Despite summer being a normally slow time for Honolulu bus ridership, TheBus reported more riders this summer compared to last year.

Although ridership typically decreases by 6 to 7 percent from late May or early June until the end of August when schools and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa are back in class, ridership is up about 5.4 percent versus last year, said Roger Morton, president and general manager of Oahu Transit Services, which operates TheBus under contract with the city.

That translated to about 217,500 riders a day in June and continues a trend begun early this year when gas prices took off.

"That's been following a trend that we've had really since February where our ridership has been up 3 to 7 percent," Morton said.

Yesterday, the average cost of a gallon of unleaded gas in Honolulu was $4.37, $1.19 higher than a year ago, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report.

"I know that buses are more crowded," Morton said. "All of my staff have reported that, including bus drivers that I talk to every day."

Public schools are already back in session, but Morton said he expects another increase in ridership once the UH-Manoa fall semester begins Aug. 25.

To avoid overcrowded buses, several adjustments will be made, Morton said.

The changes will include increased capacity to the number 1 route — one of the main lines that runs on King Street from Kalihi to Kahala Mall.

Several 40-seater buses will be replaced by 45-seater buses that also have more standing room.

Month-by-month figures for this year have been unavailable from the farebox counting system, which is used to show daily ridership, since April 4 when the system broke down. Oahu Transit Services is waiting for the $75,000 needed to repair the system.