A jump in ridership and rising gasoline prices have had a major impact on the Rocky View Regional Handibus Society (RVRHS) and executive director Paul Siller has been wrestling with both while also fundraising to purchase buses.

"We've had 25 per cent more trips than a year ago and that's a big increase, especially when our funding only increasing about seven per cent per year," says executive director Paul Siller.

In the first six months of the year, there's been a large spike in ridership lead by a 60 per cent increase in use by Chestermere and 35 per cent by Rocky View, largely for medical trips and day-time respite programs. He estimates Cochrane will see a 10 per cent increase in ridership over the course of 2018. For four to five years Cochrane has had the largest growth in use.

On top of a 20 per cent increase in fuel costs, there's about an eight per cent increase in kilometres travelled and nine per cent increase in service hours to accommodate trips.

"There are some efficiencies with shared rides, but things are growing faster than we anticipated," says Siller. "We've been so busy we're behind on the fundraising drive for the new buses."

"Many options are available to us. I guess I'm cautious, but I'm not panicked."

Those options include changing the service model to requiring people to book two days in advance as opposed to one.

"We could be facing a spot where people won't be getting trips just because the bus is already full and we can't squeeze another person on. That will be a bit of a change in service and also our reputation but it's something coming down the pipes unless better funding shows up."

He also hasn't ruled out the possibility of putting out a public plea in the fall to fundraise for operational costs. Normally, that's reserved for purchasing buses. and currently, they are in the midst of a campaign to raise enough funds to purchase three new buses.

"We've been targeting certain donors and response has been slow, but we'll keep at it."

Still, Cochrane residents, in particular, have been very receptive.

"One family has pledged a full bus and another resident of Cochrane has left us a very good frame to transform into a bus that will be able to take three wheelchairs and five ambulatory people. We're very appreciative of the support from Cochrane but we're going to have to be doing a bit more."

The late Gerry Sedler willed his low mileage 2015 Sprinter passenger van to the society and it will require about $40,000 worth of equipment installed to make it fully functional as a handibus.

Cochrane residents heavily utilize the service. In 2017, they had 443 registrants and that's a steady climb from 2012 when there were 199. Trips totalled 4,386, up from 3,768 the year previous.

The Town of Cochrane contributed $189,504 to the society's operation in its 2018 budget, up from $168,317 in 2017. That's based upon a grant of $7.20 per capita. The society is seeking an additional 50 cents per person from participating municipalities in 2019.