bus Roadeo Winners (as of June 2016) *2015 State Bus Roadeo Winner in large bus division<ref name="Roadeo 1">{{cite web |title=Iowa Public Transit Association Crowns State's Top Bus Drivers |url=https://www.iapublictransit.com/BlogRetrieve.aspx?PostID=723740&A=SearchResult&SearchID=8289312&ObjectID=723740&ObjectType=55 |website=Iowa Public Transit Association |access-date=14 Nov 2018}}</ref> *5th place in the 35' bus division at the 2007 APTA International Bus Roadeo *2nd place in the 35' bus division at the 2004 APTA International Bus Roadeo *2002 APTA Gold Safety Award Finalist *1999 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Finalist *1997 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Winner *1996 APTA AdWheels Award Winner *1995 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Winner *1993 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Finalist *1992 Public Risk Management Administration Achievement Award *1991 APTA Neil E. Goldschmidt Silver Safety Award Finalist *1989 UMTA Outstanding Public Service Award *1989 UMTA Administrator's Award<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bournetransit.com/about.html |title=Bourne Transit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208052914/http://www.bournetransit.com/about.html |archive-date=December 8, 2008 }}</ref> *1983 All America City Award

==Fixed route ridership==

The ridership and service statistics shown here are of fixed route services only and do not include demand response. Per capita statistics are based on the Ames urbanized area as reported in NTD data. Starting in 2011, 2010 census numbers replace the 2000 census numbers to calculate per capita statistics.<ref>{{cite web | title=The National Transit Database (NTD) | url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd | access-date=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:520px; margin:auto;" |+ |- ! style="width:50px"| !! style="width:100px"| Ridership !! style="width:100px"| Change !! style="width:100px"| Ridership per capita

|- !2003 |4,848,494 || n/a || 95.58 |- !2004 |4,529,451 || {{decrease}}{{0}}6.58% || 89.29 |- !2005 |4,177,180 || {{decrease}}{{0}}7.78% || 82.35 |- !2006 |4,224,428 || {{increase}}{{0}}1.13% || 83.28 |- !2007 |4,471,336 || {{increase}}{{0}}5.84% || 88.15 |- !2008 |4,737,992 || {{increase}}{{0}}5.96% || 93.4 |- !2009 |5,258,530 || {{increase}}{{0}}10.99% || 103.67 |- !2010 |5,348,981 || {{increase}}{{0}}1.72% || 105.45 |- !2011 |5,587,101 || {{increase}}{{0}}4.45% || 92.44 |- !2012 |5,774,124 || {{increase}}{{0}}3.35% || 95.54 |- !2013 |6,250,952 || {{increase}}{{0}}8.26% || 103.43 |- !2014 |6,777,675 || {{increase}}{{0}}8.43% || 112.14 |- !2015 |6,704,537 || {{decrease}}{{0}}1.08% || 110.93 |- !2016 |6,708,382 || {{increase}}{{0}}0.0% || 111 |- !2017 |6,453,494 || {{decrease}}{{0}}3.8% || 106.78 |- !2018 |6,194,467 || {{decrease}}{{0}}4.01% || 102.49 |- !2019 |5,704,328 || {{decrease}}{{0}}7.91% || 94.38 |- !2020 |2,534,349 || {{decrease}}{{0}}55.57% || 38.2 |- !2021 |2,792,048 || {{increase}}{{0}}10.17% || 51.28 |- !2022 |3,669,894 || {{increase}}{{0}}31.44% || 67.41 |- !2023 |4,142,196 || {{increase}}{{0}}12.87% || 76.08 |- !2024 |4,715,514 || {{increase}}{{0}}13.84% || 86.61 |- |}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}}

* {{Official website}} {{Iowa State University}} {{Iowa public transit}}

Category:Bus transportation in Iowa Category:Iowa State University Category:University and college bus systems Category:1976 establishments in Iowa