Though some students have complained that Centre Area Transit Authority (CATA) buses are more crowded this year, the company is reporting an overall decrease in on-campus riders.

In the past year, the number of riders on the Blue Loop has decreased by 7.9 percent, and on the Red Link the number has decreased by 15.6 percent. However, the number of riders on the White Loop has increased by 4.6 percent, while the number riding on the Green Link has increased by 1.6 percent.

Eric Bernier, CATA service development manager, said he believes there are pronounced peaks in rider numbers, but overall there are fewer riders.

"More students seem to be trying to ride at the same time," Bernier said.

While CATA continues to address overloaded buses, students could avoid peak times by coming to the bus stop slightly earlier or later, Bernier said.

He said variables such as traffic and weather are contributing factors to crowded buses, but keeping buses evenly dispersed can help eliminate overloading.

"If we have our buses out there running and they're nicely spaced, you'd be surprised how few overloads we have," Bernier said.

Earlier this semester, problems were reported at the East Halls bus stop, where some said students were pushing and fighting to get on the late-night buses.

Bernier said he believes that over time, the number of riders has decreased as CATA continues to merge stops together.

"We used to have loop stops every block on campus, and that made it very convenient to ride the bus only one or two blocks," Bernier said.

But now, with bus stops more spread out, students are more likely to walk instead of taking the bus, he said.

Bernier said he believes a combination of factors contribute to whether a student rides the bus or walks, including weather, class time and classroom proximity.

"In my heart of hearts I'd like to think that one of the contributing factors is that more folks are walking instead of riding the bus for those short trips," Bernier said.

Bernier said he doesn't believe the lengthening of the Blue Loop route has greatly affected the number of riders. This year, the Blue Loop began to run on Porter Road and Hastings Road, which adds a minute or two to the route. This extra minute has created a buildup of students at bus stops and helps to create an overload, Bernier said.

Some students who take the bus said they have not noticed a decrease in ridership.

"I haven't seen any uncrowded buses," Katelyn Stark (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said. "It seems to be busy."

One student said she believes freshmen are primarily to blame.

"It's always full because of the stupid freshmen," Jena Horst (junior-animal science) said.

Other students avoid the bus at all costs.

"I don't ride the bus because I hate crowded places, and I hate waiting," Julia Tryon (junior-food science) said.