"It’s not a disaster but also not a surprise," said Kenneth Stanley, Oahu Transit Services’ vice president for operations, planning and marketing.

Ridership was about 160,000 on the first day back, a drop of 40,000 to 50,000 people for a normal weekday at this time of year, said Stanley.

Stanley said he is optimistic that ridership numbers will increase. OTS plans to release its next ridership count on Friday.

Nearly 400 buses in the OTS fleet rolled out as scheduled yesterday morning with no major mechanical problems; drivers reported traffic on the roads was relatively light in the morning, Stanley said.

"I didn’t hear of any major snafus," Stanley said.

Bus rides are free through Friday. "If they start with us when it’s free, they’ll probably just stay with us," Stanley said.

"It’s terrific," said bus driver Alan Nohara, as he set his bus in motion on the first day back yesterday. "Everybody’s happy."

Nohara shook hands with 77-year-old bus rider Robert Lee, a regular on his route.

"I’m very happy they’re back working," Lee said. "Absolutely, I missed them. I think we all did."

Members of the Hawai'i Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996 ratified a new contract Saturday, clearing the way for service to resume. The city’s 1,300 bus workers had gone on strike Aug. 26.

"I thought it would be really busy, considering the free bus rides," said Philip Balmores, as he waited for his regular bus at Kapi'olani Boulevard and Isenberg Street.

He looked around at the five people waiting. "I guess not," he said.

Shawn Ah Sing-Bombard, a student at Honolulu Community College, said he was relieved that the buses were running. The strike was a trying experience.

"I have no alternate form of transportation, so I have to ride the bus," she said. "During the strike, I had to rely on the mercy of friends and family. But honestly, if I had a car right now, I would be driving."

At Alapa'i Street, carpenter Mark Alan was waiting for a bus ride to the Windward side. He was taking his bike with him, a bike that someone bequeathed to him as a bailout so he could get to work.

"I think it’s great the mayor made it free the first week," Alan said.

"I think it will bring a lot more people back to the bus.

"Some people will end up sticking with that alternate transportation," he added.

"Buses are convenient and they’re economical, but they’re also troublesome, all the time waiting for them to come."

University of Hawai'i student Sereny Cholymay, 20, lives close enough to walk to school, but said for longer trips, she and her mother relied on taxis — $8 to get to choir practice near Thomas Square, $11 or $12 to get to Kalihi.

Cholymay found herself staying home far more often than she would have otherwise.

"I’m so glad we have the bus again," she said.