Johnson, who lives in Gainesville, attends North Hall High School and uses the now one-year-old Hall Area Transit system as a way to get to school.
"I think it's great that we have something like this. I can ride this to where I can catch a bus to school without having to have someone drive me around," Johnson said.
The Red Rabbit is celebrating its first anniversary Tuesday and is offering free rides all day for its riders.
'Jump' route driver Kim Hunter said she feels the fledging system is taking roots.
"The passenger count has gone up every month as the word gets around. I think we're doing very well," Hunter said.
Officials said earlier this month that ridership over the past year has exceeded projections.
During that time, they added a shuttle service to the Gainesville College-Lanier Technical College area and are discussing linking with Gwinnett County's new express bus system to Atlanta.
Joel Potts and Bobby Mintz work at Rehabilitation Industry of Northeast Georgia and use the system to get to work.
"I don't have to do much to get to work now," Potts said. "It's nice not to have to drive. A lot of people at our business use Red Rabbit to get to work."
Hunter said the system is looking to add another rout and the system is soon to add three new buses to go to 30-minute stops.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/1/199838